2020 MLB SHOWDOWN SET --- AL EAST

 It is officially here, the beginning of the release of the 2020 MLB Showdown set. Now thanks to some free time the team here has been able to hammer out much of this set faster than usual, and instead of individual team write ups and making you wait, we thought in theme with the crazy season we would do a crazy divisional card drop. So up first is the American League East, personally I wanted to get the New York Yankees done and out for our good friend Rekt after his Yankees dismantled my Indians, as like my way of losing the bet, so hopefully he gets to enjoy his Yankees as well as his divisional rivals first. Also in these write ups, you may see comments from myself (Matt), or the rest of the team that worked on the set, Peter, Jeff and Bob.  So buckle up for the crazy cards of the 2020 shortened season, because like I tried to explain in the announcement post, some of these charts we have never seen before, as player percentages were all kinds of wacky from this season.

The AL East didn't play out exactly the way I would have predicted. I would have said the Yankees win the division, with the Rays in second, Blue Jays third, Red Sox fourth and Orioles fifth. Now all the injuries the Yanks had once again this year it is easy to see how they could fall, but the Rays dominated this year winning 40 games, and really impressed me. 

5. Boston Red Sox 24-36

This isn't the Boston Red Sox that won the title in 2018, trading Mookie Betts away may have signaled the end and the beginning of a rebuild for the fans. Do Boston fans even know how to rebuild? No matter the sport they seem to just always reload and be back in the next year or so. Alex Verdugo, the main piece received in the Betts trade showed he can produce a good showdown card, and their highest priced card in this season is Kevin Plawecki, who we last saw on the 2018 Mets as a 5 OB super cheap card, amazing what a small sample size can do for a players card. My personal favorite cutout is Rafael Devers who in the photo I like to imagine just blasted a homer and is walking to first base in style.

Batters:

Rotation: Much like the lineup, the rotation isn't like it once was, they at least can say they have options to throw out and eat up some innings as needed. 

Bullpen: The top two arms of the bullpen are going to have to do some heavy lifting to get them through many games. The back end is going to be a rough patch to get through and if they are needed the game may never end.

4. Baltimore Orioles 25-35

Batters: The poor Orioles, I can't wait until the year where I am working on the set and they are the AL East winners and put out a great showdown team, because they feel like the only team I don't have any great representation for. Some hot prospects potentially making their debuts next season, along with Mountcastle this year could start to get them on the right track, but they need a lot of help. Jose Iglesias was a pleasant surprise this season. Look at that double range he brings to the table. Anthony Santander gets my vote for my favorite card on the team, with his insane Javy Baez 2018 like chart. While you pay a high price for him as a 7 ob, you get plenty of pop in your roll to get excited about when you do get your chart. 

Rotation: A weak 1-2 punch in the rotation, and then the bottom falls completely off. This team will not win many games unless their pitchers are rolling hot.

Bullpen: The Savior of this team is a solid bullpen that they can fall back on if the starters are somehow able to go 4-6 innings and keep them in the game.

3. Toronto Blue Jays 32-28

Batters: You know what they say about a well balanced breakfast? Well this is a well balanced lineup, they consist of only 7s and 8s all the way through. It will be interesting to see how they would do in a divisional tournament. The lineup should be able to put up big numbers against Boston and Baltimore, but how would they score against the Yankees and Rays. My favorite cutout has to be Vlad Guerrero and his happy face, which brings it back to the great young kids who have the game in their hands and how much fun they have while playing.  

Rotation: The big free agent acquisition Hyun Jin Ryu will lead this rotation, and hope for some of that Randy Johnson magic of the '00 set, with trade deadline acquisition Taijuan Walker right behind him with a very similar card. If they are rolling good, this team can win those two games. The pattern I am noticing is in a season format, the games a 3rd or 4th starter are pitching for all of these teams, the bullpen will be heavily relied upon.

Bullpen: The benefit for this team is a bullpen to pick up the starters when they are down. Dolis is a perfect set up man prior to the closer, and two tier three bullpen arms that can extend the game if need be.

2. New York Yankees 33-27

Batters: Now this is a line up that can do some serious damage in a game. DJ is the perfect lead off guy, or a number 2 hitter, and the Giancarlo and Voit combination will shake pitchers to the core. When the MLB HR leader gets his chart he merely needs a 13 or higher to send one off to the bleachers. I think my favorite from this team is the Giancarlo Stanton, the card looks great and will play great. But who from this lineup won't play great other than Gary Sanchez, the rest of the team is incredible. Sanchez at worst can get the occasional chart and home run against weaker competition. Your pitchers will need to be on top of their rolls when facing off against the Bronx Bombers. 

Rotation: I am so psyched to see how this Gerrit Cole HR chart  card plays, as the creators have toyed with multiple ideas on how to make the pitchers that allow homers on their chart more draftable and playable. The card is stellar other than the risk of a dreaded 20 popping up in an important moment.

Bullpen: Feels odd not seeing Aroldis Chapman but his super limited season he didn't get a card. Just pull out the 2018 or 2019 version and plug him in to this Yankees team.

1. Tampa Bay Rays 40-20

Batters: The Rays have been incredible this season, and in the games I have watched from the playoffs one big thing stood out, Randy Arozarena!! what an incredible end of season/post season he is putting together, might be the most expensive Tampa Bay Rays batter that has ever been made. This lineup has a great balance, one 10, one 9 and a ton of 7s and 8s, they will be a consistent offense, while not putting on flashy high scores, they should be able to consistently score no matter the match up. My personal favorite cut out is the Ji-Man Choi, reminding everyone of the proper way to put on your mask. 

Rotation: Thinking of the previous years the Tampa Rotation has a chance to be incredible, sadly this season they weren't quite what they could have been. But with this offense they should be able to stay in most their games, and then can fall to their strength every year, their fantastic bullpen. 

Bullpen: It is always a good thing when your cheapest arm in the pen is 140 points and the other four players are all over 200 points. In a season format, this team can rely on this bullpen to stop the bleeding and allow this offense a chance to get back in the game. 

What a fun way to start off SHOWDOWN SEASON!!!!! The AL East brings us two championship caliber teams, and another playoff contender. The bottom two teams also contribute some solid players to the players pool. My hope with dropping multiple teams at once, this can serve as our "Starter Set" and those that print off the set to play with will print these 5 teams and have a great weekend with them. Call your friends and your family and play some good ol showdown this weekend.