Looking ahead

It’s the end of 2021. A new collective bargaining agreement hasn’t been confirmed yet. However, before the CBA expired, several players already agreed to big-money deals.

First time opening a box of Topps Holiday

Last month, I watched some card opening videos on YouTube and a YouTuber indicated that Topps Holiday is worth trying because a relic, an autograph or an autograph relic card is guaranteed in every mega box. Additionally, the price per mega box is reasonable.

What if?

The 2021 season is over and 2021 is almost coming to an end. MLB’s lockout is still going on and it’s still unclear to know when it will come to an end. However, we can still review the 2021 season.

2091?

Normally, the Topps Archives Baseball is a set to bring back to the past. There are several old designs and retired players in the set. I always buy several packs of Topps Archives each year and, sometimes, I get some autographed cards. This year, I bought several hobby packs of the 2021 Topps Archives. And, very interestingly, some cards are taking a trip in the future.

Two MVPs from the other side of the Pacific Ocean

Shohei Ohtani received 30 first-place votes and won the 2021 AL MVP unanimously. Twenty years ago, Ichiro Suzuki won the AL Rookie of the Year award and the AL MVP award in his first season with the Mariners.

Oh, whiff?

Previously, several coaches taught me to swing at strikes and make contact when I began to play baseball. A swing and miss isn’t ideal and weak contact is slightly better because your opponents might make mistakes in defense. Well, that might be right. However, some swings and misses don’t seem to be a serious problem in the MLB.

Manager of the Year

In 2021, Kevin Cash won the AL Manager of the Year and Gabe Kapler was the NL Manager of the Year winner. Additionally, Dusty Baker and Scott Servais were nominated as finalists for the AL Manager of the Year. In the National League, Craig Counsell and Mike Shildt were finalists for Manager of the Year award.

To become a Hall of Famer?

The 2022 Hall of Fame ballot was revealed and the results will be announced in January. While seeing some familiar names on the ballot, I was just thinking how good a player has to be in his career to be voted into Cooperstown.

On-base Percentage has changed

Moneyball was published in 2003 and the film was released in 2011. In the movie, we frequently saw “on-base” be mentioned. Since 2003, does on-base percentage become even more important?

Problem solver?

Only 4 pitchers threw at least 200 innings in the 2021 season. Bullpen usage has been extremely important for the MLB teams nowadays. However, how to correctly make pitching changes is not an easy task.

How many do you need?

Corbin Burnes won the 2021 NL Cy Young award. However, before the result was announced, many fans were discussing whether throwing considerably fewer innings would become a problem.

First pitch, swing?

Last weekend, I was watching a baseball game with some friends. In the bottom of the 7th inning, the batter swung at the first pitch. Boom! It was a home run and the home team took the lead.

Buster Posey, a future Hall of Famer?

Buster Posey announced his retirement after being with the Giants for 12 seasons. More than 10 years ago, I bought some packs of baseball cards and found a rookie card of Buster Posey. It indicated that Posey was the Giants most-heralded offensive prospect. Back then, I was just thinking how good he would be.

2021 Topps Update

Topps update series for me is a must-collect set because it helps me review the season and I could find some cool All-Star cards or rookie cards. A few weeks ago, I went to a card shop to buy some packs of the 2021 Topps Update series.

More three true outcomes?

We have heard that there are more strikeouts, walks and home runs in today’s baseball games. In baseball, three true outcomes are said to be a home run, a strikeout or a walk. In reality, how often do we see three true outcomes in modern games?

Hitters love to swing against?

Previously, we have learned that batters swung more than 900 times against Robbie Ray’s four-seam fastball during the regular season. Additionally, against Sean Manaea’s sinker, opponents swung more than 900 times as well.

Favorite pitches to swing?

It’s been more than three weeks since the Braves defeated the Astros to win the World Series Champions. Recently, I read some articles about pitching and looked back at the 2021 season. I was just wondering whether MLB hitters love to hit certain pitches from some pitchers.

Starters to save?

In Game 5 of the National League Division Series, Max Scherzer was on the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning and he struck out Wilmer Flores to help the Dodgers advance to the NLCS.

Open a box of 2016 Topps Stadium Club

Last month, I passed by a card shop and tried to explore whether there’s something interesting. There wasn’t much left in the shop. However, I saw a hobby box of 2016 Topps Stadium Club. I was wondering whether there are some top rookie cards in this set. I thought for a while before making a decision. Finally, I decided to buy the only hobby box left in the store.

Two-out RBI

The Dodgers scored 59 runs with two outs in the 2020 postseason. Great performance after two outs is definitely a reason why the Dodgers won the World Series title. This postseason, the Braves became the World Champions. Did they hit well with two outs?

100 innings

We have seen fewer pitchers throw 200+ innings in a single season gradually. Each team has very different ways to use pitchers in today’s baseball games. However, a team needs pitchers to eat innings. It doesn’t change.

Perfect angles?

A few months ago, I read an article about launch angles in baseball. It indicated that launch angles of 25–35 degrees combined with ball-off-bat launch velocity of 98 mph is the new “sweet spot” for home runs.

Don’t chase easily?

Baseball season is a marathon. During the regular season, there are usually ups and downs. Players have to make adjustments quickly and play consistently in a long season. For batters, it’s important to have strong plate discipline and avoid swinging at pitches out of the strike zone.

Outs at home

The 2021 season was over. The Braves won the World Series title. There are several impressive plays in the postseason. For me, one of many important plays was that Aaron Judge was thrown out at home in the American League Wild Card game.

Triple Digits in the postseason

The Dodgers lost to the Braves in the NLCS and we are still waiting to see the first team to win back-to-back World Series Champions this century. However, it’s actually quite entertaining to watch Brusdar Graterol pitching this postseason since his sinker frequently hit triple digits.

Allow 5 or more runs

Last month, I was listening to a radio show and someone was calling in. The guy on the phone would like to ask the host a question to know whether his favorite team had been very stable during the regular season. He raised a point that maybe a stable team doesn’t frequently allow 5 or more runs in a game during the regular season.

Quality starts

MLB teams have different ways to use starting pitchers these years. A starting pitcher might not throw as many innings as starting pitchers used to do in the previous generation. However, there are still several pitchers who did “quality” job frequently this year.

Score a run?

The Milwaukee Brewers were shut out twice by the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series. That’s something interesting in October baseball because something unexpected could happen.

Showtime, show more?

Shohei Ohtani had a great 2021 season. As a hitter, he slashed .257/.372/.592 with 46 home runs, 100 RBI and 26 stolen bases. As a pitcher, he tossed 130.1 innings and posted a 3.18 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. It’s his first season to throw at least 100 innings in a single season in the MLB.

World Series Preview

The Braves and the Astros are going to meet in the 2021 World Series. The Braves defeated the Dodgers in the NLCS and the Astros beat the Red Sox in the ALCS. The Braves are back in the World Series for the first time since 1999 and the Astros moved to the American League in 2013. Hence, it’s the first time to see these two teams play in the Fall Classic and the 2021 World Series shall be very entertaining to watch.

Big surprises in the postseason?

At this moment, the Astros take the series lead in the ALCS and the Braves take the NLCS lead. So many exciting things happened this postseason. Several players’ performances might surprise fans.

Keys to win the Division Series

The Braves and the Dodgers are meeting again in the NLCS and the Red Sox and the Astros are facing again in the ALCS. Let’s see how these teams advanced.

To be an All-Star soon?

Topps Chrome is a flagship set for collectors. It comes again in 2021 and it gets more expensive. The price of a hobby pack is much higher than I expected. So, I just bought some packs of the 2021 Topps Chrome this year.

Topps Allen & Ginter Rookie cards

Topps Allen and Ginter is always an interesting set for collectors. You can find not only baseball players, but also celebrities in this set. Additionally, you can find something “weird” as well.

Saves in the postseason

Last month, I bought some lucky packs of baseball cards and tried to see whether I could get something really cool. I found a card with a piece of Trevor Hoffman’s game-used jersey. Additionally, Bernie Williams is on the front of the card as well.

Chase rate

The Dodgers and the Giants meet in the playoffs for the first time in MLB history and this season, they each won more than 100 games. They are the two best teams in the 2021 season and there are some reasons why they are playing so well.

Starters

We are in October and October baseball is always exciting. But, let’s look back at the 2021 regular season. MLB teams had different ideas of pitcher usage.

Flame thrower throws slower

2021 Topps Fire is back with colorful designs. Fans can find retired players and current players in this set. Additionally, two autographs are guaranteed per hobby box. However, after reading the checklist, I found that there were no autographs from the Dodgers. This year, I bought some packs in a card store, trying to find some top rookies.

These rookies got on-base

Rays’ rookie Wander Franco had reached base safely in 43 consecutive games during the regular season. His 43-game on-base streak tied with Frank Robinson in 1956 for the longest in AL/NL history by a player 20 years old or younger. In addition, there are several rookies who had a pretty good 2021 season and they were playing like Wander Franco, who got on-base frequently.

Hot in September

The 2021 regular season is coming to an end soon. With only one series remaining for each team, the Yankees, the Red Sox, the Mariners and the Blue Jays are fighting hard for  the AL Wild Card spots. Some players have been playing very well in September. Can they make an impact in the final series of the 2021 season?

Clinched

It’s near the end of September and that tells us that October baseball is coming. By far, 6 teams already clinched playoff berths. There are several cool things to expect in this postseason.

Running teams

Baseball players rarely steal bases in today’s baseball games. Back in 2017, Dee Strange-Gordon reached 60 stolen bases. By far, there’s no player who reaches 50 stolen bases. However, some teams do run more than other MLB teams.

Full count

 
A full count in baseball is a situation that refers to a count of three balls and two strikes during the course of an at bat. It is usually considered a moment of increased tension, as neither the batter nor the pitcher has any margin of maneuver left.

Unearned

 

Unearned runs are those runs that scored because of errors or passed balls. If a team gives up too many unearned runs, it probably tells us that something went wrong in defense.

Create more runs

A team has to score more runs than its opponent to win a baseball game. This season, which teams are leading in creating runs? Are they winning more games than any other team?

300 K

 

There are more strikeouts in baseball games these days and for some teams, there are more strikeouts than hits so far this season. These years, several pitchers reached 300 strikeouts in a single season.

Runners in scoring position

 

A few days ago, I was watching a baseball game on TV and a former Cy Young winner was on the mound. On the screen, it showed that the pitcher was extremely good and opponents’ batting average is under .200 when runners are in scoring position.

Relievers throw more?

 

Nowadays, MLB teams are relying more one their bullpen. Hence, each team uses relievers very often and I would like to know which relievers threw more innings than any other these seasons.

Best hitting performance in the postseason?

Expected Weighted On-base Average (xwOBA) data is available since statcast was implemented Major League wide in 2015. It’s a good way to understand a player’s skill. I would like to use this stat to see which player really hit well in the postseason.

Enjoy hitting at a new team?

A couple of weeks ago, we took a quick look at some pitchers who signed a new contract with a new team and saw how they perform in a new uniform. Now, let’s look at some batters who agreed to a new deal before the beginning of the 2021 season and see whether they have been performing well so far.