MLB Substack Assemble! Some of the leading voices in baseball on this platform came together to give their takes on the upcoming season, including award winners and their World Series picks...
To be fair, not everyone did. A few went elsewhere. But, you can't blame those who did, either. The Dodgers are the best team in baseball. They are stacked. And they've still got a bunch of guys to come back from injury too. They are winning the NL West, and I think they will come out of the National League too. Now, of course, this is baseball and anything can happen so who really knows. But, as of right now, I feel confident in picking the Dodgers to win it all
It is GO time finally! Looking forward to seeing the Mets season, how the lineup and chemistry of the team develops, and finally to see Soto on an everyday basis. Don't want to get ahead of it, but looks like we will be right there with a few other teams to win a very tough and competitive NL Pennant
I am with you Peter. I'm very excited for today's opener, and I'm especially excited to see Juan Soto's first at-bat. That lineup is potent, and has the potential to be one of the best in baseball. The only thing that scares me is the pitching, plus the Braves and the Phillies are elite too, so even winning the division will be tough. But that lineup should absolutely mash
I am a very optimistic Padres fan. Folks are definitely sleeping on what was the hottest team in MLB in the second half. And the key reason they were able to withstand a real nightmare of injuries in the first half is Mike Shildt. He really has gotten everyone rowing the boat in the same direction. The Padres were a .500 team midseason last year and ended up with 93 wins. The Padres beat writer pointed out Shildt won 90+ games his first three years as Cardinals manager. Now he has won 93 in his first year as Padres skipper. I live in South Carolina and dont get to see alot of the games but I saw maybe 60 last season and Machado was not himself til June after elbow surgery and Tatis was suspended for ‘23 and after 32 games Brian Kenney was saying Tatis was a bust without steroids as they showed an on-screen graphic comparing his ‘24 season stats (254 batting average, a .321 on-base percentage, a .446 slug rate and a .112 adjusted OPS.) to the far higher numbers he had in his career before the suspension. But from June on, Tatis and Machado returned to being who they were, Jackson Merrill just kept getting better and better and the team really jelled. Hats off to the Dodgers for shutting us out those last two playoff games. But before those 18 innings of gripping the bat too tight, the Padres were favored to beat the Dodgers and go to the World Series and its like NO ONE remembers that!
Shildt has guys like Tatis and Manny looking to move runners along when the situation warrants and up on their feet at the front of the dugout rooting for teammates when they do the same. I’d love to see a time lapse of the dugout for an average weekday game , no national tv, for each team. I’m convinced the Padres dugout would stand out when viewed against the others. They act like a college team now. Its really a tremendous accomplishment for a manager to come in and accomplish something like that on a team with so many longterm big money deals in the lineup, imo. We got a relief pitcher from Tampa, a really good organization mid—season last year. He was interviewed this spring and said he kept telling his wife how wild it was to see all these big stars caring so luch about everyone doing the little things. And this was after the Padres had a HORRIBLE first two months. The players quit on Bob Melvin in ‘23. Shildt has gotten them to do a complete 180 attitude wise.
I think Shildt proves that there is still a place for old school managers in the game, especially ones who can blend modern analytics with an ability to bring a room together and get the best out of each player. That's clearly what's happening in San Diego, and it is really cool to see. I'm excited to watch them this year, and I think we're due a monster season from Tatis Jr. People forget he was viewed as one of the best young players in the game before his suspension
Morning Michael - Happy Opening Day! Firstly, thank you so much for reading and for subscribing! Excited to have you on board for the new season. And your response is why I'm so excited about this year, and so excited about the community we're building here. You are right - people are certainly sleeping on the Padres. I was almost shocked when going through the various season previews and prediction pieces. They just don't seem to be getting any love at all. But, as you said, they were the hottest team in baseball after the All-Star break. They have an excellent manager. Dylan Cease is a stud. I'm expecting a huge year from Tatis and Machado. Jackson Merrill will continue to get better, and there is a lot to like about that team. Michael, you have my word, I will give more love to the Padres this year! I'm also launching a new weekly column next week, and the Padres being slept on will be my lead. Again, thank you for reading, subscribing and excited to talk baseball with you throughout the season!
Everyone picking the Dodgers to win the World Series.
To be fair, not everyone did. A few went elsewhere. But, you can't blame those who did, either. The Dodgers are the best team in baseball. They are stacked. And they've still got a bunch of guys to come back from injury too. They are winning the NL West, and I think they will come out of the National League too. Now, of course, this is baseball and anything can happen so who really knows. But, as of right now, I feel confident in picking the Dodgers to win it all
Not me!
not everyone!
It is GO time finally! Looking forward to seeing the Mets season, how the lineup and chemistry of the team develops, and finally to see Soto on an everyday basis. Don't want to get ahead of it, but looks like we will be right there with a few other teams to win a very tough and competitive NL Pennant
I am with you Peter. I'm very excited for today's opener, and I'm especially excited to see Juan Soto's first at-bat. That lineup is potent, and has the potential to be one of the best in baseball. The only thing that scares me is the pitching, plus the Braves and the Phillies are elite too, so even winning the division will be tough. But that lineup should absolutely mash
I am a very optimistic Padres fan. Folks are definitely sleeping on what was the hottest team in MLB in the second half. And the key reason they were able to withstand a real nightmare of injuries in the first half is Mike Shildt. He really has gotten everyone rowing the boat in the same direction. The Padres were a .500 team midseason last year and ended up with 93 wins. The Padres beat writer pointed out Shildt won 90+ games his first three years as Cardinals manager. Now he has won 93 in his first year as Padres skipper. I live in South Carolina and dont get to see alot of the games but I saw maybe 60 last season and Machado was not himself til June after elbow surgery and Tatis was suspended for ‘23 and after 32 games Brian Kenney was saying Tatis was a bust without steroids as they showed an on-screen graphic comparing his ‘24 season stats (254 batting average, a .321 on-base percentage, a .446 slug rate and a .112 adjusted OPS.) to the far higher numbers he had in his career before the suspension. But from June on, Tatis and Machado returned to being who they were, Jackson Merrill just kept getting better and better and the team really jelled. Hats off to the Dodgers for shutting us out those last two playoff games. But before those 18 innings of gripping the bat too tight, the Padres were favored to beat the Dodgers and go to the World Series and its like NO ONE remembers that!
i got 'em as a WC team, think I might have been the only one though!
I had them as a Wild Card team too
Shildt has guys like Tatis and Manny looking to move runners along when the situation warrants and up on their feet at the front of the dugout rooting for teammates when they do the same. I’d love to see a time lapse of the dugout for an average weekday game , no national tv, for each team. I’m convinced the Padres dugout would stand out when viewed against the others. They act like a college team now. Its really a tremendous accomplishment for a manager to come in and accomplish something like that on a team with so many longterm big money deals in the lineup, imo. We got a relief pitcher from Tampa, a really good organization mid—season last year. He was interviewed this spring and said he kept telling his wife how wild it was to see all these big stars caring so luch about everyone doing the little things. And this was after the Padres had a HORRIBLE first two months. The players quit on Bob Melvin in ‘23. Shildt has gotten them to do a complete 180 attitude wise.
I think Shildt proves that there is still a place for old school managers in the game, especially ones who can blend modern analytics with an ability to bring a room together and get the best out of each player. That's clearly what's happening in San Diego, and it is really cool to see. I'm excited to watch them this year, and I think we're due a monster season from Tatis Jr. People forget he was viewed as one of the best young players in the game before his suspension
Morning Michael - Happy Opening Day! Firstly, thank you so much for reading and for subscribing! Excited to have you on board for the new season. And your response is why I'm so excited about this year, and so excited about the community we're building here. You are right - people are certainly sleeping on the Padres. I was almost shocked when going through the various season previews and prediction pieces. They just don't seem to be getting any love at all. But, as you said, they were the hottest team in baseball after the All-Star break. They have an excellent manager. Dylan Cease is a stud. I'm expecting a huge year from Tatis and Machado. Jackson Merrill will continue to get better, and there is a lot to like about that team. Michael, you have my word, I will give more love to the Padres this year! I'm also launching a new weekly column next week, and the Padres being slept on will be my lead. Again, thank you for reading, subscribing and excited to talk baseball with you throughout the season!