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Most Valuable Intel (6/25/20): Nats DH, Lakers Outlook, and MORE!
Today's content outlines why baseball fans should be hyped for the 2020 season, a ranking of NL team's DH situations, and more!
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The hottest sports content to read today highlights key insights and takeaways regarding the most popular topics in sports, including 20 reasons why baseball fans should be hyped for the 2020 season and the Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff outlook with the absence of G Avery Bradley. Here’s the Most Valuable Intel to know from the best articles in sports.
FULL ARTICLE: 20 Reasons to be Excited for the 2020 season by Richard Justice, MLB.com
HOT: 20 Reasons to Be Excited About the 2020 MLB Season by @richardjustice
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— Hottest Sports Content (@Sports_Hottest) June 24, 2020
MOST VALUABLE INTEL: Look for the White Sox to contend in 2020 with their added FAs and promising prospects
The 2020 MLB season will look completely different compared to what fans are used to and it could lead to the most unique summer of baseball in the history of the sport. MLB.com’s Richard Justice provides 20 reasons why baseball fans should be thrilled about the shortened 60-game season and the exciting things that will come from these unique circumstances.
The Chicago White Sox are one team that’s destined to elevate to the next level in 2020 with their recent FA acquisitions of C Yasmani Grandal, 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion, P Dallas Kuechel, and P Gio Gonzalez. The South Siders have not made the playoffs in the last 12 years, but have a strong chance of doing so this season with their revamped roster and the rising young gems of OF Luis Robert, OF Eloy Jimenez, and P Michael Kopech. The remaining 19 reasons to be excited about MLB’s return is everything baseball fans have been missing since April.
FULL ARTICLE: 5 Active Players Most Likely to Break the Home Run Record by Jaime Segui, Pro Sports Outlook
HOT: 5 Active Players Most Likely to Break the HR Record by @PSO_Sports
— Hottest Sports Content (@Sports_Hottest) June 24, 2020
MOST VALUABLE INTEL: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. could conquer Bonds’ single-season HR record
During this time of the year 19 seasons ago, Barry Bonds was on his way to recording the greatest single-season HR campaign of all-time. The modern MLB is filled with young rising studs who have powerful swings, but only a few have the HR hitting prowess to make a run for Bonds’ 73 mark set back in 2001. The most intriguing name in PSO’s Jaime Segui’s list of players who are most likely to break the HR record is Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the Toronto Blue Jays young phenom.
In Vlad Jr.’s rookie season, he posted 15 HRs and 69 RBIs in 464 ABs, but the highlight of his 2019 season was dropping four bombs in a five-game span and being the runner-up in the HR Derby. Rounding out Segui’s top-5 are the game’s best sluggers in prime position to chase the legendary HR record now that balls are flying out of parks at unprecedented rates.
FULL ARTICLE: How Many Wins to Reach the Playoffs? A .400 hitter? How Wild a 60-Game MLB Season Could Really Get by MLB Insiders, ESPN
HOT: This MLB Season Will Be Wild & Memorable by @ESPN ⬇️ https://t.co/HhY2SJ7YCz
— Hottest Sports Content (@Sports_Hottest) June 24, 2020
MOST VALUABLE INTEL: The reduced 60-game schedule lengthens the list of potential playoff candidates
In the upcoming 60-game season, it’s clear that franchise single-season records, such as most wins or HRs will not be broken in 2020, however, ERA and batting average titles are up for grabs. This year will also allow teams of lower tiers to have significantly higher chances of reaching the postseason. ESPN questioned three MLB experts on how the shortened schedule will affect team playoff pictures and stat sheets.
When asked about how many wins it would take to clinch a playoff spot, David Schoenfield presented the average win percentage of the worst playoff team in each league since 2015 (.549). That mark would represent a 33-27 record over 60 games, giving many teams hope that a hot start this July/August could push them over the postseason hump. In the report, MLB Insiders dive deeper into discussions of how the 2020 season will be an unprecedented presentation no one has seen before.
FULL ARTICLE: How Avery Bradley’s Absence at Disney Bubble Impacts LeBron James, Lakers’ Pursuit of a Championship by Sam Quinn, CBS Sports
HOT: How Avery Bradley’s Absence Affects the Lakers by @SamQuinnCBS
— Hottest Sports Content (@Sports_Hottest) June 24, 2020
MOST VALUABLE INTEL: Lakers are losing their best on-ball defender for the postseason
The LeBron-led LA Lakers are the heaviest favored team to take home the 2020 NBA title. After Avery Bradley’s announcement stating he will not return for the end of the season, Sam Quinn of CBS Sports evaluates how his absence will affect the Lakers’ Finals outlook. The defensive specialist is currently ranked third among all PGs in Defensive Real Plus-Minus, but history shows that teams do just fine with Bradley on the bench. Since the 2014-15 campaign, only one team in his career limited opposing offenses better with Bradley on floor.
While the numbers show Bradley’s defense could be overrated, anyone watching Lakers games this year (or the clips presented in Quinn’s article) can see the intensity he brings to the defensive end of the floor and how much he frustrates the opposing team’s best offensive guard. While the Lakers will miss Bradley’s role in the rotations, this could turn out to be a blessing in disguise if Alex Caruso or Dion Waiters take the chance to perform highly in a scaled-up role.
FULL ARTICLE: Here’s How Every NL Team’s DH Options Stack Up by David Adler, MLB.com
MOST VALUABLE INTEL: Nationals have more offensive depth than every NL club not named the Dodgers
Yesterday, baseball fans understood that the new universal DH would be especially advantageous for the New York Mets. Further breaking down the NL ball clubs was MLB.com’s David Adler, as he ranked each Senior Circuit franchise’s DH situations. The reigning World Series Champs, who went out and grabbed 1B Eric Thames and 2B Starlin Castro in free agency and re-signed 1B Ryan Zimmerman and Asdrubal Cabrera in the offseason, will also be able to take advantage of the DH addition.
The potent lineup, which is led by 21-year-old Juan Soto (.282/.401/.548 with 32 HRs in 2019), will look to fill Anthony Rendon’s offensive void by taking advantage of Howie Kendrick’s late-career surge (.344/.395/.572 over 334 ABs in 2019) and Carter Kieboom’s promising potential as one of the MLB’s top prospects. The 2020 DH scenarios for the other NL teams will collectively make the upcoming regular-season much more exciting and add an interesting twist to an already unprecedented year.
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