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25 things we learned from MLB's strangest season
David John Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

25 things we learned from MLB's strangest season

The 2020 MLB regular season was unlike anything we have ever seen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Let's take a look at some things that stood out on the diamond over the last two months.

 
1 of 25

The San Diego Padres really think they can win it all

The San Diego Padres really think they can win it all
Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire

Approaching the August 31st trade deadline, many around the game were skeptical anything of magnitude would happen. Surely no club was going to risk serious prospect capital to potentially chase fools' gold in a sixteen team playoff format. Right? Wrong. Enter the Friars, who made an eye opening six trades involving 23 players. With three more to be named later! San Diego completely revamped their catching situation with Austin Nola and Jason Castro, brought in a veteran left handed bat in Mitch Moreland, and added to their bullpen with Trevor Rosenthal and Dan Altavilla. But their big prize was clearly Mike Clevinger, who instantly slots in atop their rotation. The Padres are going to be the number four seed in the NL, and they're surely not a team anyone will want to play in October.

 
2 of 25

Despite a pair of significant outbreaks, players were comfortable with the COVID protocols

Despite a pair of significant outbreaks, players were comfortable with the COVID protocols
Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire

While a good amount of big leaguers opted out of the season due to health concerns, only three more joined them after play began. Brewers' outfielder Lorenzo Cain, Marlins' second baseman Isan Diaz, and Mets' slugger Yoenis Cespedes. The greater indictment in the players' confidence in all this working, however, is the fact that Diaz- as well as Braves' outfielder Nick Markakis- later decided to opt back in. 

 
3 of 25

Everyone hates the extra inning rules

Everyone hates the extra inning rules
Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire

Starting extra innings with a man on second base is an idea that had been flirted prior to 2020, and presumably it was only invoked this season to limit time at the ballpark. But let's all call a spade a spade and admit it is a joke. Handing a team a free runner in scoring position is not real baseball, and hopefully 'leadoff two run homer' is a phrase we'll never hear again. 

 
4 of 25

The NL DH is probably here to stay

The NL DH is probably here to stay
Mary Holt/USA Today Images

Speaking of rule changes, as much as it pains me to say as a diehard fan of the National League game, the DH is probably not going anywhere. It may have to take a one year hiatus in 2021 during the final season of the previous collective bargaining agreement, but the next package will almost assuredly include it. Veteran players like Jesus Aguilar, Robinson Cano, and Marcell Ozuna among others have benefited from the change, and it has allowed teams to improve their defenses without sacrificing offense. 

 
5 of 25

The upper levels of the minor leagues may be overrated

The upper levels of the minor leagues may be overrated
John Korduner/Icon Sportswire

All season teams have been calling up guys from their 60-man player pool who hadn't played above the A or AA level in the minor leagues, and they've been having success. Heck, the White Sox drafted left hander Garrett Crochet in June and three months later had him pitching out of their bullpen in important games down the stretch. This will be an interesting trend to monitor as things slowly start to resemble normal moving forward.

 
6 of 25

When will we learn to stop sleeping on the Rays?

When will we learn to stop sleeping on the Rays?
Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire

Even before the world shut down in mid March, everyone and their mother had a Yankees/Dodgers World Series already set in stone. The two Goliaths had both made massive additions, and on paper looked absolutely stacked. Yet as the postseason gets set to begin, who won the AL East and will be the top seed in the American League? The little Tampa Bay Rays who continue to be the best run organization in our sport. Don't be surprised if they end up representing the junior circuit in the Fall Classic.

 
7 of 25

Second generation big leaguers are paving their own path in Toronto

Second generation big leaguers are paving their own path in Toronto
Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire

At one point this season, in Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cavan Biggio, Bo Bichette, and Travis Shaw, the Blue Jays were starting an entire infield of second generation Major Leaguers. Toronto has been a team to buy stock in for several years, but the expanded postseason is going to give them a chance to introduce themselves to the national audience ahead of schedule. They're going to be the eight seed in the AL and face a tremendously tough Tampa Bay team, but if nothing else they'll gain important big stage experience. 

 
8 of 25

The Nationals stunningly went from the penthouse to the outhouse

The Nationals stunningly went from the penthouse to the outhouse
Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire

Who would've thought the defending World Series champions would finish in last place in the NL East? The Nationals' repeat aspirations took a massive body blow when Anthony Rendon headed west in free-agency, and another hit when Ryan Zimmerman opted out. But they still have to be massively disappointed in how this season unfolded. Juan Soto is a legitimate MVP candidate, but unfortunately he and Trea Turner have been the only Washington hitters to consistently produce in 2020. Couple that with a pitching staff that looked exhausted following their deep October run last fall, and you had one heck of a hangover year. 

 
9 of 25

Brodie Van Wagenen needs to ask for his old job back

Brodie Van Wagenen needs to ask for his old job back
Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire

The former agent who took the reigns of the Mets' GM job ahead of the 2019 season has proven to be nothing short of a disaster in his new role. Van Wagenen gutted the Mets' farm system with a full 'win now' mindset, yet failed to even qualify for the expanded postseason field. With the Mets' sale to billionaire new owner Steve Cohen all but final, it's beyond safe to assume the whole organization will undergo a top to bottom reset. The fist order of business should be appointing a real GM in the front office. 

 
10 of 25

The White Sox are as good as advertised

The White Sox are as good as advertised
Rob Grabowski/Icon Sportswire

Despite struggling down the stretch, Chicago has been every bit as strong as they were expected to be back in February. They went toe to toe with both Minnesota and Cleveland in a heated three team AL Central battle that came down to the season's last day, and they'll be a tough out in October for whoever they play. Luis Robert's blend of power and speed has added the desired dimension to an already deep White Sox' line-up, and while he might not win Rookie of the Year thanks to the Mariners' Kyle Lewis, fans across the country will be wowed by the super rookie.

 
11 of 25

J.T. Realmuto is going to get paid

J.T. Realmuto is going to get paid
Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire

The Phillies have been trying to extend baseball's best catcher for a while now, but with the giant carrot of free-agency approaching rapidly, Realmuto will surely hear other teams out. And frankly, he'll be able to essentially name his price. Watch out for a team like the Mets here, as they have a drastic need and a new owner who will presumably be looking to make a splash.

 
12 of 25

The Marlins may be the most likable team in the NL

The Marlins may be the most likable team in the NL
Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire

The Marlins aren't often good, but when they are, they tend to win the whole thing. Miami has never lost a postseason series, and we may be due for their random once in a blue moon shocking rise to the top of the sport. The Marlins' off-season additions of veterans Corey Dickerson and Jesus Aguilar really helped their offense, and young Sixto Sanchez has absolutely dominated atop their rotation. Miami will enter the postseason via a 2nd place finish in the NL East and face the Cubs in the 1st round.

 
13 of 25

Seven-inning double headers aren't terrible

Seven-inning double headers aren't terrible
Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire

Don't get me wrong, I'm old school when it comes to America's pastime and would prefer as few rule changes as possible. And while I'm not entirely in favor of the seven inning double headers, I will admit they are not quite as bad as I anticipated. They create a level of urgency that is fun to watch, and if they stick around it might not be the end of the world. 

 
14 of 25

The Phillies are MLB"s most disappointing team

The Phillies are MLB"s most disappointing team
Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire

Philadelphia made a massive splash when they pried Bryce Harper away from the division rival Nationals in free-agency prior to last season, and the move has accomplished very little other than dramatically detracting from the organization's bottom line. After an up and down first season in the City of Brotherly Love, Harper has again failed to propel his club to success again in 2020. Philly will disappointingly watch the playoffs on television yet again.

 
15 of 25

Freddie Freeman deserves to finally win NL MVP

Freddie Freeman deserves to finally win NL MVP
Nicole Fridling/Icon Sportswire

Atlanta's first baseman has been one of the most feared hitters in the National League for a decade, but he's never been better than he has in 2020. Freeman's batting average, OBP, SLG% and OPS are all career highs, and there has been no more important hitter to their individual team's success than him.

 
16 of 25

Shane Bieber has easily been baseball's best pitcher

Shane Bieber has easily been baseball's best pitcher
Kiyoshi Mio/Icon Sportswire

The Indians' righty was an all-star last season, but he's taken his game to an entirely new level in 2020. In 12 starts Bieber worked to a 1.63 ERA with a 0.86 WHIP, while striking out a dominant 122 hitters in 77.1 innings. The Indians have some flaws as a team, but when Bieber is on the mound they are as good as any team in the game, and it will be fun to see what he can do leading their staff in October. 

 
17 of 25

The Angels inability to build around Mike Trout continues to be a travesty

The Angels inability to build around Mike Trout continues to be a travesty
Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire

Having the best player on the planet consistently sit out in October is nothing short of a nightmare for Major League baseball. Despite Mike Trout's incomprehensible greatness night in and night out, the Angels pathetically have struggled to put a competent team around him. They thought that would change with the addition of superstar third baseman Anthony Rendon, but unfortunately neither he or Trout can pitch. The Halos problems on the mound ultimately gave them no chance in 2020, and they'll have their hands full addressing the situation over the winter. 

 
18 of 25

The Pirates are worse than we expected

The Pirates are worse than we expected
Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire

Nobody really felt the Pittsburgh Pirates would be good in 2020, but they weren't exactly supposed to be this bad either. Pittsburgh has easily been the game's worst team in this truncated campaign, with several important players-namely Bryan Reynolds-taking large steps in the wrong direction. The emergence of young third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes has probably been the lone bright spot in western Pennsylvania. 

 
19 of 25

Luke Voit is a one man wrecking crew

Luke Voit is a one man wrecking crew
Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire

On a Yankees' team decimated by injuries for the 2nd straight season, the powerful right handed swinging Voit has been an absolute godsend. New York's first baseman led the Majors in home runs, finished on a pace close to 150 RBI over the course of a full season, and came up with big hit after big hit down the stretch. If the Bombers are going to make good on their preseason championship prediction, they'll need Voit to be front and center in October. 

 
20 of 25

Trevor Bauer deserves to win NL Cy Young

Trevor Bauer deserves to win NL Cy Young
Kiyoshi Mio/Icon Sportswire

For a long time it appeared as if Bauer, New York's Jacob deGrom, and Chicago's Yu Darvish were going to race to the bitter end in the competition for the NL Cy Young award, but Bauer pulled away late. Cemented with a dominant performance on short rest that helped earn Cincinnati a spot in the postseason, Bauer should take home some hardware this winter. In addition to a new massive contract he'll assuredly receive in free-agency. 

 
21 of 25

The cardboard cutouts helped

The cardboard cutouts helped
Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire

Having no fans in the stands during the entire 2020 season was of course severely disappointing, and it was easy to see that it affected the atmosphere of the games. But the cardboard cutouts most teams installed did help with the aesthetic. Places like Nationals Park in D.C. that did not participate stood out, as nothing but empty seats behind home plate made for a depressing ambiance. 

 
22 of 25

The best closer in baseball is all of the sudden the A's Liam Hendriks

The best closer in baseball is all of the sudden the A's Liam Hendriks
Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire

The Athletics don't have a ton of household names, but similarly to the Rays, they just never go away. Oakland won the AL West with relative ease, in large part thanks to the production of Hendriks, who has simply been unhittable at the end of games. The veteran righty has long been an important part of the A's relief corps, but he'll never play a more critical role to this team's success than he will over the next few weeks. 

 
23 of 25

The Dodgers should represent the NL in the World Series

The Dodgers should represent the NL in the World Series
Kyusung Gong/Icon Sportswire

Unlike the Yankees in the American League, the NL's preseason favorites have not disappointed. Los Angeles' trade for Mookie Betts propelled them to the top record in the sport, and while Atlanta and their division rivals in San Diego may have something to say about it, it will be severely disappointing if they don't make it to the Fall Classic. 

 
24 of 25

Pete Alonso will enter 2021 with something to prove

Pete Alonso will enter 2021 with something to prove
Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire

After leading baseball in homers as a rookie in 2019, the Mets' charismatic first baseman has struggled mightily during his sophomore season. Alonso's power has still been there, but his average hasn't, and his strikeouts piled up dramatically as the season wore on. With New York struggling it was clear Alonso was pressing at times, and the club will hope he can relax and clear his head over the winter, and show up to camp in February ready to reclaim his position as one of the most dangerous sluggers in the sport. 

 
25 of 25

Everything we've seen in 2020 should be taken with a grain of salt

Everything we've seen in 2020 should be taken with a grain of salt
Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire

While the actual game on the field has looked relatively normal, it's important to remember what everyone involved has gone through. From the rigorous testing players, coaches, and team personnel have had to undergo, being isolated from their families, and quarantined at the hotel on the road rather than even being able to hang out with your teammates, this has been a season like no other. While some big name players' (i.e. Christian Yelich) numbers are significantly down, it's important to factor in the mental and emotional toll all of the measures to keep everyone safe could be taking on certain individuals. 

Justin Mears

Justin Mears is a freelance sports writer from Long Beach Island, NJ. Enjoys being frustrated by the Mets and Cowboys, reading Linwood Barclay novels, and being yelled at by his toddler son. Follow him on twitter @justinwmears

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Yankees have finally found their third baseman in Ryan McMahon
MLB

Yankees have finally found their third baseman in Ryan McMahon

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'As soon as humanly possible' — Taylor Swift encourages fans to watch 'Happy Gilmore 2' with post including sweet tribute to Travis Kelce
Entertainment

'As soon as humanly possible' — Taylor Swift encourages fans to watch 'Happy Gilmore 2' with post including sweet tribute to Travis Kelce

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Warriors' Stephen Curry believes NBA players are 'underpaid'
NBA

Warriors' Stephen Curry believes NBA players are 'underpaid'

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WNBA Legend Lisa Leslie Had Three Words for Angel Reese After Sky’s 16th Loss
WNBA

WNBA Legend Lisa Leslie Had Three Words for Angel Reese After Sky’s 16th Loss

Now in her second WNBA season, Angel Reese is averaging a league‑leading 12.5 rebounds along with 13.8 points, 3.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game. She recently returned from a midseason leg injury and immediately picked up where she left off, posting her 16th double‑double of the season (11 points, 11 rebounds) on Tuesday night even as her Chicago Sky fell, 91-68, to the Minnesota Lynx. Then, on Wednesday, Reese showcased her brand power on Instagram, posting a pregame photo dressed head‑to‑toe in Gucci with the caption, "Don’t worry about me… life is GUCCI @gucci #guccipartner." The image quickly lit up her feed and drew an immediate response from one of the game’s all‑time greats, WNBA legend Lisa Leslie, who commented, “Yessss it is❤️." Despite flashes of elite play, the Sky have struggled mightily through 23 games, standing at just 7-16 and sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference. Their 77.6 points per game rank 12th in the WNBA, and opponents are torching them for 86.5 a night (11th in the league). With head coach Tyler Marsh searching for consistency, every bright spot has been a welcome reprieve for a franchise that won the title as recently as 2021. Front and center among Chicago’s bright spots is Reese. Off the court, Reese has quickly built a burgeoning portfolio of endorsement deals, including Reebok, Calvin Klein, Beats by Dre, Amazon and now Gucci, underscoring her status as one of the WNBA’s brightest personalities. On the other side, you have Leslie, whose voice carries more weight than arguably anybody in women’s basketball. A three‑time league MVP, two‑time WNBA champion and Finals MVP and eight‑time All‑Star, Leslie helped define the league’s early years with the Los Angeles Sparks, including driving home the first dunk in WNBA history in 2002. A Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer (Class of 2015), she remains a global ambassador for the sport.