One day before the start of the 2022 season, here is a guide to understand which teams to follow in the NL. It starts with the reigning champions Braves and the Dodgers who are the number 1 favorites and which we will see on Sky Sport on Sunday evening. The impact of the new rule: it is played with the designated hitter
MLB, THE SEASON IS READY TO START
It’s a Revolution. And it will be divisive. In a traditionalist sport like baseball, introducing novelties always triggers very hot emotions destined to clash with very cold reasoning, causing storms of opinion. The National League will play with the designated hitter (DH in acronym, which stands for “designated hitter”), as the American League has been doing since 1973. Major League baseball then becomes uniform. The Designated Hitter plays offense turns only, going to bat for a regular defender, usually the pitcher who is typically the least effective player in the batter’s box. There are several advantages. The batting averages in AL have always been significantly higher. More attack, more home runs, more points and therefore more show, one could argue. In NL they have always maintained that the spectacle in this game is not done only by turning the bat. Having the pitcher in the batting order inserts an intriguing tactical element, especially when the substitutions of the various pitchers who alternate on the mount begin. Some players have complete technical fundamentals and when a match is resolved by a pitcher’s serve it is truly a moment to remember. Fans go crazy.
Also it is a situation that leads to the execution of many bunts, i.e. contacts with the ball to make very short, damped beats to advance runners on the bases. It’s not such a simple shot to execute, but it must continue to be part of the baseball player’s genetic make-up. Most pitchers, however, only make a bad impression in attack and in the end it is preferable to avoid injuries and specific training that is quite useless. The DH is a role that can be entrusted in each game to different players or to a specialist and this allows you to alternate (and therefore rest more) the elements of the roster and extend the career of big hitters that in defense have lost brilliance and reactivity. The debate is destined to continue, but the choice has a logical basis. And the World Series will always be played on every court with unique rules and with already accustomed teams, while until now we played with DH only at the home of the AL teams and with pitchers who went to beat at the home of NL teams.
NL East: The Mets try to catch the Braves
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The Atlanta Braves they are veterans of a large company. The title won in 2021 it was extraordinary, a masterpiece of resistance to adversity, with a series of injuries especially between winger and pitchers who would have convinced many to think about better times. Not them. Why shouldn’t they win back now that they can have Ronald Acuna backthat is, their strongest player, and also Marcell Ozuna (by the way: here’s a perfect DH)? And that the pitchers are healthy and abound for the moment? Just because they lost Freddie Freeman? Great champion, that’s right. But Olson on first base will not make numbers that far behind him. In the end it’s the usual question: the approach countsthe desire to win that may have remained or that can be exhausted in a wearying season of 162 games plus playoffs. If no one has won two years in a row since the year 2000, there must be a reason and for 21 years the reigning champions have always found a valid one so as not to repeat themselves. The New York Mets will try, driven by the many millions of dollars invested by the property. They signed a super pitcher like Max Scherzer that arrives in the team where there is probably the strongest already, that is Jacob deGrom. A 1-2 combination in the starting rotation that no one has. For now not even the Mets, to be honest, because deGrom has to recover from an injury. Not to be forgotten are the grafts of valuable players such as Mars, Escobar and Canha although much will depend on the alternating current of the various Canò, Alonso, Lindor. They have a lot to redeem, if the current goes steady… it will be thrilling to see them in action. They start behind on card i Philadelphia Phillies (but they always have the MVP Bryce Harper and they added Schwarber and Castellanos), i Washington Nationals (but a duo of hitters to put at # 3 and # 4 in the lineup like Juan Soto and Nelson Cruz isn’t something everyone has) and Miami Marlins (but Soler and Wendle are players who give a solidity that wasn’t there before and the rotation of starters with an average age of 25 is very talented).
NL Central: Milwaukee can upset the balance
For some years this division has been tremendously balanced and often indecipherable. Many teams take turns in command, the run to the playoffs is a final sprint. I Milwaukee Brewers they could break away from the group in 2022. Mainly because they have the best throwers department, possibly one of the absolute best in MLB. One rotation with Woodruff, Burnes, Peralta, Houser, Lauer and maybe even Ashby, so they turn in six and launch well rested. The closer the stronger: Josh Hader. Well … just score a few points in attack. It serves that Yelich remember that he was an MVP, that the old nobility of the various Cain e McCutchen still have dreams of greatness. Renfroe it is certainly a good buy in the external field. THE St.Louis Cardinals they remain a team not to be underestimated, a mistake not to be made with people like Goldschmidt, Arenado and Molinanot to mention Adam Wainwright who at 40 may still be one of the best pitchers in action. The homecoming of Albert Pujols it’s an emotionally wonderful shot but not quite an injection of freshness. Cincinnati Reds e Pittsburgh Pirates they are in complete and total reconstruction, have exposed the sign work in progress and we will find out in the coming months what is hidden behind the scaffolding. THE Chicago Cubs they have some more curiosity elements: Marcus Stroman reinforces a rotation where Hendricks has to go back to what he was before (disappointing) 2021 e Seiya Suzuki he can be a top player even if it’s his first year in MLB. He arrives at the age of 27, mature and prepared, a real star of the Japanese championship.
NL West: The Dodgers set off to win
In Los Angeles we only think big, that of the gods Dodgers it’s an ongoing cycle and it would be frankly disappointing if it ultimately produced just one title. So they will try again. Any team would be shocked to have lost Scherzer, Seager and Pollock. Not the Dodgers. They can insert Freddie Freeman in an established group and give him further motivation after the title won with Atlanta. A successful operation with Mookie Betts when he came from Boston. The roster remains full of players who can decide every game: in addition to Freeman and Betts, the two Turner, Bellinger, Muncy, Taylor and the pitchers Buehler, Urias and the eternal Kershaw. There could only be a problem if Kimbrel fails in the role of closer (the pitcher who closes games while keeping his team ahead).
After the excellent 2021 season i Giants they will try to keep the pace of the Dodgers and are deep enough to do it, especially if they also recover Longoria e LaMonte Wade. Carlos Rodon for the rotation of the pitchers is a great buy.
I Fathers they believed last year that they were close to the level of the best and therefore of LA and San Francisco, but they gave up in the second half of the season. It doesn’t help that Fernando Tatis must recover from yet another injury. He is one of the brightest stars in baseball. Voit can help now that you have to play with the DH but it is the pitchers who can change the destiny of the team. Good names on the card. The various Darvish, Snell, Musgrove, Clevinger they’ve had super seasons and some less. If everyone performs at their best and if a closer is also found, the Padres could get where they want and it will be easier to apologize for the delay.
In such a division it is problematic to survive, hence the chances of Arizona Dbacks and Colorado Rockies are very small. Of course they have cards to play. In the DBacks there is a certain Madison Bumgarner (a legend with the SF Giants), but he comes from two forgettable seasons. In the Rockies has arrived Kris Bryant (former Chicago Cubs title winner) and will join the off-field festival that usually takes place in Denver.
