MLB Mid Season Surprise Stories

By Zane Robidoux

Twitter: @zrobidoeee

As June comes to a close and July rolls around, so does the halfway point of the MLB season. Even though the All-Star game isn’t for a few more weeks, the true midpoint of the season rests right on game number 81, which is only about a week away. With that midway point fast approaching, let’s take a look at some of the most surprising stories of the 2018 season thus far.

The resurgence of Matt Kemp 

Matt Kemp’s story is a strange one. I mean, he’s never really been a terrible hitter by any statistical measure, but for some reason when one thinks of Matt Kemp, nothing special comes to mind.

He had his best season with the Dodgers in 2011 posting a .324/39 HR/126 RBI slash line, and since then has been a consistent productive hitter when playing a fullseason. He was traded to the Padres in 2015, and since has seemed to have lost his luster.

After bouncing around in Atlanta and San Diego for a few productive years, he made a return back to Los Angeles this past off season. Since his return home he’s been right back to his All-Star form, making himself a household name one once again. He’s been performing at a high level offensively all season and is in perfect position to start the All-Star game for the NL squad.

Nick Markakis' Breakout year

Markakis has never been one of those standout guys. Only really known for his arm and defensive abilities, he’s spent the majority of his career out of the spotlight. His numbers were never flashy, but he always was a productive player that would be a perfect fit on any team.

It seems as though this year, in his 13^th season, he was ready to take that next step. Markakis currently leads the NL in hits, is tied for the lead in doubles, and is one point out of the lead for batting average.

His sudden dominance has landed him in perfect position to make, and start, his first ever All-Star team. His offensive contributions have been a substantial part of the Braves success this season.

The Continued Success of the Underdogs

Not much was expected of the Braves, Phillies, Brewers or Mariners coming into the season. The Braves are young and were still supposed to be a year out, Milwaukee has the talent but can never seem to put it together, the Astros and Angels were too much for Seattle to contend with, and Philly just didn’t have enough talent yet. 

Even Vegas didn’t give them much of a chance at a World Series, with Atlanta and Philly at 300-1 odds, Seattle at 100-1 and Milwaukee at 55-1.

These teams, however, after almost half a season have continued to surprise and impress league wide.

Almost all of the teams occupy playoff spots currently, with the exception of the Phillies, who are half a game back of an NL wild card spot. The Braves and Brewers are tied for the best record in the NL, and Seattle, against all odds, has hung right there with the reigning World Series champs, and is 7 games up on the Angels for the second wild card spot.

Even with all the early season doubts, these squads with their young cores and battled veterans are all looking to make noise come October, and with the way the season has gone so far, I don’t see much stopping them. 

Justin Verlander and Jacob deGrom’s Historic Starts

Both of these pitchers have an unmatched level of talent and are putting together career years.  In deGrom’s 5^thseason, he’s posted an NL leading ERA of 1.69, and has put the entire Mets squad, and frankly the entire borough of Queens, on his back in the process. 

In his 16 starts he’s allowed 19 runs and had a stretch of 5 starts in April and May where he gave up 1 run total. His record doesn’t show nearly how amazing he has been, but that’s not a knock on how he’s performed, but more about how horrendous the rest of the Mets have been performing.  

deGrom has been on another planet this entire season, but lucky for him he has company there.

Verlander currently leads the AL in innings pitched and ERA (1.82), and has absolutely dominated every team he’s come across this season. Even in his 14^th season his stuff has never wavered, and he is actually throwing at a higher velocity since joining the Astros last season than he has at any point since 2012. Kind of nutty to think that a player at his age with his tenure just seems to be getting better.

Verlander has solidified himself as the ace on the best team in baseball, and if he continues to pitch the way he has through the first half of the season, it looks like the Astros could ride his success all the way back to another World Series.

The Disappearance of Hanley Ramirez

Hanley’s season was off to a blazing start. He batted .330 in the month of April and poured on 17 RBIs. He seemed to be well on his way to hitting his at bat quota of 497, which would let him hit his $22 million option for 2019.

Then the May slump hit. Hanley’s batting average dipped to .254 after hitting only .163 through 19 May games. With Dustin Pedrioa coming off the DL and a roster spot needed, the Red Sox made the quick decision to designate Hanley for assignment on May 25^th. Going 0-21 in his final at bats for the Sox didn’t help his cause much there. 

Since then however, Hanley has been completely cut off from the league. There have been no links to teams, no rumors, nothing. And it doesn’t look like that’s going to change in the near future either. As strange as it may seem, it looks as though Hanley Ramirez’s career might be over just like that. 

As it always is, the second half is sure to be just as interesting as the first. No matter what stories unfold in the next 81 games, they are sure to be just as interesting and strange, like baseball always is.