It’s Thanksgiving! Gobble gobble, everyone. It’s a bit of a sports writing trope, going all the way back to the turn of the century (no, not that one, the turn of the last century) when newspaper columnists would all sit around and write about what sports figures to be thankful for that Thanksgiving season. We are not immune to the charms of the Thanksgiving column trope. There is much to be thankful for!
So, as we head into the Thanksgiving holiday, here’s something for every team to be thankful for. Whether your team is a champion or a cellar dweller, there is something to be grateful for.
Blue Jays: Vladdy Jr.
We’ve all been moved by Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani over the last few years, and for good reason, but let’s not forget that the Blue Jays have a young superstar who almost won his own MVP in 2021, has a smile that light can up the sky, has a swing that will send fireworks from the sky and, oh yes, is the son of a Hall of Famer who is also one of the most fun players in recent baseball vintage. Don’t take Vladimir Guerrero Jr for granted, folks.
Orioles: The fun is just beginning.
See, success is not a linear concept. You take a few steps forward and then one or two back. You break through, and then you struggle to take the next leap. Your young players are not doing exactly the way you want them to. It’s not all rainbows and sunshine from now on. But one thing is clearly true: last year was proof that the worst is behind Orioles fans. This is a competitive team with an abundance of young talent that is far from going anywhere. You made it, Orioles. You deserve this.
Rays: The talent just keeps coming.
Remember when the Rays were blasted for trading this player, or that player? Remember when the Rays were “too analytical” and “too smart for their own good?” Well, guess what? They made the playoffs again this year, for the fourth season in a row. They have a lot of questions to answer this offseason. Guess what? They will probably answer them. They always do that.
Red Sox: Fenway is immortal.
You always know things aren’t great in Boston when the “be thankful” thing ends at “Fenway,” but seriously: there’s nothing in the world like Fenway. You’re going to see pictures of snow falling over Fenway this offseason, and it’s going to remind you of what you’re missing … and while 2022 was tough, we’ve learned that this team bounces back very quickly.
Yankees: They won 99 games last year and came one round away from their first World Series in 13 years.
Yankees fans were so frustrated at the end of the playoffs, and so nervous about Aaron Judge, that you have to say this out loud every now and then to remind them.
Guards: That building can be noisy again.
Those of us who remember how packed and wild Cleveland and its stadium were in its perennial sellout 90s incarnation took great delight in the wall of sound that place produced in their ALDS against the Yankees. Those fans are still there, and still great. Not every franchise can say that.
Royals: A transition that seems to lead in the right direction.
The Royals have made a lot of changes this offseason, and while it’s certainly up in the air how they’ll pan out, it sure looks like they’re pointing in the direction of a franchise that has taken a good look at itself and is willing to try something new. When things don’t work out, really, that’s all a fan can ask for.
Tigers: The page has been turned.
Almost everything that could go wrong did go wrong for the Tigers last year. This team will go through some rough patches at times in 2023, sure, but there’s reason to believe things will get better. Riley Greene’s emergence in the second half is a good place to start.
Twins: The team, and the front office, don’t stop.
Many teams, especially those in a small market like Minnesota, would pack their bags and start over if they lost 89 games, as the Twins did in 2021. That’s not what the Twins did, even signing perhaps the best free agent on the brand, in Carlos Correa (who opted out and is a free agent again). It didn’t get them into the playoffs, and now that player is gone, but it speaks of motivation: this team won’t sit still.
White Sox: There is still so much young talent here.
Last season was such a disappointment that you can almost forget that, in addition to their solid rotation, the White Sox have so many excellent hitters under 30: Tim Anderson (29), Yoán Moncada (27), Luis Robert (25), Eloy Jiménez ( 26), Andrew Vaughn (24). There isn’t a team in baseball that doesn’t want that.
Angels: Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani are still here.
Look, it got pretty rough for a while last year. But every fan of every other team in baseball gets excited when they see the Angels come to town because it means they get to see these two play. And Angels fans can see them every night!
Astros: They just won the World Series.
There is no need to complicate this one.
Athletics: There are some pieces that make up the next good A team.
Yes, it’s been a tough couple of years, but: Watching Shea Langeliers progress into a potential All-Star should be fun. Cristian Pache can come. Yankees fans could rue the day they included Ken Waldichuk in the Frankie Montas deal.
Mariners: They made the playoffs!
After a 21-year postseason drought, they did it. They even made it out of a round! And the best part: it’s no accident. This is just the beginning.
Rangers: More and more good stuff is coming.
One might have argued that signing Corey Seager and Marcus Semien last year was a little ambitious, but there are far worse things you can say about your team than “they’re ambitious.”
Braves: So much young talent. So much!
Remember, you would have considered the Braves to be stacked with young talent before they had the top two votes in the NL Rookie of the Year this year. How many more of these guys are there?
Marlins: Your first Cy Young winner!
Sandy Alcantara is now the first Marlins pitcher with a Cy Young trophy on his shelf. And it wouldn’t surprise anyone if the 27-year-old added another one at some point.
Mets: The vibes are back.
The Mets didn’t finish their season quite the way they hoped, and the way many (including me) thought they would. But the LOLMets days are long behind them. This team is smart, stacked with resources and very committed to winning. They had the best record in New York City last year. That may stay for a while.
Nationals: The Padres trade package was super nice.
Yes, it’s sad to see Juan Soto go. But CJ Abrams and Robert Hassell III will be essential pieces of this team for many years.
Phillies: They went to the World Series!
What an incredible run that was. You didn’t imagine it. It really happened.
Brewers: There are so many pitchers here.
You’ve heard the same rumors about Corbin Burnes that the rest of us have. If he is not traded, this staff will be stacked. But if he does… this staff is still stacked! Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta are rotation mainstays, and Devin Williams anchors a bullpen that, ultimately, was pretty solid post-Josh Hader trade. Due to their pitching, the Brouwers are not going anywhere.
Cardinals: After one of the great byes in recent baseball memory, the Cardinals get to do it again.
Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina went out in glorious fashion. Now Adam Wainwright gets to do the same. Hopefully this time in a later playoff round.
Cubs: They stopped allowing runs.
Perhaps the Cubs will be active on the free-agent market, but even if they aren’t, there are reasons for excitement. Thanks to the likes of Marcus Stroman and Adrian Sampson, they had a 3.30 team ERA after the All-Star break, which ranked fifth in the Majors. Additionally, there is a group of prospects (led by outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong) that will arrive very soon. With that talent and a chance to add via free agency, this dip shouldn’t last forever. It shouldn’t even take long.
Reds: Joey Votto is a treasure.
You don’t need social media to know how wonderful Votto is. But, you know, it doesn’t hurt.
D-backs: Corbin Carroll is your signature star.
They haven’t really had one since trading Paul Goldschmidt, and Carroll appears to be one.
Dodgers: They are the Dodgers!
The postseason was a bummer…again. But any team in baseball would trade places with the Dodgers in a second.
Giants: A smart front office is about to make some noise.
Do you know how smart they were two years ago when they found talent in the most unlikely places? Now they feel they have something to prove.
Padres: They beat the Dodgers!
Sure, there are three MVP candidates on this team next year. But it’s OK to enjoy that Dodgers NLDS win, you all earned it.
Rockies: Coors will be a great place to watch Kris Bryant hit 40 homers.
Incredibly, Bryant didn’t hit a single homer at Coors Field during his injury-shortened 2022 campaign. But they will come. In bundles. soon