Almost. That was the 2017 season for Big Ol’ Country Breakfast.
He was at the table, he just didn’t get to eat, losing 12-7-3 to now two-time JLB Champion Philly Cheese Steaks.
Still, once the table was cleared, Sam could easily sit back in his chair and revel over the season that was.
Only his second year-long venture in the JLB, Country Breakfast won the American League by 17 games and cruised through the playoffs to meet his good buddy Jim Vaughn in the World Series.
Considering where he was when he first clicked “JOIN LEAGUE” in his email two years ago, just being in the position to lose to JV in September was a monumental accomplishment.
“It's been a lot of fun building up to a World Series championship team,” Sam said, “but it’s not done. I’ve built mainly through trades, but there is nothing like grabbing a free-agent guy like Dinelson Lamet and watching them contribute to a squad."
Lamet is just one of the many reasons why Ol’ Country is a favorite to be right there up against JV in the World Series once again.
He joins a staff that includes a Cy Young favorite in Chris Sale, along with Robbie Ray, Lance McCullers Jr. and Dylan Bundy.
“I wouldn’t say potential favorite,” Sam said, humbly. “I think I’m in the pack with a deep AL this year.”
That could be true, as while I mentioned a strong top half of the rotation, there are a lot of question marks below them from injuries to on-and-off performances by guys like Drew Pomeranz, Danny Salazar, Michael Wacha, Mike Minor, Sean Manaea and Tyler Glasnow.
Pomeranz is the most confusing part of this roster just based on where he was drafted. He’s already dealing with more injury concerns and I was extremely shocked to see him drafted in the first round.
“Pomeranz and Wacha will be there to help smooth over the growing pains from my kids.” Sam said. “Then probably Manaea, ADHD medicine zapping 15 pounds from him is what I contributed to his late-season collapse. I think he'll deliver the goods this year.”
If he does, Sam will be in great shape because we all know the offense is going to deliver the goods. No doubt there.
Anthony Rizzo (you’re welcome), Brian Dozier, Anthony Rendon (you're welcome again), Trea Turner (yes, you're welcome here, too), Starling Marte, Lorenzo Cain and J.D. Martinez (ugh, you're welcome once more) are a potent group that will score runs, hit for average, drive in runs and walk a lot.
There really isn’t a stat category that Sam will miss out on weekly — including the stat category UOS2W (Using Old Slammers To Win).
That also includes stolen bases where he should dominate because his trade acquisition of Billy Hamilton adds a projected 61 steals to the projected 58 Trea Turner should get.
That’s 119 steals between two players. That’s insane.
Hell, there are nine teams in the League that failed to reach 119 steals with their entire team.
“It was a steep price to acquire Hamilton and Faria, but Hamilton gives me a three-headed monster of steals. Cain and Nunez are no slouches either. I'll use this as a soapbox, Hamilton is available for a price, but I think it’s going to be fun to sit back and watch the steals pile up.”
Fun for you maybe; not fun for the rest of the American League.
They’re also not going to like to see all the homers and RBIs pile up.
The only stat category that will not pile up is saves, as he only has a projected 10 saves coming from five relievers who figure to garner far more holds than saves.
It’s an interesting approach in the new 3x3x3 format to just go all-in on holds. It’s a strategy many teams have used before with the 4-reliever setup with varying results.
Sam is deciding to roll with it in the new setup.
“Same recipe that I brought into the League last year after the draft,” Sam said. “All holds, baby. By the playoffs, I had three closers, so I’m looking to keep my ratios strong, rack up holds and Ks early in the season and live on the wire for closer changes.”
Let that be another public service announcement from Sam.
To recap, Hamilton could be for sale; Sale could be in for Cy; and a sigh may be in for everyone else when Sam gets to sit down at the table across from JV and actually dig in.
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