Butter grabbed a shopping cart this past March and entered the grocery store. He went straight for the international aisle, past the Goya — not in protest, but rather because it wasn’t part of his plan — and came to the Asian cuisines.
Six players from Japan or Korea, that’s what Butter finds himself with as he enters the 2020 season.
So who of the newest additions — not counting Shohei Ohtani — does he like the most?
“I’d have to say on offense… I picked enough that I can pick one from bats and one from arms,” he said, laughing at the fact that he was breaking the rules of my question. “I’m excited for Tsutsugo’s power potential... Third base and OF eligibility and he will see plenty of playing time, and from the pitching side, I think Kim has solid stuff and could be a decent back end guy in Cincinnati.”
See.
He drafted so many he has no clue where they all play.
Kwang Hyun Kim is a St. Louis Cardinal.
Now, let’s talk about Ohtani.
(He’s an Angel, in case you were wondering, Butter.)
He may be a player who will really benefit from this 60-game season. The Angels were looking to ease him back into the dual-threat role, and this is the perfect short season to do it.
I really think we could see Ohtani shine at the plate, especially in a lineup with Trout and Rendon, and he should remain well rested on the mound. This could be the catalyst to an All-Star campaign in 2021.
“He struggled with his control the other day but that doesn’t worry me much,” Butter said. “A short season on his arm will be huge for 2021, he will get a nice stretching of sorts with a shortened season and get plenty of ABs on the DH side of things... I know there are a lot of teams that have been after him here in the JLB and I’m happy I’ve never moved him!”
Well, to be fair here, Butter hasn’t had the chance to move him. Trades were frozen with the pandemic, and because of the rule changes, he found himself with an illegal roster until Opening Day, and with the trade deadline now the night before Opening Day, Butter couldn’t trade.
That’s right. You know what that means.
Zack Greinke will be a Steroid for a full season.
Let me say that again.
Zack Greinke will be a Steroid from start to finish!
“It’s amazing!” Butter said. “He’s been a regular in the Steroid.ERA locker room off and on for seven seasons now, and don’t think he’s ever been healthy a full season. In true Greinke fashion he’s had a late restart, but did anyone expect anything less?”
I’ll be honest. Looking at July 19th on my Apple Watch, I expected him to be a Cheesesteak by now, because now’s the time when JV turns his shopping cart down the Butter aisle, sticks his arm out and fills his cart with marginal improvements.
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