JLB SEASON PREVIEW: 2024 Quad Eh All-Stars

We are all keeping an eye out for prospects these days.

The entire JLB is obsessed with the next great player.

Who's getting moved from Single-A to Double-A?

Who's in line to leave the NCAA and become a top-five pick?

Who's getting the call to the bigs?

Well, of all those great things that we love, I can tell you who is the next big deal.

It's Erik Carlson, a.k.a. Sir Jawn Eh Macdonald.

That's right. The new No. 1 prospect in baseball is getting the call. After progressing from Double Eh to Triple Eh for the 2023 season, he's just been told that he's moving back up to Quad Eh.

"I think we can definitely kick off the season in Quah Eh," Sir Jawn said. "I feel like the squad is pretty cohesive this season and covers all the bases. (Especially 2nd and 3rd)."

He has seven players who qualify for either 2B or 3B, nine if you count Connor Norby and Tyler Locklear in the minors.

Of the ones on the active roster, Gunnar Henderson is the one I love the most. His average is about 20, 30 points lower than I'd like, but with 9 triples, 28 HRs, 82 RBIs and 100 runs scored last year, he's an important piece to the process for Quad Eh.

"I expect Gunnar to have a solid sophomore year and end up in line with last season's final tally," Sir Jawn said.

And at age 22, he's not alone on this roster. There are several younger players who I think could really help shape the future of Quad Eh. (I mean, is there a level above Quad Eh to go to?)

Nolan Jones, Bryson Stott, Jarren Duran, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Gavin Lux and Francisco Alvarez are all players who should make some noise in fantasy.

"I don't think we're in the running for the World Series this year," Sir Jawn said, "but I do believe we can cause some headaches for those who are if our guys play up to their potential more often than not. However, given the youth, I do have concerns over consistent production for a full 162."

If only he had a superstar to go with those young bats.

Oh, wait. He does.

Juan Soto, the new New York Yankee.

I think that Soto is in line to have a strong first half of the season with the Yankees, and then, when the Yankees realize that this season is a failure and that Soto is a waste on their squad, they're going to do the smart thing and turn him into even more top-tier prospects than what they sent away.

Let me borrow Parker's tin foil hat for a moment.

What if Brian Cashman made that deal knowing that he'd be able to get even more at the trade deadline?

At any rate, Quad Eh is going to love having him on roster, and he's not trading him.

"As to Childish Bambino, he's the heart of the team and has been since he was acquired from Choo in the Mookie Betts trade," Sir Jawn said. "While he has dipped in the past couple seasons, Soto's lackluster years are still well above average and very projectable overall. The move to Yankee Stadium is only lifting that floor higher in the HR category and could essentially remove the ceiling altogether - 50 is not out of the question if Judge, Rizzo, and Stanton pose enough of a threat (and are healthy) to get Soto better pitches."

Sir Jawn continued on: "I liked Soto when I got him, and like him even more with the cohort of young stars around him. Soto and other key players of the squad are all in the same age range and will form a strong core for years to come."

Now, we've talked offense for a while, and you can probably guess why.

The pitching has some work to do. Shane Bieber projects out to be the best starter on this roster, and even though I personally like Bieber for 2024, that isn't the greatest thing.

He made 21 starts last season, but he made 31 in 2022 with a 2.88 ERA and 198 strikeouts. I don't think it's out of the question to expect something similar in 2024.

Still, Quad Eh needs more than just Bieber.

"Pitching... Pitching as always is the biggest obstacle to the playoffs for me," Sir Jawn said. "I believe I have the arms to be steady in the pitching categories, but no real stars to be overly competitive at first glance. That said, Shane Bieber could be that ace after working with Driveline over the offseason. Still just 28, there's a real chance he could return to Cy Young form, which would be a huge win for the club overall."

And if it does work out, I'd expect Erik to be dropping messages to the rest of his pitching staff: GO TO DRIVELINE

Maybe he can even go Old School — the movie, not the phrase — and rent a big van and start kidnapping the pitchers one and a time and dropping them off at Driveline.

"Don't worry," he says before driving off. "I'll have them back in time for dinner."

This type of scheme would certainly help him move up to the next level.

Or get arrested.

Cell Block Eh All-Stars?