It’s the holiday season! Everyone, gobble gobble. It’s a bit of a sportswriting trope, dating back to the turn of the century (no, not that one, the previous one) when newspaper columnists would all sit down and write about what sports figures should be thankful for during the Thanksgiving season. We’re not immune to the allure of the Thanksgiving column. There is so much to be thankful for!
So, as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, here’s something to be thankful for on every team. Whether your team is a champion or a bottom-dweller, there is something to be thankful for.
EAST AMERICAN LEAGUE
The Blue Jays have a devoted fan base.
While this was supposed to be the Blue Jays’ golden age, it hasn’t quite worked out that way (yet). Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and Kevin Gausman are still on the team, and they recently made the playoffs. The Blue Jays are still a force to be reckoned with, with one of the most devoted fan bases in baseball always rooting for them – and pushing them forward.
Orioles: You just won a hundred games!
It was actually 101 games! Despite the frustrations of the ALDS against the eventual World Series champion Rangers, let us not lose sight of the goal: The Orioles are coming off their best season in 45 years. They have the Rookie of the Year, a catcher who is already one of the sport’s preeminent leaders, and Jackson Holliday, the 2024 Rookie of the Year favorite. And they’re surrounded by even more talent. Wins in the postseason are on the way. This is how it used to be.
Rays: You’re living in the best of times. It’s strange that 2023 could be considered a disappointment, considering the Rays had the second-most wins in their franchise’s history. That the Rays would just miss out on the AL East title they once thought was theirs and then fall short in the postseason, made Rays fans feel shortchanged, but this is still a team that has had its three best seasons ever in the last four years, including a World Series appearance. There are questions they have to answer, but they are starting from an excellent place.
Red Sox: A new leadership group in charge. The Red Sox haven’t quite been as bad as their fans have sometimes felt the last few years, but there’s no doubt the Sox haven’t met their fans’ standards. They have Craig Breslow in charge now, a guy who double majored in molecular biophysics and biochemistry at Yale. So he’s got that goin’ for him. Yankees: Aaron Judge is still Aaron Judge. It remains to be seen how Judge evolves as he gets deeper into his thirties, but for a team that has so many questions moving forward and not a lot of obvious answers, Judge is a constant … and capable of changing every game he’s in with one swing.And as fun a guy to root for as you’ll find.
CENTRAL AL
José Ramrez is a dependable member of the Guardians.
The Guardians have a new manager and possibly a new direction, but they still have their perennial MVP candidate, a player who the rest of baseball has never fully appreciated but who is quietly building a Hall of Fame résumé.
Bobby Witt Jr. remains a player to build around for the Royals.
The Royals have a nice farm system and did some interesting things last year, but the big step forward for them moving forward was Witt, who cleaned up his defense and put together another fantastic offensive season, earning him MVP votes.There is talk of an extension, and the Royals should act quickly because this is a player they want around for a long time.
Tigers: The young players are improving.
Riley Greene, when healthy, established himself as the type of regular the Tigers will have in the middle of their lineup for years to come, but Spencer Torkelson’s (31 homers!) leap may have been just as significant.
The skid is over, Twins!
The Twins won a postseason game! Not only that, but a series! You can want more from a postseason run while still appreciating what has already occurred. All those “the Twins have lost THIS MANY postseason games in a row” stories will never be told again.
The White Sox are heading in a new direction.
One suspects that the next year or two will be difficult for the White Sox and their fans, but it’s now clear that the previous era, which was supposed to be the peak era, simply did not work out. It’s clear that a restart is in order.
WEST AL WEST
Mike Trout is still with the Angels.
Shohei Ohtani may not be, but you never know. But Mike Trout remains the best player this franchise has ever seen, and he should be back in the lineup by the start of the season. Every day, you get to see him.
Astros: Jose Altuve is back to being Jose Altuve.
He turns 34 in May, and while it has appeared that a decline is on the way, Altuve has reclaimed his place as one of baseball’s best and most entertaining players. He’ll almost certainly be inducted into the Hall of Fame someday. It’s incredible what he’s accomplished and continues to accomplish.
A’s: There’s a lot more young talent here than most people realize.
Many teams in baseball would love to have four twenty-something hitters like Brent Rooker, Ryan Noda, Shea Langeliers, and, especially, Zack Gelof, who quietly played at an All-Star level down the stretch. You can construct around that.
Julio for the Mariners.
We don’t know when the Mariners will win their first World Series, but Julio Rodrguez appears to be the man who will lead them there.
EASTERN NATIONAL LEAGUE
Braves: Almost everyone who was here in 2023 will be back in 2024.
Braves fans were disappointed with how their postseason unfolded, but don’t get it twisted: this team is stacked, and more importantly, it is still stacked. This Braves core will not be moved. They’ll be great again in 2024, and for many years after that.
