Future of the Franchise

Turner and Hooch, Joey and Chandler, Mowgli and Baloo, Sulley and Mike. Now add to the list the next great friendship; Seager and Utley. And to shorthand this new friendship, from here on out, they will collectively have the celebrity name: Seagutly. You know, for simplicity's sake.... 

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These two have apparently hitten' it off in a big way. According to third baseman Justin Turner, “They are so similar it’s scary.’’ They play catch before each game, have the same pre-game routine, and even share the same superstitions. 

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Dodgers manager Dave Robertson says that no one epitomizes Dodger baseball like Utley, and so there is a real effect of having that fire and spark passed along to Seager.

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Texas drafted Seager for that very reason. While Seager will anchor their offense for years to come, its the leadership of the kid that truly entices. 

Team MVP

No, he's really not 40 years old. You think he is, and he does seem like it most years, but in fact, to start the 2016 season, he is only 33. Really blows the mind doesn't it. I could have sworn he was much older. So is this prime then?

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He has been good for a few years now, but life has been hard for Lester. From being diagnosed with cancer, to mentoring young cancer patients himself, most notably Anthony Rizzo, to bouncing between long tortured franchises, Lester has had a rough road for himself. 

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Perhaps his most difficult challenge however, is not his arm slot angle or pitch selection, it's his nerves. And while a starting pitcher normally doesn't disclose this embarrassing shortcoming easily, Lester is remarkably open about it. In his own words, "I'm probably more nervous than anyone on this field." This was in reference to his team's impending World Championship run. 

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So Texas has to hope this nerve wracking fidgety pitcher can hold it together in the biggest game out there. In order to make a deep run, Texas will need to lean on him often.