Bowden: 24 causes I’m grateful for MLB in 2024

It’s Thanksgiving, so I needed to offer thanks for the 2024 MLB season, which noticed the most effective group within the common season — the Los Angeles Dodgers — go on to win the World Sequence, however their spectacular run was solely certainly one of many issues that can follow me.

Right here’s to the folks, groups, moments and milestones that made it a particular yr. These are 24 causes I’m grateful for MLB this yr, and please share your individual within the feedback part. Thanks and Completely satisfied Thanksgiving to you and your households!

1. Freddie Freeman, who hammered a Tenth-inning walk-off grand slam in Sport 1 of the World Sequence, giving us yet one more lifetime reminiscence to go together with the October blasts by Kirk Gibson, David Freese, Carlton Fisk, Joe Carter and firm.

2. The MVP seasons of Aaron Decide and Shohei Ohtani. Decide had among the finest particular person seasons in historical past, slashing .322/.458/.701 with a league-leading 58 residence runs, 144 RBIs and 10.8 bWAR. Ohtani opened the 50-50 Membership in unbelievable trend, turning into the primary participant to hit 54 residence runs and steal 59 bases in a season, whereas posting a 190 OPS+ and 9.2 WAR.

3. The Diamondbacks, who began the season by breaking the modern-era report for many runs scored in an inning on Opening Day, with 14 in opposition to the Rockies.

Elly De La Cruz, the human spotlight reel. (Katie Stratman / Imagn Pictures)

4. Elly De La Cruz, who grew to become the primary participant to hit a 450-foot residence run and an inside-the-park homer in the identical sport, on April 8 in opposition to the Milwaukee Brewers.

5. Gunnar Henderson, who grew to become the youngest participant in major-league historical past to hit 10 residence runs earlier than Might 1.

6. Juan Soto, who grew to become the primary main leaguer to stroll 669 occasions earlier than he celebrated his twenty sixth birthday, breaking the report held by Mickey Mantle.

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7. Francisco Lindor, who grew to become the primary shortstop to hit a minimum of 25 residence runs and steal 25 bases in three seasons (2018, ’23, ’24). Oh, and a type of homers broke up a no-hitter within the ninth, tying a sport in Toronto the Mets one way or the other went on to win.

8. This yr’s commerce deadline. Some referred to as it a “dudline,” but it surely nonetheless delivered: The Dodgers acquired Jack Flaherty, Tommy Edman and Michael Kopech; the Padres landed Tanner Scott; the Royals bought Lucas Erceg; the Yankees traded for Jazz Chisholm Jr.; the Astros picked up Yusei Kikuchi. All of these trades have been vital in serving to their respective groups make the playoffs.

9. The emergence of so many gifted younger place gamers, from Jackson Merrill to Jackson Chourio to Colton Cowser to Austin Wells to Wilyer Abreu, amongst others.

Paul Skenes’ future is shiny. (Charles LeClaire / Imagn Pictures)

10. Paul Skenes — who began the All-Star Sport in his first season — and Luis Gil, who each wowed on the mound and pitched their strategy to Rookie of the Yr honors.

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11. Talking of debuts, let’s hear it for brand new management in Baltimore, as David Rubenstein grew to become the Orioles’ principal proprietor. Hopefully the possession change will result in extra assets for a fan base that has deserved higher.

12. Chris Sale, who had a outstanding comeback season that led to the primary Cy Younger Award of his profession. And Tarik Skubal, one other first-time Cy Younger winner, who authored the most effective season of any beginning pitcher within the sport.

13. Luis Arraez, who grew to become the primary participant in major-league historical past to win three consecutive batting titles with three completely different groups — the Twins, Marlins and Padres.

14. Emmanuel Clase, who had one of the dominant seasons ever by a more in-depth, with a 0.61 ERA over 74 video games.

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15. The Skenes-Ohtani matchup on June 5: Skenes strikes him out on three pitches within the first, then Ohtani goes yard in his subsequent at-bat. A particular second of stars squaring off.

16. There have been 4 no-hitters to have fun. Hat tip to Ronel Blanco of the Astros, Dylan Stop of the Padres, Blake Snell of the Giants, and Shota Imanaga, Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge, who threw a mixed no-no for the Cubs.

17. I’m grateful that Buster Posey, who got here out of retirement after profitable three World Sequence as a participant, determined to tackle the problem — and lengthy hours — of working a baseball operations division, for his San Francisco Giants. The sport is a greater place when former gamers like him give again.

18. A heat welcome again to future Corridor of Fame Supervisor Terry Francona, who got here out of retirement to signal a three-year contract to handle the Cincinnati Reds. It’ll be good to see Tito again within the dugout.

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19. Props to the Kansas Metropolis Royals, who received 30 extra video games this yr — bettering from 56-106 in 2023 to 86-76 in 2024 — and made the playoffs. A turnaround for the ages.

20. Talking of turnarounds, a hat tip to 2 groups that put collectively signature rallies after subpar begins: the OMG Mets, who took their followers on a wild trip, making the playoffs on the ultimate day of the common season after which advancing to the NLCS; and the Detroit Tigers, who went from trade-deadline sellers to “pitching chaos” postseason contributors, making the playoffs, for the primary time in a decade, in dramatic trend — and profitable a collection in addition.

21. Then again, I’m grateful there is no such thing as a relegation in MLB, in any other case the White Sox would not be a part of the massive leagues after the worst season I’ve seen in my lifetime. Right here’s to turning the web page.

Joey Votto referred to as it a profession — and what a profession it was. (Andy Lyons / Getty Pictures)

22. Let’s tip our caps to the celebs of the sport who determined to retire, from Joey Votto to Stephen Strasburg to Cole Hamels to Kevin Kiermaier to Brandon Crawford.

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23. And let’s give a standing O to town of Oakland, which capped 57 years of major-league baseball within the Coliseum. There have been so many issues that made baseball in Oakland particular and so many superstars in inexperienced and gold — from Reggie Jackson to Rickey Henderson to Catfish Hunter to Rollie Fingers to Dennis Eckersley to Vida Blue to Dave Stewart to Mark McGwire — who made their mark on the sport.