it's still short of 1/3 of the season, and I do anticipate more of a "move non-core pieces in trade if we can" approach to July than we had in 2011, but it's interesting to look at the "Old Chelsea Tribute" post near the end of the GDTs after wins to look at comparable seasons for directions this year could take. the 4 most similar records to date / by game are 2008, 2021, 2019, and 2011. thru 51 games, we are tied with 2008 and 2021 and we are ahead of 2019 still. the 2011 team got its 22nd win in 50 games.
the 2008 team had started to crater early in May but stabilized mid-month around 8 under .500 before becoming the Strasburg-earning pathetic Acta-led disaster with a silver lining around 5/31, fittingly with a Jason Bergmann loss.
2019 and 2021 were about to go on hot streaks with teams rich with veteran talent and headline starting pitchers. one of those headline pitchers, patrick corbin, was having an eerily-similar to this year kind of year in 2021, where he was horrid his first couple of starts but after that put together a middling, not bad stretch to the end of June.
2011 has been talked about. would you take 2011 desi or 2023 cj? 2011 Espinosa or 2023 Garcia? 2011 Buffalo or 2023 Ruiz? Joey isn't showing the pop this year of Michael Morse, there's no #11, and there's no underperforming Werth or injured LaRoche hanging around but important to the future. instead, you have thomas, good glove work in the corners, and hope for Robles to resume good start at some point soon.
