Anthony Banda wears the specs and hunches over like his back hurts when he comes set. Tim Hill has the mustache and looks like Gumby as he comes back to center after following through with a pitch. Luke Weaver looks like a child. Blake Treinen has the stern facial expression and stenciled-on goatee of the template in the create-a-character mode of your favorite video game.
And for those who will appreciate a sports to wrestling connection, Michael Kopech looks like Malakai Black (or Aleister Black, if you know him from NXT).
The relief pitchers for both the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers emerged as the main characters of the 2024 World Series. As much as the star players for either team, they became the familiar figures. I know their faces and their mannerisms. And it’s not just about appearance. I know their pitching repertoires, too.
Weaver has the changeup. Treinen has the big “video game” sweeper. Banda has a sweeping slider of his own. Hill throws sidearm at an angle where the ball disappears behind the heads of left-handed batters. Kopech throws 100 mile-per-hour fastballs.
Watching this year's World Series, you could count on seeing most of those relievers in every game. Anonymous until the playoffs, these journeyman and grinders are central to how teams win right now.
Here’s the funny thing about relievers: the Dodgers and Yankees could square off in a rematch in next year’s World Series. The action would likely revolve around a bunch of bullpen pitchers once again. But it could be a completely different group of guys.
I would go so far to say that it’s likely we would be getting to know a whole new gang of high leverage pitchers and their facial hair and quirks and violent deliveries and nasty pitches that coax swings and misses.
Now you know Anthony Banda. And the other boys listed above. And Tommy Kahnle. And Daniel Hudson. And Clay Holmes.
Just don’t get attached.