Post by Commissioner Erick on Apr 19, 2020 13:03:21 GMT -5
Seattle Mariners (63-42) @ Houston Astros (56-51)
SEA: Jhoan Duran (6-8, 4.46)
HOU: Melvin Adon (9-5, 4.08)
The Seattle Mariners have arrived ahead of schedule and are in the hunt for the best record in the American League, let alone an AL West title. They sit 8 full games ahead of Oakland and Houston for the AL West crown, with a chance to bury Houston after this series. The Astros have had a disastrous slump coming out of the All-Star break with seven losses in eight games to sub-.500 teams. The Astros and Mariners will face each other in the Game of the Week, with Houston's chances of winning the AL West at stake.
Seattle has taken care of business behind superstar Francisco DeJesus. The 2018 draft pick was once ranked the 99th best prospect back in 2021. Today, you can't name 98 players in the PBA better than him. He burst on the scene with an enormous 2021 split between Tacoma and Seattle, with 57 home runs across two levels. He was named to Team USA after just a half season in the majors and bashed six home runs in the World Baseball Classic. He smashed 48 home runs with a .269 average his first full season in the bigs, and has 37 home runs and a .286 average this year with two months left to play. He's been the best hitter in the American League this season and in the hunt for the MVP.
He's joined in that hunt by teammate Tomoya Mori. Seattle paid $20 million dollars for the rights to sign Mori to a $141.5 million dollar contract in the 2021 offseason. Mori had a solid first two seasons for the club, but has exploded this year. He's been terrific at making contact and is third in the league in average with .316 and fourth in OBP with .384. He also leads in virtually call stats among catchers except for Home Runs, in which he's second to Gary Sanchez. The two players have been spectacular in leading Seattle to the top of the AL West.
Houston was expected to be one of the worst teams in the American League, but their sluggers have kept them in the postseason hunt all season long. The Astros lead the league in home runs and are second in Zone Rating, using a simple strategy of hitting a lot of home runs while catching everything the opponents hit. Eight regulars have at least 12 home runs, led by Joe DeCarlo's 28. Dansby Swanson is the only Astros hitter with an average over .241, which has put a limit on their run production, but with their excellent defense, they simply need to outslug their opponents, something they've done more often than not.
They'll throw their most successful pitcher this season at Seattle. Melvin Adon has limited home runs this year, something he's done throughout his career. Despite not having great breaking stuff to strike hitters out, he's kept the ball in the park and used his defense to catch everything in play. He may be Houston's best hope at limiting the production of DeJesus.
Questions for the GM's:
For Andrew Sutphin, you're still in the playoff hunt, but have made known all this season that you're playing for the future. How will you handle this trade deadline?
Hector Antonio Perez has only been successful converting 22 of 28 save attempts this year, and he has an ERA of 5.82. Why have you continued to use him as your closer?
High Pockets Dimanche already has 20 home runs his rookie season. Is he your First Baseman of the future?
For Jeff Thomas, you don't have the most talented bullpen, but the unit has really outperformed expectations and is 2nd in bullpen ERA. What do you owe that to?
This year, his age-24 season, is the first year Seuly Matias has shown himself to be better than replacement level. What caused you to stick with him? Was it merely patience with a young batter?
Houston has an outstanding defense. Will that effect who you start today?
TRIVIA: Who led Seattle in Home Runs during their only winning season?
SEA: Jhoan Duran (6-8, 4.46)
HOU: Melvin Adon (9-5, 4.08)
The Seattle Mariners have arrived ahead of schedule and are in the hunt for the best record in the American League, let alone an AL West title. They sit 8 full games ahead of Oakland and Houston for the AL West crown, with a chance to bury Houston after this series. The Astros have had a disastrous slump coming out of the All-Star break with seven losses in eight games to sub-.500 teams. The Astros and Mariners will face each other in the Game of the Week, with Houston's chances of winning the AL West at stake.
Seattle has taken care of business behind superstar Francisco DeJesus. The 2018 draft pick was once ranked the 99th best prospect back in 2021. Today, you can't name 98 players in the PBA better than him. He burst on the scene with an enormous 2021 split between Tacoma and Seattle, with 57 home runs across two levels. He was named to Team USA after just a half season in the majors and bashed six home runs in the World Baseball Classic. He smashed 48 home runs with a .269 average his first full season in the bigs, and has 37 home runs and a .286 average this year with two months left to play. He's been the best hitter in the American League this season and in the hunt for the MVP.
He's joined in that hunt by teammate Tomoya Mori. Seattle paid $20 million dollars for the rights to sign Mori to a $141.5 million dollar contract in the 2021 offseason. Mori had a solid first two seasons for the club, but has exploded this year. He's been terrific at making contact and is third in the league in average with .316 and fourth in OBP with .384. He also leads in virtually call stats among catchers except for Home Runs, in which he's second to Gary Sanchez. The two players have been spectacular in leading Seattle to the top of the AL West.
Houston was expected to be one of the worst teams in the American League, but their sluggers have kept them in the postseason hunt all season long. The Astros lead the league in home runs and are second in Zone Rating, using a simple strategy of hitting a lot of home runs while catching everything the opponents hit. Eight regulars have at least 12 home runs, led by Joe DeCarlo's 28. Dansby Swanson is the only Astros hitter with an average over .241, which has put a limit on their run production, but with their excellent defense, they simply need to outslug their opponents, something they've done more often than not.
They'll throw their most successful pitcher this season at Seattle. Melvin Adon has limited home runs this year, something he's done throughout his career. Despite not having great breaking stuff to strike hitters out, he's kept the ball in the park and used his defense to catch everything in play. He may be Houston's best hope at limiting the production of DeJesus.
Questions for the GM's:
For Andrew Sutphin, you're still in the playoff hunt, but have made known all this season that you're playing for the future. How will you handle this trade deadline?
Hector Antonio Perez has only been successful converting 22 of 28 save attempts this year, and he has an ERA of 5.82. Why have you continued to use him as your closer?
High Pockets Dimanche already has 20 home runs his rookie season. Is he your First Baseman of the future?
For Jeff Thomas, you don't have the most talented bullpen, but the unit has really outperformed expectations and is 2nd in bullpen ERA. What do you owe that to?
This year, his age-24 season, is the first year Seuly Matias has shown himself to be better than replacement level. What caused you to stick with him? Was it merely patience with a young batter?
Houston has an outstanding defense. Will that effect who you start today?
TRIVIA: Who led Seattle in Home Runs during their only winning season?
