Post by Commissioner Erick on Dec 4, 2022 10:38:25 GMT -5
San Francisco Giants (45-32) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (49-29)
SF: Mekhi Lias (7-3, 4.02)
LAD: Edgar E. Garcia (3-2, 4.74)
Giants 3 Key Stats
14.7: San Francisco Pitching WAR: San Francisco doesn’t have the surface level stats, but their pitching has been valuable this year. The Giants lead the league in strikeouts, have tied for the second fewest walks, and have yielded the fewest homers—the ingredients for a strong FIP and a strong WAR. If the team were better defensively, the club would have even better run prevention stats and perhaps a better record.
-19.36: San Francisco’s Zone Rating: The Giants have the third worse zone rating in the NL, leading to the fourth worst defensive efficiency in the league. Normally a stout unit, the defense has fallen apart under Vic Black. Defense has not been a calling card for Black-led teams. Last year, Baltimore had a -5.46 zone rating, that ranked ninth in the AL. It was Baltimore’s best mark since 2023. This year Baltimore is in the positive at 11.72, fifth in the AL. The Giants, meanwhile, were 7.37 last year, fifth in the league. With San Francisco first in pitching WAR and third in runs scored, it’s the defense holding them back.
2: Wins in seven extra inning games: San Francisco has not played well in extra innings, with a poor 2-5 record. Their last extra inning game was on June 19th versus Arizona, when so desperate for an extra inning win, they tried a squeeze play down one with one out in the ninth. Andres Gimenez bunted to Jose Paulino who threw Edgar Rodriguez out at the plate and the comeback was thwarted. The Giants face a Dodgers team with the second best bullpen ERA in baseball, so they should do their best to win this one in regulation.
Dodgers 3 Key Stats
30: Wins in 39 home games: The Dodgers have been terrific at home with a fantastic 30-9 record, best in the NL. They’ve lost only one home series all year, and even that won took an extra-inning loss versus St. Louis. San Francisco did split a four-game set in Los Angeles in late May and early June though, so they’ve had some success scoring eighth and nine runs in their wins. The Dodgers ERA is a full run better at home than on the road so their 3.41 ERA means they aren’t generally allowing eight and nine run games. In fact, the contests were number one and tied for number two in runs allowed to an opponent in Dodgers Stadium all season.
5: Consecutive seasons Eric Drouet has hit over .300: If Drouet doesn’t go through a terrible second half, his .330 average would give him a sixth straight year hitting over .300. Rattlesnake struck out 12 times in April, but has adjusted and struck out only seven times since in a similar number of games. He hit .391 in June with seven doubles. Somehow, he’s only earned one trip to the All-Star game, but this year should result in a second trip.
26: Strikeouts for Giovanny Gallegos: Somehow, the veteran righty has whiffed just 26 hitters in 46 innings. Just as impressively, the 37-year-old has allowed a 2.74 ERA. Gallegos has been stingy with homers since arriving in Los Angeles, and this year is no exception. He’s allowed only two thus far. He also has a tidy 5.65 walk rate, well shy of the PBA average 8.20%. A .215 BABIP is also propping up Gallegos’ success. The Mexican arm has had stingy BABIPS before—he carried a .207 BABIP in 2020 with the Yankees, but with the strikeout totals being what they are, this BABIP is more precarious. Gallegos will need the Dodgers’ defense to continue to come up exceptional when he’s pitching to maintain such a tidy ERA.
Questions for the GMs:
For Vic Black, San Francisco’s defense hasn’t been as good as in year’s past. Do you plan on making any changes to improve your defense?
Joe Taylor has been DFAd. Why did you put him on assignment?
You made a big move acquiring closer Omar Lara. Why did you grab the former Nationals closer?
For Ben Vincent, you made a trade to acquire Andres Chapparo. Why bring in the Cubs slugger?
San Francisco’s defense hasn’t been great, and they don’t give up many homers or walks. Do you want to see your team take on an extreme contact approach today?
Hyo-Sang Choo’s offense hasn’t been great this year, while Tim Hendrickson has torn the cover off the ball. Any chance we see a little more Hendrickson moving forward?
TRIVIA: Who has led the AL in Stolen Bases the most times?
SF: Mekhi Lias (7-3, 4.02)
LAD: Edgar E. Garcia (3-2, 4.74)
Giants 3 Key Stats
14.7: San Francisco Pitching WAR: San Francisco doesn’t have the surface level stats, but their pitching has been valuable this year. The Giants lead the league in strikeouts, have tied for the second fewest walks, and have yielded the fewest homers—the ingredients for a strong FIP and a strong WAR. If the team were better defensively, the club would have even better run prevention stats and perhaps a better record.
-19.36: San Francisco’s Zone Rating: The Giants have the third worse zone rating in the NL, leading to the fourth worst defensive efficiency in the league. Normally a stout unit, the defense has fallen apart under Vic Black. Defense has not been a calling card for Black-led teams. Last year, Baltimore had a -5.46 zone rating, that ranked ninth in the AL. It was Baltimore’s best mark since 2023. This year Baltimore is in the positive at 11.72, fifth in the AL. The Giants, meanwhile, were 7.37 last year, fifth in the league. With San Francisco first in pitching WAR and third in runs scored, it’s the defense holding them back.
2: Wins in seven extra inning games: San Francisco has not played well in extra innings, with a poor 2-5 record. Their last extra inning game was on June 19th versus Arizona, when so desperate for an extra inning win, they tried a squeeze play down one with one out in the ninth. Andres Gimenez bunted to Jose Paulino who threw Edgar Rodriguez out at the plate and the comeback was thwarted. The Giants face a Dodgers team with the second best bullpen ERA in baseball, so they should do their best to win this one in regulation.
Dodgers 3 Key Stats
30: Wins in 39 home games: The Dodgers have been terrific at home with a fantastic 30-9 record, best in the NL. They’ve lost only one home series all year, and even that won took an extra-inning loss versus St. Louis. San Francisco did split a four-game set in Los Angeles in late May and early June though, so they’ve had some success scoring eighth and nine runs in their wins. The Dodgers ERA is a full run better at home than on the road so their 3.41 ERA means they aren’t generally allowing eight and nine run games. In fact, the contests were number one and tied for number two in runs allowed to an opponent in Dodgers Stadium all season.
5: Consecutive seasons Eric Drouet has hit over .300: If Drouet doesn’t go through a terrible second half, his .330 average would give him a sixth straight year hitting over .300. Rattlesnake struck out 12 times in April, but has adjusted and struck out only seven times since in a similar number of games. He hit .391 in June with seven doubles. Somehow, he’s only earned one trip to the All-Star game, but this year should result in a second trip.
26: Strikeouts for Giovanny Gallegos: Somehow, the veteran righty has whiffed just 26 hitters in 46 innings. Just as impressively, the 37-year-old has allowed a 2.74 ERA. Gallegos has been stingy with homers since arriving in Los Angeles, and this year is no exception. He’s allowed only two thus far. He also has a tidy 5.65 walk rate, well shy of the PBA average 8.20%. A .215 BABIP is also propping up Gallegos’ success. The Mexican arm has had stingy BABIPS before—he carried a .207 BABIP in 2020 with the Yankees, but with the strikeout totals being what they are, this BABIP is more precarious. Gallegos will need the Dodgers’ defense to continue to come up exceptional when he’s pitching to maintain such a tidy ERA.
Questions for the GMs:
For Vic Black, San Francisco’s defense hasn’t been as good as in year’s past. Do you plan on making any changes to improve your defense?
Joe Taylor has been DFAd. Why did you put him on assignment?
You made a big move acquiring closer Omar Lara. Why did you grab the former Nationals closer?
For Ben Vincent, you made a trade to acquire Andres Chapparo. Why bring in the Cubs slugger?
San Francisco’s defense hasn’t been great, and they don’t give up many homers or walks. Do you want to see your team take on an extreme contact approach today?
Hyo-Sang Choo’s offense hasn’t been great this year, while Tim Hendrickson has torn the cover off the ball. Any chance we see a little more Hendrickson moving forward?
TRIVIA: Who has led the AL in Stolen Bases the most times?
