Game of the Week: July 14: SF @ LAD

[Commissioner Erick]

San Francisco Giants (50-45) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (56-40)


SF: Alfredo Estevez (8-3, 3.64)
LAD: Josh Weaver (7-8, 3.84)


Giants 3 Key Stats

4: Consecutive Alfredo Estevez starts allowing two runs or less: Estevez has been on a strong run of late, going 26.2 innings, allowing just 15 hits and two walks, while whiffing 36 his last four outings, good for a 2.06 ERA. His last two outings were especially dominant. He allowed just three hits and two runs against the Yankees July 2, walking one and striking out 10. He one-upped himself in his last outing against Oakland, allowing one hit through 6.1, walking one, and striking out 12 in a virtuoso performance. He hasn’t faced the Dodgers since opening day, where he allowed three runs in 6.1.

-0.7: Brian Hampton’s WAR: Relegated to a backup sot with Sam McMillan’s signing, Hampton has not taken well to the demotion. He’s hitting just .167 with a .223 OBP and a .537 OPS. He’s thrown out 12.5% of runners, has a negative zone rating, negative framing runs, four passed balls, a catcher’s ERA near 5, and he hasn’t done anything on the bases. With McMillan breaking his knee, Hampton is back in as starter, but needs to play better. The Giants won’t have much time to determine if Hampton’s their answer at Catcher this season, or if they want to bring in an upgrade at the deadline.

.321: San Francisco’s pitching BABIP: Long an excellent defense, the Giants fielding has slipped the last couple of years, and their BABIP now is worst in the NL. It’s a key reason why the team is eighth in runs allowed, and 14th in bullpen ERA. The team is worst in the league in Second Base zone rating, and near the bottom in Shortstop zone rating. The Dodgers excel at making contact, resulting in San Francisco having a 2-7 record against Los Angeles this year. Something will need to change for the Giants to overthrow the Dodgers and win the division.


Dodgers 3 Key Stats

0: Seasons the Dodgers have led the league in stolen bases: Los Angeles has finished last in steals three times early last decade, but has never led the league. They’ve never really come close either. This year, with a few injuries, some speedy newcomers, and not as much power, Los Angeles has used its legs more to score runs. Eric Drouet in particular has been unleashed. Rattlesnake has 34 steals already this year in just 37 attempts, leading the league in thefts and with supreme efficiency. Jeren Kendall has only played 61 games, but has 15 swipes, Nick Allen and Amin Valdez each have double digit steals, and even Patrick Leonard has tied a career high with two pilfers. Only 10th in homers, the Dodgers have adjusted their approach to fit their roster and are thriving as a result.

3: Games Jeff Weaver has worked into the ninth inning: Weaver has been able to pitch into the ninth inning three times this year, even coming up with a complete game. His record in those contests though is 0-2 with a no decision. It’s a bit of a thing with the Dodgers with pitchers pitching very deep into losing contests. The approach has been able to help the team’s bullpen though allowing the club to stand fifth in ERA. If the game is close after 8 and Weaver is still in the game, the manager bot should probably just pull the guy.

8: Career injuries of more than four weeks for Luis Robert: Robert has been banged up a lot in his career, especially early on. Los Angeles has been able to keep him healthy though. Of his eight injuries where he’s missed at least a month, only one has come with the Dodgers. It’s not even just Robert’s body and trainers understanding more over time—Robert’s missed five weeks with knee tendinitis last August with Philadelphia and he suffered six different injuries. Richard L. Bancells kept Robert upright during Robert’s one season in Baltimore in 2025. Both he and Robert joined the Dodgers in 2026 and it’s been a harmonious relationship for the pair wherever they’ve been. Robert doesn’t have great legs, Bancells specializes in preventing leg injuries, and it’s been a perfect pairing. The healthy Robert wll look to add to a solid .853 OPS today.


Questions for the GMs:


For Vic Black, Andrew Benintendi and Mickey Moniak are both injured. Who plays Left Field for you today and takes their spot on the roster?

Another more significant injury question involves Cannibal Espassandim. He’s out for two weeks with Chad Woods I assume elevated into the lineup. Who takes Woods’ spot as backup?

Aaron Allen has been starting more and is hitting .293 this month. What made you finally give the former prospect a chance?

For Ben Vincent, your team is running a lot more this year. How much is that a conscious decision, and how much is just opportunities presenting themselves for your players?

Jelfre Marte should be healed from some back tightness. Will he play today?

What do you make of the job Manny Machado has done? He’s given you some power in a lineup that hasn’t had much pop this year.



TRIVIA: What Marlins player had the most single-season steals when Ben Vincent was managing them?

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 1: Ben correctly guessed Jeren Kendall

[Commissioner Erick]

Giants 5 - Dodgers 3


WP: A. Estevez (9-3)
LP: J. Weaver (7-9)
SV: T. Casas (2)


Los Angeles right fielder Alex Verdugo blasted himself into an elite group of baseball players. Today he joined the exclusive 300 home run club in the Dodgers 5-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants.

"As soon as I hit it, I knew it was gone. I was happy to move on. Now I can go and have some fun. It is a weight lifted off my shoulders," Verdugo told the press. He admitted just how much pressure he had been feeling. "Especially every time you'd get out of the hotel, everybody would say, 'Hey, when are you going to hit it?'"

In his milestone game, Verdugo went 1 for 4 with 1 RBI and 1 run scored.

During his career, Verdugo has hit .288 with 2081 hits, 300 home runs, 1079 RBIs and scored 1095 runs.


Questions for the GMs:


For Vic Black, you went with Tristan Casas in the Closer spot and he came through. Why did you give him the final four outs?

Estevez was dominant. Would you have liked to see him pitch more than 6 innings?

How did Luis Zapien look as your starting Left Fielder?

For Ben Vincent, Alex Verdugo hit homer number 300 of his career. What has it meant to you to have his production since you've managed the Dodgers?

Josh Weaver pitched well, but faltered late. Would you have liked to see him pulled early?

Your team didn't steal any bases. Would you have preferred to see your club more active on the bases?


TRIVIA: Who has the most single season steals in Giants history?

[Ben_Dodgers]

For Ben Vincent, Alex Verdugo hit homer number 300 of his career. What has it meant to you to have his production since you've managed the Dodgers?

Verdugo has been a cornerstone of the Dodgers since debuting in 2018. He's had some great years and some mediocre years, but it averages out to 3 WAR/season over 14 years. That's pretty reliable. Currently he's the WAR leader on the team for this season, and barring an injury, it should be his most productive year since 2024. His name is all over the Dodgers record books.

That said, since his 6 WAR, 40 HR season in 2024, he's never really approached that kind of production. He hasn't hit 20 HR in a season or surpassed 3 WAR since. He's been making $21 million a year for the last 5 years, and I feel like I could have gotten more value for that money in other ways.

Josh Weaver pitched well, but faltered late. Would you have liked to see him pulled early?

Yes. He's pitched into the 8th in 5 of his last 6 starts, and in 4 of those games he's given up runs in the 8th. Josh has great stamina and always wants to stay in the game. I really like how he has pitched, but clearly the manager bot needs to be more proactive about removing him earler.

Your team didn't steal any bases. Would you have preferred to see your club more active on the bases?

There weren't a lot of opportunities in this game. Marte could have perhaps tried to take second in the 3rd, but the Giants were clearly pitching around Drouet, so his chances weren't great. Marte had a chance again in the 7th, but Drouet fouled it off a couple times then struck out. I think that was just smart baserunning. We were still aggressive - Allen scored from 2nd on a single in the 4th, and we took advantage of a wild pitch in the 8th. What we really needed was one more hit in the 8th when we loaded the bases with no outs.

[Ben_Dodgers]

Nov 16, 2023 12:39:02 GMT -5 Ben_Dodgers said:

Josh Weaver pitched well, but faltered late. Would you have liked to see him pulled early?

Yes. He's pitched into the 8th in 5 of his last 6 starts, and in 4 of those games he's given up runs in the 8th. Josh has great stamina and always wants to stay in the game. I really like how he has pitched, but clearly the manager bot needs to be more proactive about removing him earler.

[/quote]

So I discovered that Weaver's hook setting maxed out on the slow end. I don't remember doing that.

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 2: Luke correctly guessed Andres Gimenez