Post by Commissioner Erick on Nov 16, 2023 8:16:24 GMT -5
Cleveland Indians (53-44) @ Toronto Blue Jays (46-51)
CLE: Ernesto Ortega (7-8, 4.90)
TOR: Danny Richardson (9-3, 4.16)
Indians 3 Key Stats
0: Luis Esparza Starts: Esparza was a fantastic starter for Cleveland last year, leading the American League with 20 wins. He won’t get anywhere near that figure this year as he hasn’t made a single start. Whether it’s a chicken or egg thing, he’s been rough as a reliever. He has a 4.56 ERA worth -0.4 WAR. His strikeout numbers have dipped, his walk rates have reverted to his early season form, and he’s allowed the highest home run mark of his career. One potential saving grace is that he may just have needed time to adjust—his ERA has gotten better every single month of the year.
16.81: Cleveland’s Zone Rating: Cleveland continues to have a great run prevention unit. Their staff gets most of the deserved plaudits, but Cleveland has also continued to build defense as part of their identity. They’re not quite as strong as some years past, but they’re still second in Zone Rating, and have allowed the fewest errors. While Federico Anziani has not been as strong as Nonie Williams, the rest of the infield is in play to win a Gold Glove, as is Brayan Hernandez in Left Field. With Hernandez hurt, hitting the ball in the air may yield more success than hitting it on the ground against this defense.
12: The most home runs an Indian has hit this year: Cleveland hasn’t been a team with a complete lack of power—they rank ninth in the category—but they don’t have a single player with more than 12, meaning they don’t have a single play on track to hit more than 20. That lack of star production has left their offense 10th in runs. The team has taken steps to address that by trading for Amed Rosario and his 15 homers from Oakland, but his career high is 21 and this season may be an outlier. Cleveland may need special bats to help them bust through a very competitive AL Wild Card race, and with Izak Pals, Juan Marrufo, Oil Can Evans, and Danny Knoch more solid than special, it may cause them to miss out on October.
Blue Jays 3 Key Stats
6: Blue Jays with no home runs: A few injuries, a few trades, and a few demotions contribute to this, but Toronto is currently fielding a roster of six position players who haven’t homered for the club. The days of a ferocious Blue Jays power punch are well in the past, as this year’s edition is Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Ernesto Montemayor, and a bunch of singles hitters and recent call ups. Tim Butler, Inacio Manta, Norbert Kuik, and Gustao Couraca have played a combined 24 games, so no wonder they’ve combined for zero homers, but Bobby O’Keefe has played in 127 career games without a homer, and Taylor Walls has a .299 slugging percentage. Butler is a backup Catcher through and through, and Sheriff Kuik is more known for his speedy arrests, not the force he applies. However, Manta has hit 22 homers in his career and cracked 19 or the Angels last season, while Couraca is a Top 10 prospect with huge power. They should provide more balance to a Blue Jays club that can use it.
5.28: Tanh Dai’s ERA: Dai was a breakout revelation last year for Toronto, finishing with an elite 2.68 ERA to help lead Toronto the playoffs. Some home run luck was baked into his 2030 performance though, as he’s been lit up with more balls flying over the fence. He has a 5.28 ERA that was 5.37 as a starter. That’s seen him demoted to the bullpen this month. Toronto’s only ninth in starters’ ERA and they could have used Dai delivering a strong follow up season for them.
38: Ernesto Montemayor home runs: Many thought Montemayor’s 32 home runs last season were a fluke, especially with a .290 average. Those analysts—myself included—look foolish as Montemayor has already exceeded his 32 homers this year with 38 blasts, all while maintaining a .285 average. He’s increased his doubles over last year, and even his triples to boot. A threat on the bases as well (Though somehow unable to track down a fly ball?), he’s been a complete offensive package. The plate discipline isn’t there so the risk of the average falling apart still exists, but the power is real. With his speed, he’ll be an extra base monster as long as the average is at least decent.
Questions for the GMs:
For Chris Stephan, Luis Esparza has been in the bullpen all year after winning 20 games last season. Why have you shunted him to the pen?
Josh van Wormer was terrible for Washington to begin the year, but you claimed him on waivers. What did you see in the two-way player to take a chance on him?
Your team doesn’t have that one power bat that most teams in contention seem to have. Will you be looking to bring in a star for the final two months?
For Aaron Dunham, the Wild Card is still well within reach, but you’re 46-51. Will you be looking more towards the present or future the final two months?
You’ve mostly gone with Yoelkis Cespedes and Matt Aceto in Left Field and Center Field this year. Cespedes is hurt obviously, but you’ve moved Aceto to Left Field. Why did you move Aceto and how do you feel about your new outfield with Cespedes and Aceto hurt or playing other positions?
Couraca is your number one prospect. Why are you calling him up now?
TRIVIA: Which two players have more than 40 doubles in a season for Cleveland?
CLE: Ernesto Ortega (7-8, 4.90)
TOR: Danny Richardson (9-3, 4.16)
Indians 3 Key Stats
0: Luis Esparza Starts: Esparza was a fantastic starter for Cleveland last year, leading the American League with 20 wins. He won’t get anywhere near that figure this year as he hasn’t made a single start. Whether it’s a chicken or egg thing, he’s been rough as a reliever. He has a 4.56 ERA worth -0.4 WAR. His strikeout numbers have dipped, his walk rates have reverted to his early season form, and he’s allowed the highest home run mark of his career. One potential saving grace is that he may just have needed time to adjust—his ERA has gotten better every single month of the year.
16.81: Cleveland’s Zone Rating: Cleveland continues to have a great run prevention unit. Their staff gets most of the deserved plaudits, but Cleveland has also continued to build defense as part of their identity. They’re not quite as strong as some years past, but they’re still second in Zone Rating, and have allowed the fewest errors. While Federico Anziani has not been as strong as Nonie Williams, the rest of the infield is in play to win a Gold Glove, as is Brayan Hernandez in Left Field. With Hernandez hurt, hitting the ball in the air may yield more success than hitting it on the ground against this defense.
12: The most home runs an Indian has hit this year: Cleveland hasn’t been a team with a complete lack of power—they rank ninth in the category—but they don’t have a single player with more than 12, meaning they don’t have a single play on track to hit more than 20. That lack of star production has left their offense 10th in runs. The team has taken steps to address that by trading for Amed Rosario and his 15 homers from Oakland, but his career high is 21 and this season may be an outlier. Cleveland may need special bats to help them bust through a very competitive AL Wild Card race, and with Izak Pals, Juan Marrufo, Oil Can Evans, and Danny Knoch more solid than special, it may cause them to miss out on October.
Blue Jays 3 Key Stats
6: Blue Jays with no home runs: A few injuries, a few trades, and a few demotions contribute to this, but Toronto is currently fielding a roster of six position players who haven’t homered for the club. The days of a ferocious Blue Jays power punch are well in the past, as this year’s edition is Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Ernesto Montemayor, and a bunch of singles hitters and recent call ups. Tim Butler, Inacio Manta, Norbert Kuik, and Gustao Couraca have played a combined 24 games, so no wonder they’ve combined for zero homers, but Bobby O’Keefe has played in 127 career games without a homer, and Taylor Walls has a .299 slugging percentage. Butler is a backup Catcher through and through, and Sheriff Kuik is more known for his speedy arrests, not the force he applies. However, Manta has hit 22 homers in his career and cracked 19 or the Angels last season, while Couraca is a Top 10 prospect with huge power. They should provide more balance to a Blue Jays club that can use it.
5.28: Tanh Dai’s ERA: Dai was a breakout revelation last year for Toronto, finishing with an elite 2.68 ERA to help lead Toronto the playoffs. Some home run luck was baked into his 2030 performance though, as he’s been lit up with more balls flying over the fence. He has a 5.28 ERA that was 5.37 as a starter. That’s seen him demoted to the bullpen this month. Toronto’s only ninth in starters’ ERA and they could have used Dai delivering a strong follow up season for them.
38: Ernesto Montemayor home runs: Many thought Montemayor’s 32 home runs last season were a fluke, especially with a .290 average. Those analysts—myself included—look foolish as Montemayor has already exceeded his 32 homers this year with 38 blasts, all while maintaining a .285 average. He’s increased his doubles over last year, and even his triples to boot. A threat on the bases as well (Though somehow unable to track down a fly ball?), he’s been a complete offensive package. The plate discipline isn’t there so the risk of the average falling apart still exists, but the power is real. With his speed, he’ll be an extra base monster as long as the average is at least decent.
Questions for the GMs:
For Chris Stephan, Luis Esparza has been in the bullpen all year after winning 20 games last season. Why have you shunted him to the pen?
Josh van Wormer was terrible for Washington to begin the year, but you claimed him on waivers. What did you see in the two-way player to take a chance on him?
Your team doesn’t have that one power bat that most teams in contention seem to have. Will you be looking to bring in a star for the final two months?
For Aaron Dunham, the Wild Card is still well within reach, but you’re 46-51. Will you be looking more towards the present or future the final two months?
You’ve mostly gone with Yoelkis Cespedes and Matt Aceto in Left Field and Center Field this year. Cespedes is hurt obviously, but you’ve moved Aceto to Left Field. Why did you move Aceto and how do you feel about your new outfield with Cespedes and Aceto hurt or playing other positions?
Couraca is your number one prospect. Why are you calling him up now?
TRIVIA: Which two players have more than 40 doubles in a season for Cleveland?
