Post by Commissioner Erick on Dec 9, 2023 21:11:35 GMT -5
Oakland Athletics (76-66) @ Kansas City (94-48)
OAK: Eric Soto (0-0, 0.00)
KC: Aaron Wallace (9-5, 2.88)
Athletics 3 Key Stats
5: Runs in Oakland’s series with Kansas City last week: After surging in August despite some concerning offensive figures, the Athletics saw their playoff hopes smashed last week, dropping two of three at home to Texas over the weekend, and dropping two of three against the Royals earlier last week. Offense was the issue—the club managed only five runs against Kansas City, four in their series finale win. Oakland managed just eight hits the first two games of that slate. Their offense will need to show up if they have any hopes of earning a wild card nod.
.834: Sulo Modin’s OPS: Oakland’s needed to rebuild its starting lineup, and they’ve been very fortunate that rookie Sulo Modin was ready in the minors. The 27th overall pick in 2030, Modin aggressively began his pro career in Double-A and crushed it for Midland. He repeated the level this year, produced there and in Triple-A Nashville, and was promoted to the majors in early August. He’s strikeout prone, but 11 doubles with a .293 average in only 129 plate appearances is terrific. Modin is already the first Finnish player to make the PBA, and he’s been representing the Finns well.
2.37: Gerald Riches’ ERA: Once a top five prospect, Riches has been used exclusively out of the pen since being acquired in the Juan Castereno deal. Riches’ changeup hasn’t developed much, making him a theoretically questionable option against lefties. Without having to worry about multiple looks by a lineup, however, he’s actually dominated left-handed hitters. This year, lefties are hitting .110 with a .409 OPS. He held lefties to a .600 mark last year and has only allowed two homers to lefties in his career, so this isn’t a small sample fluke. Riches’ 2.37 ERA and nine wins make him an elite reliever, but he may be able to hold his own in the rotation if given the chance.
Royals 3 Key Stats
0.92: Aaron Wallace’s ERA: Miscast as a reliever in St. Louis’ OOPS! All Bullpen strategy, Kansas City has given Wallace a chance to start and a chance to shine. All Wallace has done is dominate since making the short trip from St. Louis to Kansas City. He’s still been kept to a pitch count, getting stretched out over his last four starts, but he hasn’t allowed more than a single run in any start with the Royals. He’s managed to go at least 6 innings in two of them. He hasn’t allowed a homer, he’s thrived with Kansas City’s defense, and he’s still struck out a batter an inning. Daniel Kent loves his homer-avoiding lefties, and Wallace fits in perfectly.
.358: Harland Guenette’s slugging percentage: It’s hard to believe Guenette once had a batting average approaching .358, when he hit .333 in 2028. Guenette struck 21 homers that year and clubbed 56 doubles, giving him a .548 slugging mark. That year looks like such an aberration. The Canadian’s .358 slugging mark is a career low, as he only has three home runs. Barring a September surge, this will be the only year Guenette hits single digit homers in his career. He still has a bunch of doubles, but his .246 average is right in line with his post 2028 numbers, and he has more times caught stealing than successful swipes. His defense is solid and he still walks, but his past years continue to remind us what a fever dream 2028 was.
38: Kansas City steals: The Royals excel at playing the small game. They’re only 10th in homers, but they’re second best in offensive BABIP, second in offensive walk rate, strike out the fewest times in the AL, are fourth in zone rating, walk the fewest batters in the AL, and allow the fewest homers. Interestingly, the one area Kansas City doesn’t excel in is with steals. The team is last in stolen bases, last in stolen base percentage, and last in wSB. Defensively, they’re only middle of the pack in preventing steals as well. Oakland is decent at steals, and may need to try to swipe a few bags to win today.
Questions for the GMs:
For Garrett White, Anderson Espinoza is out for the year. Who will replace him in on the roster?
Will Eric Soto make his PBA debut today? If so, what can we expect from the youngster?
Now that it’s September, and your infield is finally healthy, what will be your infield lineup today and for the rest of the year?
For Daniel Kent, what did you expect from Aaron Wallace when you acquired him from St. Louis?
Your team hasn’t been very good on the bases. Is that by design somewhat with not wanting to steal often?
You acquired Arturo Renieri at the deadline. Why did you acquire him and are you happy with his performance thus far?
TRIVIA: At .110, Gerland Riches currently leads the PBA in lowest opposing average by left-handed batters among pitchers who have faced at least 100 lefties. Who has the lowest opposing average by lefties among pitchers who face faced at least 200 lefties?
OAK: Eric Soto (0-0, 0.00)
KC: Aaron Wallace (9-5, 2.88)
Athletics 3 Key Stats
5: Runs in Oakland’s series with Kansas City last week: After surging in August despite some concerning offensive figures, the Athletics saw their playoff hopes smashed last week, dropping two of three at home to Texas over the weekend, and dropping two of three against the Royals earlier last week. Offense was the issue—the club managed only five runs against Kansas City, four in their series finale win. Oakland managed just eight hits the first two games of that slate. Their offense will need to show up if they have any hopes of earning a wild card nod.
.834: Sulo Modin’s OPS: Oakland’s needed to rebuild its starting lineup, and they’ve been very fortunate that rookie Sulo Modin was ready in the minors. The 27th overall pick in 2030, Modin aggressively began his pro career in Double-A and crushed it for Midland. He repeated the level this year, produced there and in Triple-A Nashville, and was promoted to the majors in early August. He’s strikeout prone, but 11 doubles with a .293 average in only 129 plate appearances is terrific. Modin is already the first Finnish player to make the PBA, and he’s been representing the Finns well.
2.37: Gerald Riches’ ERA: Once a top five prospect, Riches has been used exclusively out of the pen since being acquired in the Juan Castereno deal. Riches’ changeup hasn’t developed much, making him a theoretically questionable option against lefties. Without having to worry about multiple looks by a lineup, however, he’s actually dominated left-handed hitters. This year, lefties are hitting .110 with a .409 OPS. He held lefties to a .600 mark last year and has only allowed two homers to lefties in his career, so this isn’t a small sample fluke. Riches’ 2.37 ERA and nine wins make him an elite reliever, but he may be able to hold his own in the rotation if given the chance.
Royals 3 Key Stats
0.92: Aaron Wallace’s ERA: Miscast as a reliever in St. Louis’ OOPS! All Bullpen strategy, Kansas City has given Wallace a chance to start and a chance to shine. All Wallace has done is dominate since making the short trip from St. Louis to Kansas City. He’s still been kept to a pitch count, getting stretched out over his last four starts, but he hasn’t allowed more than a single run in any start with the Royals. He’s managed to go at least 6 innings in two of them. He hasn’t allowed a homer, he’s thrived with Kansas City’s defense, and he’s still struck out a batter an inning. Daniel Kent loves his homer-avoiding lefties, and Wallace fits in perfectly.
.358: Harland Guenette’s slugging percentage: It’s hard to believe Guenette once had a batting average approaching .358, when he hit .333 in 2028. Guenette struck 21 homers that year and clubbed 56 doubles, giving him a .548 slugging mark. That year looks like such an aberration. The Canadian’s .358 slugging mark is a career low, as he only has three home runs. Barring a September surge, this will be the only year Guenette hits single digit homers in his career. He still has a bunch of doubles, but his .246 average is right in line with his post 2028 numbers, and he has more times caught stealing than successful swipes. His defense is solid and he still walks, but his past years continue to remind us what a fever dream 2028 was.
38: Kansas City steals: The Royals excel at playing the small game. They’re only 10th in homers, but they’re second best in offensive BABIP, second in offensive walk rate, strike out the fewest times in the AL, are fourth in zone rating, walk the fewest batters in the AL, and allow the fewest homers. Interestingly, the one area Kansas City doesn’t excel in is with steals. The team is last in stolen bases, last in stolen base percentage, and last in wSB. Defensively, they’re only middle of the pack in preventing steals as well. Oakland is decent at steals, and may need to try to swipe a few bags to win today.
Questions for the GMs:
For Garrett White, Anderson Espinoza is out for the year. Who will replace him in on the roster?
Will Eric Soto make his PBA debut today? If so, what can we expect from the youngster?
Now that it’s September, and your infield is finally healthy, what will be your infield lineup today and for the rest of the year?
For Daniel Kent, what did you expect from Aaron Wallace when you acquired him from St. Louis?
Your team hasn’t been very good on the bases. Is that by design somewhat with not wanting to steal often?
You acquired Arturo Renieri at the deadline. Why did you acquire him and are you happy with his performance thus far?
TRIVIA: At .110, Gerland Riches currently leads the PBA in lowest opposing average by left-handed batters among pitchers who have faced at least 100 lefties. Who has the lowest opposing average by lefties among pitchers who face faced at least 200 lefties?
