Game of the Week: April 10: ARI @ SF

[Commissioner Erick]

Arizona Diamondbacks (5-4) @ San Francisco Giants (6-3)


ARI: Anthony DeSclafani (1-0, 1.29)
SF: Justin Marsden (0-1, 6.75)


While the NL West was expected to be another tight affair, and while the assumption was that the Los Angeles Dodgers would be in first place, once again, it's San Francisco and Arizona on top of the division. The two teams meet for the first time since Arizona beat San Francisco in a one-game playoff to decide the division in 2022. Arizona's pitching and defense are top notch again, and they've allowed 13 runs in six division games this year. The Cardinals touched them up this past weekend, but Anthony DeSclafani will take the mound looking to get Arizona back on track. He started against the Dodgers last week and dominating them, allowing a run on 7 innings with 11 ground balls. Juan Gestoso keeps ringing the doorbell, announcing his arrival. He has the best zone rating in the NL among Third Basemen, a huge catalyst for Arizona's defense. He's also hitting .294, with a pair of home runs as he continues to look like an absolute superstar.

San Francisco also has an outstanding pitching staff. The Giants have the third best ERA in the National League in the early going. However, the Giants are also tied for first in home runs. Calvin Mitchell has looked like a superstar in his second season. He's hitting .344 with four home runs early in his second season. He had a solid rookie year with 1.8 WAR and a little better than average OPS, but he's taking things to the next level. San Francisco doesn't start any right-handed hitters with ground ball tendencies, which is good as it will allow them to avoid Gestoso.


Questions for the GM's:


For Arlo Zimmerman, you're getting way more production than expected from Joey Rickard and Brock Lundquist. Will they continue to play when Alex Destino comes off the IL?

Garrett Stubbs has not had a good start. Are you concerned at all?

San Francisco has a really good back end of their bullpen. Ideally how would you like your team to attack that?

For Dave Twibell, you have a ton of young flamethrowers in your bullpen. Is that something you've emphasized?

Dan Cabrera continue to hit for no power at all. Can you thrive with him as your designated hitter?

Christian Arroyo is off to a very different start, hitting for more power, striking out more, and having his average drop to .176. Do you approve of this change in approach?



TRIVIA: Who has the most All-Time Home Runs in Giants history?

[sfdave]

You have a ton of young flamethrowers in your bullpen. Is that something you've emphasized?   It is.  I'm a big believer in having a pen with some firepower in it.  There's nothing quite like a strikeout in the later innings to nip a rally in the bud.  My home park is pretty forgiving, so I can get by with pitchers who only have adequate movement and control, so someone like Gemma or Meisinger is a great fit.  Plus, we end up playing a fair number of low scoring games at home so having a reliable bullpen that can keep runs off the board is critical.

Dan Cabrera continues to hit for no power at all. Can you thrive with him as your designated hitter?  Cabrera isn't the ideal DH, but he's pretty effective in a platoon role.  He's got a career .361 OBP vs. RH pitching, and so far this year (in a really small sample size) he's hitting .313/.389/.500 with a 152 OPS+ against righties.  Ideally he'd hit more dingers, but he's got good gap power and makes solid contact, which probably plays better at home anyway.  He may ultimately end up as a reserve OF as the year progresses, but if he can hit some doubles and get on base at a good clip against RH pitchers I think he can be valuable at DH despite the lack of raw power.

Christian Arroyo is off to a very different start, hitting for more power, striking out more, and having his average drop to .176. Do you approve of this change in approach?  Arroyo is a real puzzle.  He started off his career like gangbusters and looked like a perennial All-Star, then came tumbling back to earth and has stayed there ever since.  On paper, he should be a valuable player, but in practice he's been barely above replacement level since 2020.  I'm not reading too much into his production so far this season.  He's been consistently mediocre for the past three years putting up 1.0-1.5 WAR and an OPS+ hovering around 90.  I expect he'll do something similar this year.  Not great, but serviceable, especially when combined with his above-average defense.    

[Commissioner Erick]

Diamondbacks 6 - Giants 3


WP: A. DeSclafani (2-0)
LP: J. Marsden (0-2)
SV: Bracho (4)


Despite a fine performance by shortstop Shane Benes, the San Francisco Giants suffered a 6-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Benes went 2-3 with a home run and a walk. He drove in 3 runs and scored once. Anthony DeSclafani got the win, improving to 2-0. He worked 6 innings, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits, while striking out 2 and walking 3. Arizona, now 6-4, has gotten their season off to a good start.

Arizona used the bat of Isan Diaz to get the win. The second baseman hammered a 3-run home run in the top of the first inning to put the Diamondbacks ahead, 3-0. It was his lone hit in 4 at-bats, but it did its damage.

"I really like what we did out there today," Diaz said after the game.


Questions for the GM's:


For Arlo Zimmerman, Juan Gestoso's average is now up over .300. Do you feel like he belongs in an MVP race?

You gave Tae-hoon Do a start and while he didn't have a start, he did walk and steal a base. What will he contribute to your team going forward?

Silvino Bracho gave up two hits in the ninth, while Brandon Finnegan had a shutdown eighth. Any thoughts about Finnegan being your closer?

For Dave Twibell, you gave six relievers a look against Arizona. How do you think they looked?

Justin Marsden struggled for the second straight game. How safe is his job right now?

You allowed two hits and a home run to Matt Duffy. Did you take him for granted?



TRIVIA: Anthony DeSclafani has now pitched for six franchises. Outside of Arizona, which franchise does he have the best ERA for?

[sfdave]

You gave six relievers a look against Arizona. How do you think they looked?
  Overall I was happy with how my pen looked against Arizona.  Meisinger struggled, but he's generally solid and not someone I'm worried about this season, and everyone else was fine in their limited debuts.  As a group, the pen racked up 8 K's over 4 innings.  If they can keep doing that for the rest of the year, I'll be a happy GM.  


Justin Marsden struggled for the second straight game. How safe is his job right now?
  Marsden was actually fairly effective but gave up two big home runs that cratered his line for the evening.   I know that's like saying my wife's really pretty except for all the boils, but Marsden's going to give up some dingers even at home and there's not much I can do about it.  He rebounded with a great outing against the Padres in his next start, so hopefully he'll get on track here pretty quick.  He needs to perform this season for us to have a chance. 


You allowed two hits and a home run to Matt Duffy. Did you take him for granted?
  Duffy's actually off to a nice start this year with an 141 OPS+.  I assume most of that was against the Giants.  Yea, given Duffy only hit 4 long balls all of last season, we definitely didn't expect him to launch one in our cavernous park.   



TRIVIA: Anthony DeSclafani has now pitched for six franchises. Outside of Arizona, which franchise does he have the best ERA for?  Wild guess, but I'll go with the Giants.  He was pretty effective for us last year.

[Commissioner Erick]

Feb 26, 2020 9:43:50 GMT -5 sfdave said:

You gave six relievers a look against Arizona. How do you think they looked?
  Overall I was happy with how my pen looked against Arizona.  Meisinger struggled, but he's generally solid and not someone I'm worried about this season, and everyone else was fine in their limited debuts.  As a group, the pen racked up 8 K's over 4 innings.  If they can keep doing that for the rest of the year, I'll be a happy GM.  


Justin Marsden struggled for the second straight game. How safe is his job right now?
  Marsden was actually fairly effective but gave up two big home runs that cratered his line for the evening.   I know that's like saying my wife's really pretty except for all the boils, but Marsden's going to give up some dingers even at home and there's not much I can do about it.  He rebounded with a great outing against the Padres in his next start, so hopefully he'll get on track here pretty quick.  He needs to perform this season for us to have a chance. 


You allowed two hits and a home run to Matt Duffy. Did you take him for granted?
  Duffy's actually off to a nice start this year with an 141 OPS+.  I assume most of that was against the Giants.  Yea, given Duffy only hit 4 long balls all of last season, we definitely didn't expect him to launch one in our cavernous park.   



TRIVIA: Anthony DeSclafani has now pitched for six franchises. Outside of Arizona, which franchise does he have the best ERA for?  Wild guess, but I'll go with the Giants.  He was pretty effective for us last year.

DING DING DING, you are correct!

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 1: Brandon Crawford