Post by Commissioner Erick on Mar 31, 2020 22:43:18 GMT -5
Atlanta Braves (48-35) @ New York Yankees (46-37)
ATL: Nolan Watson (7-4, 2.84)
NYY: Jesse Biddle (8-5, 3.76)
The Atlanta Braves have no power, no speed, yet find themselves on top of the NL East. The New York Yankees are virtually all power and they find themselves a playoff team as well. It's a contrast in styles when the Braves and Yankees meet in the Game of the Week.
Despite being last in home runs and last in steals, Atlanta is second in the NL in batting average to help field a middle-of-the-pack offense. In terms of run prevention, while they walk their fair share of batters, the Braves are second in preventing home runs, second in ground ball rate, second in outfield assists, tied for first in double plays, and fourth in zone rating. It's not as extreme as the old Pirates and Giants strategies of the late teens, but it's worked in the past.
The Braves hope to boost their offense by converting Shohei Ohtani to a full time hitter. Ohtani's been successful as a pitcher. Despite a high walk rate, he's struck out 89 hitters in 80.2 innings, using his powerful stuff to blow hitters away. When hitters make contact, they have only a .189 BABIP. However, while Ohtani's been good as a starter, the Braves could use his offense. Ohtani's .433 OBP is still the highest in NPB history, and his .986 slugging mark led the NPB last year. Ohtani has a solid .474 slugging mark and .365 OBP this year, and Aaron Dunham is committed to getting Ohtani more chances to show off that bat.
The Braves will face a Yankees team that may be getting reinforcements as Jered Kelenic has missed the past few weeks with an oblique strain. Kelenic was an early Silver Slugger candidate, hitting .318 with a .220 Isolated slugging mark, 15 doubles, and a .406 OBP. Out of his element in Center Field, he's hit enough for the Yankees to get away with it. They held on without him, going 7-7 in the first 14 games without their star before reeling off wins in their last five games. With him back in the lineup, the Yankees will be even better.
This is especially true as the injury forced the Yankees to call up their 2020 First Round pick Jim Sattler and play him in Center Field. A graduate of Grand Canyon College, Sattler tore up Rookie Ball in 2021, A-Ball last year, and was hitting .323 in Triple A when New York called him up last month. He's hit .333 with a 1.147 OPS in his first 72 Plate Appearances with the Yankees. He's not a great fielder, but he's better than Kelenic, which will allow Kelenic to slide to a corner or DH. Considering their current DH, Jorge Polanco, is hitting .227, it will make the Yankees offense even stronger.
Questions for the GM:
For Aaron Dunham, you've been getting value out of Ohtani both as a hitter and as a pitcher. Why are you removing him from being a pitcher now?
Austin Meadows is still hitting for doubles, but his power, average, and speed have all fallen off. Are you worried he's hitting some kind of decline with five more years on his contract?
The Yankees do a lot of their damage with the long ball and Nolan Watson is one of the best in baseball at keeping the ball in the ballpark. How comfortable are you with him starting today's game against this team?
For Greg Masceri, will Kelenic be added to the lineup today or go on a rehab assignment first?
Hyo-Jun Park finally had a strong month in June, but you removed him from the lineup. How will your lineup be configured with Sattler in the majors and Kelenic on the mend?
The offensive environment is less conducive to offense than it's been in years past, plus Gary Sanchez is on the wrong side of 30. Still, he's on pace for his highest home run season of his career. How special has it been having such a gifted hitter over your run in New York?
TRIVIA: Which active Japanese-born player has the most career home runs in the PBA?
ATL: Nolan Watson (7-4, 2.84)
NYY: Jesse Biddle (8-5, 3.76)
The Atlanta Braves have no power, no speed, yet find themselves on top of the NL East. The New York Yankees are virtually all power and they find themselves a playoff team as well. It's a contrast in styles when the Braves and Yankees meet in the Game of the Week.
Despite being last in home runs and last in steals, Atlanta is second in the NL in batting average to help field a middle-of-the-pack offense. In terms of run prevention, while they walk their fair share of batters, the Braves are second in preventing home runs, second in ground ball rate, second in outfield assists, tied for first in double plays, and fourth in zone rating. It's not as extreme as the old Pirates and Giants strategies of the late teens, but it's worked in the past.
The Braves hope to boost their offense by converting Shohei Ohtani to a full time hitter. Ohtani's been successful as a pitcher. Despite a high walk rate, he's struck out 89 hitters in 80.2 innings, using his powerful stuff to blow hitters away. When hitters make contact, they have only a .189 BABIP. However, while Ohtani's been good as a starter, the Braves could use his offense. Ohtani's .433 OBP is still the highest in NPB history, and his .986 slugging mark led the NPB last year. Ohtani has a solid .474 slugging mark and .365 OBP this year, and Aaron Dunham is committed to getting Ohtani more chances to show off that bat.
The Braves will face a Yankees team that may be getting reinforcements as Jered Kelenic has missed the past few weeks with an oblique strain. Kelenic was an early Silver Slugger candidate, hitting .318 with a .220 Isolated slugging mark, 15 doubles, and a .406 OBP. Out of his element in Center Field, he's hit enough for the Yankees to get away with it. They held on without him, going 7-7 in the first 14 games without their star before reeling off wins in their last five games. With him back in the lineup, the Yankees will be even better.
This is especially true as the injury forced the Yankees to call up their 2020 First Round pick Jim Sattler and play him in Center Field. A graduate of Grand Canyon College, Sattler tore up Rookie Ball in 2021, A-Ball last year, and was hitting .323 in Triple A when New York called him up last month. He's hit .333 with a 1.147 OPS in his first 72 Plate Appearances with the Yankees. He's not a great fielder, but he's better than Kelenic, which will allow Kelenic to slide to a corner or DH. Considering their current DH, Jorge Polanco, is hitting .227, it will make the Yankees offense even stronger.
Questions for the GM:
For Aaron Dunham, you've been getting value out of Ohtani both as a hitter and as a pitcher. Why are you removing him from being a pitcher now?
Austin Meadows is still hitting for doubles, but his power, average, and speed have all fallen off. Are you worried he's hitting some kind of decline with five more years on his contract?
The Yankees do a lot of their damage with the long ball and Nolan Watson is one of the best in baseball at keeping the ball in the ballpark. How comfortable are you with him starting today's game against this team?
For Greg Masceri, will Kelenic be added to the lineup today or go on a rehab assignment first?
Hyo-Jun Park finally had a strong month in June, but you removed him from the lineup. How will your lineup be configured with Sattler in the majors and Kelenic on the mend?
The offensive environment is less conducive to offense than it's been in years past, plus Gary Sanchez is on the wrong side of 30. Still, he's on pace for his highest home run season of his career. How special has it been having such a gifted hitter over your run in New York?
TRIVIA: Which active Japanese-born player has the most career home runs in the PBA?
