Post by Commissioner Erick on Sept 9, 2017 18:38:23 GMT -5
New York Mets (55-27) @ Washington Nationals (45-37)
NYM: Zach Wheeler (5-3, 4.54)
WASH: Tanner Roark (5-6, 3.81)
At 45-37, the Washington Nationals are in good position to contend for a wild card spot. With the talent on their roster, they intended to contend with the New York Mets for the NL East.
The two best teams in the NL East square off, as the Mets look to expand upon a 10 game lead over their rival. The Mets are an exceptional 8-2 against the Nationals in the division, a big reason why they've opened up such a large lead.
Everybody knows about the sheer depth of arms the Mets can throw out. There are four pitchers the Mets throw out who would be hard pressed to be worse than the second best pitcher on any team in the league. Combined with a handful of solid back-end types, the Mets are always a lock to at least keep themselves in a game. More likely than not, they're putting opponents away behind their arms.
What you may not know is how good the Mets' bullpen has been. The unit has the best ERA in the National League. Some of this is a product of being fresh. Good starters limit overwork and overuse. Some of this is a product of the Mets only needing to use short-relievers. If starters go deep, middle-men don't have to go as deep, allowing only the best guys to finish opponents off.
However, the majority of that is due to the Mets having some really solid arms. All of their main relievers had an ERA under 4, with closer Jeruys Familia's solid 3.23 ERA the highest of the bunch. Even then, Familia has underperformed very solid peripherals, and Reed has the stuff and peripherals to be better than he has.
Jerry Blevins was the unsung star, with an ERA of 2.13, 11.6 strikeouts per nine, and success against both lefties and righties. Unfortunately for the Mets, he has a sore elbow which landed him on the disabled list, with Adam Wilk.
Also, the Mets aren't just a collection of arms. They're second in on-base percentage and first in home runs, giving them a potent combination of baserunners and power. Six players have double-figure home runs, and of the two regulars who don't, David Wright and Curtis Granderson have been serviceable at the plate, fine in the field, and exceptional in the clubhouse. Winning cures a lot of ills, but it's a close-knit group, with a veteran team that responds well to Bench Coach Dick Scott and an excellent staff.
Michael Conforto has been particularly special, with a .984 OPS, second in the NL. He's in between two players he'll be facing off against in Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman. The Nationals are lucky that those two have been so good, as so many of their other players have been hurt.
Jaysen Werth has been banged up all year, and now Anthony Rendon has joined him. The bullpen has Joe Blanton and Oliver Perez on the DL, while Stephen Strasburg and now Jacob Turner are absent from the rotation. Even Bryce Harper is dinged up with bad ribs.
Those injuries have tried to hold Washington back, but Bryce Harper has simply been too good to let them. Harper leads baseball in on-base percentage by a mile, leads baseball in slugging by a mile (and as a result of the previous statements, leads in OPS by a mile), leads baseball in RBI's by a mile, is second in home runs, second in total bases, second in isolated slugging, fourth in runs, and for good measure has nine steals, seven outfield assists, and has played solid defense. He's the MVP right now, and with respects to Corey Seager and Clayton Kershaw, it isn't really close.
Zach Wheeler has faced Harper and the Nationals twice this season. He worked 7 strong innings, allowing three runs in a 4-3 Mets win on June 15. Way back in April, he allowed four runs on six hits and three walks without a strikeout over 5 innings in a 7-4 Mets win. Harper homered off Wheeler in both of those games.
Questions for the GM's:
For Nigel Laverick, most of your team has handled Bryce Harper very well this year. It's probably a big reason for your team's 8-2 advantage on them this season. However, the only two home runs Harper has hit off your pitchers have been off Wheeler. You've walked him eight times in 43 appearances, but also have 14 strikeouts. What's your strategy against him?
Lucas Duda was having an outstanding year with a .274 average and 13 home runs. With him straining his knee, who takes over at first base?
You have some talented players who can play the infield, yet you've gone with Neil Walker, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Wright. Why that trio and not some of the other options you have?
For Xerxes Clocklamp, you obviously will need Harper for a wild card run, but if you want to get back into NL East contention, taking games from the Mets is imperative. Do you play Harper today or let him rest with the All-Star Break approaching?
With Anthony Rendon supposedly going on the DL, who takes over at third base?
Chris Heisey has been stretched into more at bats than you thought he'd get. He hasn't responded well. How do you get him back on track?
NYM: Zach Wheeler (5-3, 4.54)
WASH: Tanner Roark (5-6, 3.81)
At 45-37, the Washington Nationals are in good position to contend for a wild card spot. With the talent on their roster, they intended to contend with the New York Mets for the NL East.
The two best teams in the NL East square off, as the Mets look to expand upon a 10 game lead over their rival. The Mets are an exceptional 8-2 against the Nationals in the division, a big reason why they've opened up such a large lead.
Everybody knows about the sheer depth of arms the Mets can throw out. There are four pitchers the Mets throw out who would be hard pressed to be worse than the second best pitcher on any team in the league. Combined with a handful of solid back-end types, the Mets are always a lock to at least keep themselves in a game. More likely than not, they're putting opponents away behind their arms.
What you may not know is how good the Mets' bullpen has been. The unit has the best ERA in the National League. Some of this is a product of being fresh. Good starters limit overwork and overuse. Some of this is a product of the Mets only needing to use short-relievers. If starters go deep, middle-men don't have to go as deep, allowing only the best guys to finish opponents off.
However, the majority of that is due to the Mets having some really solid arms. All of their main relievers had an ERA under 4, with closer Jeruys Familia's solid 3.23 ERA the highest of the bunch. Even then, Familia has underperformed very solid peripherals, and Reed has the stuff and peripherals to be better than he has.
Jerry Blevins was the unsung star, with an ERA of 2.13, 11.6 strikeouts per nine, and success against both lefties and righties. Unfortunately for the Mets, he has a sore elbow which landed him on the disabled list, with Adam Wilk.
Also, the Mets aren't just a collection of arms. They're second in on-base percentage and first in home runs, giving them a potent combination of baserunners and power. Six players have double-figure home runs, and of the two regulars who don't, David Wright and Curtis Granderson have been serviceable at the plate, fine in the field, and exceptional in the clubhouse. Winning cures a lot of ills, but it's a close-knit group, with a veteran team that responds well to Bench Coach Dick Scott and an excellent staff.
Michael Conforto has been particularly special, with a .984 OPS, second in the NL. He's in between two players he'll be facing off against in Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman. The Nationals are lucky that those two have been so good, as so many of their other players have been hurt.
Jaysen Werth has been banged up all year, and now Anthony Rendon has joined him. The bullpen has Joe Blanton and Oliver Perez on the DL, while Stephen Strasburg and now Jacob Turner are absent from the rotation. Even Bryce Harper is dinged up with bad ribs.
Those injuries have tried to hold Washington back, but Bryce Harper has simply been too good to let them. Harper leads baseball in on-base percentage by a mile, leads baseball in slugging by a mile (and as a result of the previous statements, leads in OPS by a mile), leads baseball in RBI's by a mile, is second in home runs, second in total bases, second in isolated slugging, fourth in runs, and for good measure has nine steals, seven outfield assists, and has played solid defense. He's the MVP right now, and with respects to Corey Seager and Clayton Kershaw, it isn't really close.
Zach Wheeler has faced Harper and the Nationals twice this season. He worked 7 strong innings, allowing three runs in a 4-3 Mets win on June 15. Way back in April, he allowed four runs on six hits and three walks without a strikeout over 5 innings in a 7-4 Mets win. Harper homered off Wheeler in both of those games.
Questions for the GM's:
For Nigel Laverick, most of your team has handled Bryce Harper very well this year. It's probably a big reason for your team's 8-2 advantage on them this season. However, the only two home runs Harper has hit off your pitchers have been off Wheeler. You've walked him eight times in 43 appearances, but also have 14 strikeouts. What's your strategy against him?
Lucas Duda was having an outstanding year with a .274 average and 13 home runs. With him straining his knee, who takes over at first base?
You have some talented players who can play the infield, yet you've gone with Neil Walker, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Wright. Why that trio and not some of the other options you have?
For Xerxes Clocklamp, you obviously will need Harper for a wild card run, but if you want to get back into NL East contention, taking games from the Mets is imperative. Do you play Harper today or let him rest with the All-Star Break approaching?
With Anthony Rendon supposedly going on the DL, who takes over at third base?
Chris Heisey has been stretched into more at bats than you thought he'd get. He hasn't responded well. How do you get him back on track?
