Post by Commissioner Erick on Aug 25, 2020 15:43:05 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox (14-33) @ Toronto Blue Jays (23-23)
BOS: Nick Duron (1-3, 6.09)
TOR: Michael Kopech (2-4, 5.36)
After making the playoffs in 2022 and winning the American League East in 2023, it looked like the Toronto Blue Jays would keep improving their young roster and comfortably win the AL East in 2024. After a two-week stretch that had them going 2-9 though, the Blue Jays find themselves looking up at the Yankees in their division.
They'll try to get on the track when they face a comically unbalanced, all-offense, no-pitching unit in the Boston Red Sox during the Game of the Week.
The Blue Jays continue to be strong with their baserunning and fielding, but their offense has taken a step back. The club is ninth in home runs and 11th in batting average, which has caused the offense to sputter. It appears that the struggles of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have become the struggles of the team. After a two homer and one-double game on April 23rd, the Canadian slugger has really struggled. He's only gone deep once since then hasn't doubled or tripled, and only has one multi-RBI game. He's gone 12-73 since them with 15 total bases, good for a .165 average and a .206 slugging mark. Toronto has the supporting cast to overcome his struggles somewhat, but have gone 9-10 since the cold stretch began.
Part of that has to do with the play of Jahmai Jones. Jones became much more of a power hitter last year, rounding out his speed game to become a 6.4 WAR superstar. He had eight home runs by mid-April as his power looked real, though his average suffered. He then went on a three week tear, where the home runs disappeared, but the ability to get on base improved. From April 21 to May 6, Jones went 18-50, for a .360 average. Since that day, Jones has hit a more pedestrian 7-47, for a .149 average, with no home runs. That stretch has coincided with Toronto's roughest stretch and coincides exactly with the team's 2-9 stretch.
Toronto's struggling hitters will get a chance to fatten up against a Red Sox team that's on pace for the worst pitching season in PBA history. Baltimore's 2021 unit produced a 6.52 ERA that's currently the low mark in the league, but Boston's ERA thus far is nearly a full run higher at 7.29. Nick Duron last worked primarily as a starter in 2020 where he produced a 6.18 ERA in 15 games, 12 starts. This year he's back in the rotation and is 1-3 with a 6.09 mark. Duron has allowed 48 hits and 27 walks against 24 strikeouts in 34 innings, a staggering display of baserunners that have fueled a 2.21 WHIP. When Duron leaves, Boston will send a 14th ranked bullpen in terms of AL ERA to replace him as the bullpen's ERA is 6.35. Somehow a guy with a 2.21 WHIP may be preferable than Boston going to its pen.
The game won't be a simple victory for the Blue Jays though, as Boston leads the league in batting average and is second in baserunners. Despite being second from the bottom in home runs, they make sure games are high scoring affairs for both teams.
It's shocking that Boston's offense has been so good, as few hitters are exceptionally well regarded. Still, they're getting a rare healthy season from Nick Collins and he's producing. The Catcher who has torn both Achillies tendons has a .294 average, 10 doubles, and nine home runs to lead the team. He's behind only Francisco Mejis and Gary Sanchez in terms of Catcher production in the AL, though he has a much more friendly contract than those two. He'll be a player Toronto will have to slow down to win comfortably, less they want to get involved in a wild shootout.
Questions for the GMs:
For Steve Strzepek, Boston was fairly competitive for a few years in the early decade, then fell off a cliff the past two seasons. What happened?
Nearly all the non-essential players on your team have contracts that expire after 2025. Was that by design?
The Red Sox are bereft of talent, and your upper minors are barren too, given Portland and Pawtucket's struggles. How can you get more pitching talent into your organization?
For Chris Levant, your team has really nosedived this month. Do you trust your players to play their way out of it, or do you need to make changes to your roster to overcome the issues?
It appeared Michael Kopech put his wild ways behind him last season, but he has 30 walks in 45 innings this year. What do you do if he can't pull himself out of his walk tailspin?
Kole Enright has a sore knee right now. Will we see him at Third Base?
TRIVIA: Who has the most wins in Red Sox history?
BOS: Nick Duron (1-3, 6.09)
TOR: Michael Kopech (2-4, 5.36)
After making the playoffs in 2022 and winning the American League East in 2023, it looked like the Toronto Blue Jays would keep improving their young roster and comfortably win the AL East in 2024. After a two-week stretch that had them going 2-9 though, the Blue Jays find themselves looking up at the Yankees in their division.
They'll try to get on the track when they face a comically unbalanced, all-offense, no-pitching unit in the Boston Red Sox during the Game of the Week.
The Blue Jays continue to be strong with their baserunning and fielding, but their offense has taken a step back. The club is ninth in home runs and 11th in batting average, which has caused the offense to sputter. It appears that the struggles of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have become the struggles of the team. After a two homer and one-double game on April 23rd, the Canadian slugger has really struggled. He's only gone deep once since then hasn't doubled or tripled, and only has one multi-RBI game. He's gone 12-73 since them with 15 total bases, good for a .165 average and a .206 slugging mark. Toronto has the supporting cast to overcome his struggles somewhat, but have gone 9-10 since the cold stretch began.
Part of that has to do with the play of Jahmai Jones. Jones became much more of a power hitter last year, rounding out his speed game to become a 6.4 WAR superstar. He had eight home runs by mid-April as his power looked real, though his average suffered. He then went on a three week tear, where the home runs disappeared, but the ability to get on base improved. From April 21 to May 6, Jones went 18-50, for a .360 average. Since that day, Jones has hit a more pedestrian 7-47, for a .149 average, with no home runs. That stretch has coincided with Toronto's roughest stretch and coincides exactly with the team's 2-9 stretch.
Toronto's struggling hitters will get a chance to fatten up against a Red Sox team that's on pace for the worst pitching season in PBA history. Baltimore's 2021 unit produced a 6.52 ERA that's currently the low mark in the league, but Boston's ERA thus far is nearly a full run higher at 7.29. Nick Duron last worked primarily as a starter in 2020 where he produced a 6.18 ERA in 15 games, 12 starts. This year he's back in the rotation and is 1-3 with a 6.09 mark. Duron has allowed 48 hits and 27 walks against 24 strikeouts in 34 innings, a staggering display of baserunners that have fueled a 2.21 WHIP. When Duron leaves, Boston will send a 14th ranked bullpen in terms of AL ERA to replace him as the bullpen's ERA is 6.35. Somehow a guy with a 2.21 WHIP may be preferable than Boston going to its pen.
The game won't be a simple victory for the Blue Jays though, as Boston leads the league in batting average and is second in baserunners. Despite being second from the bottom in home runs, they make sure games are high scoring affairs for both teams.
It's shocking that Boston's offense has been so good, as few hitters are exceptionally well regarded. Still, they're getting a rare healthy season from Nick Collins and he's producing. The Catcher who has torn both Achillies tendons has a .294 average, 10 doubles, and nine home runs to lead the team. He's behind only Francisco Mejis and Gary Sanchez in terms of Catcher production in the AL, though he has a much more friendly contract than those two. He'll be a player Toronto will have to slow down to win comfortably, less they want to get involved in a wild shootout.
Questions for the GMs:
For Steve Strzepek, Boston was fairly competitive for a few years in the early decade, then fell off a cliff the past two seasons. What happened?
Nearly all the non-essential players on your team have contracts that expire after 2025. Was that by design?
The Red Sox are bereft of talent, and your upper minors are barren too, given Portland and Pawtucket's struggles. How can you get more pitching talent into your organization?
For Chris Levant, your team has really nosedived this month. Do you trust your players to play their way out of it, or do you need to make changes to your roster to overcome the issues?
It appeared Michael Kopech put his wild ways behind him last season, but he has 30 walks in 45 innings this year. What do you do if he can't pull himself out of his walk tailspin?
Kole Enright has a sore knee right now. Will we see him at Third Base?
TRIVIA: Who has the most wins in Red Sox history?