Post by Commissioner Erick on Sept 2, 2020 12:25:29 GMT -5
Philadelphia Phillies (38-21) @ San Diego Padres (31-28)
PHI: Madison Bumgarner (4-3, 5.09)
SD: Peter Lambert (5-4, 4.10)
This week's Game of the Week showcases the emerging San Diego Padres hosting the NL East leading Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies arrive in San Diego in the middle of a west coast swing after taking two of three from the Dodgers. The Padres continue a homestand that has featured three straight victories versus a weak Marlins team. The powerful Phillies have won their division three of the last four seasons, only finishing second in 2021 and still earning a Wild Card berth, while the Padres have been fourth or fifth in the NL West every season of the PBA. The game is a test of whether San Diego's emergence from the depths of despair is real or just a temporary fluke.
The Phillies have their share of injuries, especially among the pitching staff. This includes a recent back injury to 24-year-old Mason Englert who started only four games in his debut season, who was filling in for 26-year-old Joey Wentz, who, in turn, was filling in for long-time starter Adam Conley, who the Phillies hope will be healthy by the post-season. Among position players, Maikel Franco is also on the IL with a sprained knee. In contrast, San Diego has no active roster players on the IL with only 2B Tetsuto Yamata on rehab in El Paso.
The probable starters are 34-year-old Madison Bumgarner (4-3/5.09/51 in 69 IP) pitching in his contract year for the Phillies, and 27-year-old Peter Lambert, (5-4/4.10/45 in 59.1 IP) who holds down the fifth slot in the rotation for the Padres. Bumgarner is a ground ball pitcher featuring a good curve in a three pitch repertoire and excellent control. In his 8 seasons he is 118-58/3.63/1,594. Lambert is a fly ball pitcher with a fastball, curve and change up, and at 2.6 bb/9 he also shows good control. In his five seasons he is 39-26/4.2/410.
The key for Lambert will be getting through the left-handed batting heart of the Phillie lineup featuring Brian Miller (.273/11/28, 15 doubles); Mickey Moniak (.310/11/38, 14 doubles); Seth Beer (.283/24/54) and Darick Hall (.234/26/53). Bumgarner's main task will be to keep table setters Tucupita Marcano (.292/1/16) and Austin Beck (.313/4/19) off of the bases when the Padre's big guns Alejandro Toral (.300/5/25 with 21 doubles); Kyle Schwarber (.207/13/28); Tyler O'Neill (.277/14/40); and Yasmani Grandal (.228/10/26) come up.
The weather forecast calls for clear skies, 73 degrees with the wind blowing out at 12 mph at the 4:10 pm game time – a beautiful day for baseball; Let's play 2!!
Questions for the GMs:
QUESTIONS FOR MATT GRUBS:
1. Your starter today is now 34, at the end of his 5-year contract and is not dominating quite as much as he has in the past, what do you see in his future with Philadelphia?
2. The Phillie shortstop, Andres Gimenez, and Second Baseman Franklin Berreto both look like prototype leadoff hitters yet they have 7 steals between them. Wouldn't a running game from them improve an already great offense?
QUESTIONS FOR RYAN DAVIS:
1. The Padres employ a bullpen-by-committee system, do you think this lack of organization can bring the Padres to the playoffs some day?
2. SS Royce Lewis has still not shown that he can hit major league pitching and his fielding at short is not where one might expect it, are the Padres satisfied that he is?
TRIVIA: Which Padres Primary Left Fielder for the season has hit the most home runs in a single year?
Credit to Arlo Zimmerman for writing this article!
PHI: Madison Bumgarner (4-3, 5.09)
SD: Peter Lambert (5-4, 4.10)
This week's Game of the Week showcases the emerging San Diego Padres hosting the NL East leading Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies arrive in San Diego in the middle of a west coast swing after taking two of three from the Dodgers. The Padres continue a homestand that has featured three straight victories versus a weak Marlins team. The powerful Phillies have won their division three of the last four seasons, only finishing second in 2021 and still earning a Wild Card berth, while the Padres have been fourth or fifth in the NL West every season of the PBA. The game is a test of whether San Diego's emergence from the depths of despair is real or just a temporary fluke.
The Phillies have their share of injuries, especially among the pitching staff. This includes a recent back injury to 24-year-old Mason Englert who started only four games in his debut season, who was filling in for 26-year-old Joey Wentz, who, in turn, was filling in for long-time starter Adam Conley, who the Phillies hope will be healthy by the post-season. Among position players, Maikel Franco is also on the IL with a sprained knee. In contrast, San Diego has no active roster players on the IL with only 2B Tetsuto Yamata on rehab in El Paso.
The probable starters are 34-year-old Madison Bumgarner (4-3/5.09/51 in 69 IP) pitching in his contract year for the Phillies, and 27-year-old Peter Lambert, (5-4/4.10/45 in 59.1 IP) who holds down the fifth slot in the rotation for the Padres. Bumgarner is a ground ball pitcher featuring a good curve in a three pitch repertoire and excellent control. In his 8 seasons he is 118-58/3.63/1,594. Lambert is a fly ball pitcher with a fastball, curve and change up, and at 2.6 bb/9 he also shows good control. In his five seasons he is 39-26/4.2/410.
The key for Lambert will be getting through the left-handed batting heart of the Phillie lineup featuring Brian Miller (.273/11/28, 15 doubles); Mickey Moniak (.310/11/38, 14 doubles); Seth Beer (.283/24/54) and Darick Hall (.234/26/53). Bumgarner's main task will be to keep table setters Tucupita Marcano (.292/1/16) and Austin Beck (.313/4/19) off of the bases when the Padre's big guns Alejandro Toral (.300/5/25 with 21 doubles); Kyle Schwarber (.207/13/28); Tyler O'Neill (.277/14/40); and Yasmani Grandal (.228/10/26) come up.
The weather forecast calls for clear skies, 73 degrees with the wind blowing out at 12 mph at the 4:10 pm game time – a beautiful day for baseball; Let's play 2!!
Questions for the GMs:
QUESTIONS FOR MATT GRUBS:
1. Your starter today is now 34, at the end of his 5-year contract and is not dominating quite as much as he has in the past, what do you see in his future with Philadelphia?
2. The Phillie shortstop, Andres Gimenez, and Second Baseman Franklin Berreto both look like prototype leadoff hitters yet they have 7 steals between them. Wouldn't a running game from them improve an already great offense?
QUESTIONS FOR RYAN DAVIS:
1. The Padres employ a bullpen-by-committee system, do you think this lack of organization can bring the Padres to the playoffs some day?
2. SS Royce Lewis has still not shown that he can hit major league pitching and his fielding at short is not where one might expect it, are the Padres satisfied that he is?
TRIVIA: Which Padres Primary Left Fielder for the season has hit the most home runs in a single year?
Credit to Arlo Zimmerman for writing this article!