Post by Commissioner Erick on Sept 13, 2020 14:22:23 GMT -5
San Francisco Giants (56-28) @ San Diego Padres (45-38)
SF: Justin Marsden (5-6, 5.12)
SD: Jeff Henry (5-4, 4.41)
The San Francisco Giants enter the week before the All-Star Break reeling after losing five of seven, including two in extra innings. The San Diego Padres enter the week before the All-Star Break struggling, dropping three of six, with two of those games coming in extra innings, including a 19-inning marathon loss yesterday.
Recent extra inning struggles aside, the two NL West teams have had strong seasons and will look to position themselves well for a second half playoff push when they face off in the Game of the Week.
Virtually all of these two team’s contests have been ultra low-scoring. The Giants have scored more than four runs against the Padres just twice in nine games this year, but San Diego has scored more than four runs just once. San Diego’s best chance for getting over that hump may be today. Justin Marsden will start for the Giants, and he’s been the Giants’ most inconsistent pitcher. He’s pitched at least six innings just twice in his last 13 starts. Related to that fact, he’s allowed multiple home runs in six of those starts. On the other hand, Marsden has struck out at least as many batters as innings in every start this season except for one where he was injured. His stuff misses bats, but he hasn’t been able to avoid the long ball or go deep into games.
Normally that wouldn’t be an issue against San Diego, but this year’s Padres team is on pace for one of their most prodigious home run outputs in their history. They’re still only ninth in the NL, but they’ve been on a tear recently thanks to Tyler O’Neill. The Canadian slugger has put up huge home runs numbers in the past, which is something the Padres have needed. As a bonus, after producing terribly low averages and on-base percentages most of his career, O’Neill has a .268 average and a .326 OBP. Nothing great, but just enough to make O’Neill not be a liability.
That’s helped San Diego’s offense be balanced. They have some real power, and most of their other hitters have decent batting averages. However, the team has needed a star to replace Luis Urias to drive the offense, and they’ve found that in Alejandro Toral. The 2017 fourth rounder carried high averages in the minors, but struggled his first two years in the majors. He wasn’t hitting for a high average, his power numbers were down, and he’s a terrible defender. In his third season though, it appears that a switch has turned. He’s not selling out for home run power in Petco Park. Instead, he’s making sure to make good contact. As a result, he’s mashing doubles all over the park as he’s fourth in the league with 25. He also has a .332 average that leads the league. This version of Toral is an All-Star and he’s leading the Padres to their best season in years.
San Diego also like they’ve found a pitching star in former Top-10 Prospect Jeff Henry. Like Toral, Henry had an uneven beginning to his career. However, the former Beaver has taken a big leap in year two. Armed with a high-90s fastball and a devastating slider, Henry has devastated right-handers, while lefties have been merely adequate. Henry has a good strikeout rate for a starter and also keeps the ball down, allowing fewer than a home run-per-nine innings. He’s particularly good at home where he has a 0.5 home run-per-nine rate at Petco. He’ll be a challenge for San Francisco to elevate.
The Padres have the worst zone rating in the league though, so their defense will need to be on point. Fortunately, it’s been better since Tetsuo Yamada has come back. The return for Luis Urias, Yamada has been a solid Second Baseman when he’s been on the field, plus he’s been a solid, balanced offensive player. Tucupita Marcano hasn’t been a good defender in the short time he’s played Second Base, and Luis Almanzar was a disaster. Yamada has been a stabilizing force for the Padres after his rough stint in Los Angeles.
Questions for the GMs:
For Dave Twibell, what do you make of Marsden’s season so far?
How has Dan Cabrera looked to you the past few weeks filling in for Rafael Jimenez?
Your team has struggled offensively against San Diego and has struggled offensively the past week. Who needs to turn it around for you to get things going again?
For Ryan Davis, Joey Gallo is hitting .190, but has a .552 slugging mark. Has he performed to your expectations this year off the bench?
Luis Almanzar really disappointed defensively early in the season. How did that impact how you made up your roster?
The Giants are a low-strikeout team, really performing well on balls in play and using their speed. Will you get a more defensive lineup in there to face them?
TRIVIA: Luis Urias is San Diego's All-Time leader in Doubles. Who is Second?
SF: Justin Marsden (5-6, 5.12)
SD: Jeff Henry (5-4, 4.41)
The San Francisco Giants enter the week before the All-Star Break reeling after losing five of seven, including two in extra innings. The San Diego Padres enter the week before the All-Star Break struggling, dropping three of six, with two of those games coming in extra innings, including a 19-inning marathon loss yesterday.
Recent extra inning struggles aside, the two NL West teams have had strong seasons and will look to position themselves well for a second half playoff push when they face off in the Game of the Week.
Virtually all of these two team’s contests have been ultra low-scoring. The Giants have scored more than four runs against the Padres just twice in nine games this year, but San Diego has scored more than four runs just once. San Diego’s best chance for getting over that hump may be today. Justin Marsden will start for the Giants, and he’s been the Giants’ most inconsistent pitcher. He’s pitched at least six innings just twice in his last 13 starts. Related to that fact, he’s allowed multiple home runs in six of those starts. On the other hand, Marsden has struck out at least as many batters as innings in every start this season except for one where he was injured. His stuff misses bats, but he hasn’t been able to avoid the long ball or go deep into games.
Normally that wouldn’t be an issue against San Diego, but this year’s Padres team is on pace for one of their most prodigious home run outputs in their history. They’re still only ninth in the NL, but they’ve been on a tear recently thanks to Tyler O’Neill. The Canadian slugger has put up huge home runs numbers in the past, which is something the Padres have needed. As a bonus, after producing terribly low averages and on-base percentages most of his career, O’Neill has a .268 average and a .326 OBP. Nothing great, but just enough to make O’Neill not be a liability.
That’s helped San Diego’s offense be balanced. They have some real power, and most of their other hitters have decent batting averages. However, the team has needed a star to replace Luis Urias to drive the offense, and they’ve found that in Alejandro Toral. The 2017 fourth rounder carried high averages in the minors, but struggled his first two years in the majors. He wasn’t hitting for a high average, his power numbers were down, and he’s a terrible defender. In his third season though, it appears that a switch has turned. He’s not selling out for home run power in Petco Park. Instead, he’s making sure to make good contact. As a result, he’s mashing doubles all over the park as he’s fourth in the league with 25. He also has a .332 average that leads the league. This version of Toral is an All-Star and he’s leading the Padres to their best season in years.
San Diego also like they’ve found a pitching star in former Top-10 Prospect Jeff Henry. Like Toral, Henry had an uneven beginning to his career. However, the former Beaver has taken a big leap in year two. Armed with a high-90s fastball and a devastating slider, Henry has devastated right-handers, while lefties have been merely adequate. Henry has a good strikeout rate for a starter and also keeps the ball down, allowing fewer than a home run-per-nine innings. He’s particularly good at home where he has a 0.5 home run-per-nine rate at Petco. He’ll be a challenge for San Francisco to elevate.
The Padres have the worst zone rating in the league though, so their defense will need to be on point. Fortunately, it’s been better since Tetsuo Yamada has come back. The return for Luis Urias, Yamada has been a solid Second Baseman when he’s been on the field, plus he’s been a solid, balanced offensive player. Tucupita Marcano hasn’t been a good defender in the short time he’s played Second Base, and Luis Almanzar was a disaster. Yamada has been a stabilizing force for the Padres after his rough stint in Los Angeles.
Questions for the GMs:
For Dave Twibell, what do you make of Marsden’s season so far?
How has Dan Cabrera looked to you the past few weeks filling in for Rafael Jimenez?
Your team has struggled offensively against San Diego and has struggled offensively the past week. Who needs to turn it around for you to get things going again?
For Ryan Davis, Joey Gallo is hitting .190, but has a .552 slugging mark. Has he performed to your expectations this year off the bench?
Luis Almanzar really disappointed defensively early in the season. How did that impact how you made up your roster?
The Giants are a low-strikeout team, really performing well on balls in play and using their speed. Will you get a more defensive lineup in there to face them?
TRIVIA: Luis Urias is San Diego's All-Time leader in Doubles. Who is Second?
