Post by Commissioner Erick on Oct 1, 2020 17:13:13 GMT -5
Chicago White Sox (60-51) @ Detroit Tigers (71-39)
CHW: Aaron Nola (3-6, 4.80)
DET: Michael Mader (5-4, 4.33)
The Detroit Tigers have been fantastic this entire season finding themselves on top of the AL Central on the first Monday in June. The previous AL Central bullies, the Chicago White Sox, haven’t been able to put together a dominant stretch to challenge them for the division lead.
The White Sox are 11.5 back of the Tigers, but Detroit is dealing with a handful of small injuries. This gives Chicago the smallest glimmer of hope and something they’ll need to capitalize on when they face the Tigers in the Game of the Week.
Chicago is a good team, with a 60-51 record that is a few wins short of what their Base Runs or Pythagorean Record says it should be. However, with Detroit, Kansas City, Seattle, and Texas having sensational seasons, the White Sox can finish with a win total beginning with a nine and finish nowhere close to the playoffs. The team is still dominant against right-handed pitching, either the second or third best in the AL depending on how much people believe in Baltimore. However, little factors have hurt Chicago.
For starters, the team still hasn’t found a way to rectify its extreme left-handed nature. The team is 10-16 against same-side pitching this year, with an OPS worse than all but three other teams. Yoan Moncada, Tim Anderson, and Alfredo Despaigne have left the club and haven’t been successfully replaced. Will Benson has made the offense unstoppable against righties, and Micah Watson has grown into a promising slugger, but the team hasn’t found the player to complement the left-handed stars to club left-handed pitching.
Furthermore, Chicago never replaced Yoan Moncada’s talent on the bases. The team has become a stationary baserunning team as their stars age, the roster construction doesn’t prioritize speed, and the few roadrunners on the roster don’t get on base. Chicago has stolen the fewest bases in the AL, is second-to-least in baserunning, and is fourth from the bottom in weighted stolen bases.
Finally, Chicago’s defense has been fine, but not special. Detroit, meanwhile, is third in zone rating in the league, has committed the second fewest errors, and is fourth in stolen bases, which has helped elevate an already strong team.
The concerning thing for Detroit is the short-term injury situation. Matt Carpenter is their one long term injury as he’ll likely miss the rest of the year. He had a poor average, but good patience, acceptable defense, and some power. He’s likely their ninth-most-important player in their lineup though, so his injury won’t be catastrophic. On the other hand, strong second-year player Raj Anu will miss a few weeks with a broken wrist. Amari Maggette has a bum elbow, and Anthony Rizzo has a bruised knee that they may be able to play through. None of those injuries appears to be serious, but with the Tigers having postseason dreams, they may want those injuries to be managed conservatively.
If those players miss time, it will really compromise the Tigers’ offense. Dirty Tarin is back up and starting, but he was unsuccessful in the majors in 2022 and hasn’t been special in Toledo the past two years. Marcos A. Gonzalez is playing Third Base, but doesn’t have a PBA-caliber bat. Reggie Pruitt is a backup outfielder, but he doesn’t have a PBA-caliber bat. Ryon Healy can be a competent First Baseman but Anthony Rizzo isn’t a competent First Baseman, he’s an MVP-candidate First Baseman.
Detroit is also hurt by a move they made to improve their bullpen, acquiring Phil Maton and a pick from Kansas City for Mike Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald can’t defend and doesn’t have a place in the lineup on a healthy Tigers team, but projects as a guy with a strong bat who could help in a situation like this. With him in Kansas City, if Detroit rests their two nicked up stars, Detroit goes from having one of the most complete offenses in the league to a very shaky lineup this next week or so. The team will still have the ability to get on base with Jacob Pearson, Brice Turang, and Willi Castro, but there will be limited power.
At least, from a pitching staff, there shouldn’t be a huge issue with today’s game as Detroit will roll out Michael Mader. Mader’s been a solid back-end starter for Detroit, and the key to today’s game, is left-handed. Mader did struggle in one of his two games against the White Sox, but a left-hander against the White Sox is a good proposition. Detroit has also added three arms at the deadline in Chris Archer, Eubray Ramos, and Jose Ruiz. The Tigers should have a deep bullpen ready to go for today’s game.
Questions for the GMs:
For Mike Ball, you weren’t able to improve your team against left-handers. Are you disappointed you weren’t able to improve in that regard?
You’ve had a season to evaluate Joe White and Sidney Pimentel as full-time starters. What are your thoughts about their future with your team?
If Detroit rests Rizzo and/or Maggette, they may need to turn more to their legs than their power to win. With Cal Raleigh being so poor at throwing guys out, will we see Riley Adams behind the dish today?
For Taylor Bettencourt, you acquired three new guys at the deadline. How will you structure your bullpen to accommodate the new players?
Rizzo and Maggette are banged up. Will they go on the IL, and even if they don’t, will they play today?
Will Gonzalez be your full-time option at third base for the rest of the year?
TRIVIA: Of pitchers he's faced at least 20 times, Andrew Benintendi has the highest average against Michael Mader (.455, 10-22). Who does he have the most hits against?
CHW: Aaron Nola (3-6, 4.80)
DET: Michael Mader (5-4, 4.33)
The Detroit Tigers have been fantastic this entire season finding themselves on top of the AL Central on the first Monday in June. The previous AL Central bullies, the Chicago White Sox, haven’t been able to put together a dominant stretch to challenge them for the division lead.
The White Sox are 11.5 back of the Tigers, but Detroit is dealing with a handful of small injuries. This gives Chicago the smallest glimmer of hope and something they’ll need to capitalize on when they face the Tigers in the Game of the Week.
Chicago is a good team, with a 60-51 record that is a few wins short of what their Base Runs or Pythagorean Record says it should be. However, with Detroit, Kansas City, Seattle, and Texas having sensational seasons, the White Sox can finish with a win total beginning with a nine and finish nowhere close to the playoffs. The team is still dominant against right-handed pitching, either the second or third best in the AL depending on how much people believe in Baltimore. However, little factors have hurt Chicago.
For starters, the team still hasn’t found a way to rectify its extreme left-handed nature. The team is 10-16 against same-side pitching this year, with an OPS worse than all but three other teams. Yoan Moncada, Tim Anderson, and Alfredo Despaigne have left the club and haven’t been successfully replaced. Will Benson has made the offense unstoppable against righties, and Micah Watson has grown into a promising slugger, but the team hasn’t found the player to complement the left-handed stars to club left-handed pitching.
Furthermore, Chicago never replaced Yoan Moncada’s talent on the bases. The team has become a stationary baserunning team as their stars age, the roster construction doesn’t prioritize speed, and the few roadrunners on the roster don’t get on base. Chicago has stolen the fewest bases in the AL, is second-to-least in baserunning, and is fourth from the bottom in weighted stolen bases.
Finally, Chicago’s defense has been fine, but not special. Detroit, meanwhile, is third in zone rating in the league, has committed the second fewest errors, and is fourth in stolen bases, which has helped elevate an already strong team.
The concerning thing for Detroit is the short-term injury situation. Matt Carpenter is their one long term injury as he’ll likely miss the rest of the year. He had a poor average, but good patience, acceptable defense, and some power. He’s likely their ninth-most-important player in their lineup though, so his injury won’t be catastrophic. On the other hand, strong second-year player Raj Anu will miss a few weeks with a broken wrist. Amari Maggette has a bum elbow, and Anthony Rizzo has a bruised knee that they may be able to play through. None of those injuries appears to be serious, but with the Tigers having postseason dreams, they may want those injuries to be managed conservatively.
If those players miss time, it will really compromise the Tigers’ offense. Dirty Tarin is back up and starting, but he was unsuccessful in the majors in 2022 and hasn’t been special in Toledo the past two years. Marcos A. Gonzalez is playing Third Base, but doesn’t have a PBA-caliber bat. Reggie Pruitt is a backup outfielder, but he doesn’t have a PBA-caliber bat. Ryon Healy can be a competent First Baseman but Anthony Rizzo isn’t a competent First Baseman, he’s an MVP-candidate First Baseman.
Detroit is also hurt by a move they made to improve their bullpen, acquiring Phil Maton and a pick from Kansas City for Mike Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald can’t defend and doesn’t have a place in the lineup on a healthy Tigers team, but projects as a guy with a strong bat who could help in a situation like this. With him in Kansas City, if Detroit rests their two nicked up stars, Detroit goes from having one of the most complete offenses in the league to a very shaky lineup this next week or so. The team will still have the ability to get on base with Jacob Pearson, Brice Turang, and Willi Castro, but there will be limited power.
At least, from a pitching staff, there shouldn’t be a huge issue with today’s game as Detroit will roll out Michael Mader. Mader’s been a solid back-end starter for Detroit, and the key to today’s game, is left-handed. Mader did struggle in one of his two games against the White Sox, but a left-hander against the White Sox is a good proposition. Detroit has also added three arms at the deadline in Chris Archer, Eubray Ramos, and Jose Ruiz. The Tigers should have a deep bullpen ready to go for today’s game.
Questions for the GMs:
For Mike Ball, you weren’t able to improve your team against left-handers. Are you disappointed you weren’t able to improve in that regard?
You’ve had a season to evaluate Joe White and Sidney Pimentel as full-time starters. What are your thoughts about their future with your team?
If Detroit rests Rizzo and/or Maggette, they may need to turn more to their legs than their power to win. With Cal Raleigh being so poor at throwing guys out, will we see Riley Adams behind the dish today?
For Taylor Bettencourt, you acquired three new guys at the deadline. How will you structure your bullpen to accommodate the new players?
Rizzo and Maggette are banged up. Will they go on the IL, and even if they don’t, will they play today?
Will Gonzalez be your full-time option at third base for the rest of the year?
TRIVIA: Of pitchers he's faced at least 20 times, Andrew Benintendi has the highest average against Michael Mader (.455, 10-22). Who does he have the most hits against?
