Post by Commissioner Erick on Oct 4, 2020 22:38:21 GMT -5
Baltimore Orioles (60-58) @ New York Yankees (55-64)
BAL: Tommy Stanfield (4-4, 5.45)
NYY: Austin DeCarr (4-8, 9.20)
The Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees currently are the two best teams in the American League in scoring runs. They’re also second and third in American League teams in most runs allowed.
While the clubs differ in the specifics of how they’re allowing others teams to score, expect some large numbers on the board when the Orioles and Yankees face off in the Game of the Week.
Bolstered by a number of big moves since the end of last season, the Baltimore Orioles have a ferocious offense. They’re tied for first in home runs and have 10 players on their roster with double-digit long balls, including two that don’t start on a regular basis. Sluggers Emmanuel Tapia and Joe DeCarlo were acquired in-season and provide an incredible amount of power to a team that was already talented offensively as the duo has a combined 81 home runs thus far. Gregory Polanco, freed from the doldrums of Pittsburgh, has been an All-Star with a .320 average, 29 home runs, and a second-in-the-league 1.020 OPS. Madman Mike Floyd has blossomed into a special hitter with a .292 average, 32 doubles, and 28 home runs from the Second Base position. It’s a special offense.
The cost of such a special offense has been an inept defense. Baltimore’s zone rating is already the worst in PBA history with six weeks to play, and there’s no indication it can get better. Floyd’s zone rating is worse than all but three major league teams, undoing much of his offensive work. Jonathan Arauz has been rough at Shortstop with the Orioles. Mike Siani has not played a strong Center Field, and Gregory Polanco’s Right Field work has been bad. Some bench butchers like Luis Arraez don’t play much anymore to hurt the team, but the club has not put its pitchers in a good chance to succeed.
That’s how you get talented young arms like tonight’s starter Tommy Stanfield working with a 5.45 ERA. The Orioles have a number of high-profile pitchers drafted high in the draft who have struggled this year. Stanfield has home run, strikeout, and walk rates close to league average, though his walk rate is a touch elevated. However, with poor defense around him, he’s allowed a .343 BABIP leading to an elevated WHIP. He has a 5.45 ERA a season after producing a 3.95 mark in his rookie year.
Stanfield will be facing a team much like his own. The Yankees are tied with the Orioles for the most home runs in the league as their offense is absolutely ferocious. Greg Bird is having a rebound season with 35 home runs, Gleyber Torres is having the best season of a tremendous career, and Tyler Duncan has provided punch from the bottom of the order to guarantee there’s no weak link in the chain. However, the Yankees have the second worst defense in baseball. Bird has been an abomination at First Base as the slugger no longer has any range. Torres’ issues are similar as his hands and work around the bag are still exceptional, but he no longer has the legs to move the way a Second Baseman needs to. Echo Robles has done a nice job at Second Base, but every other spot on the field has been a net negative.
That’s resulted in mediocre pitchers getting shelled. An elite starter could hope for a ton of strikeouts and some home run luck to beat the defensive odds. However, the Yankees are expecting to send out Austin DeCarr to the mound. DeCarr may be the worst starter in baseball as he has a 9.20 ERA in 19 starts. DeCarr has a terrible strikeout rate and a walk rate 50% higher than league average. Combined with New York’s defense leading to a .379 BABIP, and every inning DeCarr doesn’t allow a run is a success. New York also curiously sent Giovanny Gallegos away at the trade deadline so their pen isn’t as strong as it could be to counteract the defense and take on Baltimore’s offense.
It should lead to an explosive game as the Yankees have averaged 6.9 runs in their 16 games against Baltimore this year, with the Orioles averaging 5.5.
Questions for the GMs:
For Vic Black, would you ever do anything to improve your defense at the expense of your offense, or are you dead-set on this team bludgeoning opponents offensively?
Trent Clark has a mild hamstring strain. Will he play today?
Salesman Ancrum is due off the IL today. Will he be activated and how will you deploy him going forward?
For Greg Masceri, Gleyber Torres has a sprained finger. Will he see time on the IL?
You recently traded Gallegos, a key member of your bullpen. Is that a sign that you’re conceding the season?
What would you say is the key to beating Baltimore today?
TRIVIA: Which Second Baseman has the worst zone rating of all-time?
BAL: Tommy Stanfield (4-4, 5.45)
NYY: Austin DeCarr (4-8, 9.20)
The Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees currently are the two best teams in the American League in scoring runs. They’re also second and third in American League teams in most runs allowed.
While the clubs differ in the specifics of how they’re allowing others teams to score, expect some large numbers on the board when the Orioles and Yankees face off in the Game of the Week.
Bolstered by a number of big moves since the end of last season, the Baltimore Orioles have a ferocious offense. They’re tied for first in home runs and have 10 players on their roster with double-digit long balls, including two that don’t start on a regular basis. Sluggers Emmanuel Tapia and Joe DeCarlo were acquired in-season and provide an incredible amount of power to a team that was already talented offensively as the duo has a combined 81 home runs thus far. Gregory Polanco, freed from the doldrums of Pittsburgh, has been an All-Star with a .320 average, 29 home runs, and a second-in-the-league 1.020 OPS. Madman Mike Floyd has blossomed into a special hitter with a .292 average, 32 doubles, and 28 home runs from the Second Base position. It’s a special offense.
The cost of such a special offense has been an inept defense. Baltimore’s zone rating is already the worst in PBA history with six weeks to play, and there’s no indication it can get better. Floyd’s zone rating is worse than all but three major league teams, undoing much of his offensive work. Jonathan Arauz has been rough at Shortstop with the Orioles. Mike Siani has not played a strong Center Field, and Gregory Polanco’s Right Field work has been bad. Some bench butchers like Luis Arraez don’t play much anymore to hurt the team, but the club has not put its pitchers in a good chance to succeed.
That’s how you get talented young arms like tonight’s starter Tommy Stanfield working with a 5.45 ERA. The Orioles have a number of high-profile pitchers drafted high in the draft who have struggled this year. Stanfield has home run, strikeout, and walk rates close to league average, though his walk rate is a touch elevated. However, with poor defense around him, he’s allowed a .343 BABIP leading to an elevated WHIP. He has a 5.45 ERA a season after producing a 3.95 mark in his rookie year.
Stanfield will be facing a team much like his own. The Yankees are tied with the Orioles for the most home runs in the league as their offense is absolutely ferocious. Greg Bird is having a rebound season with 35 home runs, Gleyber Torres is having the best season of a tremendous career, and Tyler Duncan has provided punch from the bottom of the order to guarantee there’s no weak link in the chain. However, the Yankees have the second worst defense in baseball. Bird has been an abomination at First Base as the slugger no longer has any range. Torres’ issues are similar as his hands and work around the bag are still exceptional, but he no longer has the legs to move the way a Second Baseman needs to. Echo Robles has done a nice job at Second Base, but every other spot on the field has been a net negative.
That’s resulted in mediocre pitchers getting shelled. An elite starter could hope for a ton of strikeouts and some home run luck to beat the defensive odds. However, the Yankees are expecting to send out Austin DeCarr to the mound. DeCarr may be the worst starter in baseball as he has a 9.20 ERA in 19 starts. DeCarr has a terrible strikeout rate and a walk rate 50% higher than league average. Combined with New York’s defense leading to a .379 BABIP, and every inning DeCarr doesn’t allow a run is a success. New York also curiously sent Giovanny Gallegos away at the trade deadline so their pen isn’t as strong as it could be to counteract the defense and take on Baltimore’s offense.
It should lead to an explosive game as the Yankees have averaged 6.9 runs in their 16 games against Baltimore this year, with the Orioles averaging 5.5.
Questions for the GMs:
For Vic Black, would you ever do anything to improve your defense at the expense of your offense, or are you dead-set on this team bludgeoning opponents offensively?
Trent Clark has a mild hamstring strain. Will he play today?
Salesman Ancrum is due off the IL today. Will he be activated and how will you deploy him going forward?
For Greg Masceri, Gleyber Torres has a sprained finger. Will he see time on the IL?
You recently traded Gallegos, a key member of your bullpen. Is that a sign that you’re conceding the season?
What would you say is the key to beating Baltimore today?
TRIVIA: Which Second Baseman has the worst zone rating of all-time?
