Post by Commissioner Erick on Jan 11, 2021 19:10:33 GMT -5
Kansas City Royals (0-0) @ Chicago White Sox (0-0)
KC: Tyler Alexander (0-0, 0.00)
CHW: Blake Snell (0-0, 0.00)
For a few seasons Kansas City was an AL Central upstart trying to take down the dominant Chicago White Sox to earn the AL Central crown.
This year, for the first time, the roles will be reversed.
The Kansas City Royals begin 2025 trying to defend their AL Central crown against a Chicago White Sox club coming off its worst season since 2017 when the two meet in the Game of the Week.
Kansas City was heartbreakingly close to an American League Championship last year, done in by late-inning bullpen collapses in the ALCS. Most of their best players are back, so they’re hoping they can produce another deep playoff run. Their biggest loss was the expected departure of Gary Sanchez and his 51 home runs. To replace him, Kansas City has a pair of young catchers. The expected starter is Blake Hunt, a defensive-minded catcher who also hit .280 with 13 home runs in a half-season worth of starts with Tampa Bay last season. The backup is Brendan Tinsman, a talented, if injury-troubled and attitude-troubled backstop acquired in a prospect-for prospect trade with the Cardinals two years ago.
It’s a solid unit, but Kansas City will need some players to step up if they want to produce the same offensive numbers they did last year. One player who’ll need to come up big is Pavin Smith. Acquired for slugger Patrick Leonard at the 2023 deadline, Smith struggled last year, hitting only 20 home runs with 27 doubles. As a designated hitter, he’ll need to be more productive to make up for the loss of Sanchez.
Chicago, meanwhile, will have the right pitcher on the hill to deal with Kansas City’s lefty-laden lineup. Blake Snell is coming off a horrible 2024, but is looking to rebound and show he can be the ace Chicago needs to compete with the loss of Carlos Martinez in 2024. Snell delt with shoulder and back injuries that limited him to 120 innings. He also, honestly, dealt with incompetence that also limited him to 120 innings. He went 5-8 with a 5.40 ERA, including 55 walks and 21 home runs. The majority of his ineffectiveness came against righties though, who hammered him for an .893 OPS. Left-handers hot for a more modest .671 OPS.
Chicago will also need better play from their Catchers. While the White Sox aren’t replacing an MVP candidate, they’re coming off a year where Cal Raleigh gave them nothing. In 2023, he hit 24 home runs and 33 doubles, on the way to 3.7 WAR. Last year, he hit .188 with 14 home runs and 12 doubles, producing 0 WAR. His backup, Riley Adams, hit .211 with a .640 OPS, and 0.3 WAR in 85 games.
If Raleigh can rally, Chicago will have a deep, talented offense that can put pressure on any opponent, but if not, and with a rotation full of holes, Chicago’s offense may not be quite as good as necessary to carry the team back to the postseason.
Questions for the GMs:
For Daniel Kent, you have a heavily left-handed lineup. Will you roll out those lefties against Snell, or make any replacements?
Between Blake Hunt and Brenden Tinsman, who do you have the early edge on as being a long-term starter?
What’s your approach for dealing with a Chicago lineup featuring the spectacular Andrew Benintendi and Rafael Devers?
For Steve Strzepek, Blake Snell had an awful year last year. Do you have confidence he’ll turn things around this year?
What role will Sharky Acevedo play this year?
Will you make any replacements to your normal lineup with lefty Tyler Alexander facing your team?
TRIVIA: Andrew Benintendi and Rafael Devers are numbers one and two on the all-time White Sox Home Run Leaderboard. Who is third?
KC: Tyler Alexander (0-0, 0.00)
CHW: Blake Snell (0-0, 0.00)
For a few seasons Kansas City was an AL Central upstart trying to take down the dominant Chicago White Sox to earn the AL Central crown.
This year, for the first time, the roles will be reversed.
The Kansas City Royals begin 2025 trying to defend their AL Central crown against a Chicago White Sox club coming off its worst season since 2017 when the two meet in the Game of the Week.
Kansas City was heartbreakingly close to an American League Championship last year, done in by late-inning bullpen collapses in the ALCS. Most of their best players are back, so they’re hoping they can produce another deep playoff run. Their biggest loss was the expected departure of Gary Sanchez and his 51 home runs. To replace him, Kansas City has a pair of young catchers. The expected starter is Blake Hunt, a defensive-minded catcher who also hit .280 with 13 home runs in a half-season worth of starts with Tampa Bay last season. The backup is Brendan Tinsman, a talented, if injury-troubled and attitude-troubled backstop acquired in a prospect-for prospect trade with the Cardinals two years ago.
It’s a solid unit, but Kansas City will need some players to step up if they want to produce the same offensive numbers they did last year. One player who’ll need to come up big is Pavin Smith. Acquired for slugger Patrick Leonard at the 2023 deadline, Smith struggled last year, hitting only 20 home runs with 27 doubles. As a designated hitter, he’ll need to be more productive to make up for the loss of Sanchez.
Chicago, meanwhile, will have the right pitcher on the hill to deal with Kansas City’s lefty-laden lineup. Blake Snell is coming off a horrible 2024, but is looking to rebound and show he can be the ace Chicago needs to compete with the loss of Carlos Martinez in 2024. Snell delt with shoulder and back injuries that limited him to 120 innings. He also, honestly, dealt with incompetence that also limited him to 120 innings. He went 5-8 with a 5.40 ERA, including 55 walks and 21 home runs. The majority of his ineffectiveness came against righties though, who hammered him for an .893 OPS. Left-handers hot for a more modest .671 OPS.
Chicago will also need better play from their Catchers. While the White Sox aren’t replacing an MVP candidate, they’re coming off a year where Cal Raleigh gave them nothing. In 2023, he hit 24 home runs and 33 doubles, on the way to 3.7 WAR. Last year, he hit .188 with 14 home runs and 12 doubles, producing 0 WAR. His backup, Riley Adams, hit .211 with a .640 OPS, and 0.3 WAR in 85 games.
If Raleigh can rally, Chicago will have a deep, talented offense that can put pressure on any opponent, but if not, and with a rotation full of holes, Chicago’s offense may not be quite as good as necessary to carry the team back to the postseason.
Questions for the GMs:
For Daniel Kent, you have a heavily left-handed lineup. Will you roll out those lefties against Snell, or make any replacements?
Between Blake Hunt and Brenden Tinsman, who do you have the early edge on as being a long-term starter?
What’s your approach for dealing with a Chicago lineup featuring the spectacular Andrew Benintendi and Rafael Devers?
For Steve Strzepek, Blake Snell had an awful year last year. Do you have confidence he’ll turn things around this year?
What role will Sharky Acevedo play this year?
Will you make any replacements to your normal lineup with lefty Tyler Alexander facing your team?
TRIVIA: Andrew Benintendi and Rafael Devers are numbers one and two on the all-time White Sox Home Run Leaderboard. Who is third?