Post by Commissioner Erick on Feb 13, 2021 15:40:22 GMT -5
Chicago Cubs (35-32) @ Philadelphia Phillies (34-30)
CHC: Cobi Johnson (0-0, 4.50)
PHI: E. Garcia (5-0, 3.40)
In 2023, a Game 7 Giancarlo Stanton Home Run off Dave Simon ended the Phillies season. In 2024, a Kris Bryant Game 7 Home Run off Dave Simon ended the Phillies season.
Simon and the Philadelphia Phillies will look for revenge when they host the Chicago Cubs in the Game of the Week.
The Phillies have underperformed expectations a bit in the early going and find themselves behind Atlanta and Washington in the NL East. This is despite stellar performances from their top players. Seth Beer is third in the NL in Batting Average and is fifth in WAR despite missing time with an oblique injury. He leads the league in OPS with a 1.173 mark that would be second all-time behind Bryce Harper’s otherworldly 2020 campaign. He’ll once again be a major factor in MVP voting after the year.
Despite a .210 BABIP, Darrick Hall is hitting .247 thanks to 31 home runs. He’s already driven in 71 RBIs. Those numbers, along with his .726 Slugging Percentage, lead the league. He’s on pace for 78 Home Runs, and after a somewhat down 2024, is back to being a terrifying slugger. Mickey Moniak, meanwhile, may never get back to his 2023 high, but is still a tremendous all-around player. He has 10 home runs, 17 steals, a .268 Average, and is second in the league with 17 steals.
That core continues to produce and is joined by a new superstar, Stud Morales. Morales has been one of the game’s brightest prospects since Matt Grubs paid over $9 million dollars to sign the then-16 year-old as an International Free Agent in 2020. Morales has taken the league by storm with a 1.093 OPS, a .353 Average, and a balanced extra base hit portfolio of 13 Home Runs, 15 Doubles, and 5 Triples—a mark that trails only Moniak in the National League.
Bobby Witt Jr. is having a terrible sophomore season and J.T. Realmuto isn’t hitting, but the offense looks tremendous. With good health, the fourth-ranked offense could climb higher as the year progresses.
The Phillies will take on the best offense in the league, the Chicago Cubs. Chicago has eight hitters with at least eight home runs, three hitters hitting at least .321, and the two leaders in NL WAR. Francisco Lindor is on pace for a ninth all-star nod in nine years, an eighth Platinum Stick, and has an outside shot at a repeat Gold Glove, which would the sixth of his career. He’s batting .321 with a .399 OBP, 11 home runs, 41 RBIs, and has nearly double the WAR total of Second Place Amin Valdez among Shortstops. Lindor might have the inside track for a second consecutive MVP if not for Manny Machado. Machado already has 4.6 WAR, eclipsing his career-low 4.5 mark last year. Machado is second in Home Runs with 26, fourth in Average with a .336 mark, and is making up for a dreadful 2024 postseason.
The Cubs lineup is awesome. Their problem is pitching. Fortunately, they’ll have Cobi Johnson going today. He’s making only his second start after missing the start of the year with a herniated disk. Johnson had success with San Francisco early in his career, and is a competent big league starter, something Chicago needs. He’ll face off against Elniery Garcia, who along with rookie A.J. Masucci, have the best stats on a disappointing rotation. Garcia is a bit stretched as a starter, and the Cubs will make for his stiffest competition.
With the offensive firepower at play, and some questionable pitching, tonight should be an offensive bonanza.
Questions for the GMs:
For Brandon Hillebrand, how much do you think Cobi Johnson can help your staff?
Your bullpen is pretty tired and banged up. How imperative is it that Johnson give you some innings today?
You nabbed Arturo Figueiedo in the Supplemental Round of last week’s draft. Why was he your pick?
For Matt Grubs, Dave Simon has struggled this year and has bad history against Chicago. If possible, would you prefer he not be used today?
You lost a First-Round draft pick to sign Wilmer Flores. How do you feel about that decision so far?
You didn’t have a pick over the first two rounds, grabbing Rice junior Chris Cammett in the third round with your first pick. How do you feel about your draft on the whole?
TRIVIA: Seth Beer has the most career WAR among players drafted by Philadelphia with 36.19. Cobi Johnson is third with 7.73. What former AL Gold Glove Winner is Second?
CHC: Cobi Johnson (0-0, 4.50)
PHI: E. Garcia (5-0, 3.40)
In 2023, a Game 7 Giancarlo Stanton Home Run off Dave Simon ended the Phillies season. In 2024, a Kris Bryant Game 7 Home Run off Dave Simon ended the Phillies season.
Simon and the Philadelphia Phillies will look for revenge when they host the Chicago Cubs in the Game of the Week.
The Phillies have underperformed expectations a bit in the early going and find themselves behind Atlanta and Washington in the NL East. This is despite stellar performances from their top players. Seth Beer is third in the NL in Batting Average and is fifth in WAR despite missing time with an oblique injury. He leads the league in OPS with a 1.173 mark that would be second all-time behind Bryce Harper’s otherworldly 2020 campaign. He’ll once again be a major factor in MVP voting after the year.
Despite a .210 BABIP, Darrick Hall is hitting .247 thanks to 31 home runs. He’s already driven in 71 RBIs. Those numbers, along with his .726 Slugging Percentage, lead the league. He’s on pace for 78 Home Runs, and after a somewhat down 2024, is back to being a terrifying slugger. Mickey Moniak, meanwhile, may never get back to his 2023 high, but is still a tremendous all-around player. He has 10 home runs, 17 steals, a .268 Average, and is second in the league with 17 steals.
That core continues to produce and is joined by a new superstar, Stud Morales. Morales has been one of the game’s brightest prospects since Matt Grubs paid over $9 million dollars to sign the then-16 year-old as an International Free Agent in 2020. Morales has taken the league by storm with a 1.093 OPS, a .353 Average, and a balanced extra base hit portfolio of 13 Home Runs, 15 Doubles, and 5 Triples—a mark that trails only Moniak in the National League.
Bobby Witt Jr. is having a terrible sophomore season and J.T. Realmuto isn’t hitting, but the offense looks tremendous. With good health, the fourth-ranked offense could climb higher as the year progresses.
The Phillies will take on the best offense in the league, the Chicago Cubs. Chicago has eight hitters with at least eight home runs, three hitters hitting at least .321, and the two leaders in NL WAR. Francisco Lindor is on pace for a ninth all-star nod in nine years, an eighth Platinum Stick, and has an outside shot at a repeat Gold Glove, which would the sixth of his career. He’s batting .321 with a .399 OBP, 11 home runs, 41 RBIs, and has nearly double the WAR total of Second Place Amin Valdez among Shortstops. Lindor might have the inside track for a second consecutive MVP if not for Manny Machado. Machado already has 4.6 WAR, eclipsing his career-low 4.5 mark last year. Machado is second in Home Runs with 26, fourth in Average with a .336 mark, and is making up for a dreadful 2024 postseason.
The Cubs lineup is awesome. Their problem is pitching. Fortunately, they’ll have Cobi Johnson going today. He’s making only his second start after missing the start of the year with a herniated disk. Johnson had success with San Francisco early in his career, and is a competent big league starter, something Chicago needs. He’ll face off against Elniery Garcia, who along with rookie A.J. Masucci, have the best stats on a disappointing rotation. Garcia is a bit stretched as a starter, and the Cubs will make for his stiffest competition.
With the offensive firepower at play, and some questionable pitching, tonight should be an offensive bonanza.
Questions for the GMs:
For Brandon Hillebrand, how much do you think Cobi Johnson can help your staff?
Your bullpen is pretty tired and banged up. How imperative is it that Johnson give you some innings today?
You nabbed Arturo Figueiedo in the Supplemental Round of last week’s draft. Why was he your pick?
For Matt Grubs, Dave Simon has struggled this year and has bad history against Chicago. If possible, would you prefer he not be used today?
You lost a First-Round draft pick to sign Wilmer Flores. How do you feel about that decision so far?
You didn’t have a pick over the first two rounds, grabbing Rice junior Chris Cammett in the third round with your first pick. How do you feel about your draft on the whole?
TRIVIA: Seth Beer has the most career WAR among players drafted by Philadelphia with 36.19. Cobi Johnson is third with 7.73. What former AL Gold Glove Winner is Second?
