Post by Commissioner Erick on Mar 6, 2021 15:42:13 GMT -5
Seattle Mariners (55-46) @ Baltimore Orioles (62-38)
SEA: Roniel Raudes (7-10, 5.52)
BAL: Tommy Stanfield (13-0, 2.64)
The Baltimore Orioles have surged after a slow start and now have the best record in the American League. With the stars aligning in their favor, they see a chance to win a title and have made a few moves in that direction, bringing on All-Star Catcher Reese McGuire, and selling out their farm for 22-year-old superstar Wessell Russchen.
They’ll see if their new toys can help them get a measure of revenge when they take on a Seattle Mariners team that took two of three from them a couple of weeks ago in the Game of the Week.
Baltimore was already the best team with the best record in the league prior to the All-Star break, and now they’ve added perhaps, when contract and future upside is taken into account, the most valuable player in baseball. That phrase is used to take contract and age into account, but Russchen also finished last year in second place among American League Most Valuable Player voting.
Leg injuries have sapped his effectiveness and playing time this year, but he’s still batting .294 with 19 home runs and 24 doubles this year. Last year, he led the league in runs, hits, doubles, stolen bases, average, and WAR as a 21-year-old Rookie. The player is special and we haven’t seen a player this talented, this young, who has accomplished this much at the big league level traded before.
Baltimore is also getting Resse McGuire, who after a couple of disappointing seasons, is back to being an All-Star. McGuire is making hard contact again, which combined with his patience and discipline, has him turning in a wonderful year. He’s batting .307 with a .397 OBP, numbers very similar to when he won the Batting Crown and led the league in OBP in 2022. McGuire’s also a strong defender, a clubhouse leader, and should be a big addition to the bottom of the Baltimore lineup.
Seattle meanwhile, will look to use this series with Baltimore to right the ship. They were coming off a 14-game-losing streak when they took two of three against Baltimore last week. This time, they’re coming off a disappointing sweep at the hands of the Mets.
It’s the offense that continues to scuffle. The club went 18-107 against the Mets, a .194 average. Francisco DeJesus has broken out of a slump and Tomoya Mori continues to hit, but the club is getting little from several key spots in the lineup. Mark Vientos is hitting .143 in July, Aramis Ademan is hitting .146 in the month, and Ivan Johnson—clutch home run to beat Baltimore in the July 7 Game of the Week aside—is hitting just .212 with a .560 OPS for the year. Seattle simply needs more offense to achieve the goals they want to achieve this year.
Questions for the GMs:
For Jeff Thomas, Charlie Blackmon hasn’t had great results this year playing part time, but he did have a double in four at bats against the Mets. Will we see his bat in the lineup more going forward?
Isaac Paredes hasn’t been much better, but can you survive with Ivan Johnson’s bat in the lineup?
Anyelo Luna has been one of the best relievers in baseball these past two years, and he was an All-Star this year. Do you expect him to compete with Cowboy Lorenzen for the closer role going forward?
For Vic Black, how exactly did the Wessell Russchen trade come about?
With Russchen coming aboard, which outfielder will be relegated to backup duty?
What’s caused Tommy Stanfield, tonight’s starter, to take the leap he’s taken this season?
TRIVIA: Which player has scored the most runs in WBC history for the Dutch National Team.
SEA: Roniel Raudes (7-10, 5.52)
BAL: Tommy Stanfield (13-0, 2.64)
The Baltimore Orioles have surged after a slow start and now have the best record in the American League. With the stars aligning in their favor, they see a chance to win a title and have made a few moves in that direction, bringing on All-Star Catcher Reese McGuire, and selling out their farm for 22-year-old superstar Wessell Russchen.
They’ll see if their new toys can help them get a measure of revenge when they take on a Seattle Mariners team that took two of three from them a couple of weeks ago in the Game of the Week.
Baltimore was already the best team with the best record in the league prior to the All-Star break, and now they’ve added perhaps, when contract and future upside is taken into account, the most valuable player in baseball. That phrase is used to take contract and age into account, but Russchen also finished last year in second place among American League Most Valuable Player voting.
Leg injuries have sapped his effectiveness and playing time this year, but he’s still batting .294 with 19 home runs and 24 doubles this year. Last year, he led the league in runs, hits, doubles, stolen bases, average, and WAR as a 21-year-old Rookie. The player is special and we haven’t seen a player this talented, this young, who has accomplished this much at the big league level traded before.
Baltimore is also getting Resse McGuire, who after a couple of disappointing seasons, is back to being an All-Star. McGuire is making hard contact again, which combined with his patience and discipline, has him turning in a wonderful year. He’s batting .307 with a .397 OBP, numbers very similar to when he won the Batting Crown and led the league in OBP in 2022. McGuire’s also a strong defender, a clubhouse leader, and should be a big addition to the bottom of the Baltimore lineup.
Seattle meanwhile, will look to use this series with Baltimore to right the ship. They were coming off a 14-game-losing streak when they took two of three against Baltimore last week. This time, they’re coming off a disappointing sweep at the hands of the Mets.
It’s the offense that continues to scuffle. The club went 18-107 against the Mets, a .194 average. Francisco DeJesus has broken out of a slump and Tomoya Mori continues to hit, but the club is getting little from several key spots in the lineup. Mark Vientos is hitting .143 in July, Aramis Ademan is hitting .146 in the month, and Ivan Johnson—clutch home run to beat Baltimore in the July 7 Game of the Week aside—is hitting just .212 with a .560 OPS for the year. Seattle simply needs more offense to achieve the goals they want to achieve this year.
Questions for the GMs:
For Jeff Thomas, Charlie Blackmon hasn’t had great results this year playing part time, but he did have a double in four at bats against the Mets. Will we see his bat in the lineup more going forward?
Isaac Paredes hasn’t been much better, but can you survive with Ivan Johnson’s bat in the lineup?
Anyelo Luna has been one of the best relievers in baseball these past two years, and he was an All-Star this year. Do you expect him to compete with Cowboy Lorenzen for the closer role going forward?
For Vic Black, how exactly did the Wessell Russchen trade come about?
With Russchen coming aboard, which outfielder will be relegated to backup duty?
What’s caused Tommy Stanfield, tonight’s starter, to take the leap he’s taken this season?
TRIVIA: Which player has scored the most runs in WBC history for the Dutch National Team.
