Post by Commissioner Erick on Mar 23, 2021 12:05:30 GMT -5
Colorado Rockies (72-60) at Texas Rangers (75-55)
COL: Jairo Pacheco (13-6, 3.41)
TEX: Noah Syndergaard (8-7, 2.24)
The Texas Rangers lost two All-Star selections, a Platinum Stick, and three Gold Gloves on their infield to injury in early July. It hasn’t stopped them from racing ahead to the AL West lead.
The Texas Rangers will look to continue a strong second half when they take on a Colorado Rockies team clinging to the fringe of the NL playoff picture in the Game of the Week.
The Rangers are no stranger to being hit hard by infield injuries—Gregory Guerrero played more at Third Base last year than Anthony Rendon—but they’ve been more prepared this year. Nick Senzel has been replacement level at Third Base, which has been fine considering the flotsam they’ve trotted out as backups in the past.
More importantly, Luis Guillorme has provided Gold Glove-caliber defense up the middle since being pressed into the lineup. Guillorme’s always been a plus defender, but merely being a plus defender hasn’t been worth the penalty of carrying an inept bat in the lineup. This year, despite the lowest OPS since his Rookie year in 2019, Guillorme has provided value because if his fantastic glovework. He’s made more than half of plays deemed remote, and nearly three-quarters of plays deemed unlikely. What’s even to an average defender, is an 80% proposition for Guillorme at Shortstop. This has helped the Rangers produce the best defense in the American League despite losing excellent defenders in Nick Gordon and Ozzie Albies.
That’s been a boon for the imitable Noah Syndergaard. Injuries keep Thor from going deep into games, but that makes sense as lightning is generally over in an instant. The thunder from his outings resonates as teams are perpetually behind to Texas early. Syndergaard has just 12 walks in 124.1 innings, and he’s fanned 146. If he pitches 162 innings this year, that will be the best strikeout to walk ratio in PBA history.
Thor’s comfortable throwing so many strikes, partly because of his god-like stuff, but partly because Texas’ defense vacuums everything up. His 56% groundball rate is the highest of his career since his 2018 Cy Young season. If Guillorme’s going to make plays on even the toughest of ground balls, why walk anyone? Syndergaard’s walk rate is 2.5%, the lowest of his career by far.
Colorado will counter with Jairo Pacheco, who is struggling through a rough August. Pacheco hasn’t gone more than 5.2 innings in any start and has a 7.78 ERA in the month. He hasn’t walked anyone, just three in 19.2 innings, but a .328 BABIP has hurt him.
He’s been hurt by a shaky infield defense, particularly a Shortstop position that has the second worst collective Zone Rating in the league. Jasrado Chisholm has disappointed with the glove, with a -9.4 Zone Rating. Despite only four errors, Chisholm has the lowest percentage of NL Shortstops who have played 700 innings of routine balls fielded. He’s been the best offensive Shortstop in the league outside of Francisco Lindor, with a .284 average, 30 homers and 84 RBIs. If Chisholm doesn’t have a good defensive game, he’ll have to hope he contributes with the bat for the Rockies to win.
Questions for the GMs:
For Erick Blasco, your bullpen has a 5.73 ERA, 13th in the league. Do you have confidence in the unit getting the job done against Texas today?
David Dahl has a mild abdominal strain. Will he play today?
What’s the key to beating a team that will start Noah Syndergaard and has a strong bullpen?
For Clayton Piper, who will be playing in Left Field today with Trent Clark out with a hamstring injury?
Esteban Valdez has gotten better and better as the year has progressed. His ERA is near 5, but do you have confidence in him as your Closer?
Cavan Biggio has a .745 Slugging Percentage in a very small sample for your club. Do you want to see him get more at bats for your club?
TRIVIA: Nolan Arenado has played in the most games in PBA history at 1409. Who is second?
COL: Jairo Pacheco (13-6, 3.41)
TEX: Noah Syndergaard (8-7, 2.24)
The Texas Rangers lost two All-Star selections, a Platinum Stick, and three Gold Gloves on their infield to injury in early July. It hasn’t stopped them from racing ahead to the AL West lead.
The Texas Rangers will look to continue a strong second half when they take on a Colorado Rockies team clinging to the fringe of the NL playoff picture in the Game of the Week.
The Rangers are no stranger to being hit hard by infield injuries—Gregory Guerrero played more at Third Base last year than Anthony Rendon—but they’ve been more prepared this year. Nick Senzel has been replacement level at Third Base, which has been fine considering the flotsam they’ve trotted out as backups in the past.
More importantly, Luis Guillorme has provided Gold Glove-caliber defense up the middle since being pressed into the lineup. Guillorme’s always been a plus defender, but merely being a plus defender hasn’t been worth the penalty of carrying an inept bat in the lineup. This year, despite the lowest OPS since his Rookie year in 2019, Guillorme has provided value because if his fantastic glovework. He’s made more than half of plays deemed remote, and nearly three-quarters of plays deemed unlikely. What’s even to an average defender, is an 80% proposition for Guillorme at Shortstop. This has helped the Rangers produce the best defense in the American League despite losing excellent defenders in Nick Gordon and Ozzie Albies.
That’s been a boon for the imitable Noah Syndergaard. Injuries keep Thor from going deep into games, but that makes sense as lightning is generally over in an instant. The thunder from his outings resonates as teams are perpetually behind to Texas early. Syndergaard has just 12 walks in 124.1 innings, and he’s fanned 146. If he pitches 162 innings this year, that will be the best strikeout to walk ratio in PBA history.
Thor’s comfortable throwing so many strikes, partly because of his god-like stuff, but partly because Texas’ defense vacuums everything up. His 56% groundball rate is the highest of his career since his 2018 Cy Young season. If Guillorme’s going to make plays on even the toughest of ground balls, why walk anyone? Syndergaard’s walk rate is 2.5%, the lowest of his career by far.
Colorado will counter with Jairo Pacheco, who is struggling through a rough August. Pacheco hasn’t gone more than 5.2 innings in any start and has a 7.78 ERA in the month. He hasn’t walked anyone, just three in 19.2 innings, but a .328 BABIP has hurt him.
He’s been hurt by a shaky infield defense, particularly a Shortstop position that has the second worst collective Zone Rating in the league. Jasrado Chisholm has disappointed with the glove, with a -9.4 Zone Rating. Despite only four errors, Chisholm has the lowest percentage of NL Shortstops who have played 700 innings of routine balls fielded. He’s been the best offensive Shortstop in the league outside of Francisco Lindor, with a .284 average, 30 homers and 84 RBIs. If Chisholm doesn’t have a good defensive game, he’ll have to hope he contributes with the bat for the Rockies to win.
Questions for the GMs:
For Erick Blasco, your bullpen has a 5.73 ERA, 13th in the league. Do you have confidence in the unit getting the job done against Texas today?
David Dahl has a mild abdominal strain. Will he play today?
What’s the key to beating a team that will start Noah Syndergaard and has a strong bullpen?
For Clayton Piper, who will be playing in Left Field today with Trent Clark out with a hamstring injury?
Esteban Valdez has gotten better and better as the year has progressed. His ERA is near 5, but do you have confidence in him as your Closer?
Cavan Biggio has a .745 Slugging Percentage in a very small sample for your club. Do you want to see him get more at bats for your club?
TRIVIA: Nolan Arenado has played in the most games in PBA history at 1409. Who is second?