Post by Commissioner Erick on Aug 1, 2022 16:43:19 GMT -5
New York Yankees (64-72) @ Boston Red Sox (89-48)
NYY: Yushi Harada (2-6, 4.71)
BOS: Luis Ortiz (8-4, 3.90)
Yankees 5 Key Stats:
46: Wins in New York’s last 84 Games: After a rough start, New York has been playing good baseball for half a season. The improvement hasn’t come from their pitching. It’s come from socking more Home Runs, where the Yankees have been a top-five AL Home Run team every month since June. The Yankees are only 13th in runs scored, but they are tied for fourth in homers. Keeping the ball in the park is the key to beating them but it’s easier said than done.
20: Home Runs for Mark Ward: Only 23, Ward is wrapping up his third year in the majors, but his first full one. He hit in his first two stints of duty, and has staked his claim to being a solid starter this year. The average is down—.237—but he’s getting on base at a serviceable .318 clip with a .436 Slugging Percentage. There’s room for upside, and he defends well too. The one thing he needs to cut back on—stealing. He only has four steals in 12 attempts.
.800: Bob Allison’s Slugging Percentage: Alison has spent most of the last two years in the minors after being woefully unprepared as a 21-year-old rookie in 2026. He hit well in Triple-A last year, and crushed the level when he was healthy enough to play it this season. Since being recalled to the Yankees, he’s crushed nine homers in 14 Games. His slugging percentage is .800 despite no doubles or triples. In fact, he has more homers (nine) than singles (eight). Alison will eventually cool off, and he needs a defensive home, but now he looks prepared to make a difference in the majors.
2.0: Yushi Harada’s WAR: Harada has been a disappointment on the surface. He’s suffered through a 2-6, injury-plagued year with a 4.71 WHIP. Beneath the surface are good indicators. Harada has allowed just four homers in 70.2 innings in the majors—plus none in 9 innings in the WBC. He’s whiffed 69 in 70.2 innings. He’s held hitters to a .364 Slugging Percentage. He’s 32, so time isn’t on his side, but Pops’ initial foray into organized baseball has been a success.
.771: Dutch Kroll’s OPS: Germany has been a good breeding ground for PBA Catchers, and Kroll is the next one up. The 24-year-old has been another development success, ascending rapidly through the minors after being selected in the third round in 2026 out of Savannah A&D. Krol’s shown good thump at the plate with 23 doubles and 13 home runs in 378 Plate Appearances. He has some work to do on his pitch-recognition and offers no value on the bases, but he looks the part of a starting catcher. His success has pushed Miguel Gomez to a backup role, and the veteran should come off New York’s books after 2029.
Red Sox 5 Key Stats:
9: Wins in 13 Games against the Yankees this year: Boston has dominated New York in the battle of huge AL East budgets, riding that success to an AL East lead. The Red Sox have struggled the most with the Yankees in their last series, a four-game home split in early August where Boston was shutout 3-0 twice. Jake Sanfillippo will look to extend Boston’s dominance. He has a .346 average and 12 RBIs in 13 Games against the Yankees this year.
37: Saves for Bobby Mendez: Boston lost former AL Saves Leader Steve Hartman early in the season. They had no trouble finding a replacement closer. Mendez was a valuable member of Boston’s pen last year, and stepped into the Closer role this year. His 37 Saves currently lead the league. He has a 2.27 ERA and 73 Strikeouts in 61 innings. He’s only blown two Saves, and has been money in the late innings. He’s the anchor of the best bullpen in the American League:
1.20: Phil Cabrera’s ERA: The Former 2025 AL Rookie of the Year tore his labrum in 2026—and got better? Cabrera was an All-Star last year, and a back-to-back All-Star this year. He’s walked 39 hitters in 67.1 innings, but 92 strikeouts have served to leave those baserunners on base. He’s become more of a ground ball pitcher with age, but a good defense behind him has made that work as Cabrera has posted a .241 BABIP this year, after a .199 mark last year. He’s teaching the world that control is overrated with an absolutely dominant run.
.687: Left-handers’ OPS against Boston pitchers: Boston employs a rotation of six right-handers. It would make sense that Boston would struggle against left-handed hitting compared to right-handed hitting, but it hasn’t been the case. Lefties are hitting for a .687 OPS, with righties batting for a .691 mark. Luis Espinoza dominating lefties out of the pen has been a big part of that, but the biggest part is Boston’s strong starters. The Red Sox have built a unit impervious to platoon splits and can get any hitter out. If, unlike last year, they can stay healthy this postseason, that balance would go a long way in giving them an advantage against any opponent.
20: Walks this season for Luis Ortiz: On the other end of the spectrum as Cabrera is Luis Ortiz. The veteran arm has been very control-focused, walking very few and striking out just 79 in 110.2 innings. Ortiz has kept the ball in the park since leaving Milwaukee and has refined his career with age. Left off Milwaukee’s 2025 playoff roster, the veteran is looking for his first postseason appearance this year.
Questions for the GMs:
For Terry Kift, what is your goal for your team over the final month. Anything specific you want to see?
Luis Villareal is due off the injured list. What are the odds we see him before the year is up?
You have a lot of Free Agents on the club. What are the most likely ones to be brought back next year?
For Mike Ball, Bobby Mendez has a few nagging injuries. Will you have him pitch through them or put him on the IL?
Similarly, Arturo Reineri strained his quad. Will he be put on the IL or be allowed to play through it?
Steve Hartman should be up soon. Will he be the Closer going forward?
TRIVIA: Besides Dutch Kroll, two other German-born Catchers have played in the majors. Who are they?
NYY: Yushi Harada (2-6, 4.71)
BOS: Luis Ortiz (8-4, 3.90)
Yankees 5 Key Stats:
46: Wins in New York’s last 84 Games: After a rough start, New York has been playing good baseball for half a season. The improvement hasn’t come from their pitching. It’s come from socking more Home Runs, where the Yankees have been a top-five AL Home Run team every month since June. The Yankees are only 13th in runs scored, but they are tied for fourth in homers. Keeping the ball in the park is the key to beating them but it’s easier said than done.
20: Home Runs for Mark Ward: Only 23, Ward is wrapping up his third year in the majors, but his first full one. He hit in his first two stints of duty, and has staked his claim to being a solid starter this year. The average is down—.237—but he’s getting on base at a serviceable .318 clip with a .436 Slugging Percentage. There’s room for upside, and he defends well too. The one thing he needs to cut back on—stealing. He only has four steals in 12 attempts.
.800: Bob Allison’s Slugging Percentage: Alison has spent most of the last two years in the minors after being woefully unprepared as a 21-year-old rookie in 2026. He hit well in Triple-A last year, and crushed the level when he was healthy enough to play it this season. Since being recalled to the Yankees, he’s crushed nine homers in 14 Games. His slugging percentage is .800 despite no doubles or triples. In fact, he has more homers (nine) than singles (eight). Alison will eventually cool off, and he needs a defensive home, but now he looks prepared to make a difference in the majors.
2.0: Yushi Harada’s WAR: Harada has been a disappointment on the surface. He’s suffered through a 2-6, injury-plagued year with a 4.71 WHIP. Beneath the surface are good indicators. Harada has allowed just four homers in 70.2 innings in the majors—plus none in 9 innings in the WBC. He’s whiffed 69 in 70.2 innings. He’s held hitters to a .364 Slugging Percentage. He’s 32, so time isn’t on his side, but Pops’ initial foray into organized baseball has been a success.
.771: Dutch Kroll’s OPS: Germany has been a good breeding ground for PBA Catchers, and Kroll is the next one up. The 24-year-old has been another development success, ascending rapidly through the minors after being selected in the third round in 2026 out of Savannah A&D. Krol’s shown good thump at the plate with 23 doubles and 13 home runs in 378 Plate Appearances. He has some work to do on his pitch-recognition and offers no value on the bases, but he looks the part of a starting catcher. His success has pushed Miguel Gomez to a backup role, and the veteran should come off New York’s books after 2029.
Red Sox 5 Key Stats:
9: Wins in 13 Games against the Yankees this year: Boston has dominated New York in the battle of huge AL East budgets, riding that success to an AL East lead. The Red Sox have struggled the most with the Yankees in their last series, a four-game home split in early August where Boston was shutout 3-0 twice. Jake Sanfillippo will look to extend Boston’s dominance. He has a .346 average and 12 RBIs in 13 Games against the Yankees this year.
37: Saves for Bobby Mendez: Boston lost former AL Saves Leader Steve Hartman early in the season. They had no trouble finding a replacement closer. Mendez was a valuable member of Boston’s pen last year, and stepped into the Closer role this year. His 37 Saves currently lead the league. He has a 2.27 ERA and 73 Strikeouts in 61 innings. He’s only blown two Saves, and has been money in the late innings. He’s the anchor of the best bullpen in the American League:
1.20: Phil Cabrera’s ERA: The Former 2025 AL Rookie of the Year tore his labrum in 2026—and got better? Cabrera was an All-Star last year, and a back-to-back All-Star this year. He’s walked 39 hitters in 67.1 innings, but 92 strikeouts have served to leave those baserunners on base. He’s become more of a ground ball pitcher with age, but a good defense behind him has made that work as Cabrera has posted a .241 BABIP this year, after a .199 mark last year. He’s teaching the world that control is overrated with an absolutely dominant run.
.687: Left-handers’ OPS against Boston pitchers: Boston employs a rotation of six right-handers. It would make sense that Boston would struggle against left-handed hitting compared to right-handed hitting, but it hasn’t been the case. Lefties are hitting for a .687 OPS, with righties batting for a .691 mark. Luis Espinoza dominating lefties out of the pen has been a big part of that, but the biggest part is Boston’s strong starters. The Red Sox have built a unit impervious to platoon splits and can get any hitter out. If, unlike last year, they can stay healthy this postseason, that balance would go a long way in giving them an advantage against any opponent.
20: Walks this season for Luis Ortiz: On the other end of the spectrum as Cabrera is Luis Ortiz. The veteran arm has been very control-focused, walking very few and striking out just 79 in 110.2 innings. Ortiz has kept the ball in the park since leaving Milwaukee and has refined his career with age. Left off Milwaukee’s 2025 playoff roster, the veteran is looking for his first postseason appearance this year.
Questions for the GMs:
For Terry Kift, what is your goal for your team over the final month. Anything specific you want to see?
Luis Villareal is due off the injured list. What are the odds we see him before the year is up?
You have a lot of Free Agents on the club. What are the most likely ones to be brought back next year?
For Mike Ball, Bobby Mendez has a few nagging injuries. Will you have him pitch through them or put him on the IL?
Similarly, Arturo Reineri strained his quad. Will he be put on the IL or be allowed to play through it?
Steve Hartman should be up soon. Will he be the Closer going forward?
TRIVIA: Besides Dutch Kroll, two other German-born Catchers have played in the majors. Who are they?
