Game of the Week: April 5: BAL @ BOS

[brewersgm]

Baltimore Orioles (0-0) @ Boston Red Sox (0-0)


BAL: Tommy Stanfield (0-0, 0.00)
BOS: Sergio Murillo (0-0, 0.00)


Baltimore 3 Key Stats:

13: Baltimore's rank in home runs in the AL last season. Once a team feared for their power only the Rays and Angels hit less than Baltimore last year. They will need to get back to their power hitting ways in order to get back to the playoffs

211,200,000: Amount of dollars Wessel Russchen signed for in his extension with Baltimore this offseason. Wessel has plans to own every coffeeshop in the Netherlands.

3: Number of new starters in Baltimore's rotation. Baltimore was a strong pitching team last year and will hope these 3 starters can make up for the production of a few starters who have departed.


Red Sox 3 Key Stats:

1: Number of years that Juan Gestoso signed for with the Red Sox this offseason. His agent may have made some mistakes.

3: Number of seasons it's been since new Red Sox reliever Luis Contreras has worked out of the bullpen. After being excellent in that role he was curiously used as starter.

14.1: Number of innings today's starter Sergio Murillo threw last season. Injuries limited him, and the Red Sox will look to hope he gets back to form.


Questions for the GMs:


For Hon, what was the first thing you said to Wessel Russchen when you learned that you would be running a team with him again?

You signed quite a few new SP, which one are you most excited for?

For Mike Ball

You landed the prize FA of this offseason in Juan Gestoso, but only for one season. Any reason why you didn't sign him to a longer contract?

You still have around 20 mil left to spend for FA. Any other big FA you are looking to sign?

TRIVIA: If Boston wins 100 or more games this year they will become the first AL team in PBA history to win at least 100 games 3 years in a row. Which NL team was the first to accomplish this feat?

[dbackhon]

First of all part of the reason why I took the Baltimore job was to reunite with Wes, he's the type of player you can build a franchise around and a great person to boot. If only we had the money to bring in Doorbell we could have an all-Hon wunderkind reunion! I do plan on saying hey before the game with Boston though... Anyway back to Wes, the first thing I did when I saw Wes was show him the Championship Ring that we won together in Minnesota, asked if he wanted to win another one (or more?) together and handed him a 200+ million dollar deal. He signed it without hesitation.

What pitcher am I most excited by? It's really hard to say.. We like Peter Solomon's game a lot and we know that he is yet another leader in the amazing clubhouse and organization that we're lucky to have and the guys really have gelled together this Spring Training which wasn't necessarily a given as a lot of long time O's vets are on other teams this year. I think the starter I'm most excited for is Sergio Arellano - who we picked up as part of the Ancrum deal - as he'll be making his debut for us in just a couple of days.

Trivia: The Brewers have been pretty dominant lately so I'll guess the Brew Crew.

[Mike RedSox]

You landed the prize FA of this offseason in Juan Gestoso, but only for one season. Any reason why you didn't sign him to a longer contract?

He wouldn't negotiate beyond one year, still won't.

You still have around 20 mil left to spend for FA. Any other big FA you are looking to sign?

Probably will just wait and see how the team is playing, where our needs are.  Also don't want to block anybody in the minors.

[Commissioner Erick]

Red Sox 5 - Orioles 4


WP: L. Contreras (1-0)
LP: E. Dusing (0-1)

The Boston Red Sox satisfied the home crowd at Fenway Park, treating them to a season-opening win, 6-5, over the Baltimore Orioles. Starting Pitcher Sergio Murillo was the standout performer for Boston. Luis Contreras, credited with the win, is now 1-0. He allowed 1 run on 3 hits.

Daniel Flores was the walk-off hero for Boston. With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Red Sox catcher hit a dramatic run-scoring double to send the teams home.

"This place was rockin'," Flores said.


Questions for the GMs:


For Ben Nuzzo, you went with David Bollman in Left Field. How did he look to you?

Did you agree with Mario Guzman pinch hitting for Luis Paez in the ninth?

Your club stole a couple of bases. Do you want to be aggressive trying to steal this year?

For Mike Ball, Paul Strain pinch hit for Juan Inzunza in the eighth. Did you agree with the decision?

Did you agree with Brock Paradiso being subbed out for Curt Habeck in the ninth?

What did you think of Joel McCabe's defense today?


TRIVIA: Who is the only player who was Boston's primary Catcher in a season to hit more than 17 Home Runs that season?

[Mike RedSox]

Did you agree with Brock Paradiso being subbed out for Curt Habeck in the ninth?
I can't say i understand the move, they're similar defenders.

What did you think of Joel McCabe's defense today?

I think his future is at 1st base, but for now he'll have to do.

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 1: Ben correctly guessed Philadelphia.

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 2: Nobody correctly guessed Zack Collins