Post by Commissioner Erick on Dec 27, 2022 16:33:55 GMT -5
Cleveland Indians (75-42) @ Minnesota Twins (61-59)
CLE: Ernesto Ortega (14-2, 2.88)
MIN: Brent Franklin (4-6, 2.97)
Indians 3 Key Stats:
422: Runs allowed: Cleveland’s been the best run prevention team in the league this year. They have the best ERA, the highest Zone Rating, and the highest xFIP. Four of their five starters already have double-digit wins, led by tonight’s starter Ernesto Ortega. The 2027 ERA leader already has 208 strikeouts in 187.1 innings, lapping the field in both categories. He has a stellar 1.04 WHIP and has only lost twice this year on the way to a 14-2 record. With Cleveland featuring Gold Glove candidates at Second Base, Third Base, and Shortstop, it will be tough for Minnesota to generate offense today.
8: Hitters with double-digit homers. Cleveland’s offense works due to its depth. The Indians feature a number of powerful hitters, and while none is threatening to lead the lead, eight of them already have 10 or more. It forces pitchers like Brent Franklin to remain diligent in working through the lineup as any bad pitch could turn into a run.
.795: Bryce Harper’s OPS: Harper’s OPS is the lowest it’s ever been as his age 36-season has been the most muted of his career. Of course, a .795 OPS is still very strong. After a dozen years at an All-Star level, and most of them at a Hall-of-Fame level, it appears that Bam Bam has settled into merely being an above-average starter. It’s been a modest, but steady decline for the superstar through the years after his terrifying peak where he hit 63 Home Runs, drove in 157, and hit .340 for Washington in 2020. Despite prodigious playoff numbers and a championship ring, Harper’s only advanced past the first round once in his career. He’ll be working to lead Cleveland to at least an ALCS berth, which would be just the second time Harper has advanced to the LCS.
Twins 3 Key Stats:
30: Home Runs for Game Bonilla: Even in a down year after his prodigious 2028, Bonilla has remained a powerful slugger. He’s fifth in the league in homers, even with his average dropping to .227 from .337. Bonilla won’t win an MVP this year, but with him suffering from biceps tendinitis, he’ll be tough to replace. The Twins can move some pieces around to get competent players in their lineup, but the injury severely tests their depth.
2.97: Brent Franklin’s ERA: The Twins have gotten a nice surprise year from 26-year-old rookie Brent Franklin. A heavy sinkerballer, Franklin’s kept the ball in the park throughout his minor league career, a trend that’s continued in the PBA as he’s allowed just five long balls in 91 innings. Once claimed twice in the Rule V Draft by the Royals and returned to the Twins, Minnesota is happy Franklin wasn’t quite to Kansas City’s liking.
3.21: Minnesota’s Bullpen ERA: Under the radar, Minnesota has done a great job with its relievers. Their 3.21 bullpen ERA is second in the AL with Nihat Ecevit posting a 1.41 mark and 27 saves. Only one reliever on their roster has an ERA above 2.85, as even long man Scott Beaubien has posted an ERA of 1.07. Relievers who weren’t able to cut it early in the year like Connor Bennett and Pete Fort have been demoted to the minors or cut, leading to the Twins’ refined group they’ll roll out with today.
Questions for the GMs:
For Chris Stephan, Danny Knoch is out for six weeks. How will you replace him?
Wilson Contreras is a little bit tired. Will we see him today?
Minnesota has a strong pen. Will you try to play smallball strategies to get ahead early and avoid the pen?
For Josh Peterson, with Gabe Bonilla hurt, how will you replace him?
What’s made Brent Franklin so effective for you? He doesn’t appear to have great stuff, but he’s gotten the job done all season.
Most of your club is very inexpensive, but you shilled out a good amount of cash to sign Orlando Arcia right before the start of the year. He’s responded with a nice season and a .306 average. Why did you target him specifically with a sizeable contract?
TRIVIA: Two Dominican players have had multiple triples in a single WBC tournament. Who are the two players?
CLE: Ernesto Ortega (14-2, 2.88)
MIN: Brent Franklin (4-6, 2.97)
Indians 3 Key Stats:
422: Runs allowed: Cleveland’s been the best run prevention team in the league this year. They have the best ERA, the highest Zone Rating, and the highest xFIP. Four of their five starters already have double-digit wins, led by tonight’s starter Ernesto Ortega. The 2027 ERA leader already has 208 strikeouts in 187.1 innings, lapping the field in both categories. He has a stellar 1.04 WHIP and has only lost twice this year on the way to a 14-2 record. With Cleveland featuring Gold Glove candidates at Second Base, Third Base, and Shortstop, it will be tough for Minnesota to generate offense today.
8: Hitters with double-digit homers. Cleveland’s offense works due to its depth. The Indians feature a number of powerful hitters, and while none is threatening to lead the lead, eight of them already have 10 or more. It forces pitchers like Brent Franklin to remain diligent in working through the lineup as any bad pitch could turn into a run.
.795: Bryce Harper’s OPS: Harper’s OPS is the lowest it’s ever been as his age 36-season has been the most muted of his career. Of course, a .795 OPS is still very strong. After a dozen years at an All-Star level, and most of them at a Hall-of-Fame level, it appears that Bam Bam has settled into merely being an above-average starter. It’s been a modest, but steady decline for the superstar through the years after his terrifying peak where he hit 63 Home Runs, drove in 157, and hit .340 for Washington in 2020. Despite prodigious playoff numbers and a championship ring, Harper’s only advanced past the first round once in his career. He’ll be working to lead Cleveland to at least an ALCS berth, which would be just the second time Harper has advanced to the LCS.
Twins 3 Key Stats:
30: Home Runs for Game Bonilla: Even in a down year after his prodigious 2028, Bonilla has remained a powerful slugger. He’s fifth in the league in homers, even with his average dropping to .227 from .337. Bonilla won’t win an MVP this year, but with him suffering from biceps tendinitis, he’ll be tough to replace. The Twins can move some pieces around to get competent players in their lineup, but the injury severely tests their depth.
2.97: Brent Franklin’s ERA: The Twins have gotten a nice surprise year from 26-year-old rookie Brent Franklin. A heavy sinkerballer, Franklin’s kept the ball in the park throughout his minor league career, a trend that’s continued in the PBA as he’s allowed just five long balls in 91 innings. Once claimed twice in the Rule V Draft by the Royals and returned to the Twins, Minnesota is happy Franklin wasn’t quite to Kansas City’s liking.
3.21: Minnesota’s Bullpen ERA: Under the radar, Minnesota has done a great job with its relievers. Their 3.21 bullpen ERA is second in the AL with Nihat Ecevit posting a 1.41 mark and 27 saves. Only one reliever on their roster has an ERA above 2.85, as even long man Scott Beaubien has posted an ERA of 1.07. Relievers who weren’t able to cut it early in the year like Connor Bennett and Pete Fort have been demoted to the minors or cut, leading to the Twins’ refined group they’ll roll out with today.
Questions for the GMs:
For Chris Stephan, Danny Knoch is out for six weeks. How will you replace him?
Wilson Contreras is a little bit tired. Will we see him today?
Minnesota has a strong pen. Will you try to play smallball strategies to get ahead early and avoid the pen?
For Josh Peterson, with Gabe Bonilla hurt, how will you replace him?
What’s made Brent Franklin so effective for you? He doesn’t appear to have great stuff, but he’s gotten the job done all season.
Most of your club is very inexpensive, but you shilled out a good amount of cash to sign Orlando Arcia right before the start of the year. He’s responded with a nice season and a .306 average. Why did you target him specifically with a sizeable contract?
TRIVIA: Two Dominican players have had multiple triples in a single WBC tournament. Who are the two players?