Post by Commissioner Erick on Apr 4, 2023 18:55:22 GMT -5
St. Louis Cardinals (0-0) @ Milwaukee Brewers (0-0)
STL: Nick Vespi (0-0, 0.00)
MIL: Mike Arnold (0-0, 0-00)
Cardinals 3 Key Stats
4.0: Alan Mitchell’s WAR last season. Mitchell had a very impressive initial full season with Detroit before being acquired by the Cardinals. He hit 22 homers, blasted 40 doubles, and played strong Center Field defense. After veteran offensive players for failed for the Cardinals last year, they’ll bet on youth being the answer a little bit more this season.
80: Games for Joe Mills in 2029: St. Louis’ playoff hopes were dashed by an untimely injury to Mills, costing him half the season. Country Mills hit 33 homers with 32 doubles and seven triples in 2028, breaking out as one of the most potent Second Basemen in the game. If he stays healthy, St. Louis will be a force, but if he gets hurt, they’ll face an uphill playoff climb in a brutal National League.
4: Starting position players who played more than 80 games for St. Louis last year: The Cardinals have essentially a completely different team than what they trotted out last year. Trent Clark and Calvin Mitchell are back, joined by Alan Mitchell in the outfield. Eric Walker reprises his role as starting Catcher. Bob Beasley is back at Third Base. The rest of the lineup has been overhauled, and we’ll see one day into the season, whether it’ll be enough to compete with an elite opponent in Milwaukee.
Brewers 3 Key Stats
5: Consecutive seasons with 108 or more wins for Milwaukee. They’ll go for number six tonight.
3: Seasons Mike Arnold has led the National League in wins. He’s also led twice in ERA, twice in strikeouts, twice in WHIP, and three times in WAR. He’s a historically good pitcher in the prime of his career and St. Louis will have to solve him to get off to a 1-0 start.
62: Nick Rollins’ career high in games started. Rollins is a premier talent but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy. The Brewers offense can go another level with Rollins in the lineup instead of more defensive options, but he has to stay healthy. Rollins stayed healthy for the World Baseball Classic this offseason, acquainting himself nicely with a .275 average, pair of homers, and 47 plate appearances with only two strikeouts.
Questions for the GMs:
For Tim Lentz, Juan Vega was given the derisive nickname “Fly By Night” after demanding a trade from Pittsburgh. How do you feel about having a player of such ill repute in your lineup?
Josh Aplund is your new Hitting Coach after being in Bench Coach and Front Office roles with the Giants for some time. Why did you go after him?
It appears that you’ve committed to the opener/follower pitching plan in your upper minors as well as the majors. Is that a full organizational philosophy for you?
For Luke Grimmelbein, you’re starting Nick Rollins at Second Base, getting a little less defense at the position than in seasons past. Why are you making that move?
The Cardinals go with an Opener/Follower strategy, which makes it tricky for platoon teams. Does that impact your strategy for today at all?
Warren Hall has made your backup Catcher spot. What has he done to earn the job?
TRIVIA: Which former Cardinal leads all Left Fielders in all time WBC Stolen Bases?
STL: Nick Vespi (0-0, 0.00)
MIL: Mike Arnold (0-0, 0-00)
Cardinals 3 Key Stats
4.0: Alan Mitchell’s WAR last season. Mitchell had a very impressive initial full season with Detroit before being acquired by the Cardinals. He hit 22 homers, blasted 40 doubles, and played strong Center Field defense. After veteran offensive players for failed for the Cardinals last year, they’ll bet on youth being the answer a little bit more this season.
80: Games for Joe Mills in 2029: St. Louis’ playoff hopes were dashed by an untimely injury to Mills, costing him half the season. Country Mills hit 33 homers with 32 doubles and seven triples in 2028, breaking out as one of the most potent Second Basemen in the game. If he stays healthy, St. Louis will be a force, but if he gets hurt, they’ll face an uphill playoff climb in a brutal National League.
4: Starting position players who played more than 80 games for St. Louis last year: The Cardinals have essentially a completely different team than what they trotted out last year. Trent Clark and Calvin Mitchell are back, joined by Alan Mitchell in the outfield. Eric Walker reprises his role as starting Catcher. Bob Beasley is back at Third Base. The rest of the lineup has been overhauled, and we’ll see one day into the season, whether it’ll be enough to compete with an elite opponent in Milwaukee.
Brewers 3 Key Stats
5: Consecutive seasons with 108 or more wins for Milwaukee. They’ll go for number six tonight.
3: Seasons Mike Arnold has led the National League in wins. He’s also led twice in ERA, twice in strikeouts, twice in WHIP, and three times in WAR. He’s a historically good pitcher in the prime of his career and St. Louis will have to solve him to get off to a 1-0 start.
62: Nick Rollins’ career high in games started. Rollins is a premier talent but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy. The Brewers offense can go another level with Rollins in the lineup instead of more defensive options, but he has to stay healthy. Rollins stayed healthy for the World Baseball Classic this offseason, acquainting himself nicely with a .275 average, pair of homers, and 47 plate appearances with only two strikeouts.
Questions for the GMs:
For Tim Lentz, Juan Vega was given the derisive nickname “Fly By Night” after demanding a trade from Pittsburgh. How do you feel about having a player of such ill repute in your lineup?
Josh Aplund is your new Hitting Coach after being in Bench Coach and Front Office roles with the Giants for some time. Why did you go after him?
It appears that you’ve committed to the opener/follower pitching plan in your upper minors as well as the majors. Is that a full organizational philosophy for you?
For Luke Grimmelbein, you’re starting Nick Rollins at Second Base, getting a little less defense at the position than in seasons past. Why are you making that move?
The Cardinals go with an Opener/Follower strategy, which makes it tricky for platoon teams. Does that impact your strategy for today at all?
Warren Hall has made your backup Catcher spot. What has he done to earn the job?
TRIVIA: Which former Cardinal leads all Left Fielders in all time WBC Stolen Bases?
