Post by Commissioner Erick on May 20, 2023 11:53:11 GMT -5
Chicago Cubs (37-47) @ Pittsburgh Pirates (42-40)
CHC: Hunter Ruth: (6-5, 4.56)
PIT: Bert Medrano (4-4, 5.11)
Cubs 3 Key Stats
4.5: Francisco Lindor’s WAR: Lindor is 36 years old and has shown no signs of slowing down, even despite missing a chunk of last year with a finger injury. Lindor is still hitting over .300 with a stellar .312 mark, and his elite batting eye—and weak supporting cast—has resulted in a boatload of walks and a .398 OBP. He’s running more with nine steals in nine attempts, and his baserunning work on the bases has also been exemplary. The power is degrading a touch, but he still has eight homers as a Shortstop—only Royce Lewis has more. Defensively, Lindor isn’t quite the wizard he was in his prime, but he’s still excellent. If Ronny Mauricio stayed in the American League, Lindor would be the favorite for his fifth Gold Glove. He may have to settle for merely collecting his 13th All-Star nod, his 13th Platinum Stick, and as the NL leader in WAR, an amazing chance at a third MVP.
15: Losses in one-run games: The Cubs are 6-15 in one-run games, a string of terrible luck bound for regression. Normally, terrible numbers in one-run games signal a terrible bullpen, but Chicago’s is fine. David Jane has saved 14 of 17 attempts and has a 3.98 ERA. Chicago’s pen has a 3.88 ERA, smack dab in the middle of the rankings for NL bullpens. Poor one-run numbers could indicate a poor offense in the clutch—but Chicago leads the NL in Extra-Innings OPS. The biggest culprit is probably just that the team’s offense can struggle to launch, leading to close games. The Cubs got shutout six times in June, twice in 1-0 games. That’s a way to look terrible in one-run games.
20: Players who have played for the Cubs this year. Chicago is cycling its roster looking for combinations that work. Strong veterans and interesting prospects have played most of the year, but Chicago has looked for anyone to fill in gaps. Yoan Moncada was recently cut, as the Cubs found his -0.9 WAR last year and -0.9 WAR this year too untenable to roster. Chicago will be eating his contract for the next 2.5 years. Rookie Zayne Winters and youngster Matt Perry have played well after Giants corner infielder Bobby Sheesley did not. The Cubs are giving young Meqran Kwada a look seeing if anything is there, while checking if veteran J.P. Crawford has anything left in the tank. With roughly $80 million expected in budget space next year, if players don’t produce, it’s possible free agents will be taking their place next year.
Pirates 3 Key Stats
4.90: Pittsburgh’s starting pitching ERA. Chris Donelson, Bert Medrano, and Jayden Prescott were all first round picks with a good amount of pedigree. Kevin Truitt is 27-years-old and a two-time All Star. Sergio Navarro was a preseason number one prospect. Andre Stinson was a Top 25 prospect and former All Star. That collection of players, plus well-regarded Nelson Hernandez and a few starts from serviceable swingmen Dan DeLay and Tim Schroeder have produced the 11th best starting pitching ERA in the NL this year. Navarro’s been very good, but the Pirates were expecting elite. Donelson has regressed after a very strong 2029. Stinson was poor, and then was traded. Truitt and Hernandez have been hurt. Medrano though, has been most disappointing. He’s been mostly healthy this year but has a 5.64 ERA as a starter. He’s been homer prone for the first time in his career, and his stuff hasn’t played as a starter. The Pirates were counting on him being part of a terrific rotation and he’s really let the Pirates down.
.242: Brian Radcliff’s average: Pittsburgh was hoping to get top-notch production from Radcliff this year, but the youngster hasn’t been great. That isn’t to say Radcliff hasn’t been good. While the average hasn’t been good, Radcliff has shown that he can already be a solid slugging Third Baseman in the league. He has 16 homers and 20 doubles, very solid marks. His arm has been good as well, providing plus value at the hot corner. If he can get his average up high enough where he’d be contending for All Star nods, then the Pirates will be in good shape.
.833: Ron Dahl’s OPS: For Pittsburgh to be in the playoff hunt, they needed one of their hitters to take a leap. Dahl has done that. There were fears that Dahl had plateaued as a solid Center Fielder for a Pirates team needing stars. However, after three years with averages in the .240s in his first three seasons, Dahl is batting .311 this year with a walk rate fractionally the best of his career. He’s doing this while maintaining solid power and speed numbers too, and playing a good Center Field. He’s developed into the star the Pirates have needed and has the Pirates in the playoff hunt as a result.
Questions for the GMs:
For Jon Richardson, Meqran Kwando and journeyman Mike Wheeler were starters at Second Base and Right Field last week. Have they shown enough to continue getting starts today?
He wasn’t performing, but you didn’t have a group of players champing to start and be on the roster either. Why make the move now to cut Moncada?
Will we see pitching prospect Bernie Templet this year, or is he on a 2031 trajectory?
For Mike McAvoy, you’ve improved your defense a bit, but your high-profile pitching staff has not taken the step many expected it would this year. How much pressure is pitching coach Jose Jimenez under as a result?
Luis Tapia was dealing with plantar fasciitis he just started to feel better from. Will you call him up today or give him a rehab assignment?
What did you deal away Andre Stinson in the middle of a playoff run?
TRIVIA: Francisco Lindor has been a standout PBA player for an eternity, but he’s also been excellent in International Play. He’s tied for the WBC lead in career walks with what player?
CHC: Hunter Ruth: (6-5, 4.56)
PIT: Bert Medrano (4-4, 5.11)
Cubs 3 Key Stats
4.5: Francisco Lindor’s WAR: Lindor is 36 years old and has shown no signs of slowing down, even despite missing a chunk of last year with a finger injury. Lindor is still hitting over .300 with a stellar .312 mark, and his elite batting eye—and weak supporting cast—has resulted in a boatload of walks and a .398 OBP. He’s running more with nine steals in nine attempts, and his baserunning work on the bases has also been exemplary. The power is degrading a touch, but he still has eight homers as a Shortstop—only Royce Lewis has more. Defensively, Lindor isn’t quite the wizard he was in his prime, but he’s still excellent. If Ronny Mauricio stayed in the American League, Lindor would be the favorite for his fifth Gold Glove. He may have to settle for merely collecting his 13th All-Star nod, his 13th Platinum Stick, and as the NL leader in WAR, an amazing chance at a third MVP.
15: Losses in one-run games: The Cubs are 6-15 in one-run games, a string of terrible luck bound for regression. Normally, terrible numbers in one-run games signal a terrible bullpen, but Chicago’s is fine. David Jane has saved 14 of 17 attempts and has a 3.98 ERA. Chicago’s pen has a 3.88 ERA, smack dab in the middle of the rankings for NL bullpens. Poor one-run numbers could indicate a poor offense in the clutch—but Chicago leads the NL in Extra-Innings OPS. The biggest culprit is probably just that the team’s offense can struggle to launch, leading to close games. The Cubs got shutout six times in June, twice in 1-0 games. That’s a way to look terrible in one-run games.
20: Players who have played for the Cubs this year. Chicago is cycling its roster looking for combinations that work. Strong veterans and interesting prospects have played most of the year, but Chicago has looked for anyone to fill in gaps. Yoan Moncada was recently cut, as the Cubs found his -0.9 WAR last year and -0.9 WAR this year too untenable to roster. Chicago will be eating his contract for the next 2.5 years. Rookie Zayne Winters and youngster Matt Perry have played well after Giants corner infielder Bobby Sheesley did not. The Cubs are giving young Meqran Kwada a look seeing if anything is there, while checking if veteran J.P. Crawford has anything left in the tank. With roughly $80 million expected in budget space next year, if players don’t produce, it’s possible free agents will be taking their place next year.
Pirates 3 Key Stats
4.90: Pittsburgh’s starting pitching ERA. Chris Donelson, Bert Medrano, and Jayden Prescott were all first round picks with a good amount of pedigree. Kevin Truitt is 27-years-old and a two-time All Star. Sergio Navarro was a preseason number one prospect. Andre Stinson was a Top 25 prospect and former All Star. That collection of players, plus well-regarded Nelson Hernandez and a few starts from serviceable swingmen Dan DeLay and Tim Schroeder have produced the 11th best starting pitching ERA in the NL this year. Navarro’s been very good, but the Pirates were expecting elite. Donelson has regressed after a very strong 2029. Stinson was poor, and then was traded. Truitt and Hernandez have been hurt. Medrano though, has been most disappointing. He’s been mostly healthy this year but has a 5.64 ERA as a starter. He’s been homer prone for the first time in his career, and his stuff hasn’t played as a starter. The Pirates were counting on him being part of a terrific rotation and he’s really let the Pirates down.
.242: Brian Radcliff’s average: Pittsburgh was hoping to get top-notch production from Radcliff this year, but the youngster hasn’t been great. That isn’t to say Radcliff hasn’t been good. While the average hasn’t been good, Radcliff has shown that he can already be a solid slugging Third Baseman in the league. He has 16 homers and 20 doubles, very solid marks. His arm has been good as well, providing plus value at the hot corner. If he can get his average up high enough where he’d be contending for All Star nods, then the Pirates will be in good shape.
.833: Ron Dahl’s OPS: For Pittsburgh to be in the playoff hunt, they needed one of their hitters to take a leap. Dahl has done that. There were fears that Dahl had plateaued as a solid Center Fielder for a Pirates team needing stars. However, after three years with averages in the .240s in his first three seasons, Dahl is batting .311 this year with a walk rate fractionally the best of his career. He’s doing this while maintaining solid power and speed numbers too, and playing a good Center Field. He’s developed into the star the Pirates have needed and has the Pirates in the playoff hunt as a result.
Questions for the GMs:
For Jon Richardson, Meqran Kwando and journeyman Mike Wheeler were starters at Second Base and Right Field last week. Have they shown enough to continue getting starts today?
He wasn’t performing, but you didn’t have a group of players champing to start and be on the roster either. Why make the move now to cut Moncada?
Will we see pitching prospect Bernie Templet this year, or is he on a 2031 trajectory?
For Mike McAvoy, you’ve improved your defense a bit, but your high-profile pitching staff has not taken the step many expected it would this year. How much pressure is pitching coach Jose Jimenez under as a result?
Luis Tapia was dealing with plantar fasciitis he just started to feel better from. Will you call him up today or give him a rehab assignment?
What did you deal away Andre Stinson in the middle of a playoff run?
TRIVIA: Francisco Lindor has been a standout PBA player for an eternity, but he’s also been excellent in International Play. He’s tied for the WBC lead in career walks with what player?
