Post by Commissioner Erick on May 31, 2023 18:07:35 GMT -5
Detroit Tigers (42-49) @ Cleveland Indians (59-32)
DET: Andy Longo (1-0, 2.08)
CLE: Josh Woodward (9-5, 3.72)
Tigers 3 Key Stats:
57: Tigers Home Runs: Detroit simply hasn’t hit for power this year. The club traded away Roderick Dalton in the offseason, the main reason the team hasn’t hit many homers this year. Dalton already has 22 for Kansas City. Other players haven’t picked up the slack. Amari Maggette has just eight. Ivan Johnson—acquired for Dalton—has just seven. Basket Case Benoit mans First Base and has an underwhelming 11, while DH Sticky Thornton has a robust zero. As a result, Detroit is 13th in runs.
.249: Ivan Johnson’s average: Detroit has not gotten a good return from the Dalton trade. Johnson is on an affordable contract, but has just an 86 OPS+. After his power evaporated in Kansas City last year, his on-base ability has disappeared this year as he has just a .272 OBP. His defense has been very good, but less valuable as a Second Baseman than a Shortstop. Even with the late start to his season with a calf strain, Johnson just hasn’t provided enough for what Detroit has needed.
18: Pitchers Detroit has used: Detroit will use number 19 tonight—Adam Longo. The Tigers, between underperformance, trades, and a mid-season strategy change to move away from using dedicated starting pitchers, have used a number of arms already this year. Longo was acquired in the David Heide trade and has been fine as a swingman. Detroit can get a few innings out of him, hope their defense can handle the balls in play, and turn it over to their committee to get through the rest of the game.
Indians 3 Key Stats
12: Home Runs from projected corner outfield starters in today’s game: Cleveland expected Bryce Harper to credibly handle one position and Oil Can Evans to blossom in the other. Instead, Harper has been DFAd and Evans has a .215 average and seven homers. Ronald Washington has moved into the lineup, a 31-year-old rookie with a long minor league career. He has five homers in 20 games, despite four walks to 32 strikeouts. Brayan Hernandez got demoted after roughly 200 plate appearances with a fine, but underwhelming .759 OPS. Cleveland’s lack of a reliable outfield may be what keeps them from winning the AL Central.
.328: Franklin Barreto’s average: After pricing himself out of the market last year, Barreto has had a strong 2030. His average trails only Tim Elmore, and he’s maintained himself as a source of good extra base power. He crushes lefties, and has hit so well, he’s maintained good value despite spending much of the year as a DH. He’s on a one-year deal, but after sitting out 2029, don’t expect him to sit out 2031 as well.
.923: Luis Retana’s OPS: There are two AL shortstops with an OPS above .712. You don’t need glasses though to see Retana’s huge offensive numbers jumping out of the page. His 18 homers lead AL shortstops, as does his .322 average. His 66 RBIs are 22 more than second place Dansby Swanson, and his 5.6 WAR doubles Swanson as well. His 21 doubles are first, and even his five sac flies are as well. Luis Garcia has more runs and Swanson has more triples, but for the most part, Retana has obliterated other AL Shortstops.
Questions for the GMs:
For David Boyer, you recently traded David Heide. Why did you make that move?
What are your thoughts on the Dalton trade you made this offseason. Would you still make it?
Do you feel like you need more power in your lineup or simply more good hitters?
For Chris Stephan, Bryce Harper has been DFAd, but not waived. What was the purpose of that specific reasoning?
Juan Marrufo has a .665 OPS. Do you regret signing him?
You were rolling with a six-man bullpen last week. Will that continue into this series?
TRIVIA: With 494, Franklin Barreto is second all time in doubles. Who is first?
DET: Andy Longo (1-0, 2.08)
CLE: Josh Woodward (9-5, 3.72)
Tigers 3 Key Stats:
57: Tigers Home Runs: Detroit simply hasn’t hit for power this year. The club traded away Roderick Dalton in the offseason, the main reason the team hasn’t hit many homers this year. Dalton already has 22 for Kansas City. Other players haven’t picked up the slack. Amari Maggette has just eight. Ivan Johnson—acquired for Dalton—has just seven. Basket Case Benoit mans First Base and has an underwhelming 11, while DH Sticky Thornton has a robust zero. As a result, Detroit is 13th in runs.
.249: Ivan Johnson’s average: Detroit has not gotten a good return from the Dalton trade. Johnson is on an affordable contract, but has just an 86 OPS+. After his power evaporated in Kansas City last year, his on-base ability has disappeared this year as he has just a .272 OBP. His defense has been very good, but less valuable as a Second Baseman than a Shortstop. Even with the late start to his season with a calf strain, Johnson just hasn’t provided enough for what Detroit has needed.
18: Pitchers Detroit has used: Detroit will use number 19 tonight—Adam Longo. The Tigers, between underperformance, trades, and a mid-season strategy change to move away from using dedicated starting pitchers, have used a number of arms already this year. Longo was acquired in the David Heide trade and has been fine as a swingman. Detroit can get a few innings out of him, hope their defense can handle the balls in play, and turn it over to their committee to get through the rest of the game.
Indians 3 Key Stats
12: Home Runs from projected corner outfield starters in today’s game: Cleveland expected Bryce Harper to credibly handle one position and Oil Can Evans to blossom in the other. Instead, Harper has been DFAd and Evans has a .215 average and seven homers. Ronald Washington has moved into the lineup, a 31-year-old rookie with a long minor league career. He has five homers in 20 games, despite four walks to 32 strikeouts. Brayan Hernandez got demoted after roughly 200 plate appearances with a fine, but underwhelming .759 OPS. Cleveland’s lack of a reliable outfield may be what keeps them from winning the AL Central.
.328: Franklin Barreto’s average: After pricing himself out of the market last year, Barreto has had a strong 2030. His average trails only Tim Elmore, and he’s maintained himself as a source of good extra base power. He crushes lefties, and has hit so well, he’s maintained good value despite spending much of the year as a DH. He’s on a one-year deal, but after sitting out 2029, don’t expect him to sit out 2031 as well.
.923: Luis Retana’s OPS: There are two AL shortstops with an OPS above .712. You don’t need glasses though to see Retana’s huge offensive numbers jumping out of the page. His 18 homers lead AL shortstops, as does his .322 average. His 66 RBIs are 22 more than second place Dansby Swanson, and his 5.6 WAR doubles Swanson as well. His 21 doubles are first, and even his five sac flies are as well. Luis Garcia has more runs and Swanson has more triples, but for the most part, Retana has obliterated other AL Shortstops.
Questions for the GMs:
For David Boyer, you recently traded David Heide. Why did you make that move?
What are your thoughts on the Dalton trade you made this offseason. Would you still make it?
Do you feel like you need more power in your lineup or simply more good hitters?
For Chris Stephan, Bryce Harper has been DFAd, but not waived. What was the purpose of that specific reasoning?
Juan Marrufo has a .665 OPS. Do you regret signing him?
You were rolling with a six-man bullpen last week. Will that continue into this series?
TRIVIA: With 494, Franklin Barreto is second all time in doubles. Who is first?
