Post by Zigmo-Whitesox on Jul 4, 2023 9:10:58 GMT -5
Cleveland Indians @ Kansas City Royals
This series features two teams who are very familiar with each other. They have met up 20 times this year KC having a decided 13-7 advantage there. However they actually had to settle who was the better squad over the course of the regular season with a bonus game. The royals would get the better out of them here as well. Now with Cleveland having dispatched the Orioles a rematch has been set between the two teems that just can't get enough of each other. Alas, here we are once again for at least four more. The PBA all time series has also wanted to stay close 133-134 with Cleveland having the single game edge. (Disclaimer: Neither of these two teams is as good as the mighty Chicago White Sox and anything nice said about them is purely for entertainment purposes)
Who does it better?
Defense:
These two squads like each other so much they went out and built the same team with different players. Well it's deeper than that, however both teams team ZR is 47 good for 1st and 2nd. Number 3? well that's Detroit with a lowly 33. Looking under the hood though there is much more to what makes these two engines churn out the webgems. KC is led by some great defense out of second baseman Quadir Murriel(9.2 ZR) and a very competent trio of outfielders(16.7 ZR combined). KC is good at defense from top to bottom no one with a negative ZR or that really stands out as a problem. Cleveland however is as different as you can get. Cleveland is led by absolutely ridiculously talented infielders Nonie Williams 24.9 ZR Luis Retana 24.4 ZR and Jordan Goshans 9.1 ZR. Total up those three players and you get 58.4 ZR. Remember how i said their team ZR was tops at 47? Clevelands other positions have amassed a -11 ZR led by starting right fielder Larry Evans(-2.0 ZR). Don't expect many ground ball base hits vs Cleveland you will need to get the ball in the air to be these guys.
EDGE: Push
Pitching:
When it comes to pitching both teams seem to have an Ace and then solid guys to round out the rotation. Somehow both teams normal super #2 starters are coming out of the bullpen here in Luis Esparza(20 game winner) and Vincente Corado(3.31 FIP). We will see if the Cleveland manager makes any adjustment or continues with his current setup. KC definitely seems to have a slight edge when it comes to the pitching matchup led by Ryan Beyer who should be a favorite for the CY Young this year. It feels like Cleveland will need to beat Beyer at least once to get to the ALCS however the same could be said for Clevelands Ortega. I feel like the storyline out of the bullpen will be Corado. Does he stay cold and blow a game or two for KC or does he come in absolutely dominate for multiple innings. Cold pitchers can be scary. Getting him right though could be big for a potential ALCS.
EDGE: KC
Hitting:
I'll admit offensively I though KC would run away with this one. They got the big name guys like Vargas, Dalton and Bakos right? Well they do have a slight lead in runs scored but its closer than you may think 829-801. The offenses are pretty average for playoff teams but with the defense behind them who cares they had the top records in the AL this year. KC really get is done due to it's top 5 hitters after that it's a pretty steady dose of defense first guys. The one to look out for in this series is a hot hitting Vargas. He has hit safely in the last 9 games. Cleveland has Luis Retana raking this year. His batting skills are excellent and often overshadowed by miraculous glovework. And Izak Pals has been a great value found in free agency this offseason. Cleveland is not as top heavy in the hitting department but 1-9 they are the deeper of the two squads. Cleveland also has two hot hitters in Izak Pals and Fraklin Baretto with Nonie Williams slumping of late.
EDGE: KC(barely)
Deciding Questions
Who wins the pitchers duel Ortega or Beyer?
Which teams hot hitters have the bigger impact?
Corado out of the pen vs Esparza?
Prediction: This looks like a 5-4 type of game to me and a series that goes to 7 games. Give me the royals in this one and in 7.
This series features two teams who are very familiar with each other. They have met up 20 times this year KC having a decided 13-7 advantage there. However they actually had to settle who was the better squad over the course of the regular season with a bonus game. The royals would get the better out of them here as well. Now with Cleveland having dispatched the Orioles a rematch has been set between the two teems that just can't get enough of each other. Alas, here we are once again for at least four more. The PBA all time series has also wanted to stay close 133-134 with Cleveland having the single game edge. (Disclaimer: Neither of these two teams is as good as the mighty Chicago White Sox and anything nice said about them is purely for entertainment purposes)
Who does it better?
Defense:
These two squads like each other so much they went out and built the same team with different players. Well it's deeper than that, however both teams team ZR is 47 good for 1st and 2nd. Number 3? well that's Detroit with a lowly 33. Looking under the hood though there is much more to what makes these two engines churn out the webgems. KC is led by some great defense out of second baseman Quadir Murriel(9.2 ZR) and a very competent trio of outfielders(16.7 ZR combined). KC is good at defense from top to bottom no one with a negative ZR or that really stands out as a problem. Cleveland however is as different as you can get. Cleveland is led by absolutely ridiculously talented infielders Nonie Williams 24.9 ZR Luis Retana 24.4 ZR and Jordan Goshans 9.1 ZR. Total up those three players and you get 58.4 ZR. Remember how i said their team ZR was tops at 47? Clevelands other positions have amassed a -11 ZR led by starting right fielder Larry Evans(-2.0 ZR). Don't expect many ground ball base hits vs Cleveland you will need to get the ball in the air to be these guys.
EDGE: Push
Pitching:
When it comes to pitching both teams seem to have an Ace and then solid guys to round out the rotation. Somehow both teams normal super #2 starters are coming out of the bullpen here in Luis Esparza(20 game winner) and Vincente Corado(3.31 FIP). We will see if the Cleveland manager makes any adjustment or continues with his current setup. KC definitely seems to have a slight edge when it comes to the pitching matchup led by Ryan Beyer who should be a favorite for the CY Young this year. It feels like Cleveland will need to beat Beyer at least once to get to the ALCS however the same could be said for Clevelands Ortega. I feel like the storyline out of the bullpen will be Corado. Does he stay cold and blow a game or two for KC or does he come in absolutely dominate for multiple innings. Cold pitchers can be scary. Getting him right though could be big for a potential ALCS.
EDGE: KC
Hitting:
I'll admit offensively I though KC would run away with this one. They got the big name guys like Vargas, Dalton and Bakos right? Well they do have a slight lead in runs scored but its closer than you may think 829-801. The offenses are pretty average for playoff teams but with the defense behind them who cares they had the top records in the AL this year. KC really get is done due to it's top 5 hitters after that it's a pretty steady dose of defense first guys. The one to look out for in this series is a hot hitting Vargas. He has hit safely in the last 9 games. Cleveland has Luis Retana raking this year. His batting skills are excellent and often overshadowed by miraculous glovework. And Izak Pals has been a great value found in free agency this offseason. Cleveland is not as top heavy in the hitting department but 1-9 they are the deeper of the two squads. Cleveland also has two hot hitters in Izak Pals and Fraklin Baretto with Nonie Williams slumping of late.
EDGE: KC(barely)
Deciding Questions
Who wins the pitchers duel Ortega or Beyer?
Which teams hot hitters have the bigger impact?
Corado out of the pen vs Esparza?
Prediction: This looks like a 5-4 type of game to me and a series that goes to 7 games. Give me the royals in this one and in 7.