Post by Commissioner Erick on Oct 18, 2023 20:51:31 GMT -5
Seattle Mariners (31-23) @ New York Yankees (23-30)
SEA: Luis Mendoza (5-2, 3.75)
NYY: Tommy Stanfield (5-3, 3.39)
Mariners 3 Key Stats
.342: Bryce Zettel’s average: Lost behind Jorge Vargas and Roderick Dalton, Zettel took a huge step back from a strong 2029 and hit only .205. He had just six homers in 194 plate appearance in only 38 starts. He had a season with 3.2 WAR and two seasons where he was sub-replacement level, clouding what kind of player he was. Back in a starting role, he’s thriving in Seattle. He’s tied for the league lead in average at .342 and he’s tied for the league lead in doubles with 22. He’s also blasted 12 homers and has 40 RBIs. He’s back to looking like an All-Star slugger and the Mariners are reaping the benefits.
10: Home runs for Ivan Johnson: Ivan Johnson’s 2028 was likely an outlier, with a .320 average and 31 homers. His 2029 was likely an outlier the other way, with a .233 average and a .651 OPS. The rest of the prime of his career, he’s either hit for a healthy average and homers in the teens and low twenties, or he’s hit for a more middling average and near 30 homers. This year, he’s looking like that version of player. He’s only hitting .239, which would be third worst of his career, but he’s on pace for 30 homers, which would be second most. Already 10-10 in steals and playing excellent defense, any offense—whether with average or with power—makes him an outstanding player.
7: Positions Vinny Escudero has played this year. Seattle’s super sub Escudero has done everything this year aside from pitch and catch. He’s played all over the field, started everyone but Center Field and First Base, and he has a positive Zone Rating every position he’s played. That kind of flexibility makes him an ideal defender, and he has a .758 OPS to boot. Signed for only $9 million with a pair of team options for $8 million tacked after, he looks like one of the best signings of the offseason.
Yankees 3 Key Stats
.599: Justin Campbell’s OPS: Part of the blueprint for the Yankees being a threat in the AL East was the expectation that phenom Justin Campbell would hit the ground running. However, while Campbell has hinted to his potential as a future star, his play has suggested how much development work he still needs. The moonshots in batting practice are translating to a lot of weak pulled grounders as offspeed pitching has befuddled him. The Yankees have options if they want to pause Campbell’s apprenticeship, but they may have him learn and try to hit his way out of his slump.
5: Homers allowed for Joe Mantalaba: The righty journeyman added a little juice to his fastball and started throwing strikes with it, leading scouts to believe he was an elite bullpen option. However, Mantalaba has had just three seasons in nine years with positive WAR, and just two with more than 0.4 WAR. Last year was his worst year, allowing 37 homers in 56.1 innings for Dakere, putting up a 9.43 ERA, and compiling -3.0 WAR. Despite this, New York signed him to a contract, albeit it a cheap one, 835K. Mantalaba’s allowed a lot of homers to be expected, but he's allowed 10 walks in 20 innings, plus a .365 BABIP, and hasn’t struck out as many as scouts assumed. He’s looking like a bust and the Yankees may cut his experiment short.
.297: New York’s average with runners in scoring position: New York is hitting nearly .300 with runners in scoring position, which leads the league. It could be a sign that the team’s offense is overperforming due to sequencing, but it also could be a result of getting the right players at bats with men on. The three players with the most at bats with men in scoring position are Francisco DeJesus, a veteran run producer; Angelo Santiago, a superstar breaking out; and Shane Shifflett, who has a .288 average with men in scoring position. If the right players keep getting at bats with men on—and if Shiflett keeps overperforming—then New York’s offense be strong.
Questions for the GMs:
For Jay Bigs, unfortunate injury for Gleyber Torres. Who plays Third Base today and how do you rearrange your lineup?
Luis Mendoza didn’t have a great year as a swingman in Atlanta last year. What did you see in him when you decided to trade for him this offseason?
You’ve gone with a new hitting coach in Josh Hancock this year. Why did you choose him to be your new coach?
For Terry Kift, Omer de Vos has healed from his fractured rib. Will he be back on the team today?
How long of a leash will you give Joe Mantalaba?
Justin Campbell hasn’t gotten off to a great start. Will you be patient for him, or allow him to develop more in the minor leagues?
TRIVIA: Who are the only two Mariners pitchers to pitch multiple complete games as a Mariner?
SEA: Luis Mendoza (5-2, 3.75)
NYY: Tommy Stanfield (5-3, 3.39)
Mariners 3 Key Stats
.342: Bryce Zettel’s average: Lost behind Jorge Vargas and Roderick Dalton, Zettel took a huge step back from a strong 2029 and hit only .205. He had just six homers in 194 plate appearance in only 38 starts. He had a season with 3.2 WAR and two seasons where he was sub-replacement level, clouding what kind of player he was. Back in a starting role, he’s thriving in Seattle. He’s tied for the league lead in average at .342 and he’s tied for the league lead in doubles with 22. He’s also blasted 12 homers and has 40 RBIs. He’s back to looking like an All-Star slugger and the Mariners are reaping the benefits.
10: Home runs for Ivan Johnson: Ivan Johnson’s 2028 was likely an outlier, with a .320 average and 31 homers. His 2029 was likely an outlier the other way, with a .233 average and a .651 OPS. The rest of the prime of his career, he’s either hit for a healthy average and homers in the teens and low twenties, or he’s hit for a more middling average and near 30 homers. This year, he’s looking like that version of player. He’s only hitting .239, which would be third worst of his career, but he’s on pace for 30 homers, which would be second most. Already 10-10 in steals and playing excellent defense, any offense—whether with average or with power—makes him an outstanding player.
7: Positions Vinny Escudero has played this year. Seattle’s super sub Escudero has done everything this year aside from pitch and catch. He’s played all over the field, started everyone but Center Field and First Base, and he has a positive Zone Rating every position he’s played. That kind of flexibility makes him an ideal defender, and he has a .758 OPS to boot. Signed for only $9 million with a pair of team options for $8 million tacked after, he looks like one of the best signings of the offseason.
Yankees 3 Key Stats
.599: Justin Campbell’s OPS: Part of the blueprint for the Yankees being a threat in the AL East was the expectation that phenom Justin Campbell would hit the ground running. However, while Campbell has hinted to his potential as a future star, his play has suggested how much development work he still needs. The moonshots in batting practice are translating to a lot of weak pulled grounders as offspeed pitching has befuddled him. The Yankees have options if they want to pause Campbell’s apprenticeship, but they may have him learn and try to hit his way out of his slump.
5: Homers allowed for Joe Mantalaba: The righty journeyman added a little juice to his fastball and started throwing strikes with it, leading scouts to believe he was an elite bullpen option. However, Mantalaba has had just three seasons in nine years with positive WAR, and just two with more than 0.4 WAR. Last year was his worst year, allowing 37 homers in 56.1 innings for Dakere, putting up a 9.43 ERA, and compiling -3.0 WAR. Despite this, New York signed him to a contract, albeit it a cheap one, 835K. Mantalaba’s allowed a lot of homers to be expected, but he's allowed 10 walks in 20 innings, plus a .365 BABIP, and hasn’t struck out as many as scouts assumed. He’s looking like a bust and the Yankees may cut his experiment short.
.297: New York’s average with runners in scoring position: New York is hitting nearly .300 with runners in scoring position, which leads the league. It could be a sign that the team’s offense is overperforming due to sequencing, but it also could be a result of getting the right players at bats with men on. The three players with the most at bats with men in scoring position are Francisco DeJesus, a veteran run producer; Angelo Santiago, a superstar breaking out; and Shane Shifflett, who has a .288 average with men in scoring position. If the right players keep getting at bats with men on—and if Shiflett keeps overperforming—then New York’s offense be strong.
Questions for the GMs:
For Jay Bigs, unfortunate injury for Gleyber Torres. Who plays Third Base today and how do you rearrange your lineup?
Luis Mendoza didn’t have a great year as a swingman in Atlanta last year. What did you see in him when you decided to trade for him this offseason?
You’ve gone with a new hitting coach in Josh Hancock this year. Why did you choose him to be your new coach?
For Terry Kift, Omer de Vos has healed from his fractured rib. Will he be back on the team today?
How long of a leash will you give Joe Mantalaba?
Justin Campbell hasn’t gotten off to a great start. Will you be patient for him, or allow him to develop more in the minor leagues?
TRIVIA: Who are the only two Mariners pitchers to pitch multiple complete games as a Mariner?
