Game of the Week: April 8: CLE @ BOS

[Commissioner Erick]

Cleveland Indians (0-0) @ Boston Red Sox (0-0)


CLE: Corey Kluber (19-8, 3.48)
BOS: Chris Sale (13-10, 3.11)


After a very successful 2017 that saw the Cleveland Indians reach the World Series, they'll be trying to go one step farther and win a championship. Their first test will be against a Boston Red Sox team that has a world of talent, but stumbled to a losing year last year.

The pitching matchup to kick off the year will be sensational. Corey Kluber takes the hill for the Indians and he was spectacular in 2017. He went 18-9 with a 3.48 ERA. The wins led the league, the ERA was ninth, and his 246 strikeouts were second. He followed up that strong season with three wins and a 2.45 ERA in five postseason starts. He fanned 10 Cubans in 7 innings in the World Baseball Classic Semifinals as a tune-up for the regular season. Kluber throws hard, features three types of fastballs and gets extreme action on his secondaries. He's certainly the type of ace you want in your hand, but Boston will be able to match.

Boston will send out Chris Sale, and Sale had a 3.11 ERA last year with 256 strikeouts. The ERA was fourth in the league, and the strikeouts made him the only pitcher to top Kluber. Sale's velocity, pitching angle, and slider make him murder on lefties, while his changeup and splitter make him devastating against righties too. He lost his only start against Cleveland in 2017 as Michael Saunders of all people took him deep twice. With Saunders in Toronto this year, Sale will be out to dominate this appearance.

Cleveland went out this offseason and increased their lineup with the addition of JD Martinez. The club let Carlos Santana walk, gained a comp pick for it, and replaced him with a guy who clubbed 37 home runs last year. They'll add to a lineup that features Giancarlo Stanton and Edwin Encarnacion, a pair of guys who hit 46 and 44 home runs last season. Trades were also made for Rookie of the Year Lewis Brinson and Kevin Pillar, which should really bolster the outfield defense. Jay Bruce and Justin Bour should provide pop off a strong bench. If Mike Moustakas or their catchers provide anything, Cleveland could have the best offense in the league.

Boston, meanwhile, has questions regarding their corner infield. Pablo Sandoval played in only 62 games last year, was awful defensively, and takes over as the starting third baseman. Alex "Grandpa" Dickerson had an OPS under .700 last season for San Diego. Tyler O'Neill didn't hit in a brief stretch in Triple-A, and didn't hit for Canada in the World Baseball Classic. Mookie Betts is coming off a torn labrum. There are some stars on the team in Betts and Xander Bogaerts, but a lot of question marks. That's rough when facing a pitcher like Kluber.

Even though both teams are starting aces and have talented bullpens, it's a safer bet that Cleveland can run into some Sale mistakes then Cleveland can capitalize on what Kluber affords. However, if the Red Sox can score some runs off Kluber, it will go a ways to answering whether or not they can be an upper echelon team.


Questions for the GMs:


For David Springgay, Mike Moustakas was hurt last season and only had a .254 OBP when he did play. What do you think he can contribute to your team?

You were clearly in addition mode, yet you let Carlos Santana walk in free agency. What caused you to not bring him back?

Chris Sale is a tough lefty, but you have some huge right-handed bats in your lineup. What's your ideal strategy against him?

For Dave Gutierrez, welcome to the PBA and your first game is on National TV as well! What's your first impression of your squad?

Pablo Sandoval is penciled in as your starting third baseman. Last year he backed up Adrian Beltre and was decent enough with the bat. However, his defense fell apart. He's making a lot of money. What's the plan with him? Will you start him or look for an upgrade?

Bryce Brentz was one of the stories of the year last year, with an OPS around .793 and good defense. What will his role be for you in 2018?

[indiansgm]

First off let me say we in Cleveland are excited to kick this year off get our revenge to bring the world series trophy home to Ohio where it belongs.

Mike we are expecting to be a solid pro on the hot corner this year. With the lineup we have we dont need him to be star level just hold the fort as a stop gap until Yandy Diaz or Giovanny Urshela are ready for the pressure that is world series contention

Letting Carlos leave was a very tough decision but when looking at the money needed to commit to Carlos we decided that bringing in Tyson Ross, Mike Moustakas, JD Martinez etc for about the same money improved us accross the board as opposed to one position plus the addition of Justin Bour made a natural replacement.

The key to getting to Chris is jumping on him early and often. Our prolific offemce will be looking to punish from pitch 1 and keep punishing through out the game which we expect to end with a resounding rendition of Cleveland Rocks

[Commissioner Erick]

Red Sox 9 - Indians 4

WP: T. Thornburg (1-0)
LP: C. Kluber (0-1)
SV: C. Smith (1)



Xander Bogaerts was disappointed in himself after a poor personal and team showing for The Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic. He made amends on Opening Day of the PBA season.

Bogarts had four hits, including a home run, and five RBI's as the Boston Red Sox battered Corey Kluber and the Cleveland Indians 9-4.

Jose Ramirez had two hits, two runs, two RBI's, and reached on an error, as Boston formed a one-two punch Kluber couldn't deal with. Ramirez hit a slow tapper on a sinker to start off the game. Thanks to his speed, he forced Kluber to make an errant throw that allowed Ramirez to take second. In hindsight, Kluber never was able to put it behind him.

Bogaerts followed with a double to the track in center field to get the Red Sox on the board. Jackie Bradley Jr. followed by dumping a ball to left field, placing runners on the corners. Hanley Ramirez grounded out to bring in Bogaerts and the Red Sox were up 2-0.

Oft-criticized Pablo Sandoval led off the second with a double, moved to third with two outs, and scored when Ramirez ripped a line drive into right field to make it 3-0 Boston.

Cleveland began using the long ball to get back into things. Francisco Lindor smashed a two-run home run in the third to get Cleveland within 3-2. After Boston added a run, lefty Jason Kipnis crushed a Sale fastball 421 feet to tie the game. Half of Sale's four home runs allowed to lefties in 2017 came to Cleveland, and he was tagged by a Cleveland lefty again to begin 2018.

Kluber settled down and retired the side in the fourth, and Sale worked around a walk to get through his fifth frame uneventfully. Kluber got out of a two-on no out jam in the fifth, by inducing a pop-up from Jackie Bradley Jr., having Hanley Ramirez opposite-field line drive snared by Edwin Encarnacion, and watching Alex Dickerson look at strike three to end the frame. It appeared, perhaps, the game was settling into the pitching matchup everyone expected.

The bottom of Boston's order had other plans. With one out, Blake Swihart and Ryder Jones got base hits, putting runners on the corners again for Boston. This time, Jose Ramirez was able to give Boston the lead with a fly ball to left-center deep enough to get Swihart home. Bogaerts followed by taking Kluber over the monster for a two-run home run. It was Bogaerts' third hit of the day and Kluber's final pitch, departing with seven runs allowed in 5.2 innings.

Boston's bullpen took over from there. Tyler Thornberg had already worked a scoreless sixth after Sale was pulled after 5 innings. Kyle Martin came in and gave up a double to Kevin Pillar and a walk to Francisco Lindor with Giancarlo Stanton and J.D. Martinez coming up. Each of those hitters had the power to easily tie the game, and Pillar took off and stole third base in the hopes of a single-run consolation prize to help Cleveland chip away. Martin got Stanton to pop up harmlessly to left field, before Martinez' high fly landed well short of the monster and into Dickerson's glove to end the frame. It was a high wire act for Martin, and the last good chance for Cleveland to score.

Carson Smith came on and struck out two in the eighth before Boston blew things open in the bottom of the frame. With two outs and a man on second, Cleveland went to its closer, Cody Allen, to both stem the tide and get some work. Jose Ramirez tested him the same way he did Kluber, with an infield ground ball, this time in no-man's land between the mound, shortstop, and third base for an infield hit. Bogaerts brought home both runners by lacing a double down the third base line that scored two runs.

Smith finished up in the ninth for the save.


Questions for the GM's:


For David Springgay, your team was active on the bases in unusual spots. You hit-and-run with Encarnacion on the bases and Lewis Brinson at the bat. You saw Pillar steal third down by three runs late. Do you want to be an active base-stealing team despite your power?

How disappointed are you in J.D. Martinez? 0-4, struck out twice, and flew out with two on as the game-tying run in the seventh.

You traded Jose Ramirez for four minor leaguers last season. Obviously those four players are still in the minors and Sam Travis had a promising stint in Triple-A last year. However, Jose Ramirez hit .327 last year, which was second in baseball. He led the WBC in hits over the Spring. He put a ton of pressure on you tonight. Looking back, assess that trade?

For Dave Gutierrez, in knocking off David Springgay, would you like to take this moment to tell him that you are, in fact, the ideal Dave?

Dustin Pedroia did not get the start, with Sandoval in the lineup instead. What went into that decision?

Kyle Martin is banged up with a biceps injury. Not only was he sent out to pitch, but during a critical juncture against two of the most dangerous power hitters in baseball, and after giving up two hits. What did you think of your manager bot making that decision?

[Dave G - ChiSox]

First off, let me state for the record that my status as the ideal dave in no way detracts from the inherent quality of other Daves. We have to stick together. That said, happy to steal a win on opening day.

Pedroia presents a bit of a conundrum for the team this season. While he continues to be a dependable bat and a steady glove, winning in this division in this league is going to take more than simple reliability. There’s no place for him at second, Ramirez and Bogaerts are both too good to split time at short. More importantly, team management agrees that it’s time to see what we have in Ryder Jones at third. The kid has a ton of upside and we’re excited to see what he brings to the table. The DH slot is crowded with Sandoval and Brentz also looking for opportunities. And against this team Sandoval was the better bat. All that aside, Dustin is going to get his at bats and he’ll see the field plenty over the course of the season. He’s a team player and he understands the decision to have him sit more than he’s accustomed to in the early going here.

As for pitching an injured reliever against the heart of this lineup, well, let’s just say the manager bot and I are going to spend some time tweaking game strategy in detail for the next sim.