Game of the Week: March 31: CHW @ KC

[Commissioner Erick]

Chicago White Sox (0-0) @ Kansas City Royals (0-0)


CHW: Xavier Hendricks (0-0)
KC: Ryan Beyer (0-0)


The Kansas City Royals have dominated the best of the best the last three years, winning two World Series and overcoming juggernauts like the Mariners, Red Sox, Indians, Rangers, and Dodgers. They may have to deal with a new force in the Chicago White Sox.

Chicago added an MVP in Luis Retana to a team coming off a winning season and boosting the best farm in baseball, the best prospect in baseball in Quinn Chamberlain, and the reigning Rookie of the Year in Telmo Aldeagas. With veteran imports Federico Pando, Jahmai Jones, Matt Aceto, Trent Clark, Jose Guerra, and Chad Simon, they’ve upgraded their talent and could be a monster.

Kansas City, however, has dispatched elite teams on the way to their two titles. Jonathan Bakos broke out last year and exploded in the playoffs. He’s led the AL in triples four of the last five years, but he’s become a run producer of late too, with over 100 RBIs during the two Royals title runs. If he’s driving in runs today, Kansas City will be tough to beat.


Questions for the GMs:


For Zigmo Thedogo, you have a lot of talented arms, but it looks like Xavier Edwards will start opening day. Why does he get the nod?

Sean Mendoza appears to have beaten out Lucius Fox for the early Shortstop job. How did he win the gig?

Are you worried about having only one lefty to face Jorge Vargas and Roderick Dalton today?

For Daniel Kent, Yusniel Diaz has a negative career OPS+ against righties. Why are you using him to start against righties?

Taylor Lehman is eligible to come off the IL. Will he be in the pen today or sent on a rehab assignment?

Same question about Kevin Levenson. Will he be the backup Catcher today or go on a rehab assignment?


TRIVIA: The White Sox have made three draft picks who have accumulated at least 16 career WAR. Each has at least two all star berths and has collected hardware—an MVP, a Reliever of the Year, and a Platinum Stick. However, none of the three ever played a single game for Chicago. Who are the three players?

[Zigmo-Whitesox]

For Zigmo Thedogo, you have a lot of talented arms, but it looks like Xavier Edwards will start opening day. Why does he get the nod?

We feel like Hendricks has the potential to be the best of our staff and in year two we are hoping for a jump in production.  His ability to keep the ball in the yard and not walk a ton of hitters plays into our defense first approach and he is just a tick above our other guys in that category according to our scouting department.

Sean Mendoza appears to have beaten out Lucius Fox for the early Shortstop job. How did he win the gig?

Mendoza was the pick because he's a few years younger than fox and has fairly recently had some 3+ WAR seasons.  They are similar players but Foxs last real good year was in 2028.  We like Fox as a nice depth piece should he be called upon.  We went into the spring with Fox,Mendoza, and Quaddir all battling for the last spot on our team.  Mendoza just fit the best but it was a very close call.

Are you worried about having only one lefty to face Jorge Vargas and Roderick Dalton today?

To be honest not really but I am sure I will eat those words.  We had all righties until we brought in Ironside last season.  Part of Daltons relative struggles last year was in all the games KC played us he hit something along the lines of .222 with 1 bomb.  Vargas faired a bit better I can't recall his stats anymore but we did a good job limiting them.  Their pitching really caused us fits but we played them to 1 game below .500 I believe 8-9 or something?  We are a better team this year and probably cant hope to replicate that success against Dalton and Vargas however we no longer fear the duo. 

[kcgm]

1) For Daniel Kent, Yusniel Diaz has a negative career OPS+ against righties. Why are you using him to start against righties?

He's still essentially a league average hitter vs RHP for his career, with his defensive ability I still think he's the best option to start in RF.

2) Taylor Lehman is eligible to come off the IL. Will he be in the pen today or sent on a rehab assignment?

Lehman is 37 and coming off a major injury, he'll get a long rehab stint.

3) Same question about Kevin Levenson. Will he be the backup Catcher today or go on a rehab assignment?

Levenson will be the backup, he only suffered a minor injury in spring training. I'm not worried about him

[Commissioner Erick]

Royals 4 - White Sox 2


WP: J. Harris (1-0)
LP: X. Hendricks (0-1)
SV: M. Thomas (1)


The Kansas City Royals got their 2033 Pinnacle Baseball Association season off to a good start, defeating the Chicago White Sox, 4-2. Roderick Dalton set the pace. He was 3-4 with a home run and 2 singles. Marcus Thomas earned the save, his 1st, for the Royals.

Jorge Parra dealt the White Sox a blow in the bottom of the sixth. Batting with runners on 1st and 2nd and Kansas City leading 3-2, Parra, who finished 5th in the AL in doubles with 42 in 2031, hit a 1-1 sinker for a run-scoring single.

"I like our moxie," said Royals manager Daniel Kent.


Questions for the GMs:


For Zigmo Thedogo, you were able to get some baserunners against Ryan Beyer, but only one extra base hit. Do you feel your offense needed more pop today?

Xavier Hendricks appeared to hold his own against a tough Royals offense. How do you feel he did?

You stole three bases today. Will base stealing be part of your modus operandi this season?

For Daniel Kent, after a relatively down year from Roderick Dalton last year, how nice is it to see him jump out to a good start with three hits?

How did Yusniel Diaz look to you in his first game in a Royals uniform?

Jayden Harris had a great game, striking out three in 1.1 scoreless innings. Any thoughts of popping him into the rotation?


TRIVIA: Roderick Dalton and Jorge Vargas have numerous Platinum Stick Awards for Kansas City. Who are the other three players to win Platinum Stick awards for the Royals?

[Zigmo-Whitesox]

For Zigmo Thedogo, you were able to get some baserunners against Ryan Beyer, but only one extra base hit. Do you feel your offense needed more pop today?

Absolutely, we brought in Pando to be a battery mate for Andres Perez and he really struggled.  Hopefully it's a blip but with the lefty slugger Kevin Hughes sitting in AAA pando will need to get things fired up sooner than later or the experiment will be over.  Telmo last season had an atrocious start before lighting on fire the last 4 or 5 months of the season.  We will need these guys to step it up early this year to keep up until reinforcements arrive.

Xavier Hendricks appeared to hold his own against a tough Royals offense. How do you feel he did?

He did pretty well.  He got a bit unlucky with the royals stringing together some things but if your pitcher goes out and allows just 5 hits and 2 walks your going to expect him to be successful more often then not.  He did give up the bomb to Dalton but he's an excellent movement pitcher and Dalton is a great hitter those things happen.

You stole three bases today. Will base stealing be part of your modus operandi this season?

We aren't going to actively be trying to steal here but we will probably be one of the higher SB teams in the league with so many speedsters on the roster.  Definitely think Pinay could really have a special year if things break his way and our guys behind him can do their jobs.

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 2: Daniel correctly guessed Jonathan Bakos and Gary Sanchez. Tim guessed Halrand Guenette

[kcgm]

1) After a relatively down year from Roderick Dalton last year, how nice is it to see him jump out to a good start with three hits?

It's huge, we're really counting on him to bounce back. Our offense is very reliant on my big 3 hitters and there's no way I can expect Bakos to repeat what he did last season.

2) How did Yusniel Diaz look to you in his first game in a Royals uniform?

Diaz was solid enough. 1 for 3 and good defense is about what we were hoping for. Just need him to a solid complementary option.

3) Jayden Harris had a great game, striking out three in 1.1 scoreless innings. Any thoughts of popping him into the rotation?

Not yet, I definitely think he may be ready to be a good SP, but I just don't have a spot for him at the moment, and I would still like to see him get a bit more MLB experience before expanding his role anyway.

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA: Answer: Zigmo correctly guessed Ivan Johnson. Nobody guessed Tim Newbold and Rogelio Mendizibal