Game of the Week: April 4: SF @ LAD

[Commissioner Erick]

San Francisco Giants (2-2) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (3-1)


SF: Evan Orcutt (0-0, 0.00)
LAD: Sal Blea (0-0, 0.00)



The Los Angeles Dodgers may be a team in transition. Last year was their first year out of the playoffs since 2023. Key stars Nomar Mazara, Patrick Leonard, and Dale Messina are elsewhere. Most of the roster is over 30. Star defender Jeren Kendall has been transitioned to the defense. However, that didn’t start the Dodgers jumping out to a strong 3-1 start.

They’re facing another team in transition in the San Francisco Giants. The team acquired a lot of Hall of Famers the last few seasons, but this year is a little light on star power. The Seth Beer, Andrew Benintendi, and Francisco Mejia types of years past aren’t on the roster. The bullpen isn’t as robust. The defense will be bad. However, that didn’t stop the Giants from going 2-2 this weekend against the defending NL pennant winner.

The winner of this game may be good enough to keep fighting for the playoffs. The loser, may witness the first sign of needing to transition to a rebuild.


Questions for the GMs:

For Michael Strosko, you’ve taken over a potent team, but the star power isn’t there. Do you fee lyour club has the talent to make the World Series?

Alberto Marchand seems overmatched at Shortstop, but has the starting nod. Why is he your Shortstop?

Walter Trahan was a reliever most of his career, but he’s starting for you. Why did you pull him from the pen?

For Ben Vincent, Jeren Kendall missed just one routine ball last year. He missed just two the year prior. He has one already this year. How tragic is it to see this defensive superstar play at such a high level and then suddenly fall off a defensive cliff?

You’ve indicated Loose Saunderson will take over for Kendall in Center Field. Who will take over in the corners?

You gave a lot of money to Nihat Ecevit. Why did you spend so much money on a reliever?


TRIVIA: Jeren Kendall has won 11 NL Center Field Gold Gloves. Who are the four other players who have won NL Center Field Gold Gloves?

[Ben_Dodgers]

For Ben Vincent, Jeren Kendall missed just one routine ball last year. He missed just two the year prior. He has one already this year. How tragic is it to see this defensive superstar play at such a high level and then suddenly fall off a defensive cliff?

Can you believe he has a negative Zone Rating to start the season?  It sucks, but he's now the oldest guy on the team at 37, and this is a young man's position. The decline was going to come eventually. I'd hoped to get one more good year out of him, and maybe set some more records. He still has an important role on the team as a captain, but I'll almost certainly buy out his option next year.

You’ve indicated Loose Saunderson will take over for Kendall in Center Field. Who will take over in the corners?

Ancrum and Verdugo will get most of the starts in LF and RF respectively. Kendall will be available off the bench to give them a break. In his entire PBA career he's only played one innning at a corner outfield spot, but he still profiles to be a plus defender there. We also have a number of backup options at AAA to cover the inevitable injuries.

You gave a lot of money to Nihat Ecevit. Why did you spend so much money on a reliever?

I complained a lot about my starting pitching last year, but they were actually ok. It was the bullpen that turned out to be awful. In my most successful years I've always had great bullpens. I needed to turn that around, and Ecevit was the best available reliever in a pretty shallow group. I may have overpaid, but I think it's worth investing in bullpen.

[Commissioner Erick]

Giants 3 - Dodgers 2


WP: E. Orcutt (1-0)
LP: S. Blea (0-1)
SV: J. Cordon (1)


The San Francisco Giants locked up a win at Dodger Stadium, knocking off the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3-2. On the mound for San Francisco was left-hander Evan Orcutt. He played a major role in the triumph. The win puts San Francisco at 3-2.

Tomaz Espassandim, who finished 2nd in the NL in batting average with .312 in 2029, had a direct impact on the outcome. Espassandim contributed a run-scoring single in the top of the fifth inning to put San Francisco up, 3-1.

"Evan throwing strikes, pounding the zone, that is exactly what you want to see," said San Francisco manager Michael Strosko.


Questions for the GMs:


For Michael Strosko, Zipper Willemsen hasn't been a huge base stealer, but he stole two bases today. Will that be more of a part of his game this season?

Only three unearned runs and seven hits against a Dodgers team that doesn't have its superstar defender anymore and was trotting out its fifth starter. Are you concerned with your offense?

Grant Sellers is young, but was outstanding in a small role last year and was perfect in 1.2 innings today. Do you have high hopes for the reliever?

For Ben Vincent, your first start with Jeren Kendall no longer your starting Center Fielder. How did your outfield defense look to you?

Sal Blea allowed three runs, but none were earned. What did you think of his performance?

Only two his today. How concerned are you for your offense?


TRIVIA: Eric Drouet has the most at bats of any player from Haiti. Who has the most career innings pitch?

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 1: Jay correctly guessed T.J. McDonald, David Dahl, and Albert Almora. Daniel correctly guessed Quentin Holmes.

[Ben_Dodgers]

For Ben Vincent, your first start with Jeren Kendall no longer your starting Center Fielder. How did your outfield defense look to you?

The outfield looked fine. Saunderson was tested right away with a deep ball in the first but he tracked it down.



The infield let us down a bit in the 5th. First an error, then a couple balls getting through on the left side, and finally an infield single. But Allen and Marte are both strong defenders. No one gets to every ball. I'm not worried about them.

Sal Blea allowed three runs, but none were earned. What did you think of his performance?

He pitched well. I can't blame him for the mistakes in the 5th, and besides that inning he didn't really have any trouble.

Only two hits today. How concerned are you for your offense?

Coming into spring training I was concerned that this lineup wouldn't have enough firepower. But they started off hot and that's carried through to the regular season. 10 games into the season we're first in runs, BA, OBP, OPS, WAR, wOBA, and SB. So I'm pretty happy with the offense. Sometimes the other guy pitches a great game.



Incidentally, Drouet has just 1 strike out this season and it came in the 3rd with a runner in scoring position. A hit there, or if Marte fields the ball cleanly in the 5th, and this is a different outcome.

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 2: Daniel correctly guessed Michel Laffont