Game of the Week: April 11: SEA @ KC

[Commissioner Erick]

Seattle Mariners (4-5) @ Kansas City Royals (6-2)


SEA: Sean Koch (0-2, 5.06)
KC: Aaron Wallace (1-0, 3.38)


The Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners square off in a matchup of the best team in the AL last year and the PBA champion two of the last three years. Kansas City hasn’t gotten a ton of offense yet, but their bullpen has been unbelievable. Their bullpen has an 0.88 ERA in the early going, a remarkable feat. And while only two players have homered, and while only two players are hitting above .250, Roderick Dalton is back to playing at an MVP pace. He already has four homers with a .481 average.

Seattle is also struggling offensively with only six team homers, same as Kansas City. However, their pitching has been more ordinary, meaning the team hasn’t been able to compensate. They’re only 4-5 to start the year, including two losses in two games to the Angels. It’s early and they’re only 1-3 in one-one games so it’s not super concerning yet.

For two teams with great pitching, it will be fun to see which struggling offense can provide enough to pull through with a win.


Questions for the GMs:


For Jay Bigs, Tom McCracken is due off the IL. Will he slot into the rotation or go on a rehab assignment?

Ji-hu Kim got sent to Tacoma and David Kitchell is batting .229 without a homer. Can you talk us through your starting First Baseman decision?

Kansas City’s bullpen has been exceptional. Will you play small ball to try to get an early lead?

For Daniel Kent, did you expect your bullpen would be this good to start the year?

Yusniel Diaz is not hitting. Does Tyler Schnieder have any hope of getting back in the lineup?

Amed Rosario was solid offensively last year. He’s gone and Johnny Bachmann has a .250 OBP. How concerned are you with your Second Base and leadoff spot?


TRIVIA: Only two teams in the Pacific Coast League’s Pacific Conference have won PCL titles. What are those two teams?

[kcgm]

1) Did you expect your bullpen would be this good to start the year?

I don't think anyone can "expect" a 0.88 ERA, but I did think my pen had a chance to be very good. I think Jorge Ortega is quickly establishing himself on the shortlist of best RPs in the game and a multi-inning high leverage weapon.

2) Yusniel Diaz is not hitting. Does Tyler Schnieder have any hope of getting back in the lineup?

I don't like to make any drastic changes this early in the season, plus I just traded for Jung Hoo-Lee to platoon with Diaz in RF anyway. I'll see how the next couple sims go before making any changes.

3) Amed Rosario was solid offensively last year. He’s gone and Johnny Bachmann has a .250 OBP. How concerned are you with your Second Base and leadoff spot?

Not concerned yet. It's so early and Bachman has a career .380 OBP against RHP in almost 600 PAs. I'm not going to fret over 8 rough games.

[Jay Bigs]

1. Tom McCracken is due off the IL. Will he slot into the rotation or go on a rehab assignment?

He'll be doing a bit of rehab in AAA, missing majority of spring either no game time would make bringing him straight back in a mistake.

2. Ji-hu Kim got sent to Tacoma and David Kitchell is batting .229 without a homer. Can you talk us through your starting First Baseman decision?

I don't think not having a HR matters but anyway Kitchel is the future so he will get alot of starts this year. He batted well to start and then has struggled since but Kim will always have a chance to come back up should we struggle to get production over the coming months.

3. Kansas City’s bullpen has been exceptional. Will you play small ball to try to get an early lead?

No, we do not believe in small ball in Seattle, swing it aggressively with people on base is what we aim for against anyone. KC's pen has started well but there's no doubt they can't keep a sub 1 era for the whole year so why not struggle I. this series? It's possible.

[Commissioner Erick]

Mariners 8 - Royals 1


WP: S. Koch (1-2)
LP: A. Wallace (1-1)


Boosted by the 3-hit performance of Angelo Santiago, who finished 5th in the AL in OPS with .934 in 2030, the Seattle Mariners defeated the Kansas City Royals, 8-1. Seattle pitcher Sean Koch earned the win, hiking his record to 1-2. Aaron Wallace suffered the loss. Seattle goes to 5-5.

Early in the game, Santiago had a 2-run home run for Seattle. It was his 2nd home run of the season and put the Mariners on top, 2-0.

"It was a tough night at the plate," said Kansas City manager Daniel Kent.


Questions for the GMs:

For Jay Bigs, the last time we saw Angelo Santiago on national television, he was having a terrible 2032 postseason. Today he was dominant, with a homer, two doubles, three runs scored, and two driven in. Can you appreciate special regular season games from Santiago, considering how difficult last year's postseason was?

You hit Ray Church cleanup and he had four hits. Why did you bat Church fourth?

David Kitchel went 0-5, another tough day at the plate. You've said he's the future, but can you survive him maybe not being the present?

For Daniel Kent, Jorge Vargas went 0-4 and is now hitting .062. Any concerns to his start to the year?

This game was out of hand pretty early. Would you have wanted to see your bench emptied out a little early?

I know you don't want to make drastic changes, but this is another game where your offense has sputtered. Any thoughts on any lineup changes to juice the offense?


TRIVIA: Who has the longest hitting streak in National League history?

[Jay Bigs]

1. The last time we saw Angelo Santiago on national television, he was having a terrible 2032 postseason. Today he was dominant, with a homer, two doubles, three runs scored, and two driven in. Can you appreciate special regular season games from Santiago, considering how difficult last year's postseason was?
Its hard to believe Santiago who clearly one of the best regular season bats in the league has been so horrible in the post season for both years we made it but I have faith this year he he will show his full potential in the playoffs. (If we make it)

2. You hit Ray Church cleanup and he had four hits. Why did you bat Church fourth?
So while traditionally the #4 hitter is where you would want protection for your best hitters and usually would place a power guy here to get the runs in, this year we have bumped our best hitters up 1 in the order and with Santiago and Sierra who regularly bat the runs in, it was a good opportunity to put a guy like Church at the #4 using his hot streak to get a runner on base after the guys above have cleared it. We hope he can continue this form but with him leading 2B defensively the bat is just an added bonus for us that we are happy with right now.

3. David Kitchel went 0-5, another tough day at the plate. You've said he's the future, but can you survive him maybe not being the present?
Leave Kitchel alone! Hes trying his best! but no seriously hes had a shakey start but I feel like its only a matter of time before he starts producing, he has too much talent not too. We will however keep monitoring and maybe give him a short AAA stint to find some form if necessary but for now we will give him time to get used to Major league pitching.

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 1: Luke correctly guessed the El Paso Chihuahuas and the Sacramento River Cats

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 2: Nobody guessed Gregory Polanco