Game of the Week: April 25: PHI @ NYM

[dbacksjack]

PHI: Justin Dean (1-1, 1.59)
NYM: Hunter Greene (0-2, 4.96)

While a series between the bottom two teams in the NL East may not seem too exciting, it provides each underperforming team a perfect chance to build momentum early in the season. For the Mets, who rank 28th in runs scored this year, the Phillies' bottom-five pitching staff could be an opportunity to finally get the bats going. And for the Phillies, who have slightly outperformed their horrid run differential, three games against the Mets' hitters could inspire confidence in the team as a legitimate small-ball force that could spoil the hopes of contenders, if not push for a playoff berth itself.

Bobby Siegel, Doug Dombrowski and Kevin Gibson are off to fantastic starts for the Phillies, but there's little else positive to say about the team. They've gotten practically nothing from any position player besides Siegel - even leadoff man Jorge Huizar and his .321 average have produced 0 WAR due to poor fielding and baserunning. The fielding problems extend beyond Huizar, too — the Phillies are bottom-two in the NL in Zone Rating & Defensive Efficiency, perhaps explaining the massive gap in Dombrowski & Gibson's FIPs (2.91, 2.60) and ERAs (5.55, 4.86).

The Mets can attribute what little success they've had this year to their elite pitching staff, which ranks third in the league in fewest runs allowed. Reigning Cy Young winner Eric Pena has doubled his rate of allowing home runs and thus underwhelmed in his first four starts this year, but Luis Ortiz, Mario Jimenez, Jeff Morrison and offseason bullpen acquisition Cobi Johnson have picked up Pena's slack, combining for 2.2 WAR over 88.1 innings of work. Of course, some of the praise for the Met's stellar run prevention should go to their position players, who have led the team to best defensive efficiency in the PBA, but those players also constitute one of the league's worst offenses — only DH Denny Marchwinski has mustered a league-average OPS thus far.


Questions for the GMs


For Matt Grubs, with Siegel having such a monster season while also heading into free agency, what is the likelihood that he is traded this year?

How soon do you expect top prospect David Norris to be in the big leagues?

Of the players who have gotten off to slow starts, whom are you most confident in to rebound this year?

For Ryan Morneau, the Mets are 8-6 after an 0-7 start to the season, losing all seven games by two runs or fewer. Do you think the slow start was a fluke?

Your most important players are under control through at least next season, but you also have one of the lowest rated farm systems in the PBA. How much longer do you see your competitive window extending?

Setup men Cobi Johnson and Tung-Chi Chen have (in small samples) vastly outperformed closer Robby Bloomquist this season. Are there any immediate plans to make changes in the bullpen?

[Grubs - Philly]

With Siegel having such a monster season while also heading into free agency, what is the likelihood that he is traded this year?
— It seems like he’ll go. He certainly deserves better than we can give him these next few years. Being on pace for 62 homers and like 70 RBI seems like it’d be frustrating.

How soon do you expect top prospect David Norris to be in the big leagues?
— We’ll wait to be sure he can be comfortable in the bigs.

Of the players who have gotten off to slow starts, whom are you most confident in to rebound this year?
— Probably Allen Whitmore. We’re moving him to the outfield where he feels more natural in the field.

[Commissioner Erick]

Mets 9 - Cardinals 0


WP: J. Morrison (3-1)
LP: J. Dean (1-2)


Behind an impressive start by Jeff Morrison, New York beat Philadelphia, 9-0. In 7 innings, Morrison surrendered 5 hits, while striking out 4 and walking 0. He allowed no runs. The Phillies drop to 9-13, as their stumbling start to the 2033 season continues.

Mak Sexton helped out the New York cause in the bottom of the second inning with a run-scoring walk. For the game, the catcher drew 2 walks.

Philadelphia manager Matt Grubs said his team was "out of sync."


Questions for the GMs:


For Matt Grubs, brutal game. Justin Dean got jumped from the start, which was surprising as he's pitched well for you. His position is set to reliever, do you think that affected his outing?

You gave Allen Whitmore a game off. Were you disappointed he came in as a pinch hitter late?

Ignacio Tonche and Brian Radcliffe were struggling, but both are dangerous based on career numbers. Do you think Dean should have challenged them like he did, or pitched more carefully?

For Ryan Morneau, your pitching has continued to be stellar, how nice is it to see the bats join them?

On the whole, how do you think the new additions to your team have looked after yesterday's game?

The game was over quickly, would you have liked to see your club give your starters some rest when the game got out of hand?


TRIVIA: Jeff Morrison is now 11th in career ERA with a 3.36 ERA mark, despite never pitching in relief. Who is the only player with a career ERA lower than his, who has also never pitched out of the pen?

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA: Luke correctly guessed Tim Kierstead