Game of the Week: May 2: TB @ KC

[Commissioner Erick]

Tampa Bay Rays (12-16) @ Kansas City Royals (16-12)


TB: Vince Dubin (2-3, 4.65)
KC: Aaron Wallace (2-3, 6.75)


The Kansas City Royals’ offense still hasn’t woken up, but it hasn’t stopped them from winning. The club is 16-12, a half game out of the AL Central lead. Their schedule hasn’t been too difficult though, and their offense is only 12th in runs scored. Roderick Dalton is crushing it with a .355 average, eight homers, and 21 RBIs, plus a hot week from Yusniel Diaz raised his OPS .300 points. Nobody else has an OPS+ above 104.

They take on a Tampa Bay team trying to avoid 100 losses for a second straight year. The Rays lead the league in average, but are last in homers, leading to a mid-pack offense that ranks seventh. Jeremy Voss, Edward Martinez, and Joe Rizzo are all hitting at least .328 in the heart of the Tampa lineup, but Martinez’s four homers makes him in the only player on the team with more than two homers. If Tampa can supplement their average with some pop, they may have a decent offense.


Questions for the GMs:


For Jimmy Wood, Bobby Burns has healed up. Will he be in the pen today or go on a rehab assignment?

You just designated Jose Aguilla for assignment. Why did you make that move?

How do you feel your rebuild is going? Do you have any idea for when you’ll be contending for the playoffs again?

For Daniel Kent, Taylor Lehman’s rehab assignment is almost over. Will he be on the active roster today?

It’s been a month now and your offense hasn’t picked up. Will you make any moves to address the lack of success?

You just made a trade for Tony Fleury, while your offense has struggled. Why did you decided to upgrade your pen?


TRIVIA 1: Who led the Rays in wins the last time they made the postseason?

TRIVIA 2: Who led the Royals in wins the last time they missed the postseason?

[kcgm]

1) Taylor Lehman’s rehab assignment is almost over. Will he be on the active roster today?

Yes, he's back in the rotation and will slot in as the 5th SP. Caleb MacClellan will return to a long relief role.

2) It’s been a month now and your offense hasn’t picked up. Will you make any moves to address the lack of success?

Depends how things go. The lineup has started to wake up a bit over the past couple sims. It really depends what trades are available, where our record is, indiviual performances, etc.

3) You just made a trade for Tony Fleury, while your offense has struggled. Why did you decided to upgrade your pen?

I was short on pitching depth after trading away John Jones. Plus my middle relief pitching was pretty weak with Mark Harris having a disastrous start to the season and Elliot Overton's track record proving him to be a somewhat uninspiring option. Fleury gives us more depth, should be a big upgrade, and finally gives me a LH RP, of which I had none.

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 2: Daniel correctly guessed Jacob deGrom

[jimmy]

Bobby Burns has healed up. Will he be in the pen today or go on a rehab assignment?

1: Bobby Burns was sent to AAA for a rehab assignment but will be back up pretty soon. The player called up to replace him pitched well his first week so just decided to wait another week. Never know when someone else goes down with an injury.

You just designated Jose Aguilla for assignment. Why did you make that move?

2: Jose Aguilla provides some good utility defense but has a career .205 batting average. Brought someone up that might provide a little more offense when he plays.

How do you feel your rebuild is going? Do you have any idea for when you’ll be contending for the playoffs again?

3: I guess the rebuild is going ok. Several could probably be on the roster this season but just decided to wait. As for the playoffs, with limited funds to acquire some good free agents to go along with the young guys, just don't know. Unfortunately, it may take a GM better than I am to get this team over the hump.

Was hoping Juan Sorla would help add a little pop to the lineup this season. Not a huge power guy but more so than a lot of the team. But he played one game before getting hurt and going on the 60 day DL.
Currently waiting on the draft to end to see what our draft expenditures add up to and see if possibly have some funds left over to pick up some much-needed offense on the remaining free agents.

[Commissioner Erick]

Rays 7 - Royals 6


WP: V. Dubin (3-3)
LP: A. Wallace (2-4)
SV: J. Dixon (1)


Though he had a terrific game, Bob Beasley could not prevent his team, the Kansas City Royals, from absorbing a loss. Tampa Bay won the game, 7-6. Beasley went 3-5 with a home run and 2 singles. He drove in 2 runs and scored once. The winning pitcher was Vince Dubin. He tossed 98 pitches over 5 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits. The loss drops the Royals to 16-13.

The Rays got a big at-bat from center fielder Dan McDade. For the game, McDade went 1 for 4 with a triple, while adding 2 RBI and scoring once. In the top of the fourth, with runners on 1st and 2nd, he stroked a 2-run triple. His 3rd triple of the season gave Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead.

"It's nice to deliver when your team's counting on you," said McDade.


Questions for the GMs:


For Jimmy Wood, you had Juan Ramirez, Jerry Dixon, and Luis Villareal pitch in the game, all arms with checkered injury histories. Why have you taken on these arms that may not make it through the season?

You batted Tweet McDade cleanup, despite him having only one homer coming into the year. He did have the game's biggest extra base hit though, a two-run triple. Why did you bat him in the cleanup spot?

Vince Dubin was a little wild, but got through the game successfully. Why did you target him this offseason?

For Daniel Kent, you've been concerned with Aaron Wallace's start, expressing that he may be pulled after another start or two like todays. Who would you tap to replace him in the rotation?

Did you agree with Jason Fulton coming off the bench to pinch hit for Dwayne Hiseler in the eighth and coming up with a hit?

Your supporting case had a nice day, but Jorge Vargas continued to struggle going 0-4 with a sac fly. Are you a championship contender if he doesn't round into form?


TRIVIA: Only three Rays hitters have hit 20 homers since 2030 (across the entire period, not in one season). Who are those three hitters?

[kcgm]

1) You've been concerned with Aaron Wallace's start, expressing that he may be pulled after another start or two like todays. Who would you tap to replace him in the rotation?

He was better in his second start of the week, so he'll stay in the rotation for now. If he is ultimately pulled out, either Jeff Payton or Jayden Harris would likely be tapped to replace him. Payton is the steady veteran i'm sure can at least eat innings and give us a chance to win, Harris is the unproven but very talented rookie who has higher upside and is having a great rookie season out of the pen. Harris will ultimately end up in the rotation at some point. I think he has a long MLB career as a SP ahead of him.

2) Did you agree with Jason Fulton coming off the bench to pinch hit for Dwayne Hiseler in the eighth and coming up with a hit?

Yes. Fulton is a much better hitter overall, especially against RHP. I don't mind the decision at all.

3) Your supporting case had a nice day, but Jorge Vargas continued to struggle going 0-4 with a sac fly. Are you a championship contender if he doesn't round into form?

The way my team is constructed Vargas and Dalton are the two most important players on my team. We're built around the pair carrying the offense, allowing me to fill out the rest of the position player core with complementary bats that field well and help out my pitching. We need Vargas to hit. Luckily, despite this game, he's actually been very good after a horrific start. He seems to be rounding into form, but it's definitely something i'm keeping an eye on.

[jimmy]

You had Juan Ramirez, Jerry Dixon, and Luis Villareal pitch in the game, all arms with checkered injury histories. Why have you taken on these arms that may not make it through the season?

1: Dixon was on the roster already and fairly inexpensive. He has been sent back to AAA now that Bobby Burns is back. Juan Ramirez is on a minimum salary. Luis Villarreal seemed like a good option for the money. Tampa's budget just doesn't allow for going out and getting some of the top relievers.

You batted Tweet McDade cleanup, despite him having only one homer coming into the year. He did have the game's biggest extra base hit though, a two-run triple. Why did you bat him in the cleanup spot?
2: As for McDade hitting cleanup, would have to go look at the box score but most likely Rizzo had the day off and McDade was just slotted into that spot. Joe Rizzo is the normal cleanup hitter. Juan Sorla when healthy will slot in the 3-5 spot in the order, especially against RHP. Not like Tampa has ton of typical cleanup hitters.

Vince Dubin was a little wild but got through the game successfully. Why did you target him this offseason?
3: Durbin like others is on a one-year deal. Tampa needed some starters and for the money he seemed like a good fit.

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 3: Zigmo correctly guessed Juan Vega. Jimmy correctly guessed Juan Sorla and Juan Rivera

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 1: Zigmo correctly guessed Blake Snell