Post by Commissioner Erick on Nov 2, 2024 13:03:39 GMT -5
Philadelphia Phillies (21-38) @ San Diego Padres (33-26)
PHI: Jose Quesada (0-2, 6.15)
SD: Jorge Ontiveros (1-4, 3.83)
Despite financial troubles once again limiting their spending power, the Padres find themselves back in a position to crash the postseason. They sit 3.5 back in the NL West, 1.5 back in the NL Wild Card. The Padres have numbers one and two atop the NL ERA leaderboard, and are playing great defense, but have also gotten enough offense to tie everything together.
Ta-Heng Rui and John Yancey are playing elite corner outfield defense, anchoring San Diego’s run prevention. Each leads their positional Zone Rating thus far. For Flipper, even though the average isn’t as high as last year, and the walks are never there, the defense and the speed (15-19 on steals) make him such an asset. Meanwhile, Yancey’s defense, power, and ability to get on base have him as a fringe MVP candidate thus far. His .250 average in offense-suppressing PetCo Park isn’t anything to sing about, but he carries a .362 OBP, and his 14 homers and 38 RBIs are third among NL Right Fielders. Add it all up, and his 2.4 WAR is tied for third among National Leaguers.
San Diego will take on a Philadelphia team going through the motions, but not without some talent. Bobby Siegel is having another constructive season demolishing opposing pitchers. He has a shot at another 50-homer season. Veteran Christian Arroyo is hitting .347 in a small sample. Most impressive has been sophomore Jonathan Huizar, who is carrying a .348 average this year. The Venezuelan won’t walk and has little pop, but he makes good contact, doesn’t strike out, and has been BABIPing his way atop the NL average leaderboards. In a small sample, he’s hitting .522 against left-handed pitchers, remarkable even if its only in 51 plate appearances.
Questions for the GMs:
For Matt Grubs, it looks like Christian Arroyo and Kevin Gibson are out. How will you replace them on the roster?
Josh Agboola’s got some dizziness and nausea. Will he see some time on the IL?
What do you make of Jonathan Huizar’s future prospects? He appears a one-trick pony, but if that trick is a mid-300’s average, is that enough to secure a job going forward?
For Dalton Timmerman, you’ve called John Yancey’s contract the worst in baseball. However, he has an outside shot at winning MVP this year and costing only just over $2 million per WAR. Can he really be the worst contract in baseball with production and value like that?
Flipper’s got a quadriceps strain he’s working through. Will he get the day off today?
Last year was a magical run, but retaining that success this year in a strong National League and brutal NL West has been almost equally as impressive, highlighting the club’s staying power as a contender. Will you make moves to upgrade your team with another playoff spot in reach?
TRIVIA: When Philadelphia won their lone NL pennant, two position players had 5 or more WAR on their team. Who were those players?
PHI: Jose Quesada (0-2, 6.15)
SD: Jorge Ontiveros (1-4, 3.83)
Despite financial troubles once again limiting their spending power, the Padres find themselves back in a position to crash the postseason. They sit 3.5 back in the NL West, 1.5 back in the NL Wild Card. The Padres have numbers one and two atop the NL ERA leaderboard, and are playing great defense, but have also gotten enough offense to tie everything together.
Ta-Heng Rui and John Yancey are playing elite corner outfield defense, anchoring San Diego’s run prevention. Each leads their positional Zone Rating thus far. For Flipper, even though the average isn’t as high as last year, and the walks are never there, the defense and the speed (15-19 on steals) make him such an asset. Meanwhile, Yancey’s defense, power, and ability to get on base have him as a fringe MVP candidate thus far. His .250 average in offense-suppressing PetCo Park isn’t anything to sing about, but he carries a .362 OBP, and his 14 homers and 38 RBIs are third among NL Right Fielders. Add it all up, and his 2.4 WAR is tied for third among National Leaguers.
San Diego will take on a Philadelphia team going through the motions, but not without some talent. Bobby Siegel is having another constructive season demolishing opposing pitchers. He has a shot at another 50-homer season. Veteran Christian Arroyo is hitting .347 in a small sample. Most impressive has been sophomore Jonathan Huizar, who is carrying a .348 average this year. The Venezuelan won’t walk and has little pop, but he makes good contact, doesn’t strike out, and has been BABIPing his way atop the NL average leaderboards. In a small sample, he’s hitting .522 against left-handed pitchers, remarkable even if its only in 51 plate appearances.
Questions for the GMs:
For Matt Grubs, it looks like Christian Arroyo and Kevin Gibson are out. How will you replace them on the roster?
Josh Agboola’s got some dizziness and nausea. Will he see some time on the IL?
What do you make of Jonathan Huizar’s future prospects? He appears a one-trick pony, but if that trick is a mid-300’s average, is that enough to secure a job going forward?
For Dalton Timmerman, you’ve called John Yancey’s contract the worst in baseball. However, he has an outside shot at winning MVP this year and costing only just over $2 million per WAR. Can he really be the worst contract in baseball with production and value like that?
Flipper’s got a quadriceps strain he’s working through. Will he get the day off today?
Last year was a magical run, but retaining that success this year in a strong National League and brutal NL West has been almost equally as impressive, highlighting the club’s staying power as a contender. Will you make moves to upgrade your team with another playoff spot in reach?
TRIVIA: When Philadelphia won their lone NL pennant, two position players had 5 or more WAR on their team. Who were those players?