Post by Commissioner Erick on Aug 14, 2018 21:42:29 GMT -5
Cleveland Indians (66-63) @ Toronto Blue Jays (55-74)
CLE: Jose Quintana (12-4, 3.97)
TOR: Michael Kopech (3-6, 5.64)
The Toronto Blue Jays have had a disappointing campaign and will fall well short of the playoffs because of it. The Cleveland Indians have had a disappointing campaign and have a month to avoid the same fate.
The two teams, one thinking it can do damage next season, one thinking it can do damage in October, square off tonight in the Game of the Week.
It's been a whirlwind year for Cleveland, which started after they traded Francisco Lindor and watched him become baseball's WAR leader. They at least got a good shortstop back, but the WAR differential between Lindor and Addison Russell would have the Indians as the second Wild Card.
Nonetheless, Russell has been a fine player for Chicago, and has been a positive with the bat and the glove. What has really crippled Cleveland is third base, a position they've tried to fill all season. Mike Moustakas didn't impress in his time with the club, and was released. Yandy Diaz was a disaster and was demoted. Yangervis Solarte was acquired in a trade, as was Nicholas Castellanos. Solarte has been a useful jack-of-all-trades, and Castellanos has been adequate with the bat. These represent upgrades for the position.
They helped upgrade Cleveland's offense. The Indians had the third worst OPS among AL teams in July, but improved it to fifth best in August. With an excellent staff, it allowed Cleveland to go 17-13, a solid mark in an assumed unimpressive field of Wild Card contenders. However, the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers caught fire leaving the Indians behind as the upstart Twins and rejuvenated Rangers have held Cleveland at bay.
Cleveland took five of six from the Twins in August, and won a pair of series with the Angels, helping them remain in the hunt. With no more series against the Yankees, and assuming no more gaffes like they had in getting swept in a two game set with the Brewers, Cleveland controls a lot of its destiny. Six games remain with the White Sox, but 16 remain with the Royals, Tigers, and Red Sox. The remaining schedule involves seven critical matchups with the Twins very late in the year, plus the series with Toronto that begins tonight.
Cleveland can't do much if Texas continues to win, but in taking care of the Angels, and with a future slate filled with non-playoff contenders and a Twins' team they're competing with, Cleveland will decide on its own whether or not it will make it in as a wild card.
Toronto is an early leading candidate for the 2020 Wild Card, as their youngsters have made a mark in the big leagues. Yusniel Diaz has been up the majority of the season as a 22-year-old center fielder. His glove has been neutral, which is not bad, especially when added on to an above average offensive year. Diaz has had a terrific June and August, sandwiching a merely strong July. His hype hasn't been outrageous given the sheer amount of talented youngsters right now, but Diaz continues to improve and could be a superstar.
The rest of Toronto's kiddie corps hasn't spent as much time in the majors, but each has held his own. Jahmai Jones isn't hitting for any pop, but he's getting on base at a decent rate, is playing an excellent center field, and is 12-12 in stolen base attempts despite only playing in 51 games thus far. His, eye, his mind, his legs, and his character are all off the charts. If the bat ever comes around, he could be a superstar. If not, he's merely a first-division starter on a team with other high-ceiling prospects.
Luis Alexander Basabe is another youngster who just turned 23 last week. He shockingly has never been named to a Top Prospect list, despite mashing at every level in the minors. In a month's worth of games, Basabe is hitting .273 with six home runs, and at 170 pounds, is still filling out.
Jake Burger is yet another player who hasn't turned 24 years old, who has held his own as a rookie. Burger has shown the ability to work a count and hit for a good average (.280) with pop (six home runs in 189 plate appearances). Burger has already been traded twice, and he hasn't played for a single team on any level for any extended amount of time. The hope is that, already solid, Burger grows in a more stable environment and takes off.
Like Burger, Logan Warmoth is a 2017 draft pick of another team that was acquired and fast-tracked by Toronto. Warmoth, among having an 80 grade name, has displayed an ability to hit for a good average and play terrific defense at shortstop. The power may not come around relegated Warmoth to a good backup or second-division player, but don't tell that to the Angels when his extra-inning RBI single proved to be a game-winner against them August 24th.
Only Calvan Biggio has struggled as a rookie, and considering he started the year in High-A and had only 18 Plate Appearances in Triple-A, it's not unexpected.
Finally, while not rookies, Reese McGuire has an on-base percentage of .386 as a 24-year old catcher, Rowdy Tellez is on pace to get to 30 home runs and 100 RBI's as a 24-year old, and Richard Urena has been thrust into the outfield in an attempt to accelerate his defensive versatility for the future. Urena hasn't produced much with the bat, but scouts rave about his wonderful infield tools.
If this year of growing pains is the cost of Toronto building a juggernaut, it will be worth it, and the breakeven point should be sooner rather than later.
Their bright future stands in the way of Cleveland's hazy attempt at a playoff present.
Questions for the GMs:
For David Springay, the future value is still up in the air, but it's impossible to say that the Lindor trade didn't hurt you for this year. Given what you know about this season, if you had the chance, would you still make the trade?
With the exception of Cody Allen forgetting how to throw strikes, you've had a very strong staff this year, and you're second in the AL in strikeouts. Is this what you envisioned when you helped shape your staff?
Toronto's bullpen is fairly tired, and Michael Kopech is notorious for his inability to get the ball over home plate. Do you want your team to take a patient approach for this game?
For Joe Mazzola, your youngsters have all gotten off to good major league starts except for Biggio. Is this something you expected are are they ahead of your curve?
Jose Quintana has excellent control, and everyone in Cleveland's bullpen will strike you out. How would you like your team to approach Cleveland's pitching?
Michael Kopech appeared that he put the worst of his wildness behind him last season, but he hasn't been able to stay away from the bases-on-balls this year. Can you survive having him as a starter if he can't throw strikes?
CLE: Jose Quintana (12-4, 3.97)
TOR: Michael Kopech (3-6, 5.64)
The Toronto Blue Jays have had a disappointing campaign and will fall well short of the playoffs because of it. The Cleveland Indians have had a disappointing campaign and have a month to avoid the same fate.
The two teams, one thinking it can do damage next season, one thinking it can do damage in October, square off tonight in the Game of the Week.
It's been a whirlwind year for Cleveland, which started after they traded Francisco Lindor and watched him become baseball's WAR leader. They at least got a good shortstop back, but the WAR differential between Lindor and Addison Russell would have the Indians as the second Wild Card.
Nonetheless, Russell has been a fine player for Chicago, and has been a positive with the bat and the glove. What has really crippled Cleveland is third base, a position they've tried to fill all season. Mike Moustakas didn't impress in his time with the club, and was released. Yandy Diaz was a disaster and was demoted. Yangervis Solarte was acquired in a trade, as was Nicholas Castellanos. Solarte has been a useful jack-of-all-trades, and Castellanos has been adequate with the bat. These represent upgrades for the position.
They helped upgrade Cleveland's offense. The Indians had the third worst OPS among AL teams in July, but improved it to fifth best in August. With an excellent staff, it allowed Cleveland to go 17-13, a solid mark in an assumed unimpressive field of Wild Card contenders. However, the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers caught fire leaving the Indians behind as the upstart Twins and rejuvenated Rangers have held Cleveland at bay.
Cleveland took five of six from the Twins in August, and won a pair of series with the Angels, helping them remain in the hunt. With no more series against the Yankees, and assuming no more gaffes like they had in getting swept in a two game set with the Brewers, Cleveland controls a lot of its destiny. Six games remain with the White Sox, but 16 remain with the Royals, Tigers, and Red Sox. The remaining schedule involves seven critical matchups with the Twins very late in the year, plus the series with Toronto that begins tonight.
Cleveland can't do much if Texas continues to win, but in taking care of the Angels, and with a future slate filled with non-playoff contenders and a Twins' team they're competing with, Cleveland will decide on its own whether or not it will make it in as a wild card.
Toronto is an early leading candidate for the 2020 Wild Card, as their youngsters have made a mark in the big leagues. Yusniel Diaz has been up the majority of the season as a 22-year-old center fielder. His glove has been neutral, which is not bad, especially when added on to an above average offensive year. Diaz has had a terrific June and August, sandwiching a merely strong July. His hype hasn't been outrageous given the sheer amount of talented youngsters right now, but Diaz continues to improve and could be a superstar.
The rest of Toronto's kiddie corps hasn't spent as much time in the majors, but each has held his own. Jahmai Jones isn't hitting for any pop, but he's getting on base at a decent rate, is playing an excellent center field, and is 12-12 in stolen base attempts despite only playing in 51 games thus far. His, eye, his mind, his legs, and his character are all off the charts. If the bat ever comes around, he could be a superstar. If not, he's merely a first-division starter on a team with other high-ceiling prospects.
Luis Alexander Basabe is another youngster who just turned 23 last week. He shockingly has never been named to a Top Prospect list, despite mashing at every level in the minors. In a month's worth of games, Basabe is hitting .273 with six home runs, and at 170 pounds, is still filling out.
Jake Burger is yet another player who hasn't turned 24 years old, who has held his own as a rookie. Burger has shown the ability to work a count and hit for a good average (.280) with pop (six home runs in 189 plate appearances). Burger has already been traded twice, and he hasn't played for a single team on any level for any extended amount of time. The hope is that, already solid, Burger grows in a more stable environment and takes off.
Like Burger, Logan Warmoth is a 2017 draft pick of another team that was acquired and fast-tracked by Toronto. Warmoth, among having an 80 grade name, has displayed an ability to hit for a good average and play terrific defense at shortstop. The power may not come around relegated Warmoth to a good backup or second-division player, but don't tell that to the Angels when his extra-inning RBI single proved to be a game-winner against them August 24th.
Only Calvan Biggio has struggled as a rookie, and considering he started the year in High-A and had only 18 Plate Appearances in Triple-A, it's not unexpected.
Finally, while not rookies, Reese McGuire has an on-base percentage of .386 as a 24-year old catcher, Rowdy Tellez is on pace to get to 30 home runs and 100 RBI's as a 24-year old, and Richard Urena has been thrust into the outfield in an attempt to accelerate his defensive versatility for the future. Urena hasn't produced much with the bat, but scouts rave about his wonderful infield tools.
If this year of growing pains is the cost of Toronto building a juggernaut, it will be worth it, and the breakeven point should be sooner rather than later.
Their bright future stands in the way of Cleveland's hazy attempt at a playoff present.
Questions for the GMs:
For David Springay, the future value is still up in the air, but it's impossible to say that the Lindor trade didn't hurt you for this year. Given what you know about this season, if you had the chance, would you still make the trade?
With the exception of Cody Allen forgetting how to throw strikes, you've had a very strong staff this year, and you're second in the AL in strikeouts. Is this what you envisioned when you helped shape your staff?
Toronto's bullpen is fairly tired, and Michael Kopech is notorious for his inability to get the ball over home plate. Do you want your team to take a patient approach for this game?
For Joe Mazzola, your youngsters have all gotten off to good major league starts except for Biggio. Is this something you expected are are they ahead of your curve?
Jose Quintana has excellent control, and everyone in Cleveland's bullpen will strike you out. How would you like your team to approach Cleveland's pitching?
Michael Kopech appeared that he put the worst of his wildness behind him last season, but he hasn't been able to stay away from the bases-on-balls this year. Can you survive having him as a starter if he can't throw strikes?
