Post by Commissioner Erick on Apr 15, 2019 19:02:53 GMT -5
Chicago White Sox (0-0) @ Oakland Athletics (0-0)
CHW: Carlos Martinez (0-0, 0.00)
OAK: Jose Berrios (0-0, 0.00)
The Chicago White Sox were a juggernaut, relegated to the AL Wild Card Game only by being slightly less overpowering than the Cleveland Indians. The Oakland Athletics were a surprise entrant to the playoffs with their first winning season in history. It was a mismatch on paper, but Brandon Finnegan gutted out a dominant shutout campaign before blowing out his arm; Aristedes Aquino had three hits, homered, and scored twice; and the A's pulled off a shocking blowout, taking the Wild Card Game 8-0.
The rematch of that fateful night takes place to open the 2021 season. Chicago appears to be even better than their 2020 version, while Oakland is incorporating a few new stars to their team knowing they won't be able to sneak up on anyone anymore. Talent and history kick off the 2021 PBA season.
The White Sox return a supercharged team with virtually all its best hitters 27-years-old or younger. Andrew Benintendi is coming off his first MVP, and is the frontrunner to do it again. He blasted 43 home runs with a .328 average last year, and stole 14 bases too. At only 26-years old, he should be able to keep up an MVP level of production for a long time. Rafael Devers led the AL in Home Runs and RBI's in his age-24 season with 48 long balls and 141 driven in. He hit .297 a year after batting .311.
These are jaw dropping levels of production, but the White Sox will have a deeper supporting cast flanking the duo. Chicago will get a full season of Dansby Swanson after acquiring him last July from Atlanta. Swanson is another South Sider with tremendous bat speed, but he also is a terrific defensive shortstop. The White Sox were struggling with two-way play at the position, and now have an elite hitter and fielder. Brendan McKay struggled early last year and didn't end up playing every game. A strong second half has convinced Mike Ball that McKay is an every-day player and McKay has locked down the first base job this year. Jesse Winker was acquired, and brings plate discipline and a quick bat as a fourth outfielder. All this in addition to dynamic bats Yoan Moncada and Tim Anderson.
On any given day against any pitcher, especially against right-handed arms, the White Sox can explode for double-digit runs and it would be a shock if they don't lead the league in runs this year. In fact, it would be a shock if the White Sox don't put up 1000 runs and pass the 2019 Houston Astros for the most runs in PBA history this year.
They'll send Carlos Martinez to the mound, a year after his first mortal campaign in Chicago. 2020 was the first year Martinez didn't lead the AL in WHIP, and his numbers were down across the board. He still finished sixth in the AL in WAR, but his 3.61 ERA barely snuck him into the Top 10 in that mark after leading the league in 2018 and finishing second in 2019. Despite that, he was excellent against Oakland last year, going 2-0 in 12.2 innings, allowing just three earned runs, walking four and whiffing 15.
In fact, Martinez hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in any of his four starts against the Athletics. He's 2-0 with a 2.74 ERA, with nine walks against 23 strikeouts in 23 innings in his career against Oakland.
Oakland can match Chicago's Cy Young Award winner with a Cy Young Award winner of its own. Jose Berrios was acquired this offseason after Oakland non-tendered Finnegan. With Finnegan out for the entire season, and Oakland fielding the second smallest budget in the league, they didn't have the capacity to keep him on the team and not pitch. However, they didn't have the capacity to replace him with internal options and be a playoff favorite, so they sprung a deal of prospects for Berrios. Nicknamed "La Maquina," Berrios lead the league in WAR in 2019 with 6.1, led the league in ERA with a 2.96 mark, and won 19 games. He also worked as the ace on a previously downtrodden team that captured a Wild Card berth and won the Wild Card Game. After a season lost to injury and managerial incompetence, he's poised for a rebound by the bay.
Oakland received Byron Buxton in the same trade. Buxton will move Adam Hasely and Ender Inciarte to the corners, which should result in a top-flight defense. The speedster has led the AL in triples with exactly 10 for three straight seasons, with over 30 home runs in each of those years. There's a lot of strikeout in Buxton's game, but his combination of power, speed, and defense makes him a dynamic player. He could lead Oakland to a better offensive year than 11th in runs scored, and better than middle-of-the-pack of defense.
Seeing how the retooled A's fare in their rematch against the Chicago juggernaut will make for must-see baseball.
Questions for the GM's:
For Mike Ball, Due to how last season ended, does this contest hold any extra importance for you?
Tim Anderson is still dealing with a back issue. How will this affect your lineup and roster today?
With Buxton and Barreto on the other side, your gap defense will be severely tested. Will you do anything with your defensive alignment with that in mind?
For Sam East, Chicago's offense can go nuclear in any contest, particularly with all their prodigious left-handed talent. How do you feel about how your pitching and defense stack up for Opening Day?
Bruce Maxwell had a strong year with his average in 2018, and a strong power year in 2019, before scuffling last season. Will he start today or will Nick Thurman get the nod?
Adam Hasely hit only five home runs in 470 Plate Appearances last year. Do you feel like his power is enough to warrant a starting nod now that he's moving to a corner?
TRIVIA: Carlos Martinez has led the White Sox in pitching WAR each of the last three seasons. Who led the White Sox in pitching WAR in 2017?
CHW: Carlos Martinez (0-0, 0.00)
OAK: Jose Berrios (0-0, 0.00)
The Chicago White Sox were a juggernaut, relegated to the AL Wild Card Game only by being slightly less overpowering than the Cleveland Indians. The Oakland Athletics were a surprise entrant to the playoffs with their first winning season in history. It was a mismatch on paper, but Brandon Finnegan gutted out a dominant shutout campaign before blowing out his arm; Aristedes Aquino had three hits, homered, and scored twice; and the A's pulled off a shocking blowout, taking the Wild Card Game 8-0.
The rematch of that fateful night takes place to open the 2021 season. Chicago appears to be even better than their 2020 version, while Oakland is incorporating a few new stars to their team knowing they won't be able to sneak up on anyone anymore. Talent and history kick off the 2021 PBA season.
The White Sox return a supercharged team with virtually all its best hitters 27-years-old or younger. Andrew Benintendi is coming off his first MVP, and is the frontrunner to do it again. He blasted 43 home runs with a .328 average last year, and stole 14 bases too. At only 26-years old, he should be able to keep up an MVP level of production for a long time. Rafael Devers led the AL in Home Runs and RBI's in his age-24 season with 48 long balls and 141 driven in. He hit .297 a year after batting .311.
These are jaw dropping levels of production, but the White Sox will have a deeper supporting cast flanking the duo. Chicago will get a full season of Dansby Swanson after acquiring him last July from Atlanta. Swanson is another South Sider with tremendous bat speed, but he also is a terrific defensive shortstop. The White Sox were struggling with two-way play at the position, and now have an elite hitter and fielder. Brendan McKay struggled early last year and didn't end up playing every game. A strong second half has convinced Mike Ball that McKay is an every-day player and McKay has locked down the first base job this year. Jesse Winker was acquired, and brings plate discipline and a quick bat as a fourth outfielder. All this in addition to dynamic bats Yoan Moncada and Tim Anderson.
On any given day against any pitcher, especially against right-handed arms, the White Sox can explode for double-digit runs and it would be a shock if they don't lead the league in runs this year. In fact, it would be a shock if the White Sox don't put up 1000 runs and pass the 2019 Houston Astros for the most runs in PBA history this year.
They'll send Carlos Martinez to the mound, a year after his first mortal campaign in Chicago. 2020 was the first year Martinez didn't lead the AL in WHIP, and his numbers were down across the board. He still finished sixth in the AL in WAR, but his 3.61 ERA barely snuck him into the Top 10 in that mark after leading the league in 2018 and finishing second in 2019. Despite that, he was excellent against Oakland last year, going 2-0 in 12.2 innings, allowing just three earned runs, walking four and whiffing 15.
In fact, Martinez hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in any of his four starts against the Athletics. He's 2-0 with a 2.74 ERA, with nine walks against 23 strikeouts in 23 innings in his career against Oakland.
Oakland can match Chicago's Cy Young Award winner with a Cy Young Award winner of its own. Jose Berrios was acquired this offseason after Oakland non-tendered Finnegan. With Finnegan out for the entire season, and Oakland fielding the second smallest budget in the league, they didn't have the capacity to keep him on the team and not pitch. However, they didn't have the capacity to replace him with internal options and be a playoff favorite, so they sprung a deal of prospects for Berrios. Nicknamed "La Maquina," Berrios lead the league in WAR in 2019 with 6.1, led the league in ERA with a 2.96 mark, and won 19 games. He also worked as the ace on a previously downtrodden team that captured a Wild Card berth and won the Wild Card Game. After a season lost to injury and managerial incompetence, he's poised for a rebound by the bay.
Oakland received Byron Buxton in the same trade. Buxton will move Adam Hasely and Ender Inciarte to the corners, which should result in a top-flight defense. The speedster has led the AL in triples with exactly 10 for three straight seasons, with over 30 home runs in each of those years. There's a lot of strikeout in Buxton's game, but his combination of power, speed, and defense makes him a dynamic player. He could lead Oakland to a better offensive year than 11th in runs scored, and better than middle-of-the-pack of defense.
Seeing how the retooled A's fare in their rematch against the Chicago juggernaut will make for must-see baseball.
Questions for the GM's:
For Mike Ball, Due to how last season ended, does this contest hold any extra importance for you?
Tim Anderson is still dealing with a back issue. How will this affect your lineup and roster today?
With Buxton and Barreto on the other side, your gap defense will be severely tested. Will you do anything with your defensive alignment with that in mind?
For Sam East, Chicago's offense can go nuclear in any contest, particularly with all their prodigious left-handed talent. How do you feel about how your pitching and defense stack up for Opening Day?
Bruce Maxwell had a strong year with his average in 2018, and a strong power year in 2019, before scuffling last season. Will he start today or will Nick Thurman get the nod?
Adam Hasely hit only five home runs in 470 Plate Appearances last year. Do you feel like his power is enough to warrant a starting nod now that he's moving to a corner?
TRIVIA: Carlos Martinez has led the White Sox in pitching WAR each of the last three seasons. Who led the White Sox in pitching WAR in 2017?
