Post by Commissioner Erick on Apr 27, 2019 13:30:38 GMT -5
New York Yankees (13-9) @ Texas Rangers (11-9)
NYY: Luis Cessa (1-0, 2.70)
TEX: Marcus Stroman (3-1, 1.78)
After a disappointing end to 2020, the New York Yankees have regrouped and currently lead the AL East. The Texas Rangers rebuilt much of their team this offseason, but it hasn't prevented them from fielding the best offense in the league and racing off to a strong 11-9 start.
Two pillars of the American League face off in an early season showdown when the Rangers and Yankees battle on The Game of the Week.
The Yankees have thrived this year, surprisingly not with offense or aces, but with the back of their rotation. That includes tonight's starter Luis Cessa. A surprise postseason stalwart in 2019, Cessa badly struggled last year. First he was rocked for five runs pitching for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. Then he turned in a 5.26 ERA, allowing 36 home runs in only 137 innings.
Cessa retained a spot in the 2021 rotation though, and he's delivered a 2.70 ERA in the early going. There's a bit of smoke and mirrors to the start though as Cessa has the second lowest strikeout rate in the league in the early going, fanning only 11.9% of hitters. The team has played good defense behind him as his BABIP is only .254 allowed, and he's cut down on the home runs, allowing just two this year.
However, after facing the Tigers, Blue Jays, and Athletics, he'll be tested by a Rangers offense than leads the league in long balls.
This offseason, the Rangers brought aboard Eugenio Suarez, Giancarlo Stanton, and Jackie Bradley Jr. The trio has combined for 22 home runs, as Bradley Jr. is tied for the league lead and Stanton is tied for fourth. Suarez's five dingers are the most for any AL shortstop this year. Texas made a run at Mike Trout, and after coming up short, did an excellent job of identifying talent to fill out their roster with the enormous sum of money they had available.
Those players add to a terrific core that Texas has retained and nurtured. Paul Goldschmidt can still bring it and has an OBP of .400, while Francisco Mejia has a .448 average in the opening part of the season. Kyle Lewis has finally come of age to fill a starting role and solve Texas' perennially underwhelming third outfielder. He had a respectable rookie year last year, but wasn't a first division caliber player last year. This year, he has an OBP of .400, with a touch of pop and great defense.
There's some downside variance with the team as Stanton will not hit .333 this year, Suarez was dreadful his last trip through the American League, and Bradley Jr.'s 284 average is almost .40 points above his career average. Actually, Mejia's .448 average may be sustainable as I'm not going to put anything past La Cabra's skill with the bat. Still, Texas may be playing over their heads.
If they regress today, they'll have Marcus Stroman on the mound to shut down the Yankees. Stroman has turned around his career in Texas after leaving the Mariners behind. He's allowed just one home run this year and just one walk, allowing him to post a 1.78 ERA. He's lost a bit of stuff, but his command is so excellent, he pinpoints exactly where he wants the ball to go. With five pitches and total control of controlling them, he's evolved from a fireballing phenom to a master on the mound.
Stroman will take on a Yankees offense that's struggling to begin the season. Gary Sanchez, Greg Bird, and Aaron Judge all have batting averages between .177 and .180. Bird and Judge have a combined seven runs driven in, while Ji-Man Choi hasn't homered yet. The team is riding Esteban Robles' seven home runs (six of which have been solo shots), and a bottom of the order that has played well as their main sources of offense. However, counting on Dustin Fowler to hit .353 with men in scoring position seems like a tall order.
Against a pitcher like Stroman, it may come crashing down rudely on National TV.
Questions for the GM's:
For Greg Masceri, you handed Yeison Corredera the starting job, but he's batting .211 with one home run in the early going. Will you stick with him as your starting third basemen?
Mikey White is almost done with his rehab. What will his role be going forward?
How concerned are you with Cessa facing off against all the power Texas' lineup has to offer?
For Clayton Piper, you let Corey Seager depart in Free Agency, letting Kyle Seager play without his brother. How is he handling it?
You have a lot of players who are playing better than they ever had before. Are you concerned for any sort of regression?
Ryan O'Hearn is splitting some time in left field and at designated hitter. Will there come a moment where you decide on more full time starting roles in left field and DH?
TRIVIA: 12 Qualified Players in the PBA era have gone a year with a batting average under .200. How many of those players are still on the same team today that they were when they turned in the sub-.200 average
NYY: Luis Cessa (1-0, 2.70)
TEX: Marcus Stroman (3-1, 1.78)
After a disappointing end to 2020, the New York Yankees have regrouped and currently lead the AL East. The Texas Rangers rebuilt much of their team this offseason, but it hasn't prevented them from fielding the best offense in the league and racing off to a strong 11-9 start.
Two pillars of the American League face off in an early season showdown when the Rangers and Yankees battle on The Game of the Week.
The Yankees have thrived this year, surprisingly not with offense or aces, but with the back of their rotation. That includes tonight's starter Luis Cessa. A surprise postseason stalwart in 2019, Cessa badly struggled last year. First he was rocked for five runs pitching for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. Then he turned in a 5.26 ERA, allowing 36 home runs in only 137 innings.
Cessa retained a spot in the 2021 rotation though, and he's delivered a 2.70 ERA in the early going. There's a bit of smoke and mirrors to the start though as Cessa has the second lowest strikeout rate in the league in the early going, fanning only 11.9% of hitters. The team has played good defense behind him as his BABIP is only .254 allowed, and he's cut down on the home runs, allowing just two this year.
However, after facing the Tigers, Blue Jays, and Athletics, he'll be tested by a Rangers offense than leads the league in long balls.
This offseason, the Rangers brought aboard Eugenio Suarez, Giancarlo Stanton, and Jackie Bradley Jr. The trio has combined for 22 home runs, as Bradley Jr. is tied for the league lead and Stanton is tied for fourth. Suarez's five dingers are the most for any AL shortstop this year. Texas made a run at Mike Trout, and after coming up short, did an excellent job of identifying talent to fill out their roster with the enormous sum of money they had available.
Those players add to a terrific core that Texas has retained and nurtured. Paul Goldschmidt can still bring it and has an OBP of .400, while Francisco Mejia has a .448 average in the opening part of the season. Kyle Lewis has finally come of age to fill a starting role and solve Texas' perennially underwhelming third outfielder. He had a respectable rookie year last year, but wasn't a first division caliber player last year. This year, he has an OBP of .400, with a touch of pop and great defense.
There's some downside variance with the team as Stanton will not hit .333 this year, Suarez was dreadful his last trip through the American League, and Bradley Jr.'s 284 average is almost .40 points above his career average. Actually, Mejia's .448 average may be sustainable as I'm not going to put anything past La Cabra's skill with the bat. Still, Texas may be playing over their heads.
If they regress today, they'll have Marcus Stroman on the mound to shut down the Yankees. Stroman has turned around his career in Texas after leaving the Mariners behind. He's allowed just one home run this year and just one walk, allowing him to post a 1.78 ERA. He's lost a bit of stuff, but his command is so excellent, he pinpoints exactly where he wants the ball to go. With five pitches and total control of controlling them, he's evolved from a fireballing phenom to a master on the mound.
Stroman will take on a Yankees offense that's struggling to begin the season. Gary Sanchez, Greg Bird, and Aaron Judge all have batting averages between .177 and .180. Bird and Judge have a combined seven runs driven in, while Ji-Man Choi hasn't homered yet. The team is riding Esteban Robles' seven home runs (six of which have been solo shots), and a bottom of the order that has played well as their main sources of offense. However, counting on Dustin Fowler to hit .353 with men in scoring position seems like a tall order.
Against a pitcher like Stroman, it may come crashing down rudely on National TV.
Questions for the GM's:
For Greg Masceri, you handed Yeison Corredera the starting job, but he's batting .211 with one home run in the early going. Will you stick with him as your starting third basemen?
Mikey White is almost done with his rehab. What will his role be going forward?
How concerned are you with Cessa facing off against all the power Texas' lineup has to offer?
For Clayton Piper, you let Corey Seager depart in Free Agency, letting Kyle Seager play without his brother. How is he handling it?
You have a lot of players who are playing better than they ever had before. Are you concerned for any sort of regression?
Ryan O'Hearn is splitting some time in left field and at designated hitter. Will there come a moment where you decide on more full time starting roles in left field and DH?
TRIVIA: 12 Qualified Players in the PBA era have gone a year with a batting average under .200. How many of those players are still on the same team today that they were when they turned in the sub-.200 average
