Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2011 15:21:58 GMT -5
Washington Nationals @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Nats 44-31 (4 games back in NL East)
LAD 43-32 (4 games back in NL West)
As we enter the post All-Star game part of the 2015 season, the first 'Game of the Week' match up features two teams that are in many ways mirror images of each other.
The often disappointing Washington Nationals have finally got their game together this year. Unfortunately, the Nats finally fulfilling some of their undoubted potential has coincided with the emergence of the Miami Marlins as the new young powerhouse in the National league. Meanwhile on the other side of the country, last year's NL representatives in World Series, the Dodgers also find themselves 4 games back of an exciting, young team in the shape of the rival Giants.
With both teams knowing they're going to have to play exceptional baseball to keep up with the top teams in their divisions, with a Wild Card race which will likely involve both, with both teams able to field completely full strength teams, and both featuring their ace starting pitchers - we are set for one hell of a match up in Los Angeles tonight!
The key reason for the National's improvement has been the starting rotation, currently ranking 2nd in ERA in the NL. With the opportunity to reset the rotation after the All-Star game it'll be interesting to see whether they go with Jenry Mejia or Jeremy Hellickson tonight. In terms of offense there can't be many other teams who depend so completely on the bats of three superstars, but players of the quality of Bryce Harper, Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward can carry more than their fair share! The three big left handed bats have had outstanding years to date, and that Heyward was the only National's representative at the All-Star game was a surprise to many.
The Los Angeles Dodgers roster looks extremely similar to the one that took them to the Fall Classic last year. One real concern for GM Tomas Bekker, must be the decline in the potency of his young offense. It's no secret that Bekker's been in the market for offensive support all year - and it's difficult to see how they keep up with the Giants with no player batting higher than Scott Robinson's .278avg. Rebel Ridling and Luis Ramon Arzeno continue to be long ball threats, but with nobody on base the damage these two big bats can inflict is limited. On the defensive side of the game many people's early favorite for the NL Cy Young, Martin Perez is likely to feature for the Dodgers tonight. Perez's form has been nothing short of spectacular. The big leftie has an unmatched 11-0 record, and the Dodgers have won all but one of the seventeen games he's started this year.
Questions for Adam Olson, Nationals GM:
'Adam, Jenry Mejia is scheduled to start tonight, but with both Meija and Hellickson fit and able to pitch, who will your starter be and why?'
'There's some irony in you being up against the NL All-Star team manager tonight! What did you think about Freddie Freeman and Bryce Harper's exclusion from the All-Star team? Do you think Freeman and Harper will have a point to prove to Tomas Bekker tonight?'
'We are fast approaching the trade deadline, can we expect to see you make any moves to strengthen the offense before the deadline?
'It's been a good first half of the season, give us your thoughts on how the 2nd half will play out of the Nationals?
Questions for Tomas Bekker, Dodgers GM:
'Tomas, going into this season, off the back of the World Series appearance, the Dodgers were many people's favorites for the NL West. Given the 'favorites' tag - how disappointed are you to be behind the Giants at this stage in the season?'
'The trade deadline is nearly upon us, what kind of moves can we expect the Dodgers front office to make in the next few weeks?'
'What do you see as being the keys to tonight's game for your team?'
'How are you generally feeling about the outlook for the Dodgers in the second half of the season?'
Nats 44-31 (4 games back in NL East)
LAD 43-32 (4 games back in NL West)
As we enter the post All-Star game part of the 2015 season, the first 'Game of the Week' match up features two teams that are in many ways mirror images of each other.
The often disappointing Washington Nationals have finally got their game together this year. Unfortunately, the Nats finally fulfilling some of their undoubted potential has coincided with the emergence of the Miami Marlins as the new young powerhouse in the National league. Meanwhile on the other side of the country, last year's NL representatives in World Series, the Dodgers also find themselves 4 games back of an exciting, young team in the shape of the rival Giants.
With both teams knowing they're going to have to play exceptional baseball to keep up with the top teams in their divisions, with a Wild Card race which will likely involve both, with both teams able to field completely full strength teams, and both featuring their ace starting pitchers - we are set for one hell of a match up in Los Angeles tonight!
The key reason for the National's improvement has been the starting rotation, currently ranking 2nd in ERA in the NL. With the opportunity to reset the rotation after the All-Star game it'll be interesting to see whether they go with Jenry Mejia or Jeremy Hellickson tonight. In terms of offense there can't be many other teams who depend so completely on the bats of three superstars, but players of the quality of Bryce Harper, Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward can carry more than their fair share! The three big left handed bats have had outstanding years to date, and that Heyward was the only National's representative at the All-Star game was a surprise to many.
The Los Angeles Dodgers roster looks extremely similar to the one that took them to the Fall Classic last year. One real concern for GM Tomas Bekker, must be the decline in the potency of his young offense. It's no secret that Bekker's been in the market for offensive support all year - and it's difficult to see how they keep up with the Giants with no player batting higher than Scott Robinson's .278avg. Rebel Ridling and Luis Ramon Arzeno continue to be long ball threats, but with nobody on base the damage these two big bats can inflict is limited. On the defensive side of the game many people's early favorite for the NL Cy Young, Martin Perez is likely to feature for the Dodgers tonight. Perez's form has been nothing short of spectacular. The big leftie has an unmatched 11-0 record, and the Dodgers have won all but one of the seventeen games he's started this year.
Questions for Adam Olson, Nationals GM:
'Adam, Jenry Mejia is scheduled to start tonight, but with both Meija and Hellickson fit and able to pitch, who will your starter be and why?'
'There's some irony in you being up against the NL All-Star team manager tonight! What did you think about Freddie Freeman and Bryce Harper's exclusion from the All-Star team? Do you think Freeman and Harper will have a point to prove to Tomas Bekker tonight?'
'We are fast approaching the trade deadline, can we expect to see you make any moves to strengthen the offense before the deadline?
'It's been a good first half of the season, give us your thoughts on how the 2nd half will play out of the Nationals?
Questions for Tomas Bekker, Dodgers GM:
'Tomas, going into this season, off the back of the World Series appearance, the Dodgers were many people's favorites for the NL West. Given the 'favorites' tag - how disappointed are you to be behind the Giants at this stage in the season?'
'The trade deadline is nearly upon us, what kind of moves can we expect the Dodgers front office to make in the next few weeks?'
'What do you see as being the keys to tonight's game for your team?'
'How are you generally feeling about the outlook for the Dodgers in the second half of the season?'