League Totals
League Averages
Thursday, April 29, 2010
League Averages
Friday, April 16, 2010
El Paso Ultraviolence
Outlook: The excitement level is unprecedented in El Paso this season. The club returns all its key players from last year's improbable run to the World Series title, many with new contracts, and the team is still the 3rd youngest in the American League. Management does not appear fat and happy off last season's success as a new CF was acquired and groomed replacements at SS and pitcher are ready to debut. Long-time contributors P Larry Browne with his 71 wins and three time gold glove SS Tony Belliard were allowed to pursue other opportunities.
Starting Lineup
LF Keith Sellers, 50 SB and 86 RBI, supplanted Mendez in the leadoff slot late in the season
DH Andrew Lankford, hit .297 while driving in 80 along with 21 SB
1B Bump Boucher, 100 RBI+ in each of his seven seasons
RF Rodrigo Alfonso, 22 year old had 34 HR and 107 RBI in his first full season
3B Julio Bonilla, big acquistion last season did not perform hitting only .252
2B Armando Garrido, has never found his stride but drove in 67 in platoon role
C Mandy Michaels, hit .282 and has signed a new four year deal
SS Albert Ray, rookie is expected to continue EP's tradition of gold glovers
CF Travis Baker, .260 career hitter acquired from JAX during the winter meetings
Bench
Al Mendez #2 in the NABCL in career stolen bases returns on a one year contract and will see some time at 2B. Frank Starr and his 541 career HRs add some power and depth off the bench to go with backup signal caller Jon Dolan and utility fielder Rocky Olson. CF Wayne Davey, a key to last season's success with his clutch production, was resigned during spring training.
Pitching
SP Edgar Matos, Cy Young runner-up finished at 17-6 after a torrid 11-0 start
SP Diego Lee, went 16-9 in his ninth season with the Ultraviolence
SP Ricardo Santos, 17-13 with a .241 OAV
SP Juan Rivera, 10-11 in his first season with the major league club
SP Murray Ankiel, the rookie posted a 1.59 ERA in AAA last season
Bullpen
CL Juan Benitez, efficient if unimpressive closer has only 5 blown saves the last 2 seasons
SU Sammy Manto, 3.73 ERA over his five years in El Paso
SU David Guerrero, breakout season last year with a 2.00 ERA for the lefty
The Pen is rounded out by long reliever Estaban Ayala who will compete for the SP5 position if Ankiel struggles. Jimmie Alarcon and Carl Herrman round out the 3 rookies joining the ML club this year. Trenidad Perez signed a three year contract extension as reward for the four years of solid relief work.
Prediction: 96-66 and good fortune in the post-season.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Hopes are high for Colonials
“Hope springs eternal in the human breast…”
When Alexander Pope penned those words nearly 300 years ago, he couldn’t have known that each spring, baseball fans across the nation would utter the phrase to anyone that would listen to them about their favorite team. Like in many cities around the NABCL, it is a common sentiment among baseball fans in Boston this spring – and for good reason.
After a seemingly endless recent history of poorly constructed, bad fielding, fledgling teams full of busted Free-Agent signings, injury disappointments, on field blunders and wasted seasons, the once proud Boston franchise took a major step in the right direction last season. A new direction, with a focus on defense netted the franchise a twenty-five win increase from the previous season (63 to 88), a post-season appearance (the first in 8 seasons), and the franchise’s first post season series win; all signs that there is a bright light at the end of the dark, desolate tunnel that has been Colonial Baseball.
Houston Gentry – definitely a defense first (only?) guy – was given the full-time job, which allowed incumbent Marvin Vernon to slide over to 2B. Then Boston went out and signed premier defensive CF Carlos Rios, who did not disappoint, winning his 8th Gold Glove. Chance Gold moved from 3B to RF where he flashed exceptional range and a powerful throwing arm, and another FA, C Brian Jenkins – who has long been praised for his work with pitching staffs – was given primary catching duties. The results where obvious, as Boston improved to the 4th best fielding team in the AL, and the new defenders made the 2nd most out of zone plays in the AL (84), after making the 2nd fewest (23) the season before.
A pre-season trade brought in proven number one starter in lefty Vic Pena along with a young, legitimate power threat in Designated Hitter Jorge Sanchez. Sanchez did not disappoint, as he went on to a team record 52 HR in his first season in Beantown. Pena did him one better, as he set or tied team records in several pitching categories, including the “Triple Crown” stats of ERA (2.80), strikeouts (189) and wins (19), and brought home some hardware with a Cy Young award – the second in franchise history (Glenn Glynn, season 2). Another big trade at the 70 game mark brought in another established slugger, 3B Bum Stocker, and the team improved in many ways after his arrival, going 53-39 the rest of the way while Stocker posted an OPS over 1.000 as Boston went on to win the AL East for the first time in eight seasons, after having won it 3 of the previous 4 before that.
Those big three all return this season for the Colonials, and another power hitter was also added this pre-season. Pittsburgh and Boston again worked out a trade – this one bringing 28 year old 1B Guillermo Ortiz to Boston. Ortiz is another left handed power bat – one that has hit 50+ HR twice in the last 3 seasons. He will slot behind Sanchez in the 5 hole in the lineup, giving the Colonials a true “Murderer’s Row” at 3-4-5 with Stocker, Sanchez and Ortiz. He also gives the bottom half of the lineup more lefty/righty balance. LF and leadoff hitter Joshua Whitaker did a great job setting the table last season, scoring 97 runs and stealing 30 bases, and his runs scored total should jump considerably hitting in front of the mashers.
Another young piece that missed almost all of last season due to injury will come back, as well. Righty Mo Carr - now 25 - was off to a fantastic start with a 1.76 ERA in 6 starts before he suffered a major elbow injury and missed the rest of the season. Carr’s surgery and the subsequent recovery have gone exceptionally well, and he heads into the spring as Boston’s #3 SP. The pitching staff, headed by starters Pena (2.80), Rusty Smith (3.63) and the resurgent Robb Howington (4.13), collectively managed to trim nearly a run and a half off of the previous season’s team ERA (5.63 to 4.26).
The bullpen and bench aren’t looking like strong points, but the pitching overall should continue to improve behind the excellent pitch calling of Catchers Brian Jenkins and backup Garret O'Keefe, a FA add this offseason. Utility man Andrea Timmons – another newcomer – should solidify the defense off the bench, and Barker and Reitsma each performed well last season. Max Ibanez is BARELY hanging onto his closers job, despite his 110 saves for Boston over the past 6 seasons. If he falters, a number of relievers - headlined by 26 year old Dennis Wanatabe - are ready to step into the role. Should they not get the job done, top relief prospect Adam Richard lingers close by.
Without further delay, here are the Season 16 Boston Colonials:
LINEUP:
LF - RH - Whitaker: .287/.347/.460, 16 HR, 67 RBI, 44 2B, 30 SB, 97 runs
2B - LH - Vernon: .291/.341/.400, 8 HR, 68 RBI, 16 SB
3B - LH - Stocker: .301/.364/.561, 37 HR, 116 RBI, 97 runs*
DH - RH - Sanchez: .320/.377/.648, 52 HR, 113 RBI, 95 runs
1B - LH - Ortiz: .294/.379/.511, 38 HR, 112 RBI, 93 runs (w/PIT)
RF - RH - Gold: .258/.313/.432, 15 HR, 63 RBI, 21 SB
C - LH - Jenkins: .300/.353/.305, 0 HR, 29 RBI
CF - RH - Rios: .245/.302/.367, 10 HR, 51 RBI, 24 2B
SS - SH - Gentry: .241/.284/.325, 10 HR, 59 RBI
* Combined numbers for full season
BENCH:
1B/COF - RH - Buck Barker: .314/.385/.500, 3 HR, 10 RBI
1B/DH - RH - Craig Reitsma: .292/.370/.500, 2 HR, 9 RBI
Utility - SH - Andrea Timmons: .302/.341/.405, 2 HR, 17 RBI*
C - RH - Garret O’Keefe: .203/.245/.273, 3 HR, 18 RBI
* Season 14 numbers
ROTATION:
LH – Pena: 19-10, 225 IP, 2.80 ERA, 1.24 WHIP
RH – Howington: 13-8, 192 IP, 4.13 ERA, 1.35 WHIP
RH – Carr: 8-10, 191 IP, 5.18 ERA, 1.42 WHIP
LH – Lawrence Ward: 6-14, 182 IP, 4.95 ERA, 1.56 WHIP
RH – Smith: 9-7, 136 1/3 IP, 3.63 ERA, 1.33 WHIP
BULLPEN:
RH – Jim Sheets: 5-3, 2 Sv, 71 2/3 IP, 3.64 ERA, 1.40 WHIP
RH – Wanatabe: 8-9, 3 Sv, 112 2/3 IP, 4.15 ERA, 1.15 WHIP
RH – Lance Clark: 3-3, 5 Sv, 54 1/3 IP, 4.64 ERA, 1.45 WHIP
RH – Dan Powell: 3-2, 2 Sv, 50 IP, 2.16 ERA, 1.06 WHIP
RH – Louis Blackley: 4-1, 1 Sv, 52 IP, 3.12 ERA, 1.13 WHIP*
LH – Ibanez: 2-5, 26 Sv, 43 2/3 IP, 5.15 ERA, 1.51 WHIP
* Combined AAA/ML numbers
When Alexander Pope penned those words nearly 300 years ago, he couldn’t have known that each spring, baseball fans across the nation would utter the phrase to anyone that would listen to them about their favorite team. Like in many cities around the NABCL, it is a common sentiment among baseball fans in Boston this spring – and for good reason.
After a seemingly endless recent history of poorly constructed, bad fielding, fledgling teams full of busted Free-Agent signings, injury disappointments, on field blunders and wasted seasons, the once proud Boston franchise took a major step in the right direction last season. A new direction, with a focus on defense netted the franchise a twenty-five win increase from the previous season (63 to 88), a post-season appearance (the first in 8 seasons), and the franchise’s first post season series win; all signs that there is a bright light at the end of the dark, desolate tunnel that has been Colonial Baseball.
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Houston Gentry – definitely a defense first (only?) guy – was given the full-time job, which allowed incumbent Marvin Vernon to slide over to 2B. Then Boston went out and signed premier defensive CF Carlos Rios, who did not disappoint, winning his 8th Gold Glove. Chance Gold moved from 3B to RF where he flashed exceptional range and a powerful throwing arm, and another FA, C Brian Jenkins – who has long been praised for his work with pitching staffs – was given primary catching duties. The results where obvious, as Boston improved to the 4th best fielding team in the AL, and the new defenders made the 2nd most out of zone plays in the AL (84), after making the 2nd fewest (23) the season before.
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A pre-season trade brought in proven number one starter in lefty Vic Pena along with a young, legitimate power threat in Designated Hitter Jorge Sanchez. Sanchez did not disappoint, as he went on to a team record 52 HR in his first season in Beantown. Pena did him one better, as he set or tied team records in several pitching categories, including the “Triple Crown” stats of ERA (2.80), strikeouts (189) and wins (19), and brought home some hardware with a Cy Young award – the second in franchise history (Glenn Glynn, season 2). Another big trade at the 70 game mark brought in another established slugger, 3B Bum Stocker, and the team improved in many ways after his arrival, going 53-39 the rest of the way while Stocker posted an OPS over 1.000 as Boston went on to win the AL East for the first time in eight seasons, after having won it 3 of the previous 4 before that.
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Those big three all return this season for the Colonials, and another power hitter was also added this pre-season. Pittsburgh and Boston again worked out a trade – this one bringing 28 year old 1B Guillermo Ortiz to Boston. Ortiz is another left handed power bat – one that has hit 50+ HR twice in the last 3 seasons. He will slot behind Sanchez in the 5 hole in the lineup, giving the Colonials a true “Murderer’s Row” at 3-4-5 with Stocker, Sanchez and Ortiz. He also gives the bottom half of the lineup more lefty/righty balance. LF and leadoff hitter Joshua Whitaker did a great job setting the table last season, scoring 97 runs and stealing 30 bases, and his runs scored total should jump considerably hitting in front of the mashers.
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Another young piece that missed almost all of last season due to injury will come back, as well. Righty Mo Carr - now 25 - was off to a fantastic start with a 1.76 ERA in 6 starts before he suffered a major elbow injury and missed the rest of the season. Carr’s surgery and the subsequent recovery have gone exceptionally well, and he heads into the spring as Boston’s #3 SP. The pitching staff, headed by starters Pena (2.80), Rusty Smith (3.63) and the resurgent Robb Howington (4.13), collectively managed to trim nearly a run and a half off of the previous season’s team ERA (5.63 to 4.26).
The bullpen and bench aren’t looking like strong points, but the pitching overall should continue to improve behind the excellent pitch calling of Catchers Brian Jenkins and backup Garret O'Keefe, a FA add this offseason. Utility man Andrea Timmons – another newcomer – should solidify the defense off the bench, and Barker and Reitsma each performed well last season. Max Ibanez is BARELY hanging onto his closers job, despite his 110 saves for Boston over the past 6 seasons. If he falters, a number of relievers - headlined by 26 year old Dennis Wanatabe - are ready to step into the role. Should they not get the job done, top relief prospect Adam Richard lingers close by.
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Without further delay, here are the Season 16 Boston Colonials:
LINEUP:
LF - RH - Whitaker: .287/.347/.460, 16 HR, 67 RBI, 44 2B, 30 SB, 97 runs
2B - LH - Vernon: .291/.341/.400, 8 HR, 68 RBI, 16 SB
3B - LH - Stocker: .301/.364/.561, 37 HR, 116 RBI, 97 runs*
DH - RH - Sanchez: .320/.377/.648, 52 HR, 113 RBI, 95 runs
1B - LH - Ortiz: .294/.379/.511, 38 HR, 112 RBI, 93 runs (w/PIT)
RF - RH - Gold: .258/.313/.432, 15 HR, 63 RBI, 21 SB
C - LH - Jenkins: .300/.353/.305, 0 HR, 29 RBI
CF - RH - Rios: .245/.302/.367, 10 HR, 51 RBI, 24 2B
SS - SH - Gentry: .241/.284/.325, 10 HR, 59 RBI
* Combined numbers for full season
BENCH:
1B/COF - RH - Buck Barker: .314/.385/.500, 3 HR, 10 RBI
1B/DH - RH - Craig Reitsma: .292/.370/.500, 2 HR, 9 RBI
Utility - SH - Andrea Timmons: .302/.341/.405, 2 HR, 17 RBI*
C - RH - Garret O’Keefe: .203/.245/.273, 3 HR, 18 RBI
* Season 14 numbers
ROTATION:
LH – Pena: 19-10, 225 IP, 2.80 ERA, 1.24 WHIP
RH – Howington: 13-8, 192 IP, 4.13 ERA, 1.35 WHIP
RH – Carr: 8-10, 191 IP, 5.18 ERA, 1.42 WHIP
LH – Lawrence Ward: 6-14, 182 IP, 4.95 ERA, 1.56 WHIP
RH – Smith: 9-7, 136 1/3 IP, 3.63 ERA, 1.33 WHIP
BULLPEN:
RH – Jim Sheets: 5-3, 2 Sv, 71 2/3 IP, 3.64 ERA, 1.40 WHIP
RH – Wanatabe: 8-9, 3 Sv, 112 2/3 IP, 4.15 ERA, 1.15 WHIP
RH – Lance Clark: 3-3, 5 Sv, 54 1/3 IP, 4.64 ERA, 1.45 WHIP
RH – Dan Powell: 3-2, 2 Sv, 50 IP, 2.16 ERA, 1.06 WHIP
RH – Louis Blackley: 4-1, 1 Sv, 52 IP, 3.12 ERA, 1.13 WHIP*
LH – Ibanez: 2-5, 26 Sv, 43 2/3 IP, 5.15 ERA, 1.51 WHIP
* Combined AAA/ML numbers
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