[URL=http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=104161]Artie Roberts[/URL]
The Crawdads bullpen was seeing a lot of red because of a combination of poor starting pitching and short bullpen durability. The solution was to sign free agent pitcher Artie Roberts who they had released after season 8. Since signing him Artie Roberts has pitched in 9 games and has an ERA of 0.66. The Crawdads know that this excellence is not going to last. You don't expect a pitcher with a career 6.61 ERA to throw at that clip, but they will take what they get. All management knows is that since his arival the Crawdads have gotten the red out
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
K-Mart Shuts Down While Injury Bug Infects
Seattle - Young phenom Kevin Martin
has been placed on the DL with a strained shoulder. Luckily they expect him back within 2 weeks and not much longer. This rotation surely could not handle the loss of this young righthander for much longer. In his absence Terrence Roberts will get a few extra starts (he's already had 1 sport start this year to give the rotation an extra day of rest) and former Rule 5 draft pick Marino Rios was called up from AAA to fill the role of Longman.
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Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Randolph has Herniated Disk in Neck
Seattle - Seattle Gold Glove 2B has recently been put on the DL with a herniated disk in his neck. This injury will cost him more then 100 days on the DL, effectively ruining his season. In order to deal with the blow, Salty Dog GM Donald Key signed off the free agent scrap heap Michael Martin to help soften the blow. With the offense struggling to start the season this could be a big blow against their playoff hopes. Martin will not be the primary person taking over for Randolph, he will be more of a backup fielder, spot starter at 2B. Instead Luther Garcia will be inserted at 3B and Bum Stocker will move over to 2B. Due to the struggling offense Seattle feels this will help out the offense the most as that is their weakest link at the moment. If others can start to get hot then you may see more of Martin and less of Garcia, but for now they need more runs. Its also possible that later in the season young AAA 3B Bronson Grey could be brought up and inserted. Key was quoted saying "We really considered bringing up Grey and plugging him on in. However, we don't want to rush him. And while he's not playing poorly in AAA, his start doesn't exactly warrant a promotion at this time. Couple that with the huge expectations that would unfairly be placed upon him by both himself and others, we decided to go the route we did. Had the injury been a much shorter time frame (30 days or less) we would not have hesitated to bring him up to get a taste of the bigs. But in the long run we feel this is better. Either way we need some guys to step it up".
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Top 9 Power Rankings (23 games into Season 9)
#1 - Los Angeles Robin's (Record: 15-8, Pythagorean Record: 16-7): Just doing what they always do. Leading all of baseball in ERA, 2nd in fielding, and upper-middle of the pack in OPS and runs scored, these guys are a machine. Again. Ricardo Johnson always anchors the offense, but Pat Tallet has been at least as valuable so far this season. Rafael Cruz and Jim Wells have been their usual, unhittable selves to fortify the rotation.
#2 - Fargo Roughriders (Record: 14-9, Pythagorean Record: 15-8): You really had to be paying attention to see this coming. After a couple of down seasons, Fargo is back and playing as well as they ever were. Leading all of baseball in runs scored, 3rd in OPS and upper-middle in ERA, the only Achilles' heel so far has been the fielding (22nd). Larry Flores and Raul Estrada are tearing the cover off of the ball and Gerald Stull has been reinvigorated by his return home. Mack Goldstein has been solid but unspectacular and Paul Huang as pitched better than his ERA would indicate, but the strength of this staff is the bullpen. Travis Biddle, Matt O'Leary, Jim Jordan and Dicky Ma are all posting ERAs of 2.08 or better.
#3 - Honolulu Anteaters (Record: 15-8, Pythagorean Record: 14-9): 3rd in pitching, they've finally figured out a way to get the most out of the best pitcher in the league, Lenny Singleton. They're rolling out a modified 3.5 man rotation, and David Beltran has been almost unhittable as well. Warren Collins, Allen Matthews and Danny Leach are leading the charge on offense but, if they can't shore up their fielding (30th), it may all be for naught.
#4 - Portland Jacks (Record: 17-6, Pythagorean Record: 14-9): The only team in the league that is top ten in ERA (#6), OPS (#9) and fielding (#5), and they just missed it in runs scored (#11), the Jacks are a well-balanced force to be reckoned with. Julio Valdivia and Tony Soriano are lighting up opposing pitchers, while Junior Kennedy, Jared Overbay and the musical stylings of Carlos Santana shut down the offenses.
#5 - Colorado Springs Coyotes (Record: 16-7, Pythagorean Record: 14-9): Their offense (23rd in runs scored, 28th in OPS) says they should be ranked lower, but having the #2 pitching staff in ERA puts them right here at the fifth spot. Jason Liverman has been the lone standout on an anemic offense, but Joe Reid and Luke Nye have more than made up for it out of the rotation. Tommy Price, Ron Brock and Homer Roberts have also done yeoman's work out of the bullpen.
#6 - Chicago Beast (Record 14-9, Pythagorean Record: 14-9): Just edging out Iowa City (you'll see the similarities in a moment) for this spot on reputation alone, the Beast are upper-middle of the pack in ERA (#13) and OPS (#12), in the upper echelon in runs scored (#7), and brutal on defense (#25). B.C. Parent and James Suzuki lead an offense that boasts five starters hitting .295 or better. The bane of frazz's existence, Felipe Matos, has been stellar as usual, while Randy Corey and Torey Alvarado are both allowing less than 4 earned runs a game in the less-than-friendly confines of Wrigley.
#7 - Iowa City Shuckers (Record: 14-9, Pythagorean Record: 14-9): Normally being #5 in OPS, #6 in runs scored and #11 in ERA, all while playing in the only division with all four teams over .500, would get you ranked higher than this. A wretched defense (#26), combined with the fact that they've never been here before, lands them at the seven spot. Skeeter Reese, Bob Gonzales and Frank Nicholson have carried the offense, while Reid Harvey and Tony Javier have been nearly untouchable in the rotation.
#8 - Trenton Thrashers (Record: 13-10, Pythagorean Record: 13-10): Top ten in OPS (#8), runs scored (#2) and defense (#10), the pitching (#21 in ERA) has been the big question mark this season. Jesse Stevenson, Vic Rivera and Pedro Ordaz are on the All-Star track to pace the offense, but Pep Feng is the only pitcher on the staff with over 4 IP who has an ERA under 4.38.
#9 - Philadelphia Milkmen (Record: 12-11, Pythagorean Record: 13-10): Much in the Trenton mold, they boast a Super Bowl offense (#6 in OPS, #3 in runs scored) and a Tidy Bowl pitching staff (#24 in ERA), with the #14 defense in the league. Walker Wilkins, Jim Jenkins and Everett Griffiths are carrying the load on offense while the pitching staff, with the exceptions of Louis Durham, Billy Robinson and Jamie Hunter, are just dropping a load.
#2 - Fargo Roughriders (Record: 14-9, Pythagorean Record: 15-8): You really had to be paying attention to see this coming. After a couple of down seasons, Fargo is back and playing as well as they ever were. Leading all of baseball in runs scored, 3rd in OPS and upper-middle in ERA, the only Achilles' heel so far has been the fielding (22nd). Larry Flores and Raul Estrada are tearing the cover off of the ball and Gerald Stull has been reinvigorated by his return home. Mack Goldstein has been solid but unspectacular and Paul Huang as pitched better than his ERA would indicate, but the strength of this staff is the bullpen. Travis Biddle, Matt O'Leary, Jim Jordan and Dicky Ma are all posting ERAs of 2.08 or better.
#3 - Honolulu Anteaters (Record: 15-8, Pythagorean Record: 14-9): 3rd in pitching, they've finally figured out a way to get the most out of the best pitcher in the league, Lenny Singleton. They're rolling out a modified 3.5 man rotation, and David Beltran has been almost unhittable as well. Warren Collins, Allen Matthews and Danny Leach are leading the charge on offense but, if they can't shore up their fielding (30th), it may all be for naught.
#4 - Portland Jacks (Record: 17-6, Pythagorean Record: 14-9): The only team in the league that is top ten in ERA (#6), OPS (#9) and fielding (#5), and they just missed it in runs scored (#11), the Jacks are a well-balanced force to be reckoned with. Julio Valdivia and Tony Soriano are lighting up opposing pitchers, while Junior Kennedy, Jared Overbay and the musical stylings of Carlos Santana shut down the offenses.
#5 - Colorado Springs Coyotes (Record: 16-7, Pythagorean Record: 14-9): Their offense (23rd in runs scored, 28th in OPS) says they should be ranked lower, but having the #2 pitching staff in ERA puts them right here at the fifth spot. Jason Liverman has been the lone standout on an anemic offense, but Joe Reid and Luke Nye have more than made up for it out of the rotation. Tommy Price, Ron Brock and Homer Roberts have also done yeoman's work out of the bullpen.
#6 - Chicago Beast (Record 14-9, Pythagorean Record: 14-9): Just edging out Iowa City (you'll see the similarities in a moment) for this spot on reputation alone, the Beast are upper-middle of the pack in ERA (#13) and OPS (#12), in the upper echelon in runs scored (#7), and brutal on defense (#25). B.C. Parent and James Suzuki lead an offense that boasts five starters hitting .295 or better. The bane of frazz's existence, Felipe Matos, has been stellar as usual, while Randy Corey and Torey Alvarado are both allowing less than 4 earned runs a game in the less-than-friendly confines of Wrigley.
#7 - Iowa City Shuckers (Record: 14-9, Pythagorean Record: 14-9): Normally being #5 in OPS, #6 in runs scored and #11 in ERA, all while playing in the only division with all four teams over .500, would get you ranked higher than this. A wretched defense (#26), combined with the fact that they've never been here before, lands them at the seven spot. Skeeter Reese, Bob Gonzales and Frank Nicholson have carried the offense, while Reid Harvey and Tony Javier have been nearly untouchable in the rotation.
#8 - Trenton Thrashers (Record: 13-10, Pythagorean Record: 13-10): Top ten in OPS (#8), runs scored (#2) and defense (#10), the pitching (#21 in ERA) has been the big question mark this season. Jesse Stevenson, Vic Rivera and Pedro Ordaz are on the All-Star track to pace the offense, but Pep Feng is the only pitcher on the staff with over 4 IP who has an ERA under 4.38.
#9 - Philadelphia Milkmen (Record: 12-11, Pythagorean Record: 13-10): Much in the Trenton mold, they boast a Super Bowl offense (#6 in OPS, #3 in runs scored) and a Tidy Bowl pitching staff (#24 in ERA), with the #14 defense in the league. Walker Wilkins, Jim Jenkins and Everett Griffiths are carrying the load on offense while the pitching staff, with the exceptions of Louis Durham, Billy Robinson and Jamie Hunter, are just dropping a load.
Friday, June 13, 2008
El Paso Ultraviolence Season Preview
Starting Lineup
1B - Bump Boucher, rookie 1st rounder, the future of ultra-power if early call-up doesn't hinder
2B - Trenidad Belliard, rookie and first half of the Belliard brothers
3B - Charlie Stone, .260 18HR 74RBI and 46SB, needs better
SS - J.D. Hutton, .251 32SB, solid fielder, pushed by second of the Belliard brothers, Tony
C - Deivi Castilla, FA Signee to replace Damaso "passed ball" Montana
LF - Bob Fleming, 232 SB (career), good for 100 runs a season
CF - Carlos Rios, gold glove at 2B last season transitions to the outfield
RF - Fred Barber, 48 HR 111 RBI member of the ultra-power triumvirate
DH - Heath Taylor, 31 HR 95 RBI senior member of ultra-power wants success over numbers
Pitching
SP - Don Nady, 16-9 3.48 ERA steady contributor
SP - Domingo "The Wildebeast" Jose, 17-11 4.06, 262 career starts for the franchise
SP - Kory Relaford, 14-12 4.38 ERA, only lefty starter and not a member of the triple D's
RP - Tanyon Karl, 2.41 9SV, veteran revived his career last season, repeat?
RP - Luis Moya, 2.88 15SV, will he be as effective now as full-time closer
Key Losses - Damaso Montana, Matt Coleman
Outlook
Last season saw the Ultraviolence claim their first ever division title, but win only one playoff game. The expectations are high and the pitching staff is expected to close the gap on the LA Robin's as the AL's finest. Inconsisent play could be a problem due to the influx of rookies.
Prediction
90-72
BLOCK HEADS Season 9 Preview
Block Heads Season 9 Review
After a thrilling Season 8, one which saw the Block Heads become the class of the AL for the first 120 games, fans were left holding their heads in their hands wondering what could have been. The amazing collapse of Season 8 and their narrow miss of their first season in the playoffs was a bitter pill to swallow. Management who took over after Season 2 promised a contender within 5 seasons. While Season 8 left the Block Heads with their best record ever, both Management & fans grow impatient hoping for that miracle season.
Management has made a commitment to winning ASAP. Bold moves like trading three heralded prospects for future Hall of Famer, Craig Hooper, have been applauded by many in the league as gutsy and Management has vowed to do whatever necessary to further this team’s improvement. As usual, the lineup is among the elite, they seem to have found their closer in 24 year old David Wang, but Block Heads Season 9 will only go as far as their rotation will take them.
The LineupWith two hitters over 50 HR’s last year and one who has done it on four occasions, and another four who hit over 25 last year, the power of the Block Heads will continue to be felt league wide.
1B- 24 Year old, MVP candidate Mikey Knotts is showing why he was the number one pick in Season 3 and Managements first draft pick ever. Last year he made his 1st all star team and was winner of the Season 8 Home Run Derby. Management showing its commitment to Knotts gave him a 5 year, $41.5M contract in the offseason and looking forward to pecilling his name into the three whole for years to come.
2B- Season 7 MVP Frank “Super” Starr selflessly moved from his home in RF where he had won 2 gold gloves and 2 silver slugger awards to try and fill the void at second last year with amazing results in the field, making only 5 errors in a full season and narrowly getting beaten out for the gold glove there. While his glove was certainly silver, if not golden, his bat went from silver to ash. Having averaged just shy of 50 HR and over 130 RBI’s over his 6 year career, the Block Heads are expecting a huge rebound. That’s a warning to AL pitchers.
SS- 25 year old Rickey “The Rock” Sutton looks to reclaim his spot as everyday SS for the Block Heads. His defense is excellent and his bat is powerful, as SS’s go. He just needs to be his solid self and things should fall into place for the Season 9 Block Heads.
3B- Another team player making a position move (actually his second in his ML career) is Bret Zambrano. Originally a SS when he arrived in Season 3 he moved to 2B in Season 4 to find a home for his bat, and now when called upon to fill the void at 3B he again stepped up and did the job. So well in fact, that he was named to his 1st All Star team in Season 8.
LF- Last year’s NABCL’s smash acquisition, Craig Hooper will now have a full season in LF for the Block Heads. His power is renown and his place in the Hall of Fame is being solidified with years like he had in Season 8… 55, 121, 119, .295 and a .992 OPS. Overlooked was his making NO errors in LF in Season 8 and he covets a gold glove to show his game is complete. Management picked up his option immediately and is already in negotiations to signing him to another contract.
CF- Management has seen thei payroll increase over the past 4 seasons from $36M to $55M to $69M and now at $84M something had to give. That something was Antoine Burks. His down season followed by his $8M+ contract demand made his departure a foregone conclusion. First crack to replace him will be given to 2 time AAA all star Joshua “No Mas AAA!” Duran, who has patiently waited for a spot in this heralded Block Head lineup to open up and Alex “You doesn’t have to call me” Johnson who’s defense should cause some eyes to open up with his range and his glovework.
RF- After a down year in Season 8, one in which Clarence Yearwood moved from LF to RF to open a spot up for Craig Hooper. The Block expect a bounce back to his normal BA of nearly .280-.300 and over 100 RBI’s.C- Having made the All Star team the past two seasons Orlando Bennett is finally getting the respect he deserves. As one pundit put it last year ‘The Block Heads will go as far as Bennett and his pitch calling will take them.” Last year that was almost good enough. Knowing again that the Block Head pitching rotation will be void of a classic ace and a rotation just trying to get 5 or 6 innings to their talented bullpen, never has a team’s fate been so tied into one C’s pitch calling.
DH/Bench- The DH duties will again be handled mainly by former 3 time All Star Placido Blanco. While his bat has slowed some, he still can drive runners in and provide leadership for the younger Block Heads. After a very solid rookie campaign, 24 year old, Javier Melo will once again backup Bennett at C. With Johnson and Duran playing IF supersub on their non-CF days, rule 5 pickup from Season 8, Harry Lopez will stick around, pinch hit, pinch run and be a defensive replacement in the OF.
The Staff
With no Starter having under a 4.65 ERA you can see where the blame for the Block Heads Season 8 collapse falls upon. The bullpen was stellar in many cases and hopes to live up to last season’s reputation.
Starters- After having his first full season in the rotation, David Small (10-8) could be finally turning the corner to becoming a solid mid-rotation starter. The newest off season acquisition and at 41 years old, the senior member of the Block Heads staff, Rafeal Vidal (14-5 for Philly) will try to teach and set a solid example to the starting staff.
At 9-9, 35 year old Wes Patterson was a workhorse who showed signs of his prior winning ways, but could never quite get things t come together. At 25, Tripp Hayes (10-15) is trying to solidify a spot in the rotation. Inconsistent, he showed signs of brilliance last year and Block Heads can only hope he can string some more of those games together. The final starter spot will be given first crack at by Jeff Magnante. In the past, Jeff had 2 winning season’s before needing a refresher at the AAA level at how to pitch and win. Hopefully that will again translate into Block head wins at the ML level.
Long Relief- The Block Heads, once again leading the team in wins was Jeremy Brock (15-6). As always he was in about 100 games and pitched almost 150 innings.He is still the best bet to bridge the gap from the starters to the setup man/closer. Due to contractual demands we did lose a favorite in Reid Myers who was a spectacular 11-0. The Block Heads are hoping that Desi Mantalban and Jolbert DeRojas can pick up the slack and finally have winning ML seasons.
Setup/Closer- Jorge Aramboles will start taking a larger load late in the game this year. Joe Jones will again work primarily against righties in tight situations. Jorge Martin is expected to be the main setup man, after a solid Season 8. 24 year old closer David Wang comes back again this year after making a solid run at the Fireman of the Year Award and having been named to his 1st All Star team.
The Minors
1B Sam Hernandez is very likely to see time at the big league level as his bat has been so solid at the AAA level.
SS Both Bronson Lee and Wayne Davey are biding their time at AAA, but with young Rickey Sutton entrenched at the ML level and each of their updsides reaching into the 80’s they look to be trade bait to bring in some much needed pitching help.
LF Rich Francis (The other guy brought back in the Hooper trade) looks solid in AA and may be Hooper’s replacement in 3 or 4 years as the Block Head’s LF’er, who knows?
CF Steven Crosby, last year’s 1st round pick had a monster half year in Rookie ball and is making the jump right to Hi A at just 19yrs. old.
SP Felix Blake, Emmanuel Lopez and Carlos Barcelo are all solid in AAA and will be brought up should any of the ML’ers falter.
RP Apollo O’Halloran and Phil Moreno both drafted in Season 8 look to be solid prospects.
With perennial powerhouses Philadelphia and Fargo looking as tough as ever, you know that the Block Heads Management will be looking to make that key trade that just might put them over the top and make “wait until next year”, this year!
After a thrilling Season 8, one which saw the Block Heads become the class of the AL for the first 120 games, fans were left holding their heads in their hands wondering what could have been. The amazing collapse of Season 8 and their narrow miss of their first season in the playoffs was a bitter pill to swallow. Management who took over after Season 2 promised a contender within 5 seasons. While Season 8 left the Block Heads with their best record ever, both Management & fans grow impatient hoping for that miracle season.
Management has made a commitment to winning ASAP. Bold moves like trading three heralded prospects for future Hall of Famer, Craig Hooper, have been applauded by many in the league as gutsy and Management has vowed to do whatever necessary to further this team’s improvement. As usual, the lineup is among the elite, they seem to have found their closer in 24 year old David Wang, but Block Heads Season 9 will only go as far as their rotation will take them.
The LineupWith two hitters over 50 HR’s last year and one who has done it on four occasions, and another four who hit over 25 last year, the power of the Block Heads will continue to be felt league wide.
1B- 24 Year old, MVP candidate Mikey Knotts is showing why he was the number one pick in Season 3 and Managements first draft pick ever. Last year he made his 1st all star team and was winner of the Season 8 Home Run Derby. Management showing its commitment to Knotts gave him a 5 year, $41.5M contract in the offseason and looking forward to pecilling his name into the three whole for years to come.
2B- Season 7 MVP Frank “Super” Starr selflessly moved from his home in RF where he had won 2 gold gloves and 2 silver slugger awards to try and fill the void at second last year with amazing results in the field, making only 5 errors in a full season and narrowly getting beaten out for the gold glove there. While his glove was certainly silver, if not golden, his bat went from silver to ash. Having averaged just shy of 50 HR and over 130 RBI’s over his 6 year career, the Block Heads are expecting a huge rebound. That’s a warning to AL pitchers.
SS- 25 year old Rickey “The Rock” Sutton looks to reclaim his spot as everyday SS for the Block Heads. His defense is excellent and his bat is powerful, as SS’s go. He just needs to be his solid self and things should fall into place for the Season 9 Block Heads.
3B- Another team player making a position move (actually his second in his ML career) is Bret Zambrano. Originally a SS when he arrived in Season 3 he moved to 2B in Season 4 to find a home for his bat, and now when called upon to fill the void at 3B he again stepped up and did the job. So well in fact, that he was named to his 1st All Star team in Season 8.
LF- Last year’s NABCL’s smash acquisition, Craig Hooper will now have a full season in LF for the Block Heads. His power is renown and his place in the Hall of Fame is being solidified with years like he had in Season 8… 55, 121, 119, .295 and a .992 OPS. Overlooked was his making NO errors in LF in Season 8 and he covets a gold glove to show his game is complete. Management picked up his option immediately and is already in negotiations to signing him to another contract.
CF- Management has seen thei payroll increase over the past 4 seasons from $36M to $55M to $69M and now at $84M something had to give. That something was Antoine Burks. His down season followed by his $8M+ contract demand made his departure a foregone conclusion. First crack to replace him will be given to 2 time AAA all star Joshua “No Mas AAA!” Duran, who has patiently waited for a spot in this heralded Block Head lineup to open up and Alex “You doesn’t have to call me” Johnson who’s defense should cause some eyes to open up with his range and his glovework.
RF- After a down year in Season 8, one in which Clarence Yearwood moved from LF to RF to open a spot up for Craig Hooper. The Block expect a bounce back to his normal BA of nearly .280-.300 and over 100 RBI’s.C- Having made the All Star team the past two seasons Orlando Bennett is finally getting the respect he deserves. As one pundit put it last year ‘The Block Heads will go as far as Bennett and his pitch calling will take them.” Last year that was almost good enough. Knowing again that the Block Head pitching rotation will be void of a classic ace and a rotation just trying to get 5 or 6 innings to their talented bullpen, never has a team’s fate been so tied into one C’s pitch calling.
DH/Bench- The DH duties will again be handled mainly by former 3 time All Star Placido Blanco. While his bat has slowed some, he still can drive runners in and provide leadership for the younger Block Heads. After a very solid rookie campaign, 24 year old, Javier Melo will once again backup Bennett at C. With Johnson and Duran playing IF supersub on their non-CF days, rule 5 pickup from Season 8, Harry Lopez will stick around, pinch hit, pinch run and be a defensive replacement in the OF.
The Staff
With no Starter having under a 4.65 ERA you can see where the blame for the Block Heads Season 8 collapse falls upon. The bullpen was stellar in many cases and hopes to live up to last season’s reputation.
Starters- After having his first full season in the rotation, David Small (10-8) could be finally turning the corner to becoming a solid mid-rotation starter. The newest off season acquisition and at 41 years old, the senior member of the Block Heads staff, Rafeal Vidal (14-5 for Philly) will try to teach and set a solid example to the starting staff.
At 9-9, 35 year old Wes Patterson was a workhorse who showed signs of his prior winning ways, but could never quite get things t come together. At 25, Tripp Hayes (10-15) is trying to solidify a spot in the rotation. Inconsistent, he showed signs of brilliance last year and Block Heads can only hope he can string some more of those games together. The final starter spot will be given first crack at by Jeff Magnante. In the past, Jeff had 2 winning season’s before needing a refresher at the AAA level at how to pitch and win. Hopefully that will again translate into Block head wins at the ML level.
Long Relief- The Block Heads, once again leading the team in wins was Jeremy Brock (15-6). As always he was in about 100 games and pitched almost 150 innings.He is still the best bet to bridge the gap from the starters to the setup man/closer. Due to contractual demands we did lose a favorite in Reid Myers who was a spectacular 11-0. The Block Heads are hoping that Desi Mantalban and Jolbert DeRojas can pick up the slack and finally have winning ML seasons.
Setup/Closer- Jorge Aramboles will start taking a larger load late in the game this year. Joe Jones will again work primarily against righties in tight situations. Jorge Martin is expected to be the main setup man, after a solid Season 8. 24 year old closer David Wang comes back again this year after making a solid run at the Fireman of the Year Award and having been named to his 1st All Star team.
The Minors
1B Sam Hernandez is very likely to see time at the big league level as his bat has been so solid at the AAA level.
SS Both Bronson Lee and Wayne Davey are biding their time at AAA, but with young Rickey Sutton entrenched at the ML level and each of their updsides reaching into the 80’s they look to be trade bait to bring in some much needed pitching help.
LF Rich Francis (The other guy brought back in the Hooper trade) looks solid in AA and may be Hooper’s replacement in 3 or 4 years as the Block Head’s LF’er, who knows?
CF Steven Crosby, last year’s 1st round pick had a monster half year in Rookie ball and is making the jump right to Hi A at just 19yrs. old.
SP Felix Blake, Emmanuel Lopez and Carlos Barcelo are all solid in AAA and will be brought up should any of the ML’ers falter.
RP Apollo O’Halloran and Phil Moreno both drafted in Season 8 look to be solid prospects.
With perennial powerhouses Philadelphia and Fargo looking as tough as ever, you know that the Block Heads Management will be looking to make that key trade that just might put them over the top and make “wait until next year”, this year!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Salty Dogs Season 9 Preview: Less bark more bite
Seattle - Expectations are low in Seattle after last years season did not go as intended. While they did improve off of the previous season, expectations were to be above .500, and potentially battle for a playoff spot. Not all was lost however. Rookie Starting Pitcher made his major league debut and was quite impressive, lending hope that he could help turn around the woeful Seattle franchise. Also played his first full season in the bigs. At the tender age of 22 he hit 36 HR's in spacious Safeco and fell just short of 100 RBI's. He did however win a Gold Glove at 3B which was a pleasant surprise. The 'Dogs are young, but in order to reach the next level they are going to need for people to start stepping up their play. No big changes have been made since the end of last season, so they are relying right now on people playing better. Lets get to the lineup
LF- Alan Cameron statistically had his worst professional season, despite breaking his personal SB's in a season(and 3rd all time for the league) and becoming the all time stolen base leader in the NABCL. Still only 30, we need him to get back to his career norm, or even better then that.
2B-Alex Randolph Won a Gold Glove at 2B last year, after years of having been moved all around the diamond. Started out hot in the #2 hole last year and we tried moving him down in the order to take advantage of his power (28 HR's on the Seattle squad is considered a lot) but he struggled. He flourished later in the season when we moved him back. He'll stay put for now.
3B-Bum Stocker Once the crown jewel of the farm system finally arrived last year. While he played well, expectations may have been a tad high and he struggled at first, and also tired at the end. The Gold Glove as mentioned earlier was a pleasant surprise, but we need his bat to improve in order for the team to move on.
C-Paul Yoshii Was the big Free Agent signing heading into season 8 who was returning to Seattle. Well he got off to a dreadful start and is another player who had his worst year of his career. He finished up well to help pad his stats, but at 34 is this a trend? We definitely need him to improve on last year.
1B-Nigel Jamison Was having a good year before back problems started occuring. He finally went on the DL to rest up and came back strong. While he'll never be a masher, 20 HR's is certainly reachable and an improvement would be welcomed.
CF-Dante Baek Started off ridiculously hot and rode that all the way to the All Star game as the backup CF. As hot as he was in the 1st half, he was just as cold in the 2nd. Still his defense never wavered and won his 2nd consecutive Gold Glove (even if unwarranted). He can play anywhere on the field in a pinch and is considered very valuable to the team. Consistency is what we are hoping for this year.
RF-Pedro Merced had a TERRIBLE season for the Salty Dogs, another Salty Dog with a career worst season. He started out in AAA and was murdering the pitching down there, so he was called up and handed RF. Unfortunately he didn't produce. It seems like he's been around forever but is still only 26. His power has started returning, and we're hoping to get him to show his once promising potential. Without a big improvement it might not be possible, as people may end up playing out of position in right. Not sure how long the leash will be, but stay tuned.
SS-Santos Sanchez / Louie Pineda Pineda was picked up in the offseason as the future at SS as he gets to lots of balls. Sanchez is in the last year of his contract and doesn't get to as many as he used to, but is quite sure handed when he does. Whoever produces with the bat more will end up seeing more playing time. But to begin, the veteran will start.
Other bench players:
Nolan Steele will help man the OF.
Alex Cabrera was brought in for cheap as some added insurance should there be an injury in the OF or Merced fails to produce. Hit 34 HR's last year for Scranton. At 845k he is worth the gamble.
Luther Garcia will help backup 3B when Bum Stocker needs a break on tough lefties, or if Randolph needs a breather he can slide Stocker to 2B. Still has good pop off the bench.
Branch Roth being 2 season removed from 49 HR's and this team starved for power, we decided to roll the dice and have him be the power bat off the bench. It helps that he can switch. Will back up some at 1B and PH primarily.
Jesse Murphy tied his career high in HR's (13) despite not being a full time starter. He ended up playing RF and 1B, but will be a backup C this year.
The pitching staff
The rotation
Kevin Martin was very impressive, and continues to impress this spring. Has been asked for in many trade discussions but we plan on him anchoring our rotation for years to come. Will not start opening day, as he needs to earn it before being handed the keys.
Tony Johnson gets the opening day nod on reputation alone. He came back strong from the DL before tiring. At this point 5-6 innings is all he gives and he will probably be skipped a few times throughout the season to keep him strong. 120-150 IP in 25 starts is expected.
Edgardo Plata was acquired last season from Memphis. Will help eat innings. Was dominant in Memphis and lost it when he got to Seattle. In fairness, his first two starts were against his former team so that may have had something to do with it. If he can get back on track it will really help this rotation.
Michael Lee a 26 year old lefty missed a few starts on the DL with a groin strain, just missed 200 IP, but posted his best career ERA. He's won 12 games in each of the last 3 years, so we're hoping to improve that this year.
Terrence Roberts or Victor Silva will battle out for the 5th spot in the rotation in Spring Training, with the loser becoming the Long Man/Spot Starter. With TJ expected to be skipped a few times, the Long man should see at least 10 starts througout the year. T-Rob had his best season to date, and a lot of it was coming out of the pen. Vic Silva had his worst season(another Salty Dog with a career worst season) and was pulled from the rotation because his losses kept piling up. Upon a closer look at his #'s however suggest that he wasn't quite as bad as his record indicated. If he can get back to his career norm he should be able to hold down a Starting spot.
The bullpen was excellent at times, especially to start, but got tired at the end due to the problems in the rotation. In no particular order or role here they are:
Brad Spivey was nearly unhittable to start and other then 2 or 3 bad outings was dominant.
Sergei Fischer was a pleasant surprise with 20 saves, but he should not be seeing closer duties this year.
Alex Ishida was used in every role out there as far as the bullpen is concerned, and he didn't disapoint. We're hoping for more of the same, while hoping to abuse him less after a career high 96 IP.
Nicholas Cunningham was bannished once again to start the season in AAA. However after a few injuries and needing a lefty, he finally came back to Seattle and dominated. He's out of options so he should see his first full season in the bigs. Thats assuming he continues to produce however.
Eric Dingman was acquired midseason last year to become the closer. He was not inserted till well after he arrived since they decided to ease him into the role and continue riding the hot hand at the time. He'll be given 1st crack at closing out games however.
Victor Maradona struggled early and lost his job as closer. May not have the intestinal fortitude to be a closer and should land back in the bullpen as a setup man.
Too many ifs on this roster to know for sure, but we think we can contend. There may too much faith being put into a couple of young guys, but as one of the remaining 4 or 5 teams to never have made the playoffs in NABCL, we're hoping we change that this year.
will bring a list of prospects at another time....
LF- Alan Cameron statistically had his worst professional season, despite breaking his personal SB's in a season(and 3rd all time for the league) and becoming the all time stolen base leader in the NABCL. Still only 30, we need him to get back to his career norm, or even better then that.
2B-Alex Randolph Won a Gold Glove at 2B last year, after years of having been moved all around the diamond. Started out hot in the #2 hole last year and we tried moving him down in the order to take advantage of his power (28 HR's on the Seattle squad is considered a lot) but he struggled. He flourished later in the season when we moved him back. He'll stay put for now.
3B-Bum Stocker Once the crown jewel of the farm system finally arrived last year. While he played well, expectations may have been a tad high and he struggled at first, and also tired at the end. The Gold Glove as mentioned earlier was a pleasant surprise, but we need his bat to improve in order for the team to move on.
C-Paul Yoshii Was the big Free Agent signing heading into season 8 who was returning to Seattle. Well he got off to a dreadful start and is another player who had his worst year of his career. He finished up well to help pad his stats, but at 34 is this a trend? We definitely need him to improve on last year.
1B-Nigel Jamison Was having a good year before back problems started occuring. He finally went on the DL to rest up and came back strong. While he'll never be a masher, 20 HR's is certainly reachable and an improvement would be welcomed.
CF-Dante Baek Started off ridiculously hot and rode that all the way to the All Star game as the backup CF. As hot as he was in the 1st half, he was just as cold in the 2nd. Still his defense never wavered and won his 2nd consecutive Gold Glove (even if unwarranted). He can play anywhere on the field in a pinch and is considered very valuable to the team. Consistency is what we are hoping for this year.
RF-Pedro Merced had a TERRIBLE season for the Salty Dogs, another Salty Dog with a career worst season. He started out in AAA and was murdering the pitching down there, so he was called up and handed RF. Unfortunately he didn't produce. It seems like he's been around forever but is still only 26. His power has started returning, and we're hoping to get him to show his once promising potential. Without a big improvement it might not be possible, as people may end up playing out of position in right. Not sure how long the leash will be, but stay tuned.
SS-Santos Sanchez / Louie Pineda Pineda was picked up in the offseason as the future at SS as he gets to lots of balls. Sanchez is in the last year of his contract and doesn't get to as many as he used to, but is quite sure handed when he does. Whoever produces with the bat more will end up seeing more playing time. But to begin, the veteran will start.
Other bench players:
Nolan Steele will help man the OF.
Alex Cabrera was brought in for cheap as some added insurance should there be an injury in the OF or Merced fails to produce. Hit 34 HR's last year for Scranton. At 845k he is worth the gamble.
Luther Garcia will help backup 3B when Bum Stocker needs a break on tough lefties, or if Randolph needs a breather he can slide Stocker to 2B. Still has good pop off the bench.
Branch Roth being 2 season removed from 49 HR's and this team starved for power, we decided to roll the dice and have him be the power bat off the bench. It helps that he can switch. Will back up some at 1B and PH primarily.
Jesse Murphy tied his career high in HR's (13) despite not being a full time starter. He ended up playing RF and 1B, but will be a backup C this year.
The pitching staff
The rotation
Kevin Martin was very impressive, and continues to impress this spring. Has been asked for in many trade discussions but we plan on him anchoring our rotation for years to come. Will not start opening day, as he needs to earn it before being handed the keys.
Tony Johnson gets the opening day nod on reputation alone. He came back strong from the DL before tiring. At this point 5-6 innings is all he gives and he will probably be skipped a few times throughout the season to keep him strong. 120-150 IP in 25 starts is expected.
Edgardo Plata was acquired last season from Memphis. Will help eat innings. Was dominant in Memphis and lost it when he got to Seattle. In fairness, his first two starts were against his former team so that may have had something to do with it. If he can get back on track it will really help this rotation.
Michael Lee a 26 year old lefty missed a few starts on the DL with a groin strain, just missed 200 IP, but posted his best career ERA. He's won 12 games in each of the last 3 years, so we're hoping to improve that this year.
Terrence Roberts or Victor Silva will battle out for the 5th spot in the rotation in Spring Training, with the loser becoming the Long Man/Spot Starter. With TJ expected to be skipped a few times, the Long man should see at least 10 starts througout the year. T-Rob had his best season to date, and a lot of it was coming out of the pen. Vic Silva had his worst season(another Salty Dog with a career worst season) and was pulled from the rotation because his losses kept piling up. Upon a closer look at his #'s however suggest that he wasn't quite as bad as his record indicated. If he can get back to his career norm he should be able to hold down a Starting spot.
The bullpen was excellent at times, especially to start, but got tired at the end due to the problems in the rotation. In no particular order or role here they are:
Brad Spivey was nearly unhittable to start and other then 2 or 3 bad outings was dominant.
Sergei Fischer was a pleasant surprise with 20 saves, but he should not be seeing closer duties this year.
Alex Ishida was used in every role out there as far as the bullpen is concerned, and he didn't disapoint. We're hoping for more of the same, while hoping to abuse him less after a career high 96 IP.
Nicholas Cunningham was bannished once again to start the season in AAA. However after a few injuries and needing a lefty, he finally came back to Seattle and dominated. He's out of options so he should see his first full season in the bigs. Thats assuming he continues to produce however.
Eric Dingman was acquired midseason last year to become the closer. He was not inserted till well after he arrived since they decided to ease him into the role and continue riding the hot hand at the time. He'll be given 1st crack at closing out games however.
Victor Maradona struggled early and lost his job as closer. May not have the intestinal fortitude to be a closer and should land back in the bullpen as a setup man.
Too many ifs on this roster to know for sure, but we think we can contend. There may too much faith being put into a couple of young guys, but as one of the remaining 4 or 5 teams to never have made the playoffs in NABCL, we're hoping we change that this year.
will bring a list of prospects at another time....
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Philadelphia Dead Milkmen: Season 9 Outlook
Last year's disappointing campaign saw the defending AL champions drop to third in the North at 84-78, 7 games behind first-place Helena and 17 games off S7's league-best pace. Last offseason's confidence had been replaced with anxiety, as fans hope that the magic of S7 wasn't all a mirage.
While the Dead Milkmen aren't in danger of disappearing completely from the AL playoff picture any time soon, there are no guarantees heading into season nine. A potent offense will once more take the field at Citizens Bank Park, but a questionable pitching staff will lead to another season full of headaches for the Philadelphia faithful. Expect the Milkmen to remain in contention throughout the season, but the smart money will have them finishing only a few games above .500 again.
Lineup
The Milkmen offense lost only two players from S8: veteran CF Bobby Ellis (468 AB, .244/.306/.306, 21 SB, 50 RBI, 64 RS) and veteran SS Johnnie Sturtze (183 AB, .279/.343/.350, 19 RBI, 25 RS). Sturtze, a light-hitting defensive specialist, was a late-season acquistion as the Milkmen attempted to return to the playoffs; he performed to expectations but was not part of Philadelphia's long-term plans. The acquisition of Ellis was intended to shore up the Milkmen's weakness in center, but Ellis' bat (.612 OPS) and glove (7 E) seemingly disappeared last year. Management did not hesitate to decline the outfielder's S9 option.
These two holes on the Milkmen roster were filled with Rule 5 draftee Geoff Riedling, a speedy CF from the Pawtucket system (642 AB, .310/.382/.408, 93 SB, 88 RBI, 130 RS at HiA), and veteran shortstop Eric Rigby, acquired by trade from Los Angeles. Rigby, who will play a utility role, saw limited time in S8 (7/40, 1 RBI, 6 RS), but hit fairly well in S7 (544 AB, .268/.321/.417, 18 HR, 82 RBI, 64 RS) and has a career .706 OPS in the majors.
The most likely candidate to lead off for Philadelphia will be second baseman Everett Griffiths (579 AB, .269/.334/.358, 57 SB, 58 RBI, 101 RS). Management would prefer to hit Griffiths 9th, where his relatively low OBP is less damaging and his speed remains a weapon, but as a known quantity with consistent performance over the past two seasons, he'll probably get the nod on opening day. Count on an OBP around .330, at least 40 steals, and 100 runs out of Griffiths.
Hitting second will be superstar rightfielder Walker Wilkins (558 AB, .333/.420/.586, 33 HR, 105 RBI, 104 RS), an All-Star, Silver Slugger, and MVP finalist last season. The dynamic Wilkins signed a five-year deal with the Milkmen in the offseason which will keep him in maroon and gold through age 30. Although Wilkins is fairly injury-prone, he's widely considered the cornerstone of the Milkmen franchise, and is almost a lock for a 1.000 OPS, barring any time on the DL.
Last season's big free agent acquisition, designated hitter Homer Buddie (594 AB, .264/.342/.545, 46 HR, 114 RBI, 93 RS), will hit third again this year. While Buddie's numbers were not quite as spectacular as some hoped, his contribution was undoubtedly important to the Milkmen offense. A free agent next year, Buddie should check in with another 40-45 HR and 100-120 RBI.
Philadelphia's catcher tandem will hit cleanup behind Buddie. While Rolando Belliard (318 AB, .274/.325/.409, 8 HR, 41 RBI, 41 RS) and Sean Thomson (389 AB, .288/.349/.476, 18 HR, 76 RBI, 52 RS) each contributed fairly disappointing seasons, they should return to form in S9. Belliard is slightly better against lefties, while Thomson is a little more effective against right-handers. However, playing time for these two usually comes down to who's hot and who's not. Coaches expect the two to combine for about 30 HR and 110 RBI this year.
Hitting fifth is fan favorite and NABCL career home run leader Shooter Farrell (623 AB, .238/.317/.528, 54 HR, 109 RBI, 104 RS). While he continued to put up solid power and RBI numbers, Farrell's average and OBP plummeted last season. His declining production is the elephant in the room in Philadelphia, and with a team option for S10, this might be the 33-year-old slugger's swan song. He'll hit 50 out and knock in 100, but count on Farrell's batting average to sit well below .250 this year.
Look for third basemen Bernie Uribe (401 AB, .274/.314/.474, 20 HR, 22 SB, 59 RBI, 73 RS) and Jacob Dunn (476 AB, .261/.325/.471, 22 HR, 32 SB, 77 RBI, 81 RS) to share the sixth spot in the batting order. The 24-year-old Dunn made a solid rookie debut, and could see his role on the team increase if he can push his OBP north of .350. Uribe, who's still only 27, has been shopped for two seasons but has not drawn a lot of interest; he'll play mostly against better left-handed pitchers.
Hitting seventh will be veteran left fielder Jim Jenkins (605 AB, .284/.369/.443, 23 HR, 72 RBI, 74 RS). Although the 34-year-old is in the twilight of his career, he's still a solid hitter and a capable outfielder. Jenkins, who is in the next-to-last year of his contract, may have problems producing next season but should have no problems posting an .800-.850 OPS this year.
Returning to the lineup after losing all of last season because of a herniated disk in his neck, shortstop Benito Sosa (131 AB, .260/.326/.435, 6 HR, 19 RBI, 19 RS) will hit eighth. Sosa's injury came at an inopportune time, as the 28-year-old had just signed a lucrative 3-year deal. Overall, he recovered from the injury fairly well, but his power and arm strength are noticeably reduced. Coaches aren't quite sure what to expect out of Sosa, but hope to see him hit about .260, drive in 80-90 runs, and play solid defense.
Philadelphia will turn over the bottom of the lineup to raw rookie Riedling, at least to start the season. The 24-year-old has yet to record an at-bat above single-A ball, but coaches like his defense, speed, and patience. Expect to see the youngster on a short leash if he struggles to start the season, however.
The semi-platoon arrangements at catcher and third base will give the Milkmen some bench flexibility, especially as Uribe and Dunn are both very strong defensively. Slick-fielding free agent shortstop Rigby could see a good deal of playing time if Sosa struggles in his return to the lineup or Riedling can't cut it in the majors. Additionally, outfielder and former Rule 5 success story Victor Costilla (332 AB, .289/.344/.512, 17 HR, 19 SB, 72 RBI, 53 RS) opened a lot of eyes with his impressive performance last season, and should get his share of playing time this year.
Pitching
For the first time, the opening day starter for the Milkmen will be someone other than Rafael Vidal or Gordon Justice, as Vidal (173 IP, 14-5, 1.19 WHIP, 3.32 ERA) has joined his former teammate in moving on to another franchise. Philadelphia passed on signing Vidal before the season started in hopes of inking him to a one-year deal, but the plan backfired as New Britain nabbed the veteran with a three-year contract. Vidal leaves Philadelphia holding most franchise pitching records and matching up well with NABCL's best. The 41-year-old southpaw started 247 games and posted a 112-64 record, 1.18 WHIP, and 3.77 ERA.
Other departures from Philadelphia's pitching staff include midseason trade acquisitions Miguel Almanza (129, 5-6, 1.33, 4.88) and Nerio Cannon (16, 0.80, 1.65). To fill these holes, the Milkmen added lefty swingman Al Badilla (135, 1.45, 5.31) and right-handed reliever Clarence Sears (37, 35/41 SV, 1.79, 5.79; 205 career saves) during free agency.
With Vidal gone, the opening day honor will pass to 28-year-old Haywood Jodie (206, 7-13, 1.40, 4.72). Jodie, a highly anticipated ace whose career plateaued after a rookie season elbow injury, is a workhorse who's racked up over 200 innings in each of the last two years. A control pitcher without great strikeout numbers, he's never going to match the standard set by Vidal or Justice but is a capable starter.
After Jodie, Philadelphia's pitching options are much hazier. Louis Durham (111, 9-8, 1.51, 5.32), a 24-year-old just off his rookie season, has great potential but needs to continue his improvement. 30-year-old Jamie Hunter (90, 1.51, 5.00) hasn't been able to maintain any year-to-year consistency, but coaches continue to hope that the six-year veteran can put it together. Geraldo Nunez (145, 7-13, 1.43, 4.82) will probably get a chance to duplicate his surprisingly workmanlike (in a good way) performance of last year. Longtime minor leaguer Rafael Moreno (28, 0-3, 1.92, 7.53) failed in his second consecutive shot at the majors, but will get another chance based on some solid offseason development. 23-year-old youngster Julio Rosado (125, 11-6, 1.31, 4.52) did well in his rookie debut, but coaches think his stuff plays better in relief. Veteran Badilla is also an option to start, although he's likely to begin the season in the bullpen.
Returning as closer will be righty Derrek Jensen (35, 33/35 SV, 1.39, 3.31). Jensen couldn't duplicate his All-Star numbers from S7 but was overall effective in the ninth. Veteran free agents Badilla and Sears will have important roles in the bullpen, as will sophomore Rosado. Other relievers include the inconsistent Bret Jackson (96, 11-3, 1.40, 5.42); Billy Robinson (75, 1.78, 7.41), coming off a truly disastrous season; and Tommy Brocail (42, 1.58, 6.17). Brocail is likely on a short leash, as several pitchers on the 40-man with major league experience wait at AAA, including William Simpson, Ronald Cota, and Tom Glanville.
Pitching Prospects
5 AA LHP Curtis Brennan, 21 (168, 13-9, 1.29, 3.75 AA; #5 last season). Great control and three excellent pitches; has trouble with RH hitters. ETA S10
4 AA RHP Rob Boone, 21 (36, 36/40 SV, 1.28, 3.75 HiA; Fireman/All-Star; unranked last season). Solid reliever; stuff just not good enough to close. ETA S10
3 AAA LHP Candy Titan, 22 (219, 13-4, 1.24, 4.23 AA; #2 last season). Great raw velocity, control, stamina; struggles in putting it all together. ETA S10
2 AAA RHP Earl Lincoln, 21 (34, 31/38 SV, 1.33, 4.41 AA; Fireman/All-Star; #3 last season). All-around great relief ace. ETA S9 if needed
1 AA RHP Del Valentin, 21 (155, 11-7, 1.27, 3.18 HiA; #1 last season). Great control and velocity; just needs to keep improving. ETA S11
Position Prospects
5 AAA RF Kurt Benjamin, 22 (554 AB, .309/.384/.536, 21 HR, 113 RBI, 109 RS AA; #4 last season). May top out as 4th OF, glove is questionable. ETA S9 if needed
4 LoA LF Trenidad Estrada, 20 (450 AB, .318/.422/.542, 20 HR, 91 RBI, 96 RS HiA; #2 last season). Contact hitter, good patience. ETA S11
3 LoA LF Rolando Machado, 19 (198 AB, .429/.511/.773, 15 HR, 72 RBI, 58 RS Rk; Gold Glove; drafted last season). Solid contact hitter, moderate power. ETA S12
2 LoA CF Shane Spivey, 19 (214 AB, .322/.407/.477, 46 RBI, 48 RS Rk; drafted last season). Excellent defense, leadoff/#2-type hitter. ETA S12
1 AA RF Hughie Phillips, 21 (496 AB, .319/.422/.641, 34 HR, 134 RBI, 127 RS HiA; All-Star; #1 last season). Future middle-of-the order hitter; glove only serious concern. ETA S10
While the Dead Milkmen aren't in danger of disappearing completely from the AL playoff picture any time soon, there are no guarantees heading into season nine. A potent offense will once more take the field at Citizens Bank Park, but a questionable pitching staff will lead to another season full of headaches for the Philadelphia faithful. Expect the Milkmen to remain in contention throughout the season, but the smart money will have them finishing only a few games above .500 again.
Lineup
The Milkmen offense lost only two players from S8: veteran CF Bobby Ellis (468 AB, .244/.306/.306, 21 SB, 50 RBI, 64 RS) and veteran SS Johnnie Sturtze (183 AB, .279/.343/.350, 19 RBI, 25 RS). Sturtze, a light-hitting defensive specialist, was a late-season acquistion as the Milkmen attempted to return to the playoffs; he performed to expectations but was not part of Philadelphia's long-term plans. The acquisition of Ellis was intended to shore up the Milkmen's weakness in center, but Ellis' bat (.612 OPS) and glove (7 E) seemingly disappeared last year. Management did not hesitate to decline the outfielder's S9 option.
These two holes on the Milkmen roster were filled with Rule 5 draftee Geoff Riedling, a speedy CF from the Pawtucket system (642 AB, .310/.382/.408, 93 SB, 88 RBI, 130 RS at HiA), and veteran shortstop Eric Rigby, acquired by trade from Los Angeles. Rigby, who will play a utility role, saw limited time in S8 (7/40, 1 RBI, 6 RS), but hit fairly well in S7 (544 AB, .268/.321/.417, 18 HR, 82 RBI, 64 RS) and has a career .706 OPS in the majors.
The most likely candidate to lead off for Philadelphia will be second baseman Everett Griffiths (579 AB, .269/.334/.358, 57 SB, 58 RBI, 101 RS). Management would prefer to hit Griffiths 9th, where his relatively low OBP is less damaging and his speed remains a weapon, but as a known quantity with consistent performance over the past two seasons, he'll probably get the nod on opening day. Count on an OBP around .330, at least 40 steals, and 100 runs out of Griffiths.
Hitting second will be superstar rightfielder Walker Wilkins (558 AB, .333/.420/.586, 33 HR, 105 RBI, 104 RS), an All-Star, Silver Slugger, and MVP finalist last season. The dynamic Wilkins signed a five-year deal with the Milkmen in the offseason which will keep him in maroon and gold through age 30. Although Wilkins is fairly injury-prone, he's widely considered the cornerstone of the Milkmen franchise, and is almost a lock for a 1.000 OPS, barring any time on the DL.
Last season's big free agent acquisition, designated hitter Homer Buddie (594 AB, .264/.342/.545, 46 HR, 114 RBI, 93 RS), will hit third again this year. While Buddie's numbers were not quite as spectacular as some hoped, his contribution was undoubtedly important to the Milkmen offense. A free agent next year, Buddie should check in with another 40-45 HR and 100-120 RBI.
Philadelphia's catcher tandem will hit cleanup behind Buddie. While Rolando Belliard (318 AB, .274/.325/.409, 8 HR, 41 RBI, 41 RS) and Sean Thomson (389 AB, .288/.349/.476, 18 HR, 76 RBI, 52 RS) each contributed fairly disappointing seasons, they should return to form in S9. Belliard is slightly better against lefties, while Thomson is a little more effective against right-handers. However, playing time for these two usually comes down to who's hot and who's not. Coaches expect the two to combine for about 30 HR and 110 RBI this year.
Hitting fifth is fan favorite and NABCL career home run leader Shooter Farrell (623 AB, .238/.317/.528, 54 HR, 109 RBI, 104 RS). While he continued to put up solid power and RBI numbers, Farrell's average and OBP plummeted last season. His declining production is the elephant in the room in Philadelphia, and with a team option for S10, this might be the 33-year-old slugger's swan song. He'll hit 50 out and knock in 100, but count on Farrell's batting average to sit well below .250 this year.
Look for third basemen Bernie Uribe (401 AB, .274/.314/.474, 20 HR, 22 SB, 59 RBI, 73 RS) and Jacob Dunn (476 AB, .261/.325/.471, 22 HR, 32 SB, 77 RBI, 81 RS) to share the sixth spot in the batting order. The 24-year-old Dunn made a solid rookie debut, and could see his role on the team increase if he can push his OBP north of .350. Uribe, who's still only 27, has been shopped for two seasons but has not drawn a lot of interest; he'll play mostly against better left-handed pitchers.
Hitting seventh will be veteran left fielder Jim Jenkins (605 AB, .284/.369/.443, 23 HR, 72 RBI, 74 RS). Although the 34-year-old is in the twilight of his career, he's still a solid hitter and a capable outfielder. Jenkins, who is in the next-to-last year of his contract, may have problems producing next season but should have no problems posting an .800-.850 OPS this year.
Returning to the lineup after losing all of last season because of a herniated disk in his neck, shortstop Benito Sosa (131 AB, .260/.326/.435, 6 HR, 19 RBI, 19 RS) will hit eighth. Sosa's injury came at an inopportune time, as the 28-year-old had just signed a lucrative 3-year deal. Overall, he recovered from the injury fairly well, but his power and arm strength are noticeably reduced. Coaches aren't quite sure what to expect out of Sosa, but hope to see him hit about .260, drive in 80-90 runs, and play solid defense.
Philadelphia will turn over the bottom of the lineup to raw rookie Riedling, at least to start the season. The 24-year-old has yet to record an at-bat above single-A ball, but coaches like his defense, speed, and patience. Expect to see the youngster on a short leash if he struggles to start the season, however.
The semi-platoon arrangements at catcher and third base will give the Milkmen some bench flexibility, especially as Uribe and Dunn are both very strong defensively. Slick-fielding free agent shortstop Rigby could see a good deal of playing time if Sosa struggles in his return to the lineup or Riedling can't cut it in the majors. Additionally, outfielder and former Rule 5 success story Victor Costilla (332 AB, .289/.344/.512, 17 HR, 19 SB, 72 RBI, 53 RS) opened a lot of eyes with his impressive performance last season, and should get his share of playing time this year.
Pitching
For the first time, the opening day starter for the Milkmen will be someone other than Rafael Vidal or Gordon Justice, as Vidal (173 IP, 14-5, 1.19 WHIP, 3.32 ERA) has joined his former teammate in moving on to another franchise. Philadelphia passed on signing Vidal before the season started in hopes of inking him to a one-year deal, but the plan backfired as New Britain nabbed the veteran with a three-year contract. Vidal leaves Philadelphia holding most franchise pitching records and matching up well with NABCL's best. The 41-year-old southpaw started 247 games and posted a 112-64 record, 1.18 WHIP, and 3.77 ERA.
Other departures from Philadelphia's pitching staff include midseason trade acquisitions Miguel Almanza (129, 5-6, 1.33, 4.88) and Nerio Cannon (16, 0.80, 1.65). To fill these holes, the Milkmen added lefty swingman Al Badilla (135, 1.45, 5.31) and right-handed reliever Clarence Sears (37, 35/41 SV, 1.79, 5.79; 205 career saves) during free agency.
With Vidal gone, the opening day honor will pass to 28-year-old Haywood Jodie (206, 7-13, 1.40, 4.72). Jodie, a highly anticipated ace whose career plateaued after a rookie season elbow injury, is a workhorse who's racked up over 200 innings in each of the last two years. A control pitcher without great strikeout numbers, he's never going to match the standard set by Vidal or Justice but is a capable starter.
After Jodie, Philadelphia's pitching options are much hazier. Louis Durham (111, 9-8, 1.51, 5.32), a 24-year-old just off his rookie season, has great potential but needs to continue his improvement. 30-year-old Jamie Hunter (90, 1.51, 5.00) hasn't been able to maintain any year-to-year consistency, but coaches continue to hope that the six-year veteran can put it together. Geraldo Nunez (145, 7-13, 1.43, 4.82) will probably get a chance to duplicate his surprisingly workmanlike (in a good way) performance of last year. Longtime minor leaguer Rafael Moreno (28, 0-3, 1.92, 7.53) failed in his second consecutive shot at the majors, but will get another chance based on some solid offseason development. 23-year-old youngster Julio Rosado (125, 11-6, 1.31, 4.52) did well in his rookie debut, but coaches think his stuff plays better in relief. Veteran Badilla is also an option to start, although he's likely to begin the season in the bullpen.
Returning as closer will be righty Derrek Jensen (35, 33/35 SV, 1.39, 3.31). Jensen couldn't duplicate his All-Star numbers from S7 but was overall effective in the ninth. Veteran free agents Badilla and Sears will have important roles in the bullpen, as will sophomore Rosado. Other relievers include the inconsistent Bret Jackson (96, 11-3, 1.40, 5.42); Billy Robinson (75, 1.78, 7.41), coming off a truly disastrous season; and Tommy Brocail (42, 1.58, 6.17). Brocail is likely on a short leash, as several pitchers on the 40-man with major league experience wait at AAA, including William Simpson, Ronald Cota, and Tom Glanville.
Pitching Prospects
5 AA LHP Curtis Brennan, 21 (168, 13-9, 1.29, 3.75 AA; #5 last season). Great control and three excellent pitches; has trouble with RH hitters. ETA S10
4 AA RHP Rob Boone, 21 (36, 36/40 SV, 1.28, 3.75 HiA; Fireman/All-Star; unranked last season). Solid reliever; stuff just not good enough to close. ETA S10
3 AAA LHP Candy Titan, 22 (219, 13-4, 1.24, 4.23 AA; #2 last season). Great raw velocity, control, stamina; struggles in putting it all together. ETA S10
2 AAA RHP Earl Lincoln, 21 (34, 31/38 SV, 1.33, 4.41 AA; Fireman/All-Star; #3 last season). All-around great relief ace. ETA S9 if needed
1 AA RHP Del Valentin, 21 (155, 11-7, 1.27, 3.18 HiA; #1 last season). Great control and velocity; just needs to keep improving. ETA S11
Position Prospects
5 AAA RF Kurt Benjamin, 22 (554 AB, .309/.384/.536, 21 HR, 113 RBI, 109 RS AA; #4 last season). May top out as 4th OF, glove is questionable. ETA S9 if needed
4 LoA LF Trenidad Estrada, 20 (450 AB, .318/.422/.542, 20 HR, 91 RBI, 96 RS HiA; #2 last season). Contact hitter, good patience. ETA S11
3 LoA LF Rolando Machado, 19 (198 AB, .429/.511/.773, 15 HR, 72 RBI, 58 RS Rk; Gold Glove; drafted last season). Solid contact hitter, moderate power. ETA S12
2 LoA CF Shane Spivey, 19 (214 AB, .322/.407/.477, 46 RBI, 48 RS Rk; drafted last season). Excellent defense, leadoff/#2-type hitter. ETA S12
1 AA RF Hughie Phillips, 21 (496 AB, .319/.422/.641, 34 HR, 134 RBI, 127 RS HiA; All-Star; #1 last season). Future middle-of-the order hitter; glove only serious concern. ETA S10
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Lords of the Rings - The Return of the Kings
Jacksonville (AP) - After an offseason spent basking in the glow of the franchise's first World Championship, it's back to work for the Jackals. The defending champs are basically standing pat, but get a full season from their deadline acquisitions and add a notable rookie to the squad. Without further adieu, the lineup:
The Lineup
Rodrigo Fernandez (2B) - All Rodrigo does is get on base, and that has earned him the leadoff spot for the first time in four seasons. He added some speed on the basepaths to his repertoire last season, and looks to be in scoring position early and often for the insane group of sluggers that follow him.
Ray Riley (LF) - The Face of the Franchise is in a contract year, and his status remains in question with so much talented COF youth in the minors. There is no question, however, about his ability to score and drive in runs. He's 10 RBIs short in Seasons 1 and 3 of posting 8 consecutive 100 run/100 RBI seasons. Nothing less than that is expected from him this season.
Brian Martin (1B) - The Fireplug may only be 5'6", but he packs a wallop. The defending Rookie of the Year put up some monster numbers, and his constant improvements ratings-wise through last season are an ominous sign for opposing pitchers this season.
Earl Maroth (CF) - Your prototypical slugger, it's homerun or nothing for the Jackals' center fielder. The third of four consecutive 40 homerun hitters in the lineup, his Gold Glove-caliber defense makes him an invaluable piece to the puzzle.
Geraldo Guardado (DH) - Jacksonville's all-time homerun leader keeps his familiar 5th spot in the lineup. When you've hit at least 58 homeruns in four of the last five seasons, there's really no need to tweak.
Marty Beckett/Curt Sherman (RF) - Playoff hero Beckett remains on the block, as Sherman appears to be the future in right field. There are worse problems for a franchise to have than how to split time between these two.
Midre Martin (SS) - Caught fire after a dismal first 2/3 of the season. His defense keeps him in the lineup, but a return to his offensive numbers from Season 6 would be more than welcome.
Louis Romero/Tori Elder (C) - The catcher platoon produced a .300 average, 24 HR and a Gold Glove for Elder last season. The Jackals are looking for more of the same this season.
Sarma Conine (3B) - "Instant" Sarma proved the critics right with an abyssmal season last year. He contributed almost nothing at the plate, but did manage to set the franchise record for steals while playing excellent defense. There is youth in the system chomping at the bit for a shot, and Mr. Conine needs to show vast statistical improvement if he hopes to hold them off.
The Bench
Flip Campbell was re-signed in the offseason to resume his role as defensive replacement extraordinaire, Joe Hume and Amp Reagan provide speed and defense, and whoever isn't playing in the RF platoon will provide the pop.
The Rotation
Sammy Bennett - Finally fully recovered from his disastrous elbow injury at the end of Season 6, Bennett is primed and ready to chew up innings and post 17+ wins, as is his specialty.
David Valentin - Without a doubt, the key to the Jackals' success last season. He followed up a very good regular season by being nearly unhittable in the postseason. With 3 "+" pitches and 2 more above average, look for continued success from the crafty lefty.
Ramiro Cornejo - Part of the rare "change of scenery" deal that works out for both clubs, Ramiro was acquired from the Chicago Beast at the deadline for Torey Alvarado and proceeded to anchor the middle of the rotation and earn a spot in the playoff three-man. As the only right-handed pitcher in the rotation, he'll be called upon to pitch against some of the tougher lineups in the league. All signs point toward him being ready for the challenge.
Jerrod Crawford - The Enigma has continued to increase the size of G.M. examinerebb's bald spot. The same pitcher who led the team in complete games and shutouts managed to go 9-14, posting the first losing full season for a Jacksonville starter in three years. He'll have the fans screaming every game - whether it's cheers or obscenities depends on the day.
Gary Stephenson - A calculated gamble as a deadline pick up last season, the hope was that his splits could overcome his propensity to give up a ton of fly balls, many of the long variety. He gave up a homer every 4 innings and never smelled the bump in the playoffs, so the bet was a loss in Season 8. He'll be given a full season to run the AL gauntlet and, at the very least, we'll find out how strong his neck muscles are. Could be the first ever HBD player to hit the DL with a whiplash injury.
The Bullpen
Eduardo Cruz/Harry Santiago (Long Relief) - These two form the bridge between between the starters and the shut-down back of the bullpen, and they do it very well. A sub-4.00 combined ERA in 103 innings is a nice luxury to have in this role.
Kareem Freeman/Jared DeShields/Edgar DeLeon (Setup) - The heart and soul of the staff, these guys make sure any lead is safe, and any deficit stands pat until the bats can warm up. Freeman has posted an unreal 25 wins in 2 seasons of setup duty, DeShields is an equally talented southpaw, and DeLeon absolutely murders lefties.
Bob Shaw (Closer) - The reduced pitch count paid off again, as he posted a second consecutive season with an ERA of 2.35 or better. He's in a contract year, and Freeman would love the closer role, but another solid season keeps him in a Jackals uniform until retirement and allows Kareem to continue to chew up innings in the setup role.
Summary
Jacksonville will continue to hit copious amounts of homeruns and shut teams down late, but the starting rotation is as big a question mark as it was going into last season. If the rotation can squeak them into the postseason again - watch out. That's every bit as big an "if" as it was for the team that hung for the 6 seed last season, however. And, in an uber-talented American League, that's not an "if" you want to have.
The Lineup
Rodrigo Fernandez (2B) - All Rodrigo does is get on base, and that has earned him the leadoff spot for the first time in four seasons. He added some speed on the basepaths to his repertoire last season, and looks to be in scoring position early and often for the insane group of sluggers that follow him.
Ray Riley (LF) - The Face of the Franchise is in a contract year, and his status remains in question with so much talented COF youth in the minors. There is no question, however, about his ability to score and drive in runs. He's 10 RBIs short in Seasons 1 and 3 of posting 8 consecutive 100 run/100 RBI seasons. Nothing less than that is expected from him this season.
Brian Martin (1B) - The Fireplug may only be 5'6", but he packs a wallop. The defending Rookie of the Year put up some monster numbers, and his constant improvements ratings-wise through last season are an ominous sign for opposing pitchers this season.
Earl Maroth (CF) - Your prototypical slugger, it's homerun or nothing for the Jackals' center fielder. The third of four consecutive 40 homerun hitters in the lineup, his Gold Glove-caliber defense makes him an invaluable piece to the puzzle.
Geraldo Guardado (DH) - Jacksonville's all-time homerun leader keeps his familiar 5th spot in the lineup. When you've hit at least 58 homeruns in four of the last five seasons, there's really no need to tweak.
Marty Beckett/Curt Sherman (RF) - Playoff hero Beckett remains on the block, as Sherman appears to be the future in right field. There are worse problems for a franchise to have than how to split time between these two.
Midre Martin (SS) - Caught fire after a dismal first 2/3 of the season. His defense keeps him in the lineup, but a return to his offensive numbers from Season 6 would be more than welcome.
Louis Romero/Tori Elder (C) - The catcher platoon produced a .300 average, 24 HR and a Gold Glove for Elder last season. The Jackals are looking for more of the same this season.
Sarma Conine (3B) - "Instant" Sarma proved the critics right with an abyssmal season last year. He contributed almost nothing at the plate, but did manage to set the franchise record for steals while playing excellent defense. There is youth in the system chomping at the bit for a shot, and Mr. Conine needs to show vast statistical improvement if he hopes to hold them off.
The Bench
Flip Campbell was re-signed in the offseason to resume his role as defensive replacement extraordinaire, Joe Hume and Amp Reagan provide speed and defense, and whoever isn't playing in the RF platoon will provide the pop.
The Rotation
Sammy Bennett - Finally fully recovered from his disastrous elbow injury at the end of Season 6, Bennett is primed and ready to chew up innings and post 17+ wins, as is his specialty.
David Valentin - Without a doubt, the key to the Jackals' success last season. He followed up a very good regular season by being nearly unhittable in the postseason. With 3 "+" pitches and 2 more above average, look for continued success from the crafty lefty.
Ramiro Cornejo - Part of the rare "change of scenery" deal that works out for both clubs, Ramiro was acquired from the Chicago Beast at the deadline for Torey Alvarado and proceeded to anchor the middle of the rotation and earn a spot in the playoff three-man. As the only right-handed pitcher in the rotation, he'll be called upon to pitch against some of the tougher lineups in the league. All signs point toward him being ready for the challenge.
Jerrod Crawford - The Enigma has continued to increase the size of G.M. examinerebb's bald spot. The same pitcher who led the team in complete games and shutouts managed to go 9-14, posting the first losing full season for a Jacksonville starter in three years. He'll have the fans screaming every game - whether it's cheers or obscenities depends on the day.
Gary Stephenson - A calculated gamble as a deadline pick up last season, the hope was that his splits could overcome his propensity to give up a ton of fly balls, many of the long variety. He gave up a homer every 4 innings and never smelled the bump in the playoffs, so the bet was a loss in Season 8. He'll be given a full season to run the AL gauntlet and, at the very least, we'll find out how strong his neck muscles are. Could be the first ever HBD player to hit the DL with a whiplash injury.
The Bullpen
Eduardo Cruz/Harry Santiago (Long Relief) - These two form the bridge between between the starters and the shut-down back of the bullpen, and they do it very well. A sub-4.00 combined ERA in 103 innings is a nice luxury to have in this role.
Kareem Freeman/Jared DeShields/Edgar DeLeon (Setup) - The heart and soul of the staff, these guys make sure any lead is safe, and any deficit stands pat until the bats can warm up. Freeman has posted an unreal 25 wins in 2 seasons of setup duty, DeShields is an equally talented southpaw, and DeLeon absolutely murders lefties.
Bob Shaw (Closer) - The reduced pitch count paid off again, as he posted a second consecutive season with an ERA of 2.35 or better. He's in a contract year, and Freeman would love the closer role, but another solid season keeps him in a Jackals uniform until retirement and allows Kareem to continue to chew up innings in the setup role.
Summary
Jacksonville will continue to hit copious amounts of homeruns and shut teams down late, but the starting rotation is as big a question mark as it was going into last season. If the rotation can squeak them into the postseason again - watch out. That's every bit as big an "if" as it was for the team that hung for the 6 seed last season, however. And, in an uber-talented American League, that's not an "if" you want to have.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Beasts of Burden
(Chicago - Associated Press) With Sacramento and Jacksonville securing long awaited titles in the past two NABCL seasons, the dubious distinction of best franchise to never win a NABCL title has been squarely passed to the Chicago Beast. The proud Second City franchise has been the NL North's best club, winning the divison crown four of the last five seasons, notching six post-season visits in eight years, and one trip to the World Series.
Yet the all important league title has eluded Chicago and last season's early exit at the hands of NL Champ, San Antonio, clearly demonstrated that the pressure to win in Chicago is ever-present. Recognizing this, management has focused its Season Nine efforts on a powerful collection of young and old baseball minds on the coaching staff to help counsel the vast array of talent on the big league roster.
And make no mistake, the Beast are loaded with top talent all across the roster. Face of the franchise, B.C. Parent enjoyed a breakout season eight campaign with batting .325 with 45 home runs and 132rbi. Parent is literally a "triple crown" waiting to happen and as he goes, so go the Beast.
But the Beast are no one trick pony. Joining Parent with a breakout campaign last year was James Suzuki, an NL All-Star, gold glove first basemen, and runner-up in the MVP voting. Rounding out Chicago's Murder's Row is season 8 acquistion Virgil Wilkerson. Wilkerson will move back to his original position, shortstop, for season Nine.
The rest of the offense features a steady collection of bombers and slashers that can take over a game at any momemnt including: Dale Hinske, Bruce Dawkins, Johnnie Root, Lou " Velvet Underground" Reed.
On the bump, the Beast feed off the veteran stylings of Felipe Matos, a spectacular 64-24 in his 3 ½ seasons with Chicago. Randy Corey was terrific last year and starts his second season in Chicago as the team's #2 in the rotation. Geriatric, Kevin Martin, signed a lucrative deal in the off-season to return to his orginal franchise. Youngsters, Ugueth Neruda and Vic Robertson, will fight for the four slot.
Beast GM Bullet6464 has always relied heavily on a strong pen for the team's success and this is no different. Despite the departure of NABCL all-time save leader Jeremy Damon, the Beast feature last season's NL Fireman of the Year Greg Hamilton, and two terrific set-up men in Adrian Shave and Dan Redding.
Season Nine will also feature the long awaited rookie campaign of Right Fielder, D'Angelo Lee. Lee takes over for the departed Cookie Prince, a longtime stalwart in Chicago.
Without further adieu, your season 9 Beast
1. Bruce Dawkins - CF: Excellent eye and contact numbers should score 100+ runs.
2. Johnny Root - 2b: Avg dropped in 7.0 but production numbers went up; still a good young, stick
3. James Suzuki - 1b: Should love the hitter friendly park at home and protection of Parent behind him.
4. BC Parent - LF: Tremendous sophomore campaign has some pundits talking triple crown.
5. Virgil Wilkerson - Has found a home in Chicago and should post terrific numbers in his first full season in the Windy City. Takes over at SS this season
6. D'Angelo Lee - RF: Young bomber takes over for Cookie Prince in right field.
7. Bernie Tatis - 3b:
8. Lou Reed - C:
SP Felipe Matos
SP Randy Corey
SP Kevin Martin
SP Torey Alvardo/Vic Robertson
SP Roberto Fernandez
Long Uegeth Neruda
Long John Lee
Set-up Craig Parker
Set-up Greg Hamilton
Set-up Dan Redding
Close Adrian Shave
Questions:
Can the offense carry the day, yet again?
Will the improved coaching staff and its focus on pitching bear fruit on and off the field?
Can the Beast maintain its stranglehold on the NL North crown?
Will the draft bear some future prospects for the big league club?
Yet the all important league title has eluded Chicago and last season's early exit at the hands of NL Champ, San Antonio, clearly demonstrated that the pressure to win in Chicago is ever-present. Recognizing this, management has focused its Season Nine efforts on a powerful collection of young and old baseball minds on the coaching staff to help counsel the vast array of talent on the big league roster.
And make no mistake, the Beast are loaded with top talent all across the roster. Face of the franchise, B.C. Parent enjoyed a breakout season eight campaign with batting .325 with 45 home runs and 132rbi. Parent is literally a "triple crown" waiting to happen and as he goes, so go the Beast.
But the Beast are no one trick pony. Joining Parent with a breakout campaign last year was James Suzuki, an NL All-Star, gold glove first basemen, and runner-up in the MVP voting. Rounding out Chicago's Murder's Row is season 8 acquistion Virgil Wilkerson. Wilkerson will move back to his original position, shortstop, for season Nine.
The rest of the offense features a steady collection of bombers and slashers that can take over a game at any momemnt including: Dale Hinske, Bruce Dawkins, Johnnie Root, Lou " Velvet Underground" Reed.
On the bump, the Beast feed off the veteran stylings of Felipe Matos, a spectacular 64-24 in his 3 ½ seasons with Chicago. Randy Corey was terrific last year and starts his second season in Chicago as the team's #2 in the rotation. Geriatric, Kevin Martin, signed a lucrative deal in the off-season to return to his orginal franchise. Youngsters, Ugueth Neruda and Vic Robertson, will fight for the four slot.
Beast GM Bullet6464 has always relied heavily on a strong pen for the team's success and this is no different. Despite the departure of NABCL all-time save leader Jeremy Damon, the Beast feature last season's NL Fireman of the Year Greg Hamilton, and two terrific set-up men in Adrian Shave and Dan Redding.
Season Nine will also feature the long awaited rookie campaign of Right Fielder, D'Angelo Lee. Lee takes over for the departed Cookie Prince, a longtime stalwart in Chicago.
Without further adieu, your season 9 Beast
1. Bruce Dawkins - CF: Excellent eye and contact numbers should score 100+ runs.
2. Johnny Root - 2b: Avg dropped in 7.0 but production numbers went up; still a good young, stick
3. James Suzuki - 1b: Should love the hitter friendly park at home and protection of Parent behind him.
4. BC Parent - LF: Tremendous sophomore campaign has some pundits talking triple crown.
5. Virgil Wilkerson - Has found a home in Chicago and should post terrific numbers in his first full season in the Windy City. Takes over at SS this season
6. D'Angelo Lee - RF: Young bomber takes over for Cookie Prince in right field.
7. Bernie Tatis - 3b:
8. Lou Reed - C:
SP Felipe Matos
SP Randy Corey
SP Kevin Martin
SP Torey Alvardo/Vic Robertson
SP Roberto Fernandez
Long Uegeth Neruda
Long John Lee
Set-up Craig Parker
Set-up Greg Hamilton
Set-up Dan Redding
Close Adrian Shave
Questions:
Can the offense carry the day, yet again?
Will the improved coaching staff and its focus on pitching bear fruit on and off the field?
Can the Beast maintain its stranglehold on the NL North crown?
Will the draft bear some future prospects for the big league club?
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