The Sacramento Terrible Two's are getting in the habit of having succesful years turn unsuccesful very quickly. In Season 9, the Two's won the NL West for the 6th consecutive season, only to once again lose in the NLCS; one step from the World Series. During this amazing run, the Two's have only 1 World Series win (in its only appearance) to show for their work. The team is getting older, salaries are rising, and the fans are beginning to get restless as the rest of the NL West (and the National League in general) are catching (or caught) up.
Offseason Changes
There were two notable changes in the offseason as long-time Two Vinny Granger was allowed to leave via free agency. Vinny was a former All-Star, Silver Slugger winner, and a popular player with the fans. He hit .306 during his career with the Two's and carried a obp above .380+. Unfortunately, at 31 years old, and his trips to the DL coming more frequently, he was expendable. He had 4 DL trips in his career, but 2 in the last 3 seasons, with last years trip costing him most of the season. He also lost his range in CF and there was simply no place to play him. Enjoy the bitter cold in Fargo Vinny.
The other significant Two to leave was Danys Ortiz. Acquired before season 9 from Boston, he was an intregal piece to last years team. He played CF and 2B, covering most of the year for the aforementioned Vinny Granger, and was very productive with the bat. Again, we needed to cut costs a bit, and with his age creeping into the mid-30's, it was a one and done for Ortiz.
Additions
The Two's, normally very active in the Trade Market were quiet this offseason; although rumors abound they are working on several deals as we speak. The two main additions in the Capital City are rookies Cyrus Curtis, and the highly touted Harry Paleaz (pronounced just like a 4 year old begging Mom for 15 more minutes of TV before bed...Puuuuuuulllleeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzz). But more on them later.
Lineup
2B-Dario Moran: As a rookie in his 1st full year in Sacramento he put up eye popping numbers. In 325 ab's, he hit for a .335 average with a .390 obp, while scoring 63 runs in only 79 games. He also showed developing "pop" as he hit 9 hr's in the pitcher friendly Raley Field. The 2B job is his and he will lead off and provide the top of the order spark for the Two's.
C-Mitchell Drew/Brandon Nixon: The two spot in the lineup will be held down temporarily by the catcher tandem of Brandon Nixon and Mitchell Drew. Both are studs, but with the Two's yet to make a deal for CF (or to move one of them), they will platoon. In the end, it is a rare spot in the lineup for a slow moving catcher, and the will hit lower in the order as well, but for now they will get on base and give the meat of the order plenty of rbi opportunities. Nixon is a 4-time All-Star and a 2-time winner of the Catcher's Silver Slugger award. Drew is only 25 but is a .315 career hitter with a .397 obp in 3 full seasons.
RF-Albert Piper: Along wth Otis Pavlov, Piper is the face of the franchise. After a devastating injury during his first year in the bigs (season 3) that threatened his career, he has done nothing but shine on and off the field. On the field he is a 6-time All-Star, has won the Silver Slugger in LF and RF, and was the season 5 NL MVP. He turns 30 this season but shows no signs of decline, putting up a .324 average last year to go along with a .390 obp, 42 hr's, 129 rbi, and 115 runs scored. One of the best #3 hitters in the game. Period. Rumors are also circulating that Piper's name has been mentioned in talks with other teams, but at press time no deal has been made or any rumors substantiated.
1B(LF)-Dave Glaus: When Glaus was taken with the 17th pick in the season 4 draft, the organization was excited, but little did they know what a gem they had truly found. In only his 2nd full season in the majors, Glaus won the Silver Slugger for LF. In season 7, he hit 34 hr's as he began the year in AAA. His "sophomore slump" in season 8 produced a 55 hr season, and last year he hit 48 bombs while driving in 136. This is great, we know he has power, but what really has the Two's excited is the fact that his batting average has risen each year in the bigs from .261, to .272, to .294 last season. The sky is the limit for Mr. Glaus.
3B-Otis Pavlov: Otis Pavlov won his 2nd NL MVP (season 6) last year and is ready to tear up the National League this season. The Two's were cruising towards the NL Pennant when he suffered an injury which ended his season. His absence versus San Antonio was one of the reasons the offense sputtered and the team never recovered. He has the credentials, a 7-time All-Star, 5-time Silver Slugger, and a Gold Glove, and he also has two 50/30 (hr's/sb's) seasons and a 40/40 season. He can do it all, but what he really wants is for the Two's to hang another World Series championship banner in Raley Field. He also shows no signs of slowing down as his .314/.364, 51 hr, 147 rbi, 134 runs scored, 24 sb season was one of his best.
LF-Harry Pelaez: The rookie phenom is here!!! The fans, as well as the organization, have placed a lot on the shoulders of the 22-year old potential 40/40 man. He played well during his "cup of coffee" with the team in season 9 hitting a whopping .340, with a .436 obp, while hitting 3 hr's and driving in 6 in 13 games (47 ab's). He retained his rookie status and should contend for Rookie of the Year honors. He is hitting 6th so the pressure will be minimized a bit, and with the big boppers in front of him, he should have many opportunities to drive in runs, and should see great pitches to hit.
CF-Vicente Soto: After spending most of 7 seasons in the minors, he was a utility man off the bench last year and put up very respectable numbers. In 132 ab's, he hit .288/.369 while stealing 12 bases (only 1 cs) and scoring 25 runs. He is the starter by default since Sactown was unable to make a move for an established young star, but he is the starter nonetheless; for now at least.
SS-R.J.Lee: R.J. won a gold glove at every stop he made throughout the minor leagues, and the Major Leagues were no different. He won his first SS Gold Glove last year and he is a true wiz with the leather. The Two's are firm believers in defense first at the SS position, and in turn, that is all they get out of Mr. Lee. Even with his .207 average last year, the Two's still score over 900 runs as the rest of their offense is potent. He will once again be the man in the 8th spot, if there is such a thing. Another rumor is out there floating that the Two's are looking at a low level minor league SS who hits for average, power, and has the glove of Lee. Time will tell if the rumor is a rumor, or there is more to it.
Bench
The bench is solid with Roger Gonzalez (C) the first bat up in clutch situations, no one will ever forget his walk-off single to give the Two's their World Series Championship in Season 7. He could start for many teams around the league. Felix Drew is a another defense only SS and will come in for defensive replacement late in games. Dan Washington is a former Rule V pick who has another potent bat, and Byron Swan (a Rule V pick this year) can play CF and 2B and should provide a nice pinch hit option. The Two's will also have one of either Mitchell Drew or Brandon Nixon on the bench as the other platoons each night which will really help in critical game situations.
Rotation
Albert Boone: The unquestioned ace of the staff, and one of the all-time best pitchers in the NABCL. He gets better with each passing year and his 165 wins are tied with Lenny Singleton for the most in history. He is coming off of 3 straight 20-win seasons posted his best career ERA last year. He also is coming off of 3 straight 300+ inning seasons. He will continue to give the Two's a quality start every 4th day and hopefully lead them into the postseason for the 7th year in a row.
Fausto Bennett: He doesn't get a lot of publicity, but National League hitters know who he is. The 3-time All-Star is coming off a 17-7 campaign with a 2.84 ERA and .167 OAV. He has 2 20-win seasons on his resume already and with this offensive lineup behind him he may take over as the Two's ace anyday. His 230+ innings will be counted on greatly this season.
Alex Schmidt: Schmitty will always hold a spot in fan's hearts as he was the Two's first ever draft pick (#2 overall) in season 1. In season 8 he had a 24-win campaign and slipped last year to 17 wins, but he is another innings eater who keeps his team in games and gives up less hits than innings. He is the ace on most staffs but in Sacramento he is the #3 starter. He dislocated his shoulder (clean...no ligament or rotator cuff damage) in spring training trying to put sun tan lotion on his back, but will only miss 3 starts during the regular season.
Cyrus Curtis: The #4 spot in the rotation goes to rookie Cyrus Curtis. The season 6 1st round pick was acquired in a trade early in season 9 and is highly regarded within the organization. In 26 starts in AAA last year he posted a 3.22 ERA and in 4 starts with the big club during a September call-up he went 3-0. His splits (82/88) and pinpoint control (87) should make him the next in line of great Two's pitchers. He could very easily join teammate Harry Pelaez in consideration for Rookie of the Year honors at seasons end.
Miguel Polanco: Rumor has it that Mr. Polanco is on the trade block but nothing has happened yet. Until then, he will man the backend of the rotation and put up solid numbers. Acquired in the Danys Ortiz deal with Boston before last season, Miguel put up solid numbers going 13-5 with a 3.60 ERA. He was signed to a 2-year extension at the beginning of the season but year two is a player option.
Bullpen
The bullpen is not used as much as normal bullpens but when they do pitch they are among the best. Closer Zephyr Johnson is a 2-inning closer (very rare nowadays) and he has 84 saves the last 3 years. His 10-win, 28 save season last year had up in the top 5 for the Cy Young Award at the end. He can pitch over 100-innings and is a rock the Two's lean on heavily. The setup men are led by crowd favorite Billy Ray Politte. He was once a dominant closer, and could be again, but in Sacramento his role is to set up Big Z. Many teams have inquired about his availability and he would put up huge save numbers elsewhere. But he doesnt complain, which is a testament to his desire to do whatever the team needs to win. Cy Dillon and Juan Martin are the other setup men and they do a fantastic job as well, giving up less hits than innings and keeping the ball in the park and men off the bases. The long men are led by Randy Delucci, who would start anywhere else in the league. He will eventually start for the Two's as players move on or get traded, but for now the bullpen calls; but to have a great #3 starter as your long man can only help you win games. Duke Myers is the long B and Rule V pick Jose Rivera round out the 'pen.
Outlook
The Two's look like the favorite to win the NL West again, but the gap has certainly gotten smaller. Honolulu has a great young team, and the best pitcher in the game, and will give a huge push. Portland is the Two's main rival and they are always in the playoffs, and Colorado Springs won 90-games and was the 3rd NL West team to make the playoffs. Ultimately, the window is closing on the team, how fast it is closing is yet to be determined, but the organization is beginning to make moves to secure the long term health of the team. I would look for a few subtle moves throughout the season and the offseason to be a busy one as the team is reshaped and made younger. For now, our sights are set for one thing and one thing only. The World Series and the franchises second championship ring. Anything else would be a disaster.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Season 10 Rookie Class: Part 1 - Top AL Rookies
Each new season sees a new group of young players bust onto the seen in the North American Baseball Champions League - highly touted rookies that are bringing the promise of youth, talent, and fresh legs, arms, and minds to their parent big league clubs. The NABCL has a great history of these rookies who have transformed their first seasons' success into league stardom. This group of AL rookies is hoping it can follow in the footsteps of the the greats like Ray Riley, Ricardo Johnson and Walker Wilkins.
7 AL rookies to watch for season 10:
Michael Chiba, 2B - Pawtucket. Michael Chiba burst onto the scene in the NABCL in season 9 and announced his presence with authority. That rare International Free Agent that comes stateside ML ready, Chiba - from Kobe, Japan - hit 3 HR and posted an 1.183 OPS in his 7 game audition in late September of season 9 with the Patriots big club and entered season 10 with the starting 2B position all but locked up. All Chiba does is hit line drives all over the park and only swing at strikes while showing impressive range around second base for such a young player. Chiba must be considered the favorite to win the ROY award in the AL this season as he is penciled into the #3 spot in the lineup for the up and coming Patriots.
Victor Fernandez, SP - Pawtucket. Chiba isn't the only rookie expected to do big things this season for the Patriots. Season 8's #1 overall pick, 22 year old right handed starter Victor Fernandez makes the jump from AA to the Big Club this season. Fernandez commanded a $4m signing bonus after Pawtucket picked him #1, but has proven to be worth it so far winning 20 of 32 decisions in the minor leagues while striking out better than a hitter an inning (283 K's in 273 IP). Fernandez is one of four rookie hurlers on Pawtucket's staff, but the biggest expectations of the bunch are obviously on him. Exiting Spring Training as the #2 pitcher in the rotation, we should see just what he's made of soon enough.
Earl Lincoln, Closer - Philadelphia. It isn't often that a rookie comes out of Spring Training with the closers job at the ML level, but that's just what Philadelphia's 22 year old righty Earl Lincoln is doing. Lincoln, a supplemental 1st round pick for the Milkmen back in season 6 out of Northeast Guliford High in McLeansville, NC, has breezed through Philly's minor league system posting cumulative numbers that impress: 2.87 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 112 saves in 127 save opps, 130 K's in 135 IP, 4 Reliever of the Year awards and 3 All-Star appearances. He showed great velocity and control of all 4 of his pitches (4-seam fastball, slider, curve and change up) this spring - though he primarily relies on his fastball and slider - and heads into the regular season as the anchor of the bullpen for a Philadelphia team that has won their division 3 of the past 5 seasons.
Norman Harris, Catcher - Boston. The 24 year old Harris came to Boston in a pre season trade in season 9 and quickly proved his worth in AAA, earning a promotion to the big club even before rosters expanded on September 1. In 29 games and110 ABs, Harris showed the promise at the plate that the Colonials had been sorely lacking over the past few seasons, hitting .336/.365/.464 while doing a passable job handling the young Boston pitching staff. Being a RH hitter in Fenway definitely helps his stock, as does his status as the starter for Boston.
Al Mendez, 2B - El Paso. former 3rd round pick Al Mendez has that one skill that scouts always say "you can't teach" - speed. And lots of it. Mendez was fast in High School and has always showed promise on the basepaths as a Pro, but he took it a step further last season in AAA as he swiped an amazing 165 bags. No, that isn't a type. Though that pure number alone is astounding, the 3 stats that are even more amazing are that Mendez's steal total actually bested his HIT total (154), he was only caught FOUR times, and that he stole those 165 bases in 127 games. Mendez wisely doesn't try to do too much at the plate and usually slaps the ball around (only 118 career XBH and 9 career HR), but he has used that technique to accumulate a .332 career average in the minor leagues. Look for him to burn around the bases for the Ultraviolence this season.
Mo McFeely, RP - Washington D.C. The defending AL East Champs, the D.C. Federals, have a few new faces on the ballclub this season, but perhaps none will prove as important as the former 1st round pick from Chicago, righty reliever Mo McFeely. McFeely has a good fastball and slider, very good control, and a rubber arm. No doubt Washington will lean on this rookie heavily in the late innings as they aim to improve on their 4.83 team ERA and 15 blown saves from a season ago.
Tex Leach, 1B - Norfolk. We stay in the East to find another young impact player - potential power bat Tex Leach. This 2nd round pick from season 6 hit 123 HR in his 4 minor league stops winning a minor league MVP and 3 Silver Slugger awards along the way. Leach pairs a great batting eye with his power and Norfolk is counting on him to be a big presence in their lineup this season.
7 AL rookies to watch for season 10:
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Michael Chiba, 2B - Pawtucket. Michael Chiba burst onto the scene in the NABCL in season 9 and announced his presence with authority. That rare International Free Agent that comes stateside ML ready, Chiba - from Kobe, Japan - hit 3 HR and posted an 1.183 OPS in his 7 game audition in late September of season 9 with the Patriots big club and entered season 10 with the starting 2B position all but locked up. All Chiba does is hit line drives all over the park and only swing at strikes while showing impressive range around second base for such a young player. Chiba must be considered the favorite to win the ROY award in the AL this season as he is penciled into the #3 spot in the lineup for the up and coming Patriots.
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Victor Fernandez, SP - Pawtucket. Chiba isn't the only rookie expected to do big things this season for the Patriots. Season 8's #1 overall pick, 22 year old right handed starter Victor Fernandez makes the jump from AA to the Big Club this season. Fernandez commanded a $4m signing bonus after Pawtucket picked him #1, but has proven to be worth it so far winning 20 of 32 decisions in the minor leagues while striking out better than a hitter an inning (283 K's in 273 IP). Fernandez is one of four rookie hurlers on Pawtucket's staff, but the biggest expectations of the bunch are obviously on him. Exiting Spring Training as the #2 pitcher in the rotation, we should see just what he's made of soon enough.
Earl Lincoln, Closer - Philadelphia. It isn't often that a rookie comes out of Spring Training with the closers job at the ML level, but that's just what Philadelphia's 22 year old righty Earl Lincoln is doing. Lincoln, a supplemental 1st round pick for the Milkmen back in season 6 out of Northeast Guliford High in McLeansville, NC, has breezed through Philly's minor league system posting cumulative numbers that impress: 2.87 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 112 saves in 127 save opps, 130 K's in 135 IP, 4 Reliever of the Year awards and 3 All-Star appearances. He showed great velocity and control of all 4 of his pitches (4-seam fastball, slider, curve and change up) this spring - though he primarily relies on his fastball and slider - and heads into the regular season as the anchor of the bullpen for a Philadelphia team that has won their division 3 of the past 5 seasons.
Norman Harris, Catcher - Boston. The 24 year old Harris came to Boston in a pre season trade in season 9 and quickly proved his worth in AAA, earning a promotion to the big club even before rosters expanded on September 1. In 29 games and110 ABs, Harris showed the promise at the plate that the Colonials had been sorely lacking over the past few seasons, hitting .336/.365/.464 while doing a passable job handling the young Boston pitching staff. Being a RH hitter in Fenway definitely helps his stock, as does his status as the starter for Boston.
Al Mendez, 2B - El Paso. former 3rd round pick Al Mendez has that one skill that scouts always say "you can't teach" - speed. And lots of it. Mendez was fast in High School and has always showed promise on the basepaths as a Pro, but he took it a step further last season in AAA as he swiped an amazing 165 bags. No, that isn't a type. Though that pure number alone is astounding, the 3 stats that are even more amazing are that Mendez's steal total actually bested his HIT total (154), he was only caught FOUR times, and that he stole those 165 bases in 127 games. Mendez wisely doesn't try to do too much at the plate and usually slaps the ball around (only 118 career XBH and 9 career HR), but he has used that technique to accumulate a .332 career average in the minor leagues. Look for him to burn around the bases for the Ultraviolence this season.
Mo McFeely, RP - Washington D.C. The defending AL East Champs, the D.C. Federals, have a few new faces on the ballclub this season, but perhaps none will prove as important as the former 1st round pick from Chicago, righty reliever Mo McFeely. McFeely has a good fastball and slider, very good control, and a rubber arm. No doubt Washington will lean on this rookie heavily in the late innings as they aim to improve on their 4.83 team ERA and 15 blown saves from a season ago.
Tex Leach, 1B - Norfolk. We stay in the East to find another young impact player - potential power bat Tex Leach. This 2nd round pick from season 6 hit 123 HR in his 4 minor league stops winning a minor league MVP and 3 Silver Slugger awards along the way. Leach pairs a great batting eye with his power and Norfolk is counting on him to be a big presence in their lineup this season.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Philadelphia Dead Milkmen: Season 10 Outlook
Season 9 saw the Dead Milkmen post a solid campaign, winning 90 games and recording their third AL North pennant in the last five years. Unfortunately, Philadelphia fell short in the playoffs, losing a tough series to the Anaheim Natural Disasters in five games.
Philadelphia will field a potent offense once more in the decennial NABCL season, with veteran first baseman Shooter Farrell soon to become the first ever 500-home run hitter in the league and a deep lineup led by perennial MVP candidate Walker Wilkins. Pitching, as always, will be a question mark in the bandbox that is Citizens Bank Park however. The Milkmen have to expect another playoff appearance in S10, and falling short would be painful.
Lineup
Gone from the Milkmen lineup for S10 are several big names. Third baseman Bernie Uribe (225 AB, .240/.302/.378, 6 HR, 27 RBI, 32 RS) was released instead of being offered arbitration; he had recently lost his regular role as a third baseman and couldn't crack the lineup anywhere else. Designated hitter Homer Buddie (561 AB, .285/.367/.556, 42 HR, 117 RBI, 103 RS) led the team in RBI last season and was a great value signing for two years, hitting 88 homers and driving in 231 runs, but Philadelphia decided to go in another direction for S10. Catcher Rolando Belliard (351 AB, .282/.350/.504, 20 HR, 74 RBI, 51 RS) had an excellent 7-year career in Philadelphia, hitting 160 home runs and posting an .891 OPS, but was considered too expensive as only a platoon player. The final, and perhaps most significant despite his short stay in Philadelphia, departure was second baseman Teddy Fischbach (270 AB, .319/.364/.463, 4 HR, 21 2B, 28 HR, 50 RS in PHI). Acquired midseason after previously playing for both San Diego and Boston during S9, Fischbach's presence leading off the Milkmen lineup was a major factor in the team's playoff push. His weak playoff performance (.534 OPS, 3 RS) and doubts about his ability to play a full 162 games led to his departure.
Two veteran free agents were brought in to plug these holes: second baseman Steve Rivers (503 AB, .231/.304/.306, 8 HR, 51 RBI, 63 RS) from San Antonio and first baseman/designated hitter Bennie Castillo (464 AB, .291/.359/.498, 23 HR, 91 RBI, 62 RS) from Las Vegas.
Rivers, despite his struggles last season, is almost certain to be leading off on opening day. Coaches think he can regain the All-Star form he flashed in S5-6, when he scored 101 runs in back-to-back seasons, posting .380 and .390 OBPs. Rivers has little power, but is a patient hitter who makes good contact. Coaches also like his defense, and consider him a significant upgrade compared to recent Milkmen 2Bs.
Hitting second for Philadelphia is phenom right fielder Walker Wilkins (605 AB, .342/.421/.549, 25 HR, 42 2B, 113 RBI, 124 RS). A perennial All-Star, Silver Slugger, and MVP finalist, last year was no exception for the 27-year-old superstar. Wilkins is among the most dominant hitters in the AL, and Philadelphia is counting on another dynamic season.
The middle of the lineup is slightly in flux, with three potential candidates, each filling a slightly different role. Third-year third baseman Jacob Dunn (491 AB, .303/.359/.544, 27 HR, 87 RBI, 96 RS) had a breakthrough sophomore season, and at his best offers a good power and speed combination. Catcher Sean Thomson (.299/.365/.548, 26 HR, 88 RBI, 64 RS) will take over primary catcher duties with Belliard's departure; he's never played more than 120 games but will have a much more significant role in S10.
Newly signed Bennie Castillo, likely to serve as designated hitter, doesn't have exceptional power, but with his great contact should easily hit 25 bombs at CBP. Finally, veteran first baseman Shooter Farrell (626 AB, .270/.353/.514, 42 HR, 106 RBI, 108 RS) continued to post good numbers last year, recovering from a .238 average in S8. Farrell, the NABCL's most prolific and durable slugger, has played 162 games in six consecutive seasons and knocked in at least 100 runs every year of his career. He'll hit his 500th home run early this season, and should score his 1,000th run around the All-Star break.
Erstwhile shortstop Benito Sosa (531 AB, .228/.295/.437, 30 HR, 82 RBI, 74 RS) transitioned to centerfield last season after an injury affected his arm strength. Sosa is a free-swinger with good power and, therefore, wildly fluctuating numbers, but is a reliable 25-30 HR threat at the bottom of the lineup. Replacing Sosa at short was trade acquisition Eric Rigby (393 AB, .300/.352/.425, 8 HR, 57 RBI, 56 RS), a light-hitting defensive specialist. Rigby exceeded expectations by posting career numbers last year, but should still hit enough to justify his glove.
Occupying the bench are veteran minor league catcher (and S1 6th-round draft pick) Clay Webster (310 AB, .323/.405/.490, 12 HR, 49 RBI, 46 RS at AAA), a career .319 hitter in the minors with fair defense; 2B/CF Geoff Riedling (228 AB, .241/.312/.268, 21/24 SB), last year's Rule 5 pick and a pinch-running specialist; COF Victor Costilla (207 AB, .357/.420/.565, 7 HR, 31 RBI, 49 RS), a quintessential fourth outfielder who's hit exceptionally well in limited duty the last two seasons; and rookie COF Kurt Benjamin (541 AB, .277/.353/.449, 16 HR, 35 2B, 73 RBI, 86 RS at AAA), a 3rd-round draft pick in S5 who'll get a chance to stick at the majors as a switch-hitting utility bat.
Pitching
Philadelphia said goodbye to three starters and two relievers after S9 as the team continues to try to find a successful pitching strategy for CBP. Al Badilla (158 IP, 12-11, 1.58 WHIP, 5.75 ERA) started the season well but will ultimately be remembered for his momentum-killing 2 IP/6 R performance in the playoffs. Allan Philips (39 IP, 2-4, 1.46 WHIP, 6.13 ERA for PHI) was acquired midseason by trade, but spent most of his time in Philadelphia on the DL and was generally unimpressive.
Rubber-armed reliever Billy Robinson (84 IP, 6-3, 5/7 SV, 1.51 WHIP, 5.34 ERA) was unable for the second-straight season to recover the form that made him so effective in S6-7. Clarence Sears (70 IP, 4-4, 15/19 SV, 1.31 WHIP, 3.60 ERA), a veteran FA pickup last year, pitched better than anticipated and even served as a solid emergency closer but was showing age-related decline.
The only notable free agent pickup for S10 is veteran Ralph Decker (173 IP, 10-11, 1.61 WHIP, 5.35 ERA for Fargo), who has never pitched particularly well over his career but was considered worth a shot as a long reliever or emergency starter. Also returning to Philadelphia is 39-year-old fan favorite Gordon Justice (144 IP, 1.39 WHIP, 3.87 ERA), the once-dominant Milkmen starter. Justice missed all of S8 to injury and is far from his heyday, but can still pitch a little and will close out his long pro career in the friendly confines of CBP.
Starting his second opening day will be 29-year-old Haywood Jodie (211 IP, 16-10, 1.36 WHIP, 4.85 ERA), who has developed into a reliable workhorse, starting 96 games and pitching 622 innings over the last three seasons. Fellow 16-game winner Louis Durham (194 IP, 16-10, 1.42 WHIP, 4.58 ERA) looks to improve in his second full major league season. At only 25, Durham still has room to improve but has pitched effectively in his year and a half in Philadelphia.
After Jodie and Durham, the rotation essentially consists of whoever's pitching well at the moment. The two most likely starters are Rafael Moreno (183 IP, 13-12, 1.55 WHIP, 5.34 ERA), who improved from consecutive 7.50+ ERA seasons but remains a serviceable pitcher at best, and Ronald Cota (92 IP, 4-4, 1.58 WHIP, 5.24 ERA), who started only ten games and was demoted during S9. Geraldo Nunez (24 IP, 1-2, 1.88 WHIP, 9.00 ERA) and William Simpson (41 IP, 3-2, 1.44 WHIP, 5.05 ERA), who both pitched most of the season at AAA but had short stints in the majors, are other possibilities, as is the free agent Decker. Finally, 23-year-old rookie southpaw Candy Titan (208 IP, 16-8, 1.26 WHIP, 3.80 ERA at AAA) will make his major league debut some time this season. Titan has compiled a solid 58-28 record over five minor league seasons, but there are questions about how well he'll pitch in Philadelphia.
The back of the bullpen is anchored by Derrek Jensen (22 IP, 14/16 SV, 0.82 WHIP, 2.86 ERA), who missed most of last season to injury but still looks to have some gas in the tank at age 36. Darrell Buckley (53 IP, 1.37 WHIP, 4.73 ERA) was picked up in a trade last season and pitched effectively, as did five-year veteran Bret Jackson (77 IP, 1.31 WHIP, 4.40 ERA). Julio Rosado (62 IP, 3/3 SV, 0.95 WHIP, 3.03 ERA) had an excellent season cut short by injury last year; he returns as a much less dominant but hopefully still effective reliever.
The Milkmen are particularly excited about 22-year-old rookie Earl Lincoln (37 IP, 32/34 SV, 0.76 WHIP, 1.22 ERA at AAA; All-Star and Fireman of the Year), the potential star closer of the future making his major league debut. Lincoln will get at least a shot at closing for the Milkmen this year, although the veterans in the bullpen will be available if he struggles.
Top Pitching Prospects
Last season's top 5: Valentin, Lincoln (ML), Titan (ML), Boone, Brennan.
5 RHP Alex Ibanez (21, HiA): 57 IP, 3-2, 1.24 WHIP, 3.30 ERA at Rk. ETA S12+
4 LHP Curtis Brennan (22, AAA): 122 IP, 9-8, 1.16 WHIP, 2.95 ERA at AAA. ETA as needed
3 LHP Victor Canseco (20, AA): 20 IP, 14/17 SV, 1.48 WHIP, 4.87 ERA, Fireman of the Year at Rk. ETA S12
2 RHP Rob Boone (22, AAA): 68 IP, 33/35 SV, 1.24 WHIP, 3.71 ERA, All-Star, Fireman of the Year at AA. ETA as needed
1 RHP Del Valentin (22, AAA): 158 IP, 16-5, 1.32 WHIP, 3.97 ERA, All-Star, All-Star Game MVP at AA. ETA S11
Top Position Prospects
Last season's top 5: Phillips, Spivey, Machado, Estrada, Benjamin (ML).
5 LF Trenidad Estrada (21, AAA): 496 AB, .357/.443/.601, 23 HR, 50 2B, 121 RBI, 115 RS, All-Star at AA. ETA as needed
4 LF Rolando Machado (20, AA): 429 AB, .336/.421/.569, 22 HR, 93 RBI, 90 RS at LoA. ETA S11
3 CF Shane Spivey (20, AA): 472 AB, .347/.432/.597, 22 HR, 48 2B, 87 RBI, 126 RS, All-Star, Silver Slugger at LoA. ETA S11
2 2B Billy Ratliff (23, AA): 298 AB, .372/.452/.758, 23 HR, 34 2B, 114 RBI, 81 RS at LoA. ETA S11
1 RF Hughie Phillips (22, AAA): 562 AB, .327/.414/.625, 35 HR, 56 2B, 149 RBI, 128 RS, All-Star, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove at AA. ETA as needed
Philadelphia will field a potent offense once more in the decennial NABCL season, with veteran first baseman Shooter Farrell soon to become the first ever 500-home run hitter in the league and a deep lineup led by perennial MVP candidate Walker Wilkins. Pitching, as always, will be a question mark in the bandbox that is Citizens Bank Park however. The Milkmen have to expect another playoff appearance in S10, and falling short would be painful.
Lineup
Gone from the Milkmen lineup for S10 are several big names. Third baseman Bernie Uribe (225 AB, .240/.302/.378, 6 HR, 27 RBI, 32 RS) was released instead of being offered arbitration; he had recently lost his regular role as a third baseman and couldn't crack the lineup anywhere else. Designated hitter Homer Buddie (561 AB, .285/.367/.556, 42 HR, 117 RBI, 103 RS) led the team in RBI last season and was a great value signing for two years, hitting 88 homers and driving in 231 runs, but Philadelphia decided to go in another direction for S10. Catcher Rolando Belliard (351 AB, .282/.350/.504, 20 HR, 74 RBI, 51 RS) had an excellent 7-year career in Philadelphia, hitting 160 home runs and posting an .891 OPS, but was considered too expensive as only a platoon player. The final, and perhaps most significant despite his short stay in Philadelphia, departure was second baseman Teddy Fischbach (270 AB, .319/.364/.463, 4 HR, 21 2B, 28 HR, 50 RS in PHI). Acquired midseason after previously playing for both San Diego and Boston during S9, Fischbach's presence leading off the Milkmen lineup was a major factor in the team's playoff push. His weak playoff performance (.534 OPS, 3 RS) and doubts about his ability to play a full 162 games led to his departure.
Two veteran free agents were brought in to plug these holes: second baseman Steve Rivers (503 AB, .231/.304/.306, 8 HR, 51 RBI, 63 RS) from San Antonio and first baseman/designated hitter Bennie Castillo (464 AB, .291/.359/.498, 23 HR, 91 RBI, 62 RS) from Las Vegas.
Rivers, despite his struggles last season, is almost certain to be leading off on opening day. Coaches think he can regain the All-Star form he flashed in S5-6, when he scored 101 runs in back-to-back seasons, posting .380 and .390 OBPs. Rivers has little power, but is a patient hitter who makes good contact. Coaches also like his defense, and consider him a significant upgrade compared to recent Milkmen 2Bs.
Hitting second for Philadelphia is phenom right fielder Walker Wilkins (605 AB, .342/.421/.549, 25 HR, 42 2B, 113 RBI, 124 RS). A perennial All-Star, Silver Slugger, and MVP finalist, last year was no exception for the 27-year-old superstar. Wilkins is among the most dominant hitters in the AL, and Philadelphia is counting on another dynamic season.
The middle of the lineup is slightly in flux, with three potential candidates, each filling a slightly different role. Third-year third baseman Jacob Dunn (491 AB, .303/.359/.544, 27 HR, 87 RBI, 96 RS) had a breakthrough sophomore season, and at his best offers a good power and speed combination. Catcher Sean Thomson (.299/.365/.548, 26 HR, 88 RBI, 64 RS) will take over primary catcher duties with Belliard's departure; he's never played more than 120 games but will have a much more significant role in S10.
Newly signed Bennie Castillo, likely to serve as designated hitter, doesn't have exceptional power, but with his great contact should easily hit 25 bombs at CBP. Finally, veteran first baseman Shooter Farrell (626 AB, .270/.353/.514, 42 HR, 106 RBI, 108 RS) continued to post good numbers last year, recovering from a .238 average in S8. Farrell, the NABCL's most prolific and durable slugger, has played 162 games in six consecutive seasons and knocked in at least 100 runs every year of his career. He'll hit his 500th home run early this season, and should score his 1,000th run around the All-Star break.
Erstwhile shortstop Benito Sosa (531 AB, .228/.295/.437, 30 HR, 82 RBI, 74 RS) transitioned to centerfield last season after an injury affected his arm strength. Sosa is a free-swinger with good power and, therefore, wildly fluctuating numbers, but is a reliable 25-30 HR threat at the bottom of the lineup. Replacing Sosa at short was trade acquisition Eric Rigby (393 AB, .300/.352/.425, 8 HR, 57 RBI, 56 RS), a light-hitting defensive specialist. Rigby exceeded expectations by posting career numbers last year, but should still hit enough to justify his glove.
Occupying the bench are veteran minor league catcher (and S1 6th-round draft pick) Clay Webster (310 AB, .323/.405/.490, 12 HR, 49 RBI, 46 RS at AAA), a career .319 hitter in the minors with fair defense; 2B/CF Geoff Riedling (228 AB, .241/.312/.268, 21/24 SB), last year's Rule 5 pick and a pinch-running specialist; COF Victor Costilla (207 AB, .357/.420/.565, 7 HR, 31 RBI, 49 RS), a quintessential fourth outfielder who's hit exceptionally well in limited duty the last two seasons; and rookie COF Kurt Benjamin (541 AB, .277/.353/.449, 16 HR, 35 2B, 73 RBI, 86 RS at AAA), a 3rd-round draft pick in S5 who'll get a chance to stick at the majors as a switch-hitting utility bat.
Pitching
Philadelphia said goodbye to three starters and two relievers after S9 as the team continues to try to find a successful pitching strategy for CBP. Al Badilla (158 IP, 12-11, 1.58 WHIP, 5.75 ERA) started the season well but will ultimately be remembered for his momentum-killing 2 IP/6 R performance in the playoffs. Allan Philips (39 IP, 2-4, 1.46 WHIP, 6.13 ERA for PHI) was acquired midseason by trade, but spent most of his time in Philadelphia on the DL and was generally unimpressive.
Rubber-armed reliever Billy Robinson (84 IP, 6-3, 5/7 SV, 1.51 WHIP, 5.34 ERA) was unable for the second-straight season to recover the form that made him so effective in S6-7. Clarence Sears (70 IP, 4-4, 15/19 SV, 1.31 WHIP, 3.60 ERA), a veteran FA pickup last year, pitched better than anticipated and even served as a solid emergency closer but was showing age-related decline.
The only notable free agent pickup for S10 is veteran Ralph Decker (173 IP, 10-11, 1.61 WHIP, 5.35 ERA for Fargo), who has never pitched particularly well over his career but was considered worth a shot as a long reliever or emergency starter. Also returning to Philadelphia is 39-year-old fan favorite Gordon Justice (144 IP, 1.39 WHIP, 3.87 ERA), the once-dominant Milkmen starter. Justice missed all of S8 to injury and is far from his heyday, but can still pitch a little and will close out his long pro career in the friendly confines of CBP.
Starting his second opening day will be 29-year-old Haywood Jodie (211 IP, 16-10, 1.36 WHIP, 4.85 ERA), who has developed into a reliable workhorse, starting 96 games and pitching 622 innings over the last three seasons. Fellow 16-game winner Louis Durham (194 IP, 16-10, 1.42 WHIP, 4.58 ERA) looks to improve in his second full major league season. At only 25, Durham still has room to improve but has pitched effectively in his year and a half in Philadelphia.
After Jodie and Durham, the rotation essentially consists of whoever's pitching well at the moment. The two most likely starters are Rafael Moreno (183 IP, 13-12, 1.55 WHIP, 5.34 ERA), who improved from consecutive 7.50+ ERA seasons but remains a serviceable pitcher at best, and Ronald Cota (92 IP, 4-4, 1.58 WHIP, 5.24 ERA), who started only ten games and was demoted during S9. Geraldo Nunez (24 IP, 1-2, 1.88 WHIP, 9.00 ERA) and William Simpson (41 IP, 3-2, 1.44 WHIP, 5.05 ERA), who both pitched most of the season at AAA but had short stints in the majors, are other possibilities, as is the free agent Decker. Finally, 23-year-old rookie southpaw Candy Titan (208 IP, 16-8, 1.26 WHIP, 3.80 ERA at AAA) will make his major league debut some time this season. Titan has compiled a solid 58-28 record over five minor league seasons, but there are questions about how well he'll pitch in Philadelphia.
The back of the bullpen is anchored by Derrek Jensen (22 IP, 14/16 SV, 0.82 WHIP, 2.86 ERA), who missed most of last season to injury but still looks to have some gas in the tank at age 36. Darrell Buckley (53 IP, 1.37 WHIP, 4.73 ERA) was picked up in a trade last season and pitched effectively, as did five-year veteran Bret Jackson (77 IP, 1.31 WHIP, 4.40 ERA). Julio Rosado (62 IP, 3/3 SV, 0.95 WHIP, 3.03 ERA) had an excellent season cut short by injury last year; he returns as a much less dominant but hopefully still effective reliever.
The Milkmen are particularly excited about 22-year-old rookie Earl Lincoln (37 IP, 32/34 SV, 0.76 WHIP, 1.22 ERA at AAA; All-Star and Fireman of the Year), the potential star closer of the future making his major league debut. Lincoln will get at least a shot at closing for the Milkmen this year, although the veterans in the bullpen will be available if he struggles.
Top Pitching Prospects
Last season's top 5: Valentin, Lincoln (ML), Titan (ML), Boone, Brennan.
5 RHP Alex Ibanez (21, HiA): 57 IP, 3-2, 1.24 WHIP, 3.30 ERA at Rk. ETA S12+
4 LHP Curtis Brennan (22, AAA): 122 IP, 9-8, 1.16 WHIP, 2.95 ERA at AAA. ETA as needed
3 LHP Victor Canseco (20, AA): 20 IP, 14/17 SV, 1.48 WHIP, 4.87 ERA, Fireman of the Year at Rk. ETA S12
2 RHP Rob Boone (22, AAA): 68 IP, 33/35 SV, 1.24 WHIP, 3.71 ERA, All-Star, Fireman of the Year at AA. ETA as needed
1 RHP Del Valentin (22, AAA): 158 IP, 16-5, 1.32 WHIP, 3.97 ERA, All-Star, All-Star Game MVP at AA. ETA S11
Top Position Prospects
Last season's top 5: Phillips, Spivey, Machado, Estrada, Benjamin (ML).
5 LF Trenidad Estrada (21, AAA): 496 AB, .357/.443/.601, 23 HR, 50 2B, 121 RBI, 115 RS, All-Star at AA. ETA as needed
4 LF Rolando Machado (20, AA): 429 AB, .336/.421/.569, 22 HR, 93 RBI, 90 RS at LoA. ETA S11
3 CF Shane Spivey (20, AA): 472 AB, .347/.432/.597, 22 HR, 48 2B, 87 RBI, 126 RS, All-Star, Silver Slugger at LoA. ETA S11
2 2B Billy Ratliff (23, AA): 298 AB, .372/.452/.758, 23 HR, 34 2B, 114 RBI, 81 RS at LoA. ETA S11
1 RF Hughie Phillips (22, AAA): 562 AB, .327/.414/.625, 35 HR, 56 2B, 149 RBI, 128 RS, All-Star, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove at AA. ETA as needed
Chicago Beast - Season Ten Preview - Living on the Edge
If nothing else, the Second City's entry in the NABCL is always entertaining. As the franchise that once called the Fritter and much maligned Felipe Matos their own, Chicago fans are accustomed to a team built arround dynamic and inscrutable talent. Heading into Season Ten (wanted to call it Season X but couldnt because of our distaste for the Sacramento owner - wink, wink), the Beast once again feature a team that will contend for the National League Pennant.
However the burden of a decade of near misses has frayed the nerves of management and anxious fans in Chicago look after their team with an almost NASCAR like mentality (You want them to win but the fiery crash into the wall would be cool, too).
Like past editions, the Beast sport another offensive juggernaut led by the best one-two punch in the National League, starting with the consumate and oft-overlooked professional James Suzuki and coverboy phenom B.C. Parent, who has yet to garner any league wide recognition for his breakout seasons the past two years. The two 27 year olds have averaged almost 90 hrs and 270rbi the past three years and there is every reason to think they will continue to improve. Add Steven Wilson, Virgil Wilkerson, and young lion Julian Pena to the supporting mix and this lineup can and should once again scare the 1000 run threshhold.
Yet, the offense rarely wins anything but a kiss from a bridesmaid and the Beast's fortunes will rest squarely on the shoulders of the men on the bump. Fans are encouraged by management's ability to reshape the collective age of its staff and the full season contributions of Livan Flores and Tito Katou should give Beast faithful some hope. Though enigmatic relievers Adrian Shave, Chin-Feng Cheng, and Dan Redding will likely dictate the ultimate fate of Chicago's NABCL entry.
So there you have it, there are really only two outcomes. A fiery crash and burn or, on the brighter side, a sixth division crown and a deep run into always competive playoff landscape. Your guess is as good as mine as to which will occur...(I am betting on the Earrnhardt ending...)
C - Furio Ramsey, Ozzie Martin
1b - James Suzuki
2b - Johnny Root
3b - Stephen Wilson
SS - Virgil Wilkerson
LF - BC Parent
CF - Bruce Dawkins
RF - Julian Pena (rookie)
Bench - PT Martin, Domingo Mota, Freddie Williams, Billy Byrnes
SP - Livan Flores, Torey Alvarado, Roberto Fernandez, Tito Katou (rookie), Randy Corey
Long - Ugeuth Neruda, John Lee, Dann Tollberg
Set-up - Chin-Feng Cheng, Adrian Shave, Jeremy Damon
Closer - Dan Redding
Prediction - 94-68 1st place NL North
MVP for BC Parent
Runner-up Rookie of the Year Julian Pena
All-Stars Parent, Suzuki, Flores, Redding
However the burden of a decade of near misses has frayed the nerves of management and anxious fans in Chicago look after their team with an almost NASCAR like mentality (You want them to win but the fiery crash into the wall would be cool, too).
Like past editions, the Beast sport another offensive juggernaut led by the best one-two punch in the National League, starting with the consumate and oft-overlooked professional James Suzuki and coverboy phenom B.C. Parent, who has yet to garner any league wide recognition for his breakout seasons the past two years. The two 27 year olds have averaged almost 90 hrs and 270rbi the past three years and there is every reason to think they will continue to improve. Add Steven Wilson, Virgil Wilkerson, and young lion Julian Pena to the supporting mix and this lineup can and should once again scare the 1000 run threshhold.
Yet, the offense rarely wins anything but a kiss from a bridesmaid and the Beast's fortunes will rest squarely on the shoulders of the men on the bump. Fans are encouraged by management's ability to reshape the collective age of its staff and the full season contributions of Livan Flores and Tito Katou should give Beast faithful some hope. Though enigmatic relievers Adrian Shave, Chin-Feng Cheng, and Dan Redding will likely dictate the ultimate fate of Chicago's NABCL entry.
So there you have it, there are really only two outcomes. A fiery crash and burn or, on the brighter side, a sixth division crown and a deep run into always competive playoff landscape. Your guess is as good as mine as to which will occur...(I am betting on the Earrnhardt ending...)
C - Furio Ramsey, Ozzie Martin
1b - James Suzuki
2b - Johnny Root
3b - Stephen Wilson
SS - Virgil Wilkerson
LF - BC Parent
CF - Bruce Dawkins
RF - Julian Pena (rookie)
Bench - PT Martin, Domingo Mota, Freddie Williams, Billy Byrnes
SP - Livan Flores, Torey Alvarado, Roberto Fernandez, Tito Katou (rookie), Randy Corey
Long - Ugeuth Neruda, John Lee, Dann Tollberg
Set-up - Chin-Feng Cheng, Adrian Shave, Jeremy Damon
Closer - Dan Redding
Prediction - 94-68 1st place NL North
MVP for BC Parent
Runner-up Rookie of the Year Julian Pena
All-Stars Parent, Suzuki, Flores, Redding
Monday, September 15, 2008
They’ve fallen, and they can’t get up! Unless….
The Fargo Roughriders, Year One NABCL Champs and the AL’s only World Series rep for the first 3 seasons of the worlds’ existence, have fallen on hard times. The team has failed to make the postseason for 5 years in a row, never exceeding 84 wins in that time frame. After carefully weighing it’s options, the team discarded the idea of a full rebuild, instead turning to the free agent market to bolster its chances at a playoff run. Almost 85 million dollars later, the following team emerged, phoenix-like, from the ashes. Presenting your Year 10 Fargo Roughriders!
Offense
Fargo boasted the best offense in baseball last season, led by Year 8 AL MVP Rudy Simms and ROY candidate Mac Gray. Fargo slugged it’s way to over 1000 runs, the only NABCL team to break that mark. However, glaring holes at 3B and CF left room for improvement; and Fargo was quick to pounce on two former Sacramento stalwarts to fill out its lineup.
1- CF Danys Ortiz (33 years old)- Ortiz signed a 3 yr/$20M deal to play CF and 2B for Fargo. A proven .300 hitter with speed, he has the skills to embrace Fargo’s walk-conscious approach at the plate, which would make him a top notch leadoff man for the team.
2- SS Kurt Lewis (27)- Lewis has played CF for Fargo to this point in his career, but the team feels that his bat is good enough to carry his slightly below average glove at SS. Lewis has averaged 111 runs and 45 SB in his 3 year ML career, a return to his season 8 #’s (.290/21 HR/116 runs) is very reasonable.
3- 3B Vinny Grainger (31)- A playoff vet who wore out his welcome in Sacramento, Grainger was signed to a 4 year/$30M deal and is being counted on to anchor the Fargo infield D, while maintaining his .300 batting average and healthy batting eye. In this offense, Grainger could score and drive in 120 runs from the #3 spot.
4- 1B Larry Flores (25)- Coming off back to back All Star appearances at DH to start his young career, Flores transitions to 1B this season. He has hit .338/.442/.569 in his 2 ML seasons, averaging over 100 runs, RBI and walks in that time. Even a small step forward would make him an MVP candidate this season.
5- DH Rudy Simms (28)- Season 8’s MVP “fell” to a .273 average, with 44 HR and 115 RBI last season; a far cry from his .349, 49 HR, 150 RBI season of two seasons ago. There’s no reason to believe Simms won’t return to form, if he does, this former 4th round draft pick could have a truly monstrous stat line in Year 10.
6- LF Mac Gray (24)- Last season, rookie Gray got better as the season progressed, and ended his first season with 44 HR, 107 runs, 114 RBI, and a .312 average. Gray lost out to Bump Boucher of El Paso for the ROY award; with a quick start, his first All Star appearance could help quell his disappointment.
7- C Max Amaro (28) and C Josh Peters (28)- This platoon accounted for 43 HR’s and 135 RBI last season; not the most gifted pitch callers, but you can count on stellar offensive production from this duo for the next few seasons.
8- 2B Raul Estrada (28)- Released in the offseason, Estrada talked his way back onto the team at the last minute, the team will happily take a repeat of his 39 HR, 102 RBI season this low in the lineup.
9- RF Rex Atkins (27)- a 27 year old rookie, Atkins will be counted on to field his position and hit a few HR’s from the #9 spot. If his AAA season was any indication, he’s very capable of doing just that, with 37 HR’s and a Gold Glove in RF.
The bench will be filled by defensive SS Bart Fiore (25), recently acquired DH Tony Zurbaran and multi-skilled CF Daniel Wheeler (26); plus whatever C is off that day. Not a stellar bench, but good enough to fill in when called on.
Assuming the offense can stay reasonably healthy, this team could easily score 1100 runs this season, while playing league average defense behind the pitching staff. Therein, as they say, lays the rub....
Pitching
Historically, this has been the Achilles heel for Fargo; in the 9 previous seasons of the NABCL, they have never been in the top half of the league in pitching. Last year was no exception, the bullpen was lights out in the first half of the season, before wearing down under the constant pressure of a subpar starting staff in the 2nd half. Knowing there had to be some improvement in this area to make a playoff run, Fargo went out and signed FA Felipe Matos to a 3 yr/$35M deal to be the first ace in franchise history. Felipe's travails have been well documented, but the Fargo doctors did a full psych eval and left comfortable enough to give the tumbs up to team management. Felipe's signing means the Fargo staff looks like this:
SP1- Felipe Matos (38)- Say what you will about his age, strange personal fetishes, etc, but the man has a chance to win 20 games with this offense behind him, and a Cy Young award wouldn't be completely unrealistic. Some question Fargo's intelligence in offering him this kind of money, but if he can lead them back to the postseason, it will be worth every penny.
SP2- Luis Melendez (24)- Was thrust into the SP1 role last season, where he showed promise (14 wins, 171 K's) and room to grow (32 HR's allowed, 4.45 ERA). Luis showed plenty of talent, without the pressure of being the ace, his 2nd year could be very impressive.
SP3- Randall O'Keefe (27)- Acquired from Hon at midseason least year, he was solid, but unspectacular in his 19 starts with the team. Fargo hopes his high strikeout rate is a sign of things to come this season.
SP4- Mack Goldstein (33)- The veteran is in the last year of his deal with Fargo, he's had one great year (1.10 WHIP, 3.75 ERA) and one mediocre one (1.55 WHIP, 4.82 ERA) for Fargo; the team will be happy with something in between from their #4 starter.
SP5- Christian Chang (29)- Acquired with O’Keefe, he’s nothing fancy, but if he can eat some innings with a 5.00 ERA while holding down the fort until young Juan Goya is ready, Fargo would be thrilled.
Closer- Norm Johnson (24)- The team turns to rookie Johnson to give them their first lights out closer since Al Timmons in years 1-3. Johnson saved 20 games for the AAA squad last year, and could save twice that for the big squad this season.
Setup- Dicky Ma (29), Travis Biddle (27) and Phillip Sanford (27)- Ma is a low stamina shutdown reliever, capable of getting 1-2 guys out when needed. Biddle and Sanford are hittable, but make the best of their stuff, and between them, they logged 200 very effective innings last season.
Long Relief- Paul Huang (31), Matt O’Leary (29), Pedro Crespo (27)- Huang is a converted starter who can fill in if needed. O’Leary and Crespo should be able to eat some innings, but aren’t true shut down relievers.
Minors
Many of Fargo’s current stars are home grown, and there are a few more bright spots left in the system. The top ten prospects in the Roughrider system:
1- SP Juan Goya- The jewel of the system, Goya looks like a future ace. He looks to be a year away, but by Year 11, should be a fixture in the Fargo rotation.
2- LF Junior Kwon- Fargo rolled the dice last year to select the talented but raw Kwon in the first round. He’s got the skills to develop into a MVP type hitter, but he’s got a ways to go to meet that potential.
3- 1B Victor Carrasco- with 1B and DH blocked in Fargo, Carrasco is biding his time; but his power bat and top notch BA potential mean he’ll find a role on the big league level soon enough.
4- SP Frank House- moving up with Goya, he’s good enough to play Robin to Goya’s Batman for years.
5- SP- Sean Sterns- If House/Goya are Batman/Robin; Goya/Sterns/House might be the Three Musketeers.
6- CF Edgardo Sivilla- Top notch defender with a power bat, a rare combo for a CF.
7- Victor Martin- Future ML closer, could be us as soon as mid-season.
8- LF Morrie Hall- His glove is mediocre, but his power/eye combo, along with workable contact and splits, project him as a 40 HR, 100 walk OF in the bigs.
9- 2B- Sadie Washington- solid little leadoff guy, should hit .300 with a good glove in the majors one day.
10- SS Luis Martinez- Solid defense, good contact, future ML starter.
Prognosis
Despite being one good SP and one shutdown RP away from being completely happy with the team, management is convinced that this squad can win the AL North. If they can complete that task, and if the bats get hot at the right time, this team has a shot as something no Fargo team since Year 3 has done; represent the AL in the World Series.
Offense
Fargo boasted the best offense in baseball last season, led by Year 8 AL MVP Rudy Simms and ROY candidate Mac Gray. Fargo slugged it’s way to over 1000 runs, the only NABCL team to break that mark. However, glaring holes at 3B and CF left room for improvement; and Fargo was quick to pounce on two former Sacramento stalwarts to fill out its lineup.
1- CF Danys Ortiz (33 years old)- Ortiz signed a 3 yr/$20M deal to play CF and 2B for Fargo. A proven .300 hitter with speed, he has the skills to embrace Fargo’s walk-conscious approach at the plate, which would make him a top notch leadoff man for the team.
2- SS Kurt Lewis (27)- Lewis has played CF for Fargo to this point in his career, but the team feels that his bat is good enough to carry his slightly below average glove at SS. Lewis has averaged 111 runs and 45 SB in his 3 year ML career, a return to his season 8 #’s (.290/21 HR/116 runs) is very reasonable.
3- 3B Vinny Grainger (31)- A playoff vet who wore out his welcome in Sacramento, Grainger was signed to a 4 year/$30M deal and is being counted on to anchor the Fargo infield D, while maintaining his .300 batting average and healthy batting eye. In this offense, Grainger could score and drive in 120 runs from the #3 spot.
4- 1B Larry Flores (25)- Coming off back to back All Star appearances at DH to start his young career, Flores transitions to 1B this season. He has hit .338/.442/.569 in his 2 ML seasons, averaging over 100 runs, RBI and walks in that time. Even a small step forward would make him an MVP candidate this season.
5- DH Rudy Simms (28)- Season 8’s MVP “fell” to a .273 average, with 44 HR and 115 RBI last season; a far cry from his .349, 49 HR, 150 RBI season of two seasons ago. There’s no reason to believe Simms won’t return to form, if he does, this former 4th round draft pick could have a truly monstrous stat line in Year 10.
6- LF Mac Gray (24)- Last season, rookie Gray got better as the season progressed, and ended his first season with 44 HR, 107 runs, 114 RBI, and a .312 average. Gray lost out to Bump Boucher of El Paso for the ROY award; with a quick start, his first All Star appearance could help quell his disappointment.
7- C Max Amaro (28) and C Josh Peters (28)- This platoon accounted for 43 HR’s and 135 RBI last season; not the most gifted pitch callers, but you can count on stellar offensive production from this duo for the next few seasons.
8- 2B Raul Estrada (28)- Released in the offseason, Estrada talked his way back onto the team at the last minute, the team will happily take a repeat of his 39 HR, 102 RBI season this low in the lineup.
9- RF Rex Atkins (27)- a 27 year old rookie, Atkins will be counted on to field his position and hit a few HR’s from the #9 spot. If his AAA season was any indication, he’s very capable of doing just that, with 37 HR’s and a Gold Glove in RF.
The bench will be filled by defensive SS Bart Fiore (25), recently acquired DH Tony Zurbaran and multi-skilled CF Daniel Wheeler (26); plus whatever C is off that day. Not a stellar bench, but good enough to fill in when called on.
Assuming the offense can stay reasonably healthy, this team could easily score 1100 runs this season, while playing league average defense behind the pitching staff. Therein, as they say, lays the rub....
Pitching
Historically, this has been the Achilles heel for Fargo; in the 9 previous seasons of the NABCL, they have never been in the top half of the league in pitching. Last year was no exception, the bullpen was lights out in the first half of the season, before wearing down under the constant pressure of a subpar starting staff in the 2nd half. Knowing there had to be some improvement in this area to make a playoff run, Fargo went out and signed FA Felipe Matos to a 3 yr/$35M deal to be the first ace in franchise history. Felipe's travails have been well documented, but the Fargo doctors did a full psych eval and left comfortable enough to give the tumbs up to team management. Felipe's signing means the Fargo staff looks like this:
SP1- Felipe Matos (38)- Say what you will about his age, strange personal fetishes, etc, but the man has a chance to win 20 games with this offense behind him, and a Cy Young award wouldn't be completely unrealistic. Some question Fargo's intelligence in offering him this kind of money, but if he can lead them back to the postseason, it will be worth every penny.
SP2- Luis Melendez (24)- Was thrust into the SP1 role last season, where he showed promise (14 wins, 171 K's) and room to grow (32 HR's allowed, 4.45 ERA). Luis showed plenty of talent, without the pressure of being the ace, his 2nd year could be very impressive.
SP3- Randall O'Keefe (27)- Acquired from Hon at midseason least year, he was solid, but unspectacular in his 19 starts with the team. Fargo hopes his high strikeout rate is a sign of things to come this season.
SP4- Mack Goldstein (33)- The veteran is in the last year of his deal with Fargo, he's had one great year (1.10 WHIP, 3.75 ERA) and one mediocre one (1.55 WHIP, 4.82 ERA) for Fargo; the team will be happy with something in between from their #4 starter.
SP5- Christian Chang (29)- Acquired with O’Keefe, he’s nothing fancy, but if he can eat some innings with a 5.00 ERA while holding down the fort until young Juan Goya is ready, Fargo would be thrilled.
Closer- Norm Johnson (24)- The team turns to rookie Johnson to give them their first lights out closer since Al Timmons in years 1-3. Johnson saved 20 games for the AAA squad last year, and could save twice that for the big squad this season.
Setup- Dicky Ma (29), Travis Biddle (27) and Phillip Sanford (27)- Ma is a low stamina shutdown reliever, capable of getting 1-2 guys out when needed. Biddle and Sanford are hittable, but make the best of their stuff, and between them, they logged 200 very effective innings last season.
Long Relief- Paul Huang (31), Matt O’Leary (29), Pedro Crespo (27)- Huang is a converted starter who can fill in if needed. O’Leary and Crespo should be able to eat some innings, but aren’t true shut down relievers.
Minors
Many of Fargo’s current stars are home grown, and there are a few more bright spots left in the system. The top ten prospects in the Roughrider system:
1- SP Juan Goya- The jewel of the system, Goya looks like a future ace. He looks to be a year away, but by Year 11, should be a fixture in the Fargo rotation.
2- LF Junior Kwon- Fargo rolled the dice last year to select the talented but raw Kwon in the first round. He’s got the skills to develop into a MVP type hitter, but he’s got a ways to go to meet that potential.
3- 1B Victor Carrasco- with 1B and DH blocked in Fargo, Carrasco is biding his time; but his power bat and top notch BA potential mean he’ll find a role on the big league level soon enough.
4- SP Frank House- moving up with Goya, he’s good enough to play Robin to Goya’s Batman for years.
5- SP- Sean Sterns- If House/Goya are Batman/Robin; Goya/Sterns/House might be the Three Musketeers.
6- CF Edgardo Sivilla- Top notch defender with a power bat, a rare combo for a CF.
7- Victor Martin- Future ML closer, could be us as soon as mid-season.
8- LF Morrie Hall- His glove is mediocre, but his power/eye combo, along with workable contact and splits, project him as a 40 HR, 100 walk OF in the bigs.
9- 2B- Sadie Washington- solid little leadoff guy, should hit .300 with a good glove in the majors one day.
10- SS Luis Martinez- Solid defense, good contact, future ML starter.
Prognosis
Despite being one good SP and one shutdown RP away from being completely happy with the team, management is convinced that this squad can win the AL North. If they can complete that task, and if the bats get hot at the right time, this team has a shot as something no Fargo team since Year 3 has done; represent the AL in the World Series.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Season 10 Championship Odds (Preseason)
Season 10 Championship Odds
Los Angeles Robins (5-2): Nothing new here. Nothing to see here. Move along. The Season 9 champs do it with great pitching. The pitching stars are getting into the mid 30's (Jim Wells 37, Rafael Cruz 33, Stubby Knight 32), but they have plenty of tread left on the tires. On the offensive side, Ricardo Johnson may be the greatest player in NABCL history. He has won the Rookie of the Year, MVP (twice), is an All-Star (6-times), Silver Slugger (4-times), and even won the Home Run Derby last season. I think he is the favorite for the Cy Young this year. They are good, really good. Can they become the first team in the NABCL to win 3 World Championships? Don't bet against them.
San Antonio Missions (Viva The Puffy Taco) (3-1): Back to back NL pennants but the ring remains elusive. But for good measure, they went out and signed Catcher Rolando Belliard, he of the .301 career average, Ken Small for pitching depth, and took a chance on minor leaguer John Nathan. Nathan has huge control problems but the rest of his attributes scream "ACE"!!!Making it out of the NL Gauntlet a third time will be tough, but the betting public likes a sure thing, and they are a sure a thing as any.
Sacramento Terrible Two's (7-2): Same ol', same ol'. 6 straight NL West titles, but only 1-World Series ring. This may be the deepest and most talented team in the Capital City yet, but time is running out. Vinny Granger and Danys Ortiz left as free agents in cost cutting moves, it is only a matter of time before the window closes. 2-time NL MVP Otis Pavlov leads an offense full of muscle with 50-hr man Dave Glaus, former MVP Albert Piper, young Dario Moran, and rookie 40/40 candidate Harry Paleaz. On the pitching side they have ace Albert Boone (1-win behind Lenny Singleton for the most all-time), Fausto Bennett, Alex Schmidt, and rookie Cyrus Curtis. For the fifth spot in the rotation it is time for Randy Delucci to prove he is worthy of a starting spot. They came close to pulling the trigger on a number of trades in the winter but so far have stood pat. The Two's are riding the fine line of trading away some talent, while still remaining super-competitive, in order to restock the system. They do have 5 of the first 70 picks in the draft so they must cash in there. The question here becomes when to rebuild, not if.
Fargo Roughriders (9-2): Management spent a lot of money to improve on last years 84-78 campaign by signing All-Stars Vinny Granger and Danys Ortiz away from Sacramento, and controversial pitcher Felipe Matos away from, well...a lot of teams. The problem last year wasn't the league leading 1011 runs scored, it was the 924 runs given up. Matos will help solidify the rotation, and Fargo should make a run in the AL North.
Chicago Beast (5-1): Livan Flores struggled after he was aquired from New Orleans late in season 9, but he will pay huge dividends in a full season in Chicago. B.C. Parent should finally be recognized for the MVP talent that he is, and new arrival (via trade) Tito Katou is a young fireballer who will add depth to the rotation. In the loaded National League it is hard to call anyone the favorite, but the Beast are going to be ridiculously good.
Jacksonville Jackals (7-1): Moment of silence for Ebby...he will be missed, but in his place comes Jose (Vegas), and the ship will remain on course. Bob Shaw will be back to close out games, young SS phenom Derrek Clinton should be an All-Star, and the pitching is always strong. If anyone can knock off the Robin's, the Jackals are at the front of the line.
Trenton Thrashers (8-1): They signed former Cy Young winner Alan Phillips in the off season to add to an already strong rotation of Pep Fang, Ivan Cedeno, and Junior Sanchez. They quietly won the NL East last year by 18 games and should easily do so again. The question becomes, can they stay motivated down the stretch when the games are meaningless? And how long can they hold off the rebuilding team in Kansas City and the young phenoms in Wichita.
Anaheim Natural Disasters (8-1): Forgotten in the Robin's run to the World Series was the fact that Anaheim finished only 4 games behind Los Angeles in the AL West. If oft-injured SS Tony Wanatabe could stay healthy (2 DL trips last year and a 48 health rating), his bat alone could be the difference in finishing 1st or 2nd. Kevin Martin and Howard Sellers, while long in the tooth, are also long in experience and will only help add depth. The Natural Disasters are a playoff team, but will it be as a division winner, or a wild card?
El Paso Ultraviolence (8-1): Young pitching is where it's at, and El Paso has it. 20-game winner Diego Lee is only 24, Luis Moya is 23 and scheduled for a breakout season, and Larry Browne (25) won 11 games in only 138 innings pitched. Mix in 23 year old ROY winner Bump Boucher and his historic .308/.366 53 homer run 169 rbi season, and the Ultraviolence are going to be Ultragood. The AL South is the new NL West, with Iowa City even making noise in free agency.
Portland Jacks (10-1): Got off to a great start last year and led the Two's by 9 games early in the season, they ended up making the playoffs as usual and knocked off Chicago in the 1st round. Hall of Fame closer Lew Oliver is 38 and cant close forever but he should be his normal dominant self in season 10. They are tough to beat and always compete, but in a loaded NL West, even the slightest misstep can leave you out of the playoffs.
Honolulu Anteaters (10-1): They won 88 games but finished last in the NL West and 19 games out of 1st and baseballers has followed that up and guaranteed a playoff spot for the Anteaters, and he has the horses to back up the prediction. We all know about Lenny Singleton, but he had a lot of offensive help last year with Derrick Stanley and Warren Collins. This is the darkhorse in the NL this season, and not a team you want to see in the postseason if they do make it.
Richmond Poor Men (12-1): Alex Mieses is a horse coming off a 16-win season, Hamlet Mercedes is 35 but was 13-3 last year, and Vin Lockwood won 12 games in his own right. The offense is led by John Barkley who already has 173 home runs in his 4-year career. If Jacksonville and Anaheim are camping out in line to knock off the Robin's, then Richmond has to be right behind them.
Philadelphia Dead Milkmen (13-1): Barely hung on to beat New Britain by 1-game to win the AL North in season 9. Young Jacob Dunn broke the .300 barrier in only his 2nd season, after a sub-par season 8, Shooter Farrell rebounded to hit .270 and hit 42 bombs, and Walter Wilkins seems to have the RF Silver Slugger locked up with his high .340's average. The offense is there, and it helps the pitching staff win games they shouldnt. They have been the class of the AL North, but with Fargo trying to win now, and the Block Heads breathing down their necks, a postseason sitting at home could be in the cards.
Colorado Springs Coyotes (15-1): They may have been passed by in the NL West by Honolulu. The Coyotes made a few moves in free agency bringing in Homer Roberts to solidify the back of the bullpen and Tripp Hayes to solifify the front. Overall, the team remains the mostly the same, which is not bad considering they won 90 games last year and made the playoffs. It's just that other teams did more in the offseason.
Seattle Salty Dogs (15-1): A difficult year in season 9 for the Salty Dogs. It was supposed to be a breakout year in Seattle where the young talent came together and made a "playoffs or bust" run to the postseason. Instead, injuries and a lack of timely hitting doomed the 'dogs to another year of waiting. They did finish in 2nd place and posted 83 wins, so they are on the rise, but it is time for young Bum Stocker to take the team on his shoulders and prove he is worthy of all the accolades the organization has bestowed upon him.
Norfolk Loyalists (18-1): They were busy in the offseason bringing in Glen Dunn, William Shields, Bo Forbes, and Del Rijo and hung around the medicore AL East most of the year before giving way to Washington D.C. late in the year. On offense, Ismael Franco has a 50-hr bat and Devon Russell must prove he is the face of the franchise and can carry them to the playoffs (see Bum Stocker above). The money they spent shows they want to win now, and the division should be theirs for the taking.
New Britian Block Heads (18-1): They have veteran talent on offense in Craig Hooper and young talent in Rickey Sutton to lead them. Add in Mikey Knotts' 61 long balls and they can mash with anyone. The problem is those guys cant pitch. It was a heartbreaking season as they missed the postseason by 1 game, but has the window closed, or is it cracked just enough for them to push it open and bust through?
Toronto Flare (20-1): Not a whole lot of impact moves in the offseason, Oswaldo Estrada (signed as a free agent) will eat innings, and Diego Guerrero (via trade) should reach 200-innings and 15-wins at best. Young Javier Garza could win a Cy Young if Lenny Singleton would get traded to the AL or retire. On offense, Joshua Whitaker is ready to follow his .300+, 30+ hr season and establish himself in the middle of the Flare lineup, but he needs help.
Helena Misfits (30-1): They finished 79-83 which placed them in the cellar of the AL North in season 9. Only 6 teams allowed fewer runs than the Misfits, the problem was their offense, they just didnt score enough (run differental of +9). What did they do in the offseason to fix the problem? They signed career minor leaguer (27 years old) Brian Sullivan to a 4 year $30 million contract. He may help, but not enough to move them past the much improved teams (Fargo) and better teams (Philly and New Britain) ahead of them.
Washington D.C. Federals (30-1): They started last year as 50-1 favorites, and at the 100 game mark had fallen to 75-1. The AL East was terrible for most of the season with all 4 teams sitting below .500 and nobody wanting to win the division. Then the Federals got hot and finished at 83-79 to beat Norfolk by 4 games. Then, for good measure, they beat Richmond in the first round of the playoffs, upset Anaheim in the 2nd round, and pushed the eventual champs (LA Robin's) to 7 games in the ALCS. They are getting a lot of money in the preseason and for good reason. They went out and signed Mo McFeeley and Estaban Rocque to help in the bullpen. Then signed Ronnie Priest (107 career wins) to solidify the rotation. And to help with the offense, they signed 26-year old John Chang to a 5-year deal and veteran (season 7 CF Silver Slugger) Dale Hinske to a 2-year deal. They have been active, spent money, are in a down division, and have postseason experience. This could be a bet that pays off big.
Wichita 'weed (35-1): They had the longest odds last year (2500-1) and at the 100 game mark werent much better (1000-1), but it is only a matter of time. No one has a better or deeper minor league system than the 'weed. Oldave has brought them along slowly but watch out once they reach the bigs. Until they do, they made some shrewd signings in the offseason and they are my team to watch. Former Kansas City SS Willie Guerrero brings 3 All-Star appearances and a Gold Glove with him, Vitas Hogan own a .305 career average, and Catcher Paul Yoshi brings 5 All-Star nods, an MVP, and 4 Silver Sluggers to the team. Yes they are up in years, but rich in experience. Mix that with Bono Garcia and Joe Rhodes who are already in Wichita and this team is dangerous. If he pulls the trigger and brings up Tony Trinidad, Sean Daal, and company, they may very well unseat the Thrashers sooner rather than later. Trenton is tough in the NL East but a wild card run wouldnt shock me.
Memphis Maniax (50-1): The Maniax won the tough NL South 5 out of 6 years before finishing 3rd last year. Was th is a blip on the screen? Phil Rubel and Donaldo Vidal lead the charge on offense, but what about the rotation? Lance Campbell was an All-Star in season 7, but he is 34. After winning 15 games in season 5, Orlando Baez has yet to top 13 since and finished 12-16 last year. Same with Justin Reitsma, he is 34 and has yet to win more than 11 games in a season. If they could get a few good years out of their arms they could contend for a wild card, but it will be tough to knock off the back to back NL Pennant winning Missions.
Charoltte Queen's Men (60-1): They are in a tough division but do have some pieces to build around. Glen Kirkland has a nice glove (and a big price tag), Mel Malone has huge power and is only 25, Tomas Gomez has a big bat, and Ken Upshaw is going to be an All-Star 3rd baseman. The problem is pitching, they are pinning their hopes on young 23-year old Placido Carrara. He cant do it by himself, this could be a good team but Carrara needs arms around him and quickly.
New Orleans Crawdads (75-1): All-Star Felipe Tarasco is the final remaining name on the Crawdads and they are in rebuilding mode. They came so close, finishing 2nd numerous times in the first 9 seasons of the NABCL. The question now becomes, how long do they wait to unload Mr. Tarasco for prospects to hasten the rebuiling process?
Iowa City Shuckers (75-1): The wonders of free agency, it can set you back many seasons or make your season. The Shuckers are hoping the money they spent will make them a contender in season 10. While a lot of teams where spending big money on offense, Iowa City quietly snapped up the pitching, signing Sid Prince (112 career wins), Rex Mays, and John Blake to long term deals. They resigning veteran speedster Skeeter Reese to man the top of the order. They also came to terms with young Freddy Garcia to presumably close games, and they still have Harry Simpson who can now sit back as a #2 behind Prince and hopefully have his break out year. The AL South is tough, but a .500 record would be movement in the right direction, a wild card run would be a dream season.
San Diego Storm (80-1): Another team who spent shrewd dollars in the offseason but are in the wrong division. Teddy Fischbach never had that breakout season they wanted in Sacramento, then was traded, and was allowed to go to free agency. If he can live up to potential, he will be a great top of the order guy. Catcher Gregg Wright (32) was a huge sign, he is a former Gold Glover with a .314 career average and .407 career obp. After having some huge years in Jacksonville, AJ McIntyre has yet to get his groove back. But is there anything better than Petco Park for a pitcher to find himself? He should add close to 18 wins onto his 122 career total. They have the pitching, the ballpark, and young CF Vincente DeRojas is ready to be an All-Star. Will it be enough? I think the bettors are wrong on this one and San Diego will battle for a Wild Card right to the end of the season.
Boston Colonials (100-1): It was a tough year in Boston as a franchise rich in tradition (3 AL East titles) finished under .500 for the first time. But help is on the way and in a few seasons they will be back. Billy Cannon is a .295 career hitter, everyone's favorite Sherman Carter could hit 50 hr's one year, if they can get his average up to even .250 he could put up MVP type numbers. In limited at-bats last year, Catcher Norman Harris hit .346 and should get the starting nod, Chuck Canseco (SS) was signed for his glove and one of the gold variety could be in his future (you cant ignore the impact he will have on the pitching staff), Roger Bottenfield was signed and can play any of the corners, and they are taking a chance when they signed Brian Shuey in hopes his control wont hurt him too bad. He has all the other attributes. 24-year old William Parrott could be a future stud stopper and 25-year old Spike Rivera will give the Colonials 250 innings and 10-15 wins. Get 'em while they're down, but in the AL East, you never know.
Vancouver Loonies (100-1): Adrian Christenson will be one of the best overall players in the game and they will build the future around him. Wesley Ingram has the power, but the rest of the offense is in rebuild mode. The pitching staff is about the same. Oscar Duvall could win 18+ games with some offensive help, and young Javier Lugo could easily be up for Rookie of the Year honors when it is all said and done. Ultimately, it will be a few years before the Loonies are back in business.
Las Vegas Muckers (250-1): Sin City is a ways away from competing in the AL West. They are using stud Geronimo Nieto as a closer, but how many games will he have to close? If they move him into the rotation he can stabilize it, or he can be moved for prospects. They made a few moves during the winter signing SP Brian Rollins and 3B Bill Ledee, but they are only stop-gaps. Young Henry Figga will try to carry the load but with no one hitting around him it will be tough.
Kansas City Here I Come (250-1): They were quiet as a church mouse in the offseason as they are rebuilding and going with the guys that are here. Long-time ace Jimmy Ellis is coming to the end, but he has a season or two left in his arm. Bump Dickens will add innings and 23-year old future stud Pepe Escobar will be dominant on the mound once his splits reach near projections. On the other side is 26-year old phenom Ricky Valdes. He has somehow hit .327/.400 with 100+ hr's in his first 5 seasons before he was 26. He is amazing and if he reaches projections he will be the future star in KC.
Louisville Legionnaires (500-1): They kept the losses below 100 (99) last year and that was a step. Restocking the majors is step two and the plan is in motion. 31-year old Mikey Cannon was signed to help with the rotation. He hasnt ever really gotten the chance to start games over an entire season and could surprise. 12 wins arent out of the question. Allen Mathews has lost range but can still hit a bit and Don Leary has hit .280 before and can get on base. All were signed to very modest contracts which wont set the team back regardless of their performance. Very smart moves. They also signed Jason Coomer for $3 million this year and he is a former 17-game winner. The future of the rotation is on Ed Harris. He is 28-years old and has 3 straight double digit loss seasons, granted some of this is due to lack of offense, but if he can get it together, they may have their future ace.
Pawtucket Patriots (1000-1): In the weak AL East they managed only 44 wins. So they are obviously rebuilding. They have plenty of talent to get them started. Michael Chiba's splits project to 100/100 and he is the favorite to win Rookie of the Year honors. On the pitching side they have two potential aces in Henry Sorrento (9-17 in his rookie campaign) and Wiki Beltran (17 adn 19 losses last 2 years). Both are young and unproven but have the potential to be very good. There one free agent signing was a big one as they signed Jared DeShields away from Jacksonville for a 3yr $15 million contract to close out games. How many opportunities he has is the real question.
There you go guys. Again, I put a lot of time into this so I hope I hit everyone's main points and I obviously wasn't trying to offend anyone. I love this league and am just trying to increase the experience. Good luck to all (even you bullet)...
Los Angeles Robins (5-2): Nothing new here. Nothing to see here. Move along. The Season 9 champs do it with great pitching. The pitching stars are getting into the mid 30's (Jim Wells 37, Rafael Cruz 33, Stubby Knight 32), but they have plenty of tread left on the tires. On the offensive side, Ricardo Johnson may be the greatest player in NABCL history. He has won the Rookie of the Year, MVP (twice), is an All-Star (6-times), Silver Slugger (4-times), and even won the Home Run Derby last season. I think he is the favorite for the Cy Young this year. They are good, really good. Can they become the first team in the NABCL to win 3 World Championships? Don't bet against them.
San Antonio Missions (Viva The Puffy Taco) (3-1): Back to back NL pennants but the ring remains elusive. But for good measure, they went out and signed Catcher Rolando Belliard, he of the .301 career average, Ken Small for pitching depth, and took a chance on minor leaguer John Nathan. Nathan has huge control problems but the rest of his attributes scream "ACE"!!!Making it out of the NL Gauntlet a third time will be tough, but the betting public likes a sure thing, and they are a sure a thing as any.
Sacramento Terrible Two's (7-2): Same ol', same ol'. 6 straight NL West titles, but only 1-World Series ring. This may be the deepest and most talented team in the Capital City yet, but time is running out. Vinny Granger and Danys Ortiz left as free agents in cost cutting moves, it is only a matter of time before the window closes. 2-time NL MVP Otis Pavlov leads an offense full of muscle with 50-hr man Dave Glaus, former MVP Albert Piper, young Dario Moran, and rookie 40/40 candidate Harry Paleaz. On the pitching side they have ace Albert Boone (1-win behind Lenny Singleton for the most all-time), Fausto Bennett, Alex Schmidt, and rookie Cyrus Curtis. For the fifth spot in the rotation it is time for Randy Delucci to prove he is worthy of a starting spot. They came close to pulling the trigger on a number of trades in the winter but so far have stood pat. The Two's are riding the fine line of trading away some talent, while still remaining super-competitive, in order to restock the system. They do have 5 of the first 70 picks in the draft so they must cash in there. The question here becomes when to rebuild, not if.
Fargo Roughriders (9-2): Management spent a lot of money to improve on last years 84-78 campaign by signing All-Stars Vinny Granger and Danys Ortiz away from Sacramento, and controversial pitcher Felipe Matos away from, well...a lot of teams. The problem last year wasn't the league leading 1011 runs scored, it was the 924 runs given up. Matos will help solidify the rotation, and Fargo should make a run in the AL North.
Chicago Beast (5-1): Livan Flores struggled after he was aquired from New Orleans late in season 9, but he will pay huge dividends in a full season in Chicago. B.C. Parent should finally be recognized for the MVP talent that he is, and new arrival (via trade) Tito Katou is a young fireballer who will add depth to the rotation. In the loaded National League it is hard to call anyone the favorite, but the Beast are going to be ridiculously good.
Jacksonville Jackals (7-1): Moment of silence for Ebby...he will be missed, but in his place comes Jose (Vegas), and the ship will remain on course. Bob Shaw will be back to close out games, young SS phenom Derrek Clinton should be an All-Star, and the pitching is always strong. If anyone can knock off the Robin's, the Jackals are at the front of the line.
Trenton Thrashers (8-1): They signed former Cy Young winner Alan Phillips in the off season to add to an already strong rotation of Pep Fang, Ivan Cedeno, and Junior Sanchez. They quietly won the NL East last year by 18 games and should easily do so again. The question becomes, can they stay motivated down the stretch when the games are meaningless? And how long can they hold off the rebuilding team in Kansas City and the young phenoms in Wichita.
Anaheim Natural Disasters (8-1): Forgotten in the Robin's run to the World Series was the fact that Anaheim finished only 4 games behind Los Angeles in the AL West. If oft-injured SS Tony Wanatabe could stay healthy (2 DL trips last year and a 48 health rating), his bat alone could be the difference in finishing 1st or 2nd. Kevin Martin and Howard Sellers, while long in the tooth, are also long in experience and will only help add depth. The Natural Disasters are a playoff team, but will it be as a division winner, or a wild card?
El Paso Ultraviolence (8-1): Young pitching is where it's at, and El Paso has it. 20-game winner Diego Lee is only 24, Luis Moya is 23 and scheduled for a breakout season, and Larry Browne (25) won 11 games in only 138 innings pitched. Mix in 23 year old ROY winner Bump Boucher and his historic .308/.366 53 homer run 169 rbi season, and the Ultraviolence are going to be Ultragood. The AL South is the new NL West, with Iowa City even making noise in free agency.
Portland Jacks (10-1): Got off to a great start last year and led the Two's by 9 games early in the season, they ended up making the playoffs as usual and knocked off Chicago in the 1st round. Hall of Fame closer Lew Oliver is 38 and cant close forever but he should be his normal dominant self in season 10. They are tough to beat and always compete, but in a loaded NL West, even the slightest misstep can leave you out of the playoffs.
Honolulu Anteaters (10-1): They won 88 games but finished last in the NL West and 19 games out of 1st and baseballers has followed that up and guaranteed a playoff spot for the Anteaters, and he has the horses to back up the prediction. We all know about Lenny Singleton, but he had a lot of offensive help last year with Derrick Stanley and Warren Collins. This is the darkhorse in the NL this season, and not a team you want to see in the postseason if they do make it.
Richmond Poor Men (12-1): Alex Mieses is a horse coming off a 16-win season, Hamlet Mercedes is 35 but was 13-3 last year, and Vin Lockwood won 12 games in his own right. The offense is led by John Barkley who already has 173 home runs in his 4-year career. If Jacksonville and Anaheim are camping out in line to knock off the Robin's, then Richmond has to be right behind them.
Philadelphia Dead Milkmen (13-1): Barely hung on to beat New Britain by 1-game to win the AL North in season 9. Young Jacob Dunn broke the .300 barrier in only his 2nd season, after a sub-par season 8, Shooter Farrell rebounded to hit .270 and hit 42 bombs, and Walter Wilkins seems to have the RF Silver Slugger locked up with his high .340's average. The offense is there, and it helps the pitching staff win games they shouldnt. They have been the class of the AL North, but with Fargo trying to win now, and the Block Heads breathing down their necks, a postseason sitting at home could be in the cards.
Colorado Springs Coyotes (15-1): They may have been passed by in the NL West by Honolulu. The Coyotes made a few moves in free agency bringing in Homer Roberts to solidify the back of the bullpen and Tripp Hayes to solifify the front. Overall, the team remains the mostly the same, which is not bad considering they won 90 games last year and made the playoffs. It's just that other teams did more in the offseason.
Seattle Salty Dogs (15-1): A difficult year in season 9 for the Salty Dogs. It was supposed to be a breakout year in Seattle where the young talent came together and made a "playoffs or bust" run to the postseason. Instead, injuries and a lack of timely hitting doomed the 'dogs to another year of waiting. They did finish in 2nd place and posted 83 wins, so they are on the rise, but it is time for young Bum Stocker to take the team on his shoulders and prove he is worthy of all the accolades the organization has bestowed upon him.
Norfolk Loyalists (18-1): They were busy in the offseason bringing in Glen Dunn, William Shields, Bo Forbes, and Del Rijo and hung around the medicore AL East most of the year before giving way to Washington D.C. late in the year. On offense, Ismael Franco has a 50-hr bat and Devon Russell must prove he is the face of the franchise and can carry them to the playoffs (see Bum Stocker above). The money they spent shows they want to win now, and the division should be theirs for the taking.
New Britian Block Heads (18-1): They have veteran talent on offense in Craig Hooper and young talent in Rickey Sutton to lead them. Add in Mikey Knotts' 61 long balls and they can mash with anyone. The problem is those guys cant pitch. It was a heartbreaking season as they missed the postseason by 1 game, but has the window closed, or is it cracked just enough for them to push it open and bust through?
Toronto Flare (20-1): Not a whole lot of impact moves in the offseason, Oswaldo Estrada (signed as a free agent) will eat innings, and Diego Guerrero (via trade) should reach 200-innings and 15-wins at best. Young Javier Garza could win a Cy Young if Lenny Singleton would get traded to the AL or retire. On offense, Joshua Whitaker is ready to follow his .300+, 30+ hr season and establish himself in the middle of the Flare lineup, but he needs help.
Helena Misfits (30-1): They finished 79-83 which placed them in the cellar of the AL North in season 9. Only 6 teams allowed fewer runs than the Misfits, the problem was their offense, they just didnt score enough (run differental of +9). What did they do in the offseason to fix the problem? They signed career minor leaguer (27 years old) Brian Sullivan to a 4 year $30 million contract. He may help, but not enough to move them past the much improved teams (Fargo) and better teams (Philly and New Britain) ahead of them.
Washington D.C. Federals (30-1): They started last year as 50-1 favorites, and at the 100 game mark had fallen to 75-1. The AL East was terrible for most of the season with all 4 teams sitting below .500 and nobody wanting to win the division. Then the Federals got hot and finished at 83-79 to beat Norfolk by 4 games. Then, for good measure, they beat Richmond in the first round of the playoffs, upset Anaheim in the 2nd round, and pushed the eventual champs (LA Robin's) to 7 games in the ALCS. They are getting a lot of money in the preseason and for good reason. They went out and signed Mo McFeeley and Estaban Rocque to help in the bullpen. Then signed Ronnie Priest (107 career wins) to solidify the rotation. And to help with the offense, they signed 26-year old John Chang to a 5-year deal and veteran (season 7 CF Silver Slugger) Dale Hinske to a 2-year deal. They have been active, spent money, are in a down division, and have postseason experience. This could be a bet that pays off big.
Wichita 'weed (35-1): They had the longest odds last year (2500-1) and at the 100 game mark werent much better (1000-1), but it is only a matter of time. No one has a better or deeper minor league system than the 'weed. Oldave has brought them along slowly but watch out once they reach the bigs. Until they do, they made some shrewd signings in the offseason and they are my team to watch. Former Kansas City SS Willie Guerrero brings 3 All-Star appearances and a Gold Glove with him, Vitas Hogan own a .305 career average, and Catcher Paul Yoshi brings 5 All-Star nods, an MVP, and 4 Silver Sluggers to the team. Yes they are up in years, but rich in experience. Mix that with Bono Garcia and Joe Rhodes who are already in Wichita and this team is dangerous. If he pulls the trigger and brings up Tony Trinidad, Sean Daal, and company, they may very well unseat the Thrashers sooner rather than later. Trenton is tough in the NL East but a wild card run wouldnt shock me.
Memphis Maniax (50-1): The Maniax won the tough NL South 5 out of 6 years before finishing 3rd last year. Was th is a blip on the screen? Phil Rubel and Donaldo Vidal lead the charge on offense, but what about the rotation? Lance Campbell was an All-Star in season 7, but he is 34. After winning 15 games in season 5, Orlando Baez has yet to top 13 since and finished 12-16 last year. Same with Justin Reitsma, he is 34 and has yet to win more than 11 games in a season. If they could get a few good years out of their arms they could contend for a wild card, but it will be tough to knock off the back to back NL Pennant winning Missions.
Charoltte Queen's Men (60-1): They are in a tough division but do have some pieces to build around. Glen Kirkland has a nice glove (and a big price tag), Mel Malone has huge power and is only 25, Tomas Gomez has a big bat, and Ken Upshaw is going to be an All-Star 3rd baseman. The problem is pitching, they are pinning their hopes on young 23-year old Placido Carrara. He cant do it by himself, this could be a good team but Carrara needs arms around him and quickly.
New Orleans Crawdads (75-1): All-Star Felipe Tarasco is the final remaining name on the Crawdads and they are in rebuilding mode. They came so close, finishing 2nd numerous times in the first 9 seasons of the NABCL. The question now becomes, how long do they wait to unload Mr. Tarasco for prospects to hasten the rebuiling process?
Iowa City Shuckers (75-1): The wonders of free agency, it can set you back many seasons or make your season. The Shuckers are hoping the money they spent will make them a contender in season 10. While a lot of teams where spending big money on offense, Iowa City quietly snapped up the pitching, signing Sid Prince (112 career wins), Rex Mays, and John Blake to long term deals. They resigning veteran speedster Skeeter Reese to man the top of the order. They also came to terms with young Freddy Garcia to presumably close games, and they still have Harry Simpson who can now sit back as a #2 behind Prince and hopefully have his break out year. The AL South is tough, but a .500 record would be movement in the right direction, a wild card run would be a dream season.
San Diego Storm (80-1): Another team who spent shrewd dollars in the offseason but are in the wrong division. Teddy Fischbach never had that breakout season they wanted in Sacramento, then was traded, and was allowed to go to free agency. If he can live up to potential, he will be a great top of the order guy. Catcher Gregg Wright (32) was a huge sign, he is a former Gold Glover with a .314 career average and .407 career obp. After having some huge years in Jacksonville, AJ McIntyre has yet to get his groove back. But is there anything better than Petco Park for a pitcher to find himself? He should add close to 18 wins onto his 122 career total. They have the pitching, the ballpark, and young CF Vincente DeRojas is ready to be an All-Star. Will it be enough? I think the bettors are wrong on this one and San Diego will battle for a Wild Card right to the end of the season.
Boston Colonials (100-1): It was a tough year in Boston as a franchise rich in tradition (3 AL East titles) finished under .500 for the first time. But help is on the way and in a few seasons they will be back. Billy Cannon is a .295 career hitter, everyone's favorite Sherman Carter could hit 50 hr's one year, if they can get his average up to even .250 he could put up MVP type numbers. In limited at-bats last year, Catcher Norman Harris hit .346 and should get the starting nod, Chuck Canseco (SS) was signed for his glove and one of the gold variety could be in his future (you cant ignore the impact he will have on the pitching staff), Roger Bottenfield was signed and can play any of the corners, and they are taking a chance when they signed Brian Shuey in hopes his control wont hurt him too bad. He has all the other attributes. 24-year old William Parrott could be a future stud stopper and 25-year old Spike Rivera will give the Colonials 250 innings and 10-15 wins. Get 'em while they're down, but in the AL East, you never know.
Vancouver Loonies (100-1): Adrian Christenson will be one of the best overall players in the game and they will build the future around him. Wesley Ingram has the power, but the rest of the offense is in rebuild mode. The pitching staff is about the same. Oscar Duvall could win 18+ games with some offensive help, and young Javier Lugo could easily be up for Rookie of the Year honors when it is all said and done. Ultimately, it will be a few years before the Loonies are back in business.
Las Vegas Muckers (250-1): Sin City is a ways away from competing in the AL West. They are using stud Geronimo Nieto as a closer, but how many games will he have to close? If they move him into the rotation he can stabilize it, or he can be moved for prospects. They made a few moves during the winter signing SP Brian Rollins and 3B Bill Ledee, but they are only stop-gaps. Young Henry Figga will try to carry the load but with no one hitting around him it will be tough.
Kansas City Here I Come (250-1): They were quiet as a church mouse in the offseason as they are rebuilding and going with the guys that are here. Long-time ace Jimmy Ellis is coming to the end, but he has a season or two left in his arm. Bump Dickens will add innings and 23-year old future stud Pepe Escobar will be dominant on the mound once his splits reach near projections. On the other side is 26-year old phenom Ricky Valdes. He has somehow hit .327/.400 with 100+ hr's in his first 5 seasons before he was 26. He is amazing and if he reaches projections he will be the future star in KC.
Louisville Legionnaires (500-1): They kept the losses below 100 (99) last year and that was a step. Restocking the majors is step two and the plan is in motion. 31-year old Mikey Cannon was signed to help with the rotation. He hasnt ever really gotten the chance to start games over an entire season and could surprise. 12 wins arent out of the question. Allen Mathews has lost range but can still hit a bit and Don Leary has hit .280 before and can get on base. All were signed to very modest contracts which wont set the team back regardless of their performance. Very smart moves. They also signed Jason Coomer for $3 million this year and he is a former 17-game winner. The future of the rotation is on Ed Harris. He is 28-years old and has 3 straight double digit loss seasons, granted some of this is due to lack of offense, but if he can get it together, they may have their future ace.
Pawtucket Patriots (1000-1): In the weak AL East they managed only 44 wins. So they are obviously rebuilding. They have plenty of talent to get them started. Michael Chiba's splits project to 100/100 and he is the favorite to win Rookie of the Year honors. On the pitching side they have two potential aces in Henry Sorrento (9-17 in his rookie campaign) and Wiki Beltran (17 adn 19 losses last 2 years). Both are young and unproven but have the potential to be very good. There one free agent signing was a big one as they signed Jared DeShields away from Jacksonville for a 3yr $15 million contract to close out games. How many opportunities he has is the real question.
There you go guys. Again, I put a lot of time into this so I hope I hit everyone's main points and I obviously wasn't trying to offend anyone. I love this league and am just trying to increase the experience. Good luck to all (even you bullet)...
Friday, September 12, 2008
A Change of Heart in Norfolk???
Norfolk (AP)
Toward the end of last season, the brass of the Loyalist franchise had all but written off their entire team and were willing to undergo a complete rebuild. After diving into the stats a little further though, Loyalist GM did a complete 180 on that stance. "We had 5 of our 9 starters have career lows in batting average and slugging - I can't imagine that would happen 2 years in a row" GM Squirrel1014 stated today. "I'm not saying that us losing was a complete fluke, but when you have a relatively young lineup that's not in a ratings decline you have to wonder if the cards were just not in our favor last season."
The fans here in Norfolk are hoping the same thing. The Loyalists made big acquisitions at 3B and on the pitching staff to regain division supremacy. Here's a look at the starting lineup:
C: P.T. Valentin returns as Norfolk's main backstop. He led the Loyalist staff to giving up 50 less runs in Season 9 than Season 8, a difference that if the offense had performed, would have made a huge difference. He will be counted on to guide the staff and help develop the catcher of the future in Alex Hampton
1B: Rookie Tex Leach will try to fill a big hole in the lineup from last season at 1B. Norfolk had a hard time getting production out of the position last season and will be looking toward Leach as a player to build around for the future.
2B: Speed demon Ruben Soriano returns for his 6th season in Norfolk. Last season he posted a .273 average with 79 SB in 88 attempts. If he can duplicate those numbers management would be happy.
3B: Morgan Glover (acquired via trade with Chicago) will man the hot corner, taking over for one of the biggest busts in Loyalist history with Alex Broadhurst almost getting murdered by fans after his dismal performance in Season 9... Glover hit 30 homeruns last season and has a history of success that Norfolk hopes can help them reach the postseason again.
SS: Devon Russell is slowly becoming the face of the franchise. Insulted that he was not mentioned in AL ROY talk, the 2nd year shortstop looks to improve on his impressive rookie season that saw him net a .286 average with 27 HR and 19 SB.
LF: Ismael Franco was the biggest star in Norfolk last season after a 51 HR season. Franco came very close to being traded last season, but in the end put up the best season he's ever had in HBD. Another 45 HR season is not out of the question for one of the most feared hitters in the AL
CF: Veteran George Damon may be starting his decline at age 31, but he can still hit with the best of them. Last season Damon posted a career high .295 average to go along with 27 long balls.
RF: Jim Blair returns for his 5th season in a Loyalist uniform. A career .281 hitter with 114 career HR, Blair could be set for a breakout season.
DH: Once again, Norfolk's hopes lie in the production of DH Wilson May. In Season 9 when May bashed 42 HR with a .290 average, the Loyalists won the division. Last season May only hit 27 HR with an OPS 100 points lower than his previous season. If May can produce 35 HR, watch out for this team.
STARTING ROTATION: Tony Zurbaran, Hugh Bradford, Miguel Almanza, Don Kim, and Glen Dunn
BULLPEN: The success of the 'pen rides on the arms of Joey Kent, Rob Ransom and closer Todd Bacsik (arguably one of the best Rule V pickups in NABCL history)
One thing is for sure here in Norfolk - another losing season will implode this entire team. Good thing the brass doesn't expect anything less than a division championship!
Toward the end of last season, the brass of the Loyalist franchise had all but written off their entire team and were willing to undergo a complete rebuild. After diving into the stats a little further though, Loyalist GM did a complete 180 on that stance. "We had 5 of our 9 starters have career lows in batting average and slugging - I can't imagine that would happen 2 years in a row" GM Squirrel1014 stated today. "I'm not saying that us losing was a complete fluke, but when you have a relatively young lineup that's not in a ratings decline you have to wonder if the cards were just not in our favor last season."
The fans here in Norfolk are hoping the same thing. The Loyalists made big acquisitions at 3B and on the pitching staff to regain division supremacy. Here's a look at the starting lineup:
C: P.T. Valentin returns as Norfolk's main backstop. He led the Loyalist staff to giving up 50 less runs in Season 9 than Season 8, a difference that if the offense had performed, would have made a huge difference. He will be counted on to guide the staff and help develop the catcher of the future in Alex Hampton
1B: Rookie Tex Leach will try to fill a big hole in the lineup from last season at 1B. Norfolk had a hard time getting production out of the position last season and will be looking toward Leach as a player to build around for the future.
2B: Speed demon Ruben Soriano returns for his 6th season in Norfolk. Last season he posted a .273 average with 79 SB in 88 attempts. If he can duplicate those numbers management would be happy.
3B: Morgan Glover (acquired via trade with Chicago) will man the hot corner, taking over for one of the biggest busts in Loyalist history with Alex Broadhurst almost getting murdered by fans after his dismal performance in Season 9... Glover hit 30 homeruns last season and has a history of success that Norfolk hopes can help them reach the postseason again.
SS: Devon Russell is slowly becoming the face of the franchise. Insulted that he was not mentioned in AL ROY talk, the 2nd year shortstop looks to improve on his impressive rookie season that saw him net a .286 average with 27 HR and 19 SB.
LF: Ismael Franco was the biggest star in Norfolk last season after a 51 HR season. Franco came very close to being traded last season, but in the end put up the best season he's ever had in HBD. Another 45 HR season is not out of the question for one of the most feared hitters in the AL
CF: Veteran George Damon may be starting his decline at age 31, but he can still hit with the best of them. Last season Damon posted a career high .295 average to go along with 27 long balls.
RF: Jim Blair returns for his 5th season in a Loyalist uniform. A career .281 hitter with 114 career HR, Blair could be set for a breakout season.
DH: Once again, Norfolk's hopes lie in the production of DH Wilson May. In Season 9 when May bashed 42 HR with a .290 average, the Loyalists won the division. Last season May only hit 27 HR with an OPS 100 points lower than his previous season. If May can produce 35 HR, watch out for this team.
STARTING ROTATION: Tony Zurbaran, Hugh Bradford, Miguel Almanza, Don Kim, and Glen Dunn
BULLPEN: The success of the 'pen rides on the arms of Joey Kent, Rob Ransom and closer Todd Bacsik (arguably one of the best Rule V pickups in NABCL history)
One thing is for sure here in Norfolk - another losing season will implode this entire team. Good thing the brass doesn't expect anything less than a division championship!
We Built This City On.....?
Boston, MA - The Boston Colonials find themselves in unfamiliar territory. After relying on veterans to lead the team for most of it's early existence and failing to reach the playoffs for the second consecutive season this past year while finishing with a franchise worst 67-95 record, the team now enters the 10th season of the NABCL with the 4th youngest ML roster in the entire league.
Franchise faces Nate York and Glenn Glynn are gone (though neither has officially filed their retirement papers with the league) as are many of the other thirty-somethings that have regularly filled the Colonial media guide. As a matter of fact, the only 2 players currently on the 25-man roster that are over 30 are pitchers Lee Bolick and Bo Goldstein, both 31.
Those vacated roster spots aren't exactly boiling over with the top talent in the Boston system, however. Sure, several young promising players are here - like 24-year old Norman Harris, the team's likely #1 C this season - who came over in a trade from Sacramento prior to season 9 in exchange for Danys Ortiz. Also here is last season's surprise 20-20 man as the everyday RF - 26-year old Todd Haney - though he is back as the team's 1B this season. CF Sherman Carter (27) is still young and still power-packed...and still fragile, and the rotation and bullpen will be littered with young arms like Spike Rivera (25), Derrick Wilkerson (25), Albert Zurbaran (23) and Julio Sanchez (also 23 - part 3 of the Ortiz trade).
Still, the "Top Talent" in the system is a season or three away from making an impact on the big club. Players like AAA RF Alex Ortiz, AA shortstop Marvin Vernon (also part of the deal that brought Norman Harris to Boston), AA pitcher Alex Lo, and Boston's great International find from last season - High-A 1B Rico Parra.
These players do give Boston fans hope for a return to grace in the future, but those fans are still rightfully cautiously optimistic. The team doesn't exactly have a great track record for turning "prospects" into "All Stars". Drafting low each season doesn't exactly lead to a stocked minor league system, and Boston has historically gone after Type A and Type B Free Agents which do cost the team draft picks, but only a very few "homegrown" Boston prospects have ever reached the major leagues - for any team.
If the four players mentioned above all eventually make their way to Boston, it will likely signal the successful completion of a complete about face in the franchise's direction for team construction - from buying the top FA each season to building from within by drafting well and nurturing prospects through the system.
Boston fans just hope that the down-time doesn't last too long; another 90+ loss season is likely....and likely to wear on the faithful. The young pitching staff took it's lumps last season and most think, no, EXPECT that they can improve on that performance, while the (young-ish) Free Agents brought in this season - SP Brian Shuey, 3B Roger Bottenfield and utility player Chuck Canseco - should help the pitching staff, lineup and defense all make strides in that direction, as well.
Boston management has also made adjustments to the budget to allow for more International FA finds/signings and has upped it's efforts in Collegiate and High School scouting to help make the minor leagues even more of an asset for the big club. Another Parra-like signing or two and a strong draft this season could double the # of potential ML impact players in the system.
In this "what have you done for me lately" world of sports, it is hard for a team to, 1) admit that it is time to rebuild, and, 2) pull the trigger and actually work towards that goal in a swift, planned manner. Boston GM Rick Randall hopes that the rebuilding can get them back into contention in the AL East by next season.
"I don't think that we are that far away. The moves that we have made over the past season and a half have really set us up great for the future - and let's not forget, the East was won by an 83-win team last season (Washington)...and they made it all the way to the ALCS." said Randall. "We've cut player payroll from eighty-nine million just a few seasons ago to fifty-six million this season while at the same time doubling the overall prospect budget. If we can improve 5-8 games this season and then again 5-8 next, we are right there knocking on the door for the division once again - and this time we will be built to sustain that presence."
Boston fans certainly hope that is the case.
Staff writer Ken Heller
© Boston Herald, 2008
Franchise faces Nate York and Glenn Glynn are gone (though neither has officially filed their retirement papers with the league) as are many of the other thirty-somethings that have regularly filled the Colonial media guide. As a matter of fact, the only 2 players currently on the 25-man roster that are over 30 are pitchers Lee Bolick and Bo Goldstein, both 31.
Those vacated roster spots aren't exactly boiling over with the top talent in the Boston system, however. Sure, several young promising players are here - like 24-year old Norman Harris, the team's likely #1 C this season - who came over in a trade from Sacramento prior to season 9 in exchange for Danys Ortiz. Also here is last season's surprise 20-20 man as the everyday RF - 26-year old Todd Haney - though he is back as the team's 1B this season. CF Sherman Carter (27) is still young and still power-packed...and still fragile, and the rotation and bullpen will be littered with young arms like Spike Rivera (25), Derrick Wilkerson (25), Albert Zurbaran (23) and Julio Sanchez (also 23 - part 3 of the Ortiz trade).
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Still, the "Top Talent" in the system is a season or three away from making an impact on the big club. Players like AAA RF Alex Ortiz, AA shortstop Marvin Vernon (also part of the deal that brought Norman Harris to Boston), AA pitcher Alex Lo, and Boston's great International find from last season - High-A 1B Rico Parra.
These players do give Boston fans hope for a return to grace in the future, but those fans are still rightfully cautiously optimistic. The team doesn't exactly have a great track record for turning "prospects" into "All Stars". Drafting low each season doesn't exactly lead to a stocked minor league system, and Boston has historically gone after Type A and Type B Free Agents which do cost the team draft picks, but only a very few "homegrown" Boston prospects have ever reached the major leagues - for any team.
If the four players mentioned above all eventually make their way to Boston, it will likely signal the successful completion of a complete about face in the franchise's direction for team construction - from buying the top FA each season to building from within by drafting well and nurturing prospects through the system.
Boston fans just hope that the down-time doesn't last too long; another 90+ loss season is likely....and likely to wear on the faithful. The young pitching staff took it's lumps last season and most think, no, EXPECT that they can improve on that performance, while the (young-ish) Free Agents brought in this season - SP Brian Shuey, 3B Roger Bottenfield and utility player Chuck Canseco - should help the pitching staff, lineup and defense all make strides in that direction, as well.
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Boston management has also made adjustments to the budget to allow for more International FA finds/signings and has upped it's efforts in Collegiate and High School scouting to help make the minor leagues even more of an asset for the big club. Another Parra-like signing or two and a strong draft this season could double the # of potential ML impact players in the system.
In this "what have you done for me lately" world of sports, it is hard for a team to, 1) admit that it is time to rebuild, and, 2) pull the trigger and actually work towards that goal in a swift, planned manner. Boston GM Rick Randall hopes that the rebuilding can get them back into contention in the AL East by next season.
"I don't think that we are that far away. The moves that we have made over the past season and a half have really set us up great for the future - and let's not forget, the East was won by an 83-win team last season (Washington)...and they made it all the way to the ALCS." said Randall. "We've cut player payroll from eighty-nine million just a few seasons ago to fifty-six million this season while at the same time doubling the overall prospect budget. If we can improve 5-8 games this season and then again 5-8 next, we are right there knocking on the door for the division once again - and this time we will be built to sustain that presence."
Boston fans certainly hope that is the case.
Staff writer Ken Heller
© Boston Herald, 2008
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