Oahu Glorious Wonder 2011 Outlook

Oahu will be rebuilding this year… sorta. I say sorta because, the hitting lineup is its usual robust self ( although not as good as last year) but the pitching faces some… hahahahahaha… challenges.

The Wonders finished a glorious 96-66 to win the Vander Wal division in 2010. However, due to Cody Ross's ninth inning game five winning home run, they were knocked out of playoffs in the division championship series by Edgewater. Sadly, Oahu fans were denied their showdown versus Washington and a possible trip to the World Series.

It's possible that the Wonders may limp into the playoffs this year but it's unlikely they'll be a top contender for the Hello Kitty Cup in 2011. During last year's pennant drive, GM Jim Froelick was a buyer and he traded away draft picks in rounds 2,5,7 and 10 to bolster the team for a run at the Cup. After the season, Froelick traded away his 3rd rounder along with SP Ricky Romero to acquire 2B Martin Prado thereby solidifying his infield (hopefully for the long term). The 4th round pick was forfeited due to overusage— Ouch!

So, it's no small wonder that the pitching staff has a few holes in it. Tom Gorzelanny, Doug Fister and Anibal Sanchez lead the staff and none of them have more than 185 IPs to offer. After that, it's all downhill as the Wonders will have to depend on the likes of Sean O'Sullivan, Dave Bush, Jeremy Bonderman and Mitch Talbot.

Things aren't much better in the bullpen. Jonathan Papelbon's still the closer but it's unlikely he will be as effective as he was in 2010. Tim Stauffer should be one of the league's ace setup guys. D. J. Carrasco and Phil Coke should also have good years as specialists versus righties and lefties. Jason Berken will provide long relief (aka "mop-up") on the eleven man staff. However, as the season wears on and the Wonders are forced to dip into their minor league system for reinforcements, the bullpen is sure to become weaker and weaker.

By September, Oahu fans may be watching nine innings of, at best, mediocre pitching. Will team management again mortgage the team's future in order to compete? Should be interesting to watch this season unfold.

Certainly, the Wonders have no lack of offense. With the exception of CF and C, the Wonders are solid at every position.

Oahu cut C Rod Barajas toward the end of the 2010 campaign to bring on more hitting in September. This move now looks like a huge mistake. Last year's starter, Pablo Sandoval no longer plays the position. Jason Kendall will replace Barajas on the roster. but not in terms of production against right handed pitchers. Nick Hundley will platoon with Kendall and should do well versus lefties. Neither player is a plus defensively. Overall though, the Wonders are hurting behind the plate.

In CF, perennial star Denard Span has suffered substantial a fall-off both offensively and defensively. He'll probably see action only against selected lefty starters. Ryan Spilborghs, who has been a reliable role player in the past two years will see most of the action in CF. Unfortunately Spilborghs, a strong hitter versus righties, offers below average defense and that could spell disaster for Oahu's already beleaguered pitchers.

Things look better at the other positions. At 1B, Prince Fielder, who tied Nassua's Mark Reynolds for the TBA league lead with 52 HRs, will once again terrorize Lenny Harris League pitchers. Shelly Duncan will back up Fielder and see some action versus lefties. Martin Prado will anchor 2B providing both strong defense and reliable hitting. Hanley Ramirez is top shelf hitting talent at SS. His "brother by another mother" Alexei Ramirez will make a fine late inning defensive replacement. First round pick Neil Walker will spend most of the season at 3B while Pablo Sandoval, last year's phenom, will provide some late inning defense and pinch hitting.

Carlos Quentin (LF) and Delmon Young (RF) will lend power to the corner outfield positions. Lastings Milledge will platoon with Quentin against lefties. None of these guys offer much in the way of defense, Quentin and Milledge possessing below average range. GM/Manager Jim Froelick will have his hands full trying to convince his pitching staff to persevere in the face of the onslaught of cheap singles and minor league doubles this leaky outfield will likely allow.

So, it's the usual all hit, no field, and substandard pitching that Oahu fans have come to expect. Will the Wonders make the playoffs this year? It could happen. As is, the team is possibly the fourth best behind Washington, Reno and Brighton in the LHL. Undoubtedly though, Edgewater, Aberdeen, Old Bridge and Oregon will have a say in where the Wonders end up.

Nassau G-Men 2011 Outlook

The Nassau G- Men are coming off a terrible 2010 campaign, which saw them win a measly 59 games ... GM Steve Garafalo was unable to make any blockbuster acquisitions for 2011, but has hopefully given the fans of the G-Men something to look forward to in 2012 and beyond... the starting rotation should be the strength of the team with a capable 1-2-3 of Zack Greinke, Hiroki Kuroda and Matt Garza while the 4 and 5 spots will be split between 2010 1st rd pick Rick Porcello, 2011 1st rd pick Daniel Hudson, Luke Hochevar and Brian Moehler ... while the bullpen will see closer duties shared by David Aardsma and John Axford ... rounding out the pen with a mix of young hopefuls (Frasor,Parnell,Ogando) plus a mix of veterans and bounce back candidates

London Badgers 2011 outlook - This will hurt

After starting out 51-30, the London Badgers appeared destined to win the Vander Wal division and not have to face Washington in the first round of playoffs. The Badgers then limped the last 3 months 37-44 to finish the season to barely capture the final wild card spot and face the Boozehounds.

Offseason - After being humiliated in the playoffs by the powerful Boozehounds, Owner and General Manager Paul Mudry took a look at his team and realised it is going to be a messy few years for London. The Badgers have few players to build their team around. The only real cornerstones of the franchise are starting pitchers Josh Johnson and 2010 first round pick David Price. Aside from those two players, help was and still is needed everywhere. The Badgers needed to get younger, they needed many impact bats, they needed a lights out closer and, yes they even needed to reload their starting pitching. In short, the Badgers needed (and still need) to overhaul their roster and rebuild. The project is far from over, but progress is being made. Gone are Mike Pelfrey as well as players on the wrong side of 30, Juan Pierre and Johan Santana. The Badgers were able to acquire outfielder Chris Young and two first round picks, one for 2012 and the other one who turned into Drew Storen. The rebuild will take some time, but the Badgers are willing to be patient.

Draft - The Badgers were missing their 2nd round pick (used to acquire Adam LaRoche before their collapse) and their 4th (packaged with Pierre to acquire Young) but still managed to net young pitchers Madison Bumgarner, Drew Storen and James McDonald as well as young hitters Michael Brantley, Ryan Kalish and Juan Francisco, and hopeful bounceback players Brad Penny, Mark DeRosa and Connor Jackson. The draft did not go entirely the way the Badgers wanted, although with as many needs as they had, it was tough to completely miss, right?

Hitting - The hitting is an absolute nightmare as the "stars" on offense for London are 1B Adam LaRoche, CF Chris Young and 3B/OF Michael Cuddyer. Those are not the players that are the centrepieces of championship teams, or even average teams. It goes without saying that the Badger offense will struggle mightily this year.

C - Yadier Molina - The best defensive catcher in baseball. Took a step backward offensively last year, but the Badgers believe he can rebound.

1B - Adam LaRoche - Will probably serve as the Badgers #4 hitter (ugh!). Not a bad 1st baseman, but there are better 1st basemen out there.

2B - Freddy Sanchez/Skip Schumaker - Sanchez still has a range of '2' at 2nd base with very few errors. After all these years Sanchez is still a solid contact hitter who hit .292 last seasons and mashed lefty pitching. Skip Schumaker despite a down year will platoon vs righties.

SS - Jason Bartlett - At least he can play some D and has a bit of speed. Luis Valbuena and Geoff Blum (how did he find his way back onto my team?!?!) may also spend some time here.

3B - Michael Cuddyer/Pedro Feliz/Luis Valbuena - Laughable. Let's move on.

The oufield has some speed (Brantley, Crowe, Young), some contact hitters (Sweeney, Schumaker), a bit of power (Young, Kubel) and hopefully some players who bounceback (Schumaker, Kubel and Cuddyer). The problem with this outfield though is that with the exception of Young, none of these players really deserve to be starting.

Manager C. Montgomery Burns will need to find all the creativity in his 100+ year old brain to find a way to score some runs with that offense.

Pitching - The Badgers were built on pitching and that is the only way they can expect to win this year, although after the departures of Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey and Mark Buehrle, even the Badger pitching staff will not be as strong as it has been in past years.

Starters - David Price, Josh Johnson and Dan Haren form a solid 1-2-3 pitching rotation. It will be a mix and match for the #4 and #5 spots in the rotation which will be occupied by 2011 first round pick Madison Bumgarner, James McDonald, Brad Penny, John Lannan, Nick Blackburn and Scott Feldman...this will not end well.

Bullpen - The bullpen is a strength for the Badgers, although they are lacking a truly dominant closer, the hope is Drew Storen will soon become that dominant closer. Kyle McClellan and Kerry Wood are both coming off 20 save efforts for the Badgers last year and McClellan will figure prominently in the bullpen yet again. Looking to play more prominent roles in the Badger 'pen include Jesse Crain, strikeout specialist Joel Hanrahan, hard throwing righties Jason Motte and Brandon League, and closer of the future Drew Storen.

This will be a year where the Badgers will take a step or two backward while just about every other team in the Lenny Harris League will take a step (or two...or three) forward, not to mention superpowers Reno, Washington and Brighton. While it may get painful and embarassing at times, Paul Mudry is never the less looking forward to the season and playing with the fine people of the TBA once again.

Paul (Badgers)

Washington BoozeHounds

Coming off a championship season, the BoozeHounds had some interesting dilemmas in the post-season. The starting pitching staff is aging (Carpenter, Lilly) a bit and several OFs had down years (I'm not looking at you, Carlos Gonzalez!).

Here are the highlights of the off-season:

• Selling off the middling SPs. WAS was loaded with 4th/5th starter-types and early on began the process of trading them off. Cy Young winner and ace of the rotation Javier Vazquez was dealt off in a "what have you done for me lately" deal. Hochevar was a piece in the acquisition of stopper R. Soriano. Bud Norris (later reacquired!), Luke Hochevar, and Kyle Kendrick were all dealt for 5th-ish rounders. Nobody had enough heart to give Freddy Garcia a home -- shame on all of you!
• Looking to reload. In the hardest deal I've ever done, young SP Brandon Morrow, who I am high on and have held since the inaugural draft, was traded for oldster Tim Hudson in a move designed to keep the rotation World Series-worthy. I will regret this one every day after this season is over.
• Acquiring young pitching. In a Napa-like Jekyll & Hyde maneuver, after trading Morrow I went about trying to stock some young SPs. First, I overpaid for E. Volquez by sending good draft picks plus valuable Will Venable to Vero Beach. Venable produced a better card than I suspected so I immediately sprained a knee kicking myself in the posterior because I needed a platoon OF vs. RHP. In the next move, I shipped Nolasco & recently acquired Volquez off to Helena for Y. Gallardo. This was a future play: he'll split some time with Lilly as the 5th SP, but will be needed next season. Finally, Evan Meek was acquired from Napa to solidify the bullpen.
• Drafting and not drafting. I felt pretty good about my team going into the draft, so my plan was to draft for a few needs, and then roll some picks over to upgrade my draft position for next season. Matt Joyce (platoon OF vs. RHP) and Miguel Cairo (Util. IF) were acquired to round out the roster, and then picks were traded -- until a few things happened. First, Adam Wainwright goes down for the season. Second, Brighton and Reno continued their relentless march towards juggernaut franchise status. So, hopeful SPs (Harang, Bud Norris) were acquired and I began using my draft picks to shore up the roster for this year.

Outlook for this season:

I'm not going to demur or sugarcoat it: my team is pretty good. Fielding, hitting, and pitching are all high-quality. The hitting is not as strong as last season, but the fielding is better. The interesting thing (and great for the league) is that other franchises are stepping up to meet the challenge, so I predict a pretty competitive season among the "haves".

Starting Pitching: Rotation lines up with Wainwright, Hudson, J. Sanchez, Carpenter, and Lilly/Gallardo. It's good, but aging. Gallardo, Norris, and Harang were all acquired to hedge bets for next year; plus Chris Young (P) was kept in the hope that he regains form.

Relief Pitching: Anchored by shutdown closer Rafael Soriano, there's good versatility with left-handed Breslow and Burnett, LOOGY Joe Thatcher, right-handed Chris Perez (alternate closer) and Evan Meek. It's not a shutdown bullpen, but I think it will suffice.

Catcher: Joe Mauer. W. Ramos and Shoppach will platoon against LHP.

First Base: Mark Teixeira suffered a down year and will be batting near the bottom of the order. Quite a luxury to have. He still brings the fielding.

Second Base: Robinson Cano full-time. He's the best.

Shortstop: Troy Tulowitschjksdfhki. One of the best, but a little short on ABs. Miguel Cairo (with a solid bat) will see some time there.

Third Base: Ryan Zimmerman. Very solid.

Outfield: Plenty of mix and match possibilities here. Carlos Gonzalez will play full-time, but will move positions depending on the match-ups. Victorino will play versus LHP and most RHP due to his CF-1. Willingham, Zobrist, and Matt Joyce will split the other spots and provide pingh-hitting off the bench. Against LHP, the OF could be Willingham (LF), Victorino (CF), CarGo (RF). Against RHP, the OF could be Zobrist (LF), CarGo (CF), Joyce (RF).

Bench: The bench is a hodgepodge of PH specialists. Marcus Thames, Brandon Allen, Shoppach, Jay Gibbons, and Tolleson will all be ready to PH and not much else. Thames should pretty much get 162 ABs, although he could spell Zimmerman for some AB relief with a cover-your-eyes 5e65 at 3B.

Fielding: This will be crazy good. In most lineups, I will have seven 1's on the field (including the entire infield) with the capability to throw a RF2e0 (Zobrist) out there. Any runs scored on us will be earned (figuratively and literally).

All in all, I feel pretty good about the team, but recognize that the competition is very stiff with Brighton and Reno serving as peer competitors. I'm looking forward to starting the season and wish everyone good luck.

Joe (WAS)

We're going to Helena Handbaskets preview

Helena Handbaskets 2011

Look Towards the Season

 

After successfully moving away from the previous home of Loves Park and the ridiculous pink uniforms, The Helena Handbaskets look forward to a fresh start and an exciting future.  Team owner Larry Hill believes in building a team on pitching and defense, and while most of the pieces from the previous team didn’t fit, some early picks in the draft this season have moved the team in that direction.

 

Starting Pitching—an excellent first round of the draft netted the team youngsters Jaime Garcia and Jhoulys Chacin and picking up RA Dickey in the 3^rd round was a steal.  These 3 will team with other newcomers Edinson Volquez and Ricky Nolasco, along with holdovers Jake Peavy Keving Correia and Barry Zito to form a decent roataion with potential for the future with returns from injuries and emotional issues.

 

Relief pitching—The backend of the bullpen is anchored by Andrew “Lights Out” Bailey, last years first round pick.  If he falters, the Handbaskets are blessed with 5 other pitchers with closing experience, Huston Street, Brandon Lyon, Rafael Betancourt, Mike Wuertz and Nick Masset.  These 5 with David Pauley and probably Correia as long man, will anchor a fairly strong bullpen, which hopefully won’t have to be used that much if the starters pitch up to potential.

 

Catching—By committee.  A lot of former talent here.  Victor Martinez is probably the best hitter of the bunch, but his receiving leaves a little (ok a lot) to be desired.  Russell Martin is living on past glory, and Ivan Rodriguez keeps chugging along.  Drew Butera and Adam Morre are looks to the future here, both trapped behind catchers in their current stints, but could get some playing time with injuries.

 

First Base—Two slick fielding no hit guys, and 2 guys who can rake, but fielding wise…well, lets just say, no one picks the ball up better after it stops rolling than these two.  Kotchman and Ishikawa will see late inning defensive replacement action, while Butler and VMart will probably get most of the starts due to their hitting, one will likely be the DH also.

 

Second Base—Adam Kennedy, Clint Barmes.  Let’s move on.

 

Third Base—Ably handled by Adrian Beltre.  Great glove, dang good bat this year.  Danny Valencia is an able back up and should see some time as DH vs left handed pitching.

 

Shortstop—Cliff Pennington will get most of the starts.  Jack Wilson will get most of the rest.  Only if the manager has a complete brain cramp will Yuniesky Betancourt see any action…he’s the most trade available player on the Handbaskets this year. 

 

Outfield…Some decent holdovers ..Andre Ethier and Drew Stubbs.  Some exciting new players…First round pick Austin Jackson, second rounders Jose Tabata and Peter Bourjos…and hopefully returning from injury Grady Sizemore…highlight a fairly strong outfield rotation.  Some excellent fielding out there with some decent speed and hitting.

 

Overall, a decent team, not a great one.  Playoffs?   Probably not this year, but some youth to build to the future with the solid veteran leadership already in place.  The Handbaskets won’t be pushovers, and might sneak into the playoffs, but realistically 82-84 wins is what we should expect.

 

Larry Hill

Brighton 2011 outlook

Brighton took over the franchise last year and endured a humiliating, yet neccessary season in order to improve. This is not your 2010 Bearcats. This team is poised to make a playoff run and hopefully make defending champs Washington at least have to try to win his games. Lets take a look at your 2011 Brighton Bearcats.

C-This position was the focal point of the off season. With Russell Martin suffering through injury, reduced production, and a drop in defense, Brighton made upgrading at catcher priority 1. Through much negotiation, the #2 pick was acquired and used for stud catching prospect Buster Posey< He provides excellent defense and a potent bat. Since he will need some days off, Francisco Cervelli was picked up to provide a competent bat on Busters days off.

1B-Despite off season distractions, MVP runner-up Miguel Cabrera returns as the focal point of the offense. He hits for power, average and gets his share of walks. His defense is now passable and Brighton will count on him for an MVP calibur season. Casey Blake will provide backup support.

2B-Ian Kinsler is an interesting player. His power and speed has dropped, but his OBP and defense has improved. He will be counted on to bring the power/speed back up to snuff. If he can avoid injury, he could return to elite status. Due to injury, Reid Brignac will take many at bats vs some righties.

SS-Stephen Drew has long been coveted by Brighton and a late season trade made it a reality. Drew responded with his best season with the glove and bat. Spelling him will be Colorado IF Jonathon Herrera who hits well from both sides of the plate while playing a solid D.

3B-This position will be a platoon. Ian Stewart will get a lions share of playing time against RH. He plays a good D and has good pop. However, his lack of production vs. lefties makes Casey Blake the short side of this platoon. Blake will play vs. lefties and occasionally spell Cabrera at 1B. He hits lefties well and is passable on defense. Herrera will also see some time at 3B.

LF-Carl Crawford. the much traveled crawford may finally get a chance to unpack his bags. Brighton has always lacked a speedy presence and Crawford will be given the green light. He isn't just a one trick pony. His defense is welcomed and he has a little pop too. Against tough lefties, Lefty masher Ryan Raburn will play some LF.

CF-Colby Rasmus. Last years top pick took a solid step forward in reaching his potential. The young lefty showed he can hit southpaws as well. His D is solid. He gets on base and has good power. When he needs a day off, speedy veteran Coco Crisp will get in the game.

RF-Shin Soo Choo. The korean import brings his solid bat, on base skills, decent speed, and cannon arm to Brighton. He can do everything well and will offer Cabrera support in the lineup. Crisp and Raburn will also see some time in RF.

SP-The rotation sees a major overhaul with only staff ace Jon Lester returning. Gone are legends Ian Snell, Mike Hampton, and Felipe Paulino. Brighton brings in workhorse Brett Myers, Cole Hamels, Fausto Carmona, and Max Scherzer in to make a solid starting 5. Crafty vet Andy Pettite will get his share of starts as well.

RP-From last years disasterous season, the biggest weakness was the pen. There is no one returning. Via numerous trades, Brightons bullpen is now one of the best. The closer role was manned by Madsen, Troncoso, Rauch, Rodney, and Guardado. Stability is in as Joakim Soria will be the man. He has shown to be an elite closer. Bridging the gap to Soria will be Benoit, Kuo, and O'Day. They sported ERA's of 1.34. 1.20, and 2.03 respectively. Eneter in journeymen Kameron Loe (2.78) and Boone Logan (2.93) and Brighton should have some security late in games. Hakanori Takahashi will play the role of spot starter, long relief, and also occasional closer.

Overall, Brighton GM Mark Moilanen is very happy with how the team has turned out. He has proven to be among the most active GM's and is not shy about making big deals. Unfortunately the biggest obstacle is being in the same division as super power Washington. While Brighton still may not be in the same catagory as Washington (who is?), Joe Potts will have a little more of a challenge when playing in his own division this year. Brighton could win 100 games and still not finish first. This does not scare Brighton. If you can make the playoffs, anything can happen in a short season.

Bowling Green - 2011 Season Update

Bowling Green Looking to Rebuild in 2011

 

Prior to the 2010 campaign, the Bowling Green Bowlers were predicted to finish in 4th place in the Molitor Division…..and we were very happy to prove that prediction wrong! 

If similar results are predicted for 2011, I don’t think there will be too much of an argument this time.   Semi-weak offense and poor up-the-middle defense will both conspire to make the pitching work even harder in 2011. 

 

Speaking of pitching:  CC Sabathia, Bronson Arroyo, Gavin Floyd, and Phil Hughes (taking Scott Feldman’s spot) form the core of BOW’s starting staff.  I am hoping that there is no "core meltdown" here!  Expect Brian Duensing, Tommy Hunter, and ageless knuckle-baller Tim Wakefield to rotate through the 5^th spot.  Rookie Dillon Gee should also see action in at least one segment of the schedule. 

Bullpen – There was massive turn-over in the ‘pen.  Essentially only one arm remains from last year’s stellar staff and their 3.09 ERA, that of rookie closer Neftali Feliz.  Say good-bye to former closer Trevor Hoffman, back-up closer Chad Qualls, LaTroy Hawkins, Tony Sipp, and Fu-Ti Ni.  

Ryan Perry (obtained in-exchange for 2B J. Carroll), Ernesto Frieri, Chan-Ho Park, and Jensen Lewis will cover the right side of the bullpen, while the left side will be covered with Duensing, Dan Runzler, and local star Aaron Laffey.  Rookies Mike Kohn and PJ Walters probably won’t see much action.  In addition to being the lefty specialist, expect Duensing (and Wakefield) to be an “inning-eater”, providing long relief and mop-up duty.

Catcher - Kurt Suzuki will continue to do the bulk of the catching, despite his bat slumping a bit (.242 / 13 / 71) and his throwing arm slipping from a -1 to a 0.  Jorge Posada and his +3 arm will only be used as an emergency back-up.  Newly-acquired Bobby Wilson will provide some homerun pop versus left-handers.

First Base – It was hoped that Kyle Blanks would be holding down this position full-time in 2011, but that is a topic I’d rather not discuss. Lefty-swinging draft picks Mitch Moreland and Kila Ka’Aihue will combine to cover a portion of the season at first base.  It is hoped that Moreland can capitalize on his post-season success with the Rangers and continue to fend-off Chris Davis.  Since Ka’Aihue is expected to play regularly with the Royals in 2011, it is hoped that the gaudy OBP / OPS numbers that he collected in the minor leagues will finally arrive.  The remainder of the playing time will mostly go to switch-hitting, poor fielding Posada.  Expect a cameo appearance from oft-injured, OBP-machine Nick Johnson. 

Second Base – Kelly Johnson made a nice resurgence in his move from ATL to ARI (.284 / 26 / 71). While his 36 doubles, .369 OBP, and 13 SB are all plusses, his “4” fielding rating is a HUGE minus.

Third Base – Brandon Inge’s defense (3b2e11) is never in-question, but his lack of offense can be tough to take.  Expect switch-hitting Jed Lowrie to be using most of his 200 PAs at the hot corner.  If I tire of seeing Inge batting near the Mendoza Line, expect to see Mike Lowell to get some playing time. 

Short Stop – There were very few great draft options at SS, so Derek Jeter will continue to play everyday for the Bowlers.  Despite winning the AL Gold Glove, his reduced range finally caught-up to him in Strat, earning him a “3” range factor……which is tough to take at SS.

Utility Infielder – As mentioned, Jamey Carroll was dealt for bullpen help, so Jed Lowrie will be the back-up all four infield positions.  His potent bat, especially against lefty pitching, will be offset by his poor injury rating.  Another switch-hitter, Matt Tolbert, will spell Lowrie in-case of injury.

Outfield – BOW’s 3^rd draft pick was dealt to obtain Cameron Maybin (.234 / 8 / 28 / 9 SB), hopefully a long-term option in CF.  He has yet to produce the great offensive numbers that highlighted his minor league career, but there is hope that the move to the West Coast will do him some good.   Reggie Willits will also assist Maybin in covering CF. 

The aging, but still fast, Scott Podsednik (.297 / 6 / 51 / 35 SB) will hold-down the LF duties and be leading-off.  Ryan Ludwick (.251 / 17 / 69) will cover RF.  Former regular CF Nate McLouth (.190 / 6 / 24) was protected in-hopes that he will rebound strongly for ATL in 2011.  He will mostly be riding the pine this season for BOW, but is semi-usable vs. RHP and could fill the utility OF spot formerly held by Melky Cabrera.  Expect McLouth to get some competition from the very speedy Jarred Dyson and solid glove man Jason Repko.  Dyson will probably see most of his action as a pinch-runner.  Despite his recent spring training injury, expect No. 1 draft pick Domonic Brown to be the starting RF for the Bowlers in 2012, along side Maybin in CF and Blanks in LF.

DH – Jim Thome and his gaudy 1.038 OPS will be holding-down the DH slot vs. RHP.  Pat Burrell (.252 / 20 / 64) was scooped-up as a 10th round pick to complement Thome from the right side of the plate, effectively pushing Posada into 1B duty.  Although he is OF eligible, don’t expect to see Burrell out there very often with his “5” glove.

Prognosis: Despite some of the holes in the roster being partially filled through the draft and with trades (1B / CF / bullpen), this is still considered a “rebuilding” year for Bowling Green.  Here’s looking to 2012!!

2011 TBA Draft Review: 2nd Round

2^nd Round Review

Now that we have seen my opinion on the first round, I will share my opinion on the second.  A couple surprises.  A couple steals.  Please keep in mind that this is only one mans opinion and no offense should be taken.  I finished with the 4^th worst record so take it with a grain of salt.

1)  Chris Sale-Halifax.  Halifax is in rebuild mode and the lanky Sale could be a nice piece for years.  Sale was drafted and in the majors within a few months and did well in limited time with the Sox.  There has been debate if he would be in rotation or pen.  Looks like he will be a starter.  Only concern is that he pitches in Chicago’s hitter friendly park.  Some also wonder how his slender frame holds out over the long season. 

2)  Mike Minor-Napa.  One of Napa’s many picks is the Atlanta southpaw.  Minor has excelled in the minor leagues and looks to be a fixture as soon as this year for the Braves.  Napa made many trades to acquire these picks (this one from yours truly in Posey deal), so the success of Minor could make or break Napa’s off season.  With that said, this was a solid pick for the rebuilding Napa franchise.

3)  John Jaso-Kansas City.  After trading the #3 pick, KC decided it had to address its gaping hole at catcher with Jaso.  While Jaso does not have the upside of Posey or Santana, he has an outstanding OBP and should be an upgrade on Alex Avila.  As long as he can continue to get on base and not regress defensively, this is a solid pick for a team who is in rebuild. 

4)  Craig Kimbrel-Napa.  Yet another Napa pick.  He goes with the first in a string of RP.  Kimbrel has a shot to be the Atlanta closer.  Kimbrell’s success or failure will hinge upon his ability to throw strikes.  While I feel Kimbrel has a solid upside, I feel the rebuilding Napa team may have been better served grabbing a Smoak or Morrison.

5)  Justin Smoak-San Antonio.  With Ike Davis off the table, San Antonio looks to solidify its aging 1B (Berkman) position with Smoak.  Smoak struggled in his first season in the bigs, but has the pedigree to become an above average 1B.  He is a switch hitter with a solid glove who can take a walk.  There will be some growing pains, but San Antonio can be patient.

6)  Tyler Colvin-Old Bridge.  Old Bridge was in dire need of adding power to it’s lineup.  Alvarez went in round one and now they add Colvin.  Colvin does have some pop in his bat, and can play a solid defensive game.  On the flip side, many are not sold on his upside.  He will need to cut down on his strikeouts and learn to take a few more walks to be considered much more than an average player.  As long as he hits homeruns and plays good D, he will remain employed. 

7)  Joaquin Benoit-Oregon.  Unique pick.  There is no arguing that Benoit is one of (if not the) best RP card in the draft.  On the flipside, Benoit is not a kid and has had mixed results in his previous seasons and many wonder if last year was a fluke.  No one expects Benoit to be lights out like last year.  He goes to Detroit to set up Valverde who had some arm issues next year so he could end up closing some games.  Like Napa earlier, I feel Oregon may have been better served drafting a Morrison or Wood.  May be a moot point as Oregon management shipped Benoit off to Brighton for Matt Guerrier and a draft pick. 

8)  Jose Tabata-Helena.  Tabata is a solid pick.  His ceiling may not be as high as Logan Morrison who was available, but Tabata should be a solid 3^rd OF or at worst and excellent 4^th OF.  He has limited power, but plays a solid LF, can run a little, and gets on base at a solid rate.  As long as he continues to get on base, Tabata should be a solid, but unspectacular OF for years.   

9)  Billy Wagner-Old Bridge.  An odd pick.  There is no question that Wagner is an excellent closer for the season.  There lies the problem as Wagner has officially retired making Wagner a one year card.  This would be fine if Old Bridge was making a run for the playoffs, but he is likely not going to compete for the playoffs this season.  Wagner will not disappoint, but may have been more valuable to a contender.  Perhaps Wagner will be wearing another teams uniform by years end. 

10)  Danny Valencia-Helena.  With Adrian Beltre manning 3B, the pick of Valencia was a little surprising.  Valencia had a solid rookie season, but projects as a utility player in the future.  With that said, Valencia provides a useful card if Helena gets him into the lineup.  He can get on base, has a little pop, and is responsible with the leather.  Like many before him, he may have been better served with a Morrison, but Valencia should prove to be useful in the lineup or as trade bait. 

11)  Travis Wood-Colorado Springs.  Colorado management was targeting Wagner or Benoit, but with them being selected earlier, Eric decided to go with a lefty SP prospect.  Wood does not project as ace material, but should be a solid SP for the Reds.  You can never have too much starting pitching.  If Wood pans out, he should fit in nicely behind King Felix, Johnny Cueto, and Francisco Liriano. 

12)   Logan Morrison-Bartonville.  This was the steal of the round in this guys opinion.  I know of at least 3 GM’s who picked later in the round (including yours truly) who drooled over the possibility that he could slip to them.  Jay put an end to those dreams by selecting Morrison.  Lets face it.  The defense probably scared away many GM’s, especially those in the National League.  However, his OBP is elite and he has the skill level to be an excellent player.  If he can rediscover some of the power that he flashed in the minor leagues and improve his defense, Bartonville could very well have the steal of the draft.

13)  Sean Rodriguez-Brighton.  With it’s original targets off the board (Benoit, Wagner, Morrison), Brighton decided to go with youth and versatility for it’s NL club.  This may have been a reach, but Brighton has plans to make the playoffs and Sean-Rods ability to play almost every position (save catcher and 1B) was appealing.  He hits lefties well and is defensively solid at 2B and the OF.  Sean-Rod didn’t get a chance to meet the Brighton media as he was quickly shipped off in a deal to solidify it’s rotation in a deal for Brett Myers. 

14)  Mitch Moreland-Bowling Green.  Bowling Green would have probably liked to have seen Ike Davis or Justin Smoak drop to him, he went with Moreland to help out at 1B.  Some would contend that Gaby Sanchez may have been a better pick, but Moreland’s solid OBP and good power will come in handy.  Moreland does not project to be anything more than an average at best 1B, but he won’t hurt Bowling Green.  His major weakness this season is his limited at bats. 

15)  Gaby Sanchez-Napa.  This was the last chance to get a useable 1B, and Napa could not pass up Sanchez.  With the aging and slipping Carlos Pena as the starting 1B, Sanchez should provide insurance.  He has a solid OB, decent power, and doesn’t strikeout a ton.  On the flipside, he is a little older for a prospect, not great defensively, and I feel this is his ceiling.  If Sanchez can duplicate this season, Napa would be content as they have their 1B/DH of the future.  Solid value at this spot.

16)  Peter Bourjos-Helena.  Helena used his 3^rd pick of the round to select the slick fielding CF, Peter Bourjos.  Let’s face it, his lone value this year is as a defensive replacement.  However, he has good speed to go along with that glove.  He also hit well at the end of the season to give Helena hope for the future.  He is young and will be given every opportunity to start for the Angels this year.  I believe Bourjos will sink or swim.  Will he be Franklin Gutierrez with speed or will he be Carlos Gomez?

17)  Clay Hensley-Edgewater.  A career journeyman/fringe pitcher, Clay Hensley had a rebirth in Florida last season and Eddie was happy to pick him in the late 2^nd round.  Edgewater had a need to solidify the pen and Hensley helps on that front.  Will Hensley repeat his performance?  Unlikely.  Is he a high end prospect?  Nope.  Is he an excellent bullpen arm to help a team get into the playoffs?  You bet he is. 

18)  Shawn Marcum-San Antonio.  San Antonio saw the opportunity to grab a younger SP with solid IP’s in the late 2^nd, and jumped at it.  Marcum’s splits are a bit off, but a move to the National League and getting out of Toronto’s hitter friendly park bode well for a potential breakout season for Marcum.  Solid value in late 2nd. 

19)  Lorenzo Cain-Halifax.  Cain has a solid (but limited AB’s) card for the season.  He is young and has some nice tools.  He is not projected to be a star, but should have a long career as a 3^rd-4th OF who plays good D, gets on base, and can run a bit.  He heads to Kansas City as part of the Greinke deal. 

20)  Jake Westbrook-Napa.  Rounding out the 2^nd round is Napa’s selection of former Indian, Jake Westbrook.  The injury prone, 30-something SP provided solid, but not spectacular innings and seems to be over his injury issues.  Westbrook would be more valuable as a #5 pitcher on a contender, but will be the #2 pitcher for Napa.  I am going out on a limb when I predict Westbrook will not end the season in Napa. 

Steal of the round-

1)  Logan Morrison (Bartonville).  If he can improve his defense and rediscover his power, he could be an all-star.  To get him in the mid 2^nd is a coup. 

2)  Shawn Marcum (San Antonio).  If he responds well to the move to the NL, San Antonio may have picked up a solid #3 for the future. 

3)  Peter Bourjos (Helena).  This will be a all or nothing player IMO.  If he can get the average and OBP up, he could be a gold glove caliber CF with good speed/pop combo. 

Questionable picks of the round-

1)  Billy Wagner (Old Bridge).  Again, it isn’t that Wagner doesn’t have great value for the season, but he is retiring and would have been a better pick for a contender.

2)  Joaquin Benoit (Oregon).  Similar to Wagner, he would have more value to a serious contender.  Oregon did however deal Benoit.

3)  Craig Kimbrel (Napa).  I do not question that Kimbrel could be good.  I personally am not a fan of drafting a RP early if in rebuild mode.  With Morrison, Wood, Smoak on the board, this may have been a reach.  I will say however, that if Kimbrel gets his walks under control, he has the potential to prove me wrong.  

--Mark Moilanen

2011 TBA Draft Review: 1st Round

1st Round Review

The first round of the draft was crazy with picks changing hands early and often.  Some teams took steps to build for the future.  Others took players to help their playoff push.  Others filled gaping holes.  There were not a lot of “are you kidding me” moments in the 1^st round.  Here are some thoughts on the round.

1)  Jason Heyward-Napa.  This pick was a no-brainer.  Talent like Heyward comes along once every 10 years or so and Napa wasted little time selecting the hulking RF.  The man can run, field, hit with power, and take a walk.  Heyward should be a star for a decade.  Injuries are the only thing that can stop this kid.  Now the question is if Napa will hold onto him or feed his draft addiction.  This player should be signed to a long term deal ASAP.

2)  Buster Posey-Brighton.  Brighton spent a majority of the off season looking to upgrade at catcher.  After much posturing, Brighton acquired the #2 pick and was thrilled to bring “Buster” into the fold.  He provides the defense and arm that management covets, but also hits well.  Barring injury, Brighton should be set at catcher for the foreseeable future. 

3)  Stephen Strasburg-Halifax.  Halifax management traded shutdown lefty Kuo to move up one spot to assure that Strasburg was available.  Until his injury, Strasburg was assured to be a top 2 pick.  Halifax is in rebuild mode and can wait for Strasburg.  Word has it that he is progressing ahead of schedule.  If so, Halifax should have his ace.  Strasburg, Morrow, Sale, Carrasco, and Anderson could be an imposing rotation in a couple years.

4)  Carlos Santana-Napa.  After trading away the #2 pick and any shot at Posey, Napa picked another high ceiling backstop in Santana.  Many are calling him V-Mart part 2.  Santana has adequate power and an uncanny ability to get on base.  He will never be a gold glove candidate, but he is in the lineup for his bat.  The only question is how well he comes back from his knee injury.   He seems to be fine.  With Heyward and Santana, Napa has two all-star caliber players to build upon.

5)  Mike Stanton-Aberdeen.  Stanton is pure power and Aberdeen was happy to put him on the draft board.  There is little doubt that Stanton can and will put up 40 HR’s sometime in the not-to-distant future.  On top of that, he is an excellent defender.  On the flipside, like most power hitters, he strikes out at a high rate and needs to learn to take more pitches.  If he can develop patience, he could be a right handed Adam Dunn with defense. 

6)  Pedro Alvarez-Old Bridge.  Old Bridge was in dire need of adding power to its lineup.  Alvarez provides that at a tough position.  While not an ace with the glove, he flashed great power in his rookie season.  There has been chatter of a move to 1B in the future for Alvarez, but Old Bridge will not worry about that now.  Like most young sluggers, he strikes out often and walks infrequently.  Old Bridge can live with those imperfections as long as the power is there and the defense at least stays the same.    

7)  Colby Lewis-Oregon.  Lewis is probably the best SP for the season available. Lewis is hardly a young, can’t miss prospect.  He has bounced around the minors and Japan.  With that said, Oregon has a need for a good SP and Lewis fits the bill.  He had an outstanding season and maybe Nolan Ryan’s influence has rubbed off.   A repeat is unlikely, but he should remain a useful starting pitcher. 

8)  Jeremy Hellickson-Aberdeen.  Aberdeen’s second 1^st round pick came in handy as he selected hot pitching prospect Hellickson.  He showed well in his brief time with Tampa last season and with the trade of Garza, will almost be assured of a prominent role this year.  While he will be of little use to Aberdeen this season, he is expected to be a top tier starter for the Iron Birds for years to come. 

9)  Daniel Hudson-Nassau.  Nassau traded out of his original #2 slot with the #9 pick being returned.  Steve selected Daniel Hudson.  While Hudson does not project to be an ace, he should develop into a solid #2/3 which will suit Nassau just fine.  While he has limited innings this year, Nassau is looking towards the future and Hudson should be a big part of it.  I had Castro going to Nassau and that may have been the better pick, but I can’t imagine Steve will regret having a solid pitcher in the middle of his rotation for awhile. 

10)  Austin Jackson-Helena.  Gold glove caliber centerfielders with some speed don’t grow on trees, so Helena management scooped up the Tiger OF with the 10^th pick.  Jackson roams the spacious CF of Comerica Park with grace and will provide consistent 1-2 ratings in CF for years.  Rumor has it that Jim Leyland will allow him to run more often this year which bodes well for Helena.  On the flipside, 170 strikeouts for a guy who hit 4 homers is cause for concern.  He must learn to make better contact and take a few more walks.  Jackson proved he has merit in year 1.  A solid pick at #10.

11)  Starlin Castro-Halifax.  Castro surprisingly fell to #11 and although Halifax has veteran Alex Gonzalez at SS, he was happy to select the young Cub SS.  Castro’s bat was excellent and immediately puts him into the upper echelon of SS’s in the league.  While Castro has decent range, he makes careless errors and that will have to improve.  He does not have great speed or power.  He manages to find the gaps when he hits the ball.  Sabermetric geeks will argue that will decline.  Others pundits think Castro is legit.

12)   Ike Davis-Halifax.  Acquired from Bartonville in the John Danks deal, Ike Davis fills a glaring need at 1B.  Son of former closer Ron Davis, Ike showed the makings of an above average 1B.  He flashed a solid glove, solid power, and the ability to get on base.  He will never be a prominent slugger along the lines of Pujols, Votto, or Cabrera.  However, he should be a consistent .275/20/80 type 1B with a good glove.  Mark Grace???  I am sure Halifax will be happy with that. 

13)  Madison Bumgarner-London.  London has built its team around pitching and this years pick follow the pattern.   The lefty from SF turned in a solid performance and will provide some value this season.  While he may not have “ace” potential like Strasburg or Hellickson, he projects to be a fine #2/3 type.  Pitching in SF will help and is a good value now and for the future.  London hopes to battle for the playoffs so having potential AND 111 useful innings is invaluable.

14)  Dominic Brown-Bowling Green.  With a rapidly aging OF, Bowling Green opted against immediate help to go with hot prospect Dominic Brown.  The Phills allowed Jason Werth to walk and all but handed the starting job to Brown.  He has all the tools to be a star.  Unfortunately, a broken hand in spring training will put those plans on hold. 

15)  Neil Walker-Oahu.  Management had coveted local boy Pedro Alvarez, but he was selected by Old Bridge.  Jim decided to stay local and grab the lone 2B prospect worthy of a 1^st rd pick.  With this move, Martin Prado slides over to 3B, and portly Pablo Sandoval sits on the pine.  Oahu could have used some help in his rotation and grabbed Chacin, Kennedy, or Garcia.  Walker may not have the pedigree to be a star, but the converted catcher gets on base and is a switch hitter.  He hits righties and lefties well and is capable with the glove. 

16)  Jamie Garcia-Helena.  Garcia is a solid value at #16.  Many had him going sooner and Helena is happy that he didn’t.  With his trades of  pitchers Matt Garza, Yovani Gallardo, and Fausto Carmona, Helena needed to fill those slots and Garcia does just that.  

He likely will never win 20 games or be “the man” for the Cards, he provides current and some future value for the Handbaskets. 

17)  Ian Kennedy-Aberdeen.  Aberdeen is back and this time selects a pitcher to help him in the here and now.  Kennedy showed the promise that made him a Yankee prospect.  Now out of the bright lights, he excelled in Arizona.  No one will claim that Kennedy will be a top tier starter, but he is still young and should shape nicely into a good #3 for a good club.  With Hellickson in the mix, Aberdeen likely has his ace of the future.  With limited options remaining at SP, it was not a bad pickup.  Some may say that Chacin has more upside, but Kennedy is probably the safer pick.

18)  Jhoulys Chacin-Helena.  Helena is also a very busy team in this first round.  As mentioned in the Garcia breakdown, Chacin will help replace some of the departed starter innings.  Chacin showed that he belonged last year and held an impressive K rate.   On the flip side, he also showed that he needs to work on his control and pitching in Coors is never an enticing thought.  However, getting Chacin at #18 is a bargain.  With Chacin, Garcia, Volquez, and Nolasco, Helena has some promising arms for the future.  Add them to Zito, Peavy, and Dickey, they will have enough arms to put together a respectable starting 5.

19)  Drew Storen-London.  London sticks to his dedication to pitching by taking the young Storen.  This may have been a bit of a reach for him, but London does not have a young or lights out closer.  Kerry Wood and Brandon League are not what playoffs are built upon.  There were some very good RP cards this year, and veteran closer Billy Wagner was available, but London goes with Storen who can close now and has the pedigree to be an upper echelon closer for years.  While it was a reach, it was a good pick for some value now and in the future.

20)  Jonny Venters-Reno.  Reno spent the off season putting itself in a position to make a run at a divisional title.  They have the bats, but the bullpen outside of Rivera was a glaring weakness.  Enter Jonny V.  He was the premier lefty available and will also get an opportunity to close for Atlanta giving him a shot at increased value for the future.  His card is very impressive and logged a lot of innings making him extremely valuable bridging the gap to Rivera.  On the flipside, he has never shown much of a track history in the minors and relief pitchers are the most volatile performers year to year.  That aside, Venters will prove invaluable to Reno’s playoff aspirations and anything he gets next year and beyond is a bonus. 

Best Picks-

1)  Buster Posey-Brighton.  OK…..maybe I am a little biased, but after spending all off season trying to fix my glaring weak spot, I was giddy to land Posey.  Santana would have been nice, but Posey helps my playoff goals with his bat, glove, and arm.

2)  Jason Heyward-Napa.  Having the #1 pick, the pressure is one to pick a can’t miss player.  Heyward is about as can’t miss as it gets.  The trade addicted Napa probably would even hang onto Heyward.  The only thing that can derail the star in the making is the injury bug.

3)  Starlin Castro-Halifax.  I had Castro going as early as #5.  I think the value at #11 is great.  Personally, I am not as enamored as many others with Castro.  However, I don’t doubt that he will be a solid SS for years.  If he can improve his defense and keep the offense up, he could be a top 5 guy for awhile. 

Questionable picks of the round-

1)  Drew Storen-London.  Again, not a bad pick and I understand the thought behind selecting Storen.  He has good upside and London needs to address his closer situation.  I believe that he could have been had in the 2^nd, but you never know who goes when.  A reach, but an understandable one. 

2)  Daniel Hudson-Nassau.  Similar to Storen, not a bad pick at all.  However, with Ramon Santiago and Cesar Izturis as his shortstops, Starlin Castro may have been the way to go.  Of course you can never have too much pitching so it isn’t as if Nassau wasted the pick. 

3)  Colby Lewis-Oregon.  I do not question that Lewis is good.  Oregon is riding a fine line between rebuild and trying for playoffs.  If rebuilding, Castro or Hellickson may have made more sense.  It looks as if Oregon wants to compete now.  With that said, SP was a need and Lewis was best SP for current value.  

-- Mark Moilanen

The Oregon Beavers is fighting to overcome the last years finish

The Oregon Beavers is fighting to overcome the last years finish.

Vs LHP                                  Vs RHP

1b Morse                             1b Lee

2b Theriot                           2b Theriot

3b Polanco                          3b Polanco

ss Valdes                             ss Ryan

lf McDonald                        lf Murphy

cf  Byrd                                 cf Torres

rf Ordonez                          rf Byrd

c Molina                               c Pena

Best defense is Murphy lf, Torres cf, McDonald rf, Ryan ss, and Molina c

sp Dempster is my ace

sp Nieman and sp Lewis round out my rhp starters

sp Buehrle and Chen are my southpaws for my starting staff.

rp has closer Wheeler vs shb and lhb, closer Saito vs rhb

rp has setup Dessens vs shb and lhb, setup Romo vs rhb

looks good on paper but the fight for the Beaver is that way.  What Beavers want is to prove we can do better than 2010.

Aberdeen 2011 Season Preview

Click Here for the Preview

Glorious Wonders name coaches and staff

After relying on fans and volunteers for the past two seasons, the Oahu Glorious Wonders plan to hire full time coaches and staff for the upcoming 2011 season.

Here's a list of the prospective hires:

Manager— Jim Froelick, of course. Led the Wonders to the World Series in '09 and won the LHL Vander Wal Division in 2010. A skilled tactician who's well liked by his players.

First Base Coach— Doug Ault. Growing up near the Canadian border, I had the pleasure of watching the Toronto Blue Jays very first regular season game on CFPL-TV, London, ON. Doug hit two HRs that day to lead the Jays to a 9-5 win over the ChiSox. He'll always be a hero to anyone that watched that day. http://archives.cbc.ca/on_this_day/04/07/

Third Base Coach,— Juan Samuel. Once, through a mutual friend, Juan gave my son and I free tickets to see the Tigers play in Philly and at Shea, the least I could do was repay the kindness.

Pitching Coach— Kent Tekulve. This guy knows his baseball, was kind to my son when we met him at an a event at PNC Park and is generally pleasant to be around. I know we'll have a happy, knowledgeable pitching staff for years to come.

Hitting Instructor— Richie Zisk. All hit, no field…someone I can definitely relate to as a baseball player.

Bullpen Coach— Fritz Gingenbach. My cousin, SOM master, high school baseball coach and has a cool name. Any questions?

Bench Coach— Rocco DeMarro. Wanted someone interesting to talk to during games. Who else but the former host of the Pirate's post game show?

Head Groundskeeper— Gary Potter. Played in my boyhood SOM league for several years. His name sounds like he's qualified to grow stuff.

Trainer— Franchezca Valentina. Look her up in Wikipedia. The whole team loves her!

Doctor— Dr. Lisa Bartoli. What can I say? We're partial to highly skilled beautiful women…

Owner— Amalgamated Incorporated. The mysterious multinational corporation that is so huge and powerful, it's managed to keep it's entire operation hidden from the prying eyes of the world's media.

General Manager— Yours truly, Jim Froelick. Can't argue with success.

Official Scorer— Jeff Snyder. Another boyhood Strat buddy and BFF. Jeff is also the official scorer for the Rochester Rhinos of the MLS.

Play By Play Man— Roger Neel. I met Roger in 1977 when I was 17 and he was the play by play announcer for the Johnstown Jets of the North American Hockey League. I used to hang out in the press box at the Erie County Fieldhouse. Roger always treated me well and he was my favorite visiting broadcaster.

Color Man— Jimmy Gobble. Drafted onto the Wonders during the inaugural draft back in 2009, the fans love him and it looks like he's going to need a job this year.