Bowlers Pre-Draft Summary

With 2011 being considered the first (of several) rebuilding years, I was secretly hoping to guide the Bowlers to a .500 season. After being 12 games under .500 through June, my hopes were fading. But, with a lot of teams having already burned-up their star player’s PAs and IPs, the Bowlers started to look respectable in August and September. The Bowlers were 40 – 30 versus the Baines Division, but a 6 – 17 record against the eventual league-winning COL Marines offset the 34 – 35 record against the other teams in the Molitor division. A 42 – 39 record on the road was also somewhat surprising. Final tally = 80 – 82



The biggest individual disappointments for 2011 have to be the performances of Jeter and Sabathia. Jeter only managed .234 / 9 / 67, but did add to his streak of having played in every TBA game to-date. While his 1 error at SS has to be a TBA record, his .744 X-play percentage leaves a lot to be desired. CC was snake-bitten all season….he got very few breaks and any lefty-killer in the opposing line-up was stepping-up to take their shots. After winning 19 games each of the previous two seasons, CC staggered to a 12 – 16 record with an ERA of 6.03. Ryan Ludwick (.207 / 13 / 75) and Cameron Maybin (.191 / 1 / 19) both received (dis)honorable mentions in this category.



The biggest individual surprises for 2011 were probably Phil Hughes and Brandon Inge. Hughes led the team with a 13 – 8 record with a 4.07 ERA, although he did benefit from the highest run support on the team. After a .201 AVG in 2010, Inge started the year in the 9th hole, but was batting .272 in early August and was moved-up to bat 6th or 7th. He eventually slipped to finish at .256 / 13 / 44. Honorable mention goes to Jim Thome (.280 / 33 / 63 in only 264 ABs = an amazing 1.191 OBS!!). Ol’ Jim may have done even better if he didn’t get so many IBBs! With little protection behind him in the line-up, I can’t blame the opposing managers. If there was “Herb Washington Award” for this league, it would have to go pinch-runner Jarrod Dyson, who managed 76 SB with a couple steals of home.



Bowling Green bids a fond farewell to Scott Podsednik. In late March 2009, after inheriting a computer-drafted team who took washed-up players like Damian Easley, Frank Thomas, and Jose Vidro, I quickly looked for someone who could give me some speed off the bench. Podsednik was about the only player left in the free agent pool who fit the bill, so I scarfed him up. As a pinch runner, pinch hitter, and occasional outfielder (98 ABs), Scott batted .306, scored 42 runs, and stole 31 bases. In 2010, with the loss of X. Nady, Scott became our full-time leftfielder, batting .315 with 97 runs scored and stealing 42 bases. He slipped a bit in 2011, batting only .263, but scoring 83 runs with 28 SB. Throughout this MLB season, I watched his progress in the minor leagues with Philadelphia and Toronto, but he never cracked any Major League rosters. At age 35, I guess no one needed a weak-armed outfielder with diminishing speed.



After using high draft picks in 2010 and 2011 to draft Kyle Blanks and Domonic Brown, I am still waiting to see some dividends. After the trade of Ludwick to the Pirates, Blanks did reappear from Tommy John surgery to play some LF for the Padres. He didn’t do real well (.229 / 7 / 26 in 190 ABs), but hopefully will be ready for a full season in 2012. Although, the Padres' acquistion of C. Quentin isn't going to help Kyle's playing time! The powerful and speedy Domonic Brown was looking to take over in RF for Jayson Werth, but a Spring Training injury put his season in jeopardy. He never seemed to recover and only hit .245 / 5 / 19 in 210 ABs. His 4 errors in less than 50 games is also a concern. With the acquisition of H. Pence and improvement from John Mayberry Jr., Brown’s fate was sealed and he got sent back to the minors to get more playing time.



What does 2012 look like for the Bowlers?

C = K. Suzuki .237 / 14 / 44….steady, but not real good
1B = M. Moreland .259 / 16 / 51….he’s young , still room to improve
2B = K. Johnson .222 / 21 / 58 / 16 SB…..UGH! But after trade to TOR = .270 AVG / .364 OBP
Another year with a “4” at 2B might be unbearable.
3B = ??? Despite late-season surge, Inge’s .197 / 3 / 23 will probably get him released
SS = D. Jeter .297 / 6 / 61….second half improvement helped save his position
LF = N. McLouth .228 / 4 / 16…what happened to his 46 doubles and near .500 SLG from ’08? & K. Blanks
CF = C. Maybin .264 / 9 / 40 / 40 SB….our new S. Podsednik?
RF = R. Ludwick .237 / 13 / 75……what happened to the .299 AVG/ .591 SLG from ’08?
& D. Brown
UTIL = J. Lowrie .252 / 6 / 36…..his fielding was HORRIBLE in 2011 / lots of errors…still INJ –prone
DH = J. Thome .256 / 15 / 50…..361 OBP and .477 SLG might make him stick one more season


SP =
CC Sabathia 19 – 8 / 3.00 / 237 IP….still anchoring the rotation
B. Arroyo 9 – 12 / 5.07 / 199 IP, but 46 HRs!!....can you say “bullpen taxer”?
G. Floyd 12 – 13 / 4.37 / 194 IP…tends to perform better than expected in Strat for me
T. Hunter 4 – 4 / 4.68 / 85 IP…another INJ –marred season / trade to BAL won’t help stats
P. Hughes 5 – 5 / 5.75 / 75 IP…was hoping for a big 2011 campaign / INJ issues here too
D. Gee 13 – 6 / 4.43 / 161 IP….whim pick / flying high at mid-season, faded at the end
B. Duensing 9 – 14 / 5.23 / 162 IP…..can he rebound to 2010 form?

RP =

N. Feliz 2 – 3 / 2.74 / 62 IP / 32 SV…had INJ / was hoping for more IP…or move to SP
E. Frieri 1 – 2 / 2.71 / 63 IP….SD bullpen pitchers are a hot commodity
R. Perry 2 – 0 / 5.35 / 37 IP….was supposed to be DET’s “future closer”……now in WAS
This was the guy I got in a trade for Jamie Carroll….I had my pick of Perry, D. Robertson and one other….I figured I had enough Yankees on my team and went with this guy…..can I have a “do-over”?

Again, the 2012 will probably mirror 2011…flirting with .500, but probably somewhat worse.

When does the draft start??/ Let's go!