Vero Beach Bums 2012 Preview!
The Vero Beach Bums are back for another run! Do the Bums have what it takes to get to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year? We think YES! How far can the Bums go IF they get to the playoffs again? That's the $50,000 question... but once you get there, anything can happen, and usually does.
PITCHING!
Yes, we think we have the starting pitching to win a lot of games. The rotation features:
- Justin Verlander
- Jered Weaver
- C.J. Wilson
- Javier Vazquez
- Matt Harrison
The Bullpen... well, that's not as good as the rotation, but it may be enough:
The closing job will most-likely be by committee with Francisco Rodriguez, Mark Melancon and Joel Peralta. Javier Lopez will be the top lefty. Marco Estrada will be the long reliever and could start a few games. Others include Latroy Hawkins, Will Ohman, Joe Nathan and Tim Dillard.
OFFENSE!
Yes, we think we can score enough runs to win some games:
C - Brian McCann
1B - Victor Martinez
2B - Brandon Phillips
3B - Michael Young
SS - Yunel Escobar
LF - Nelson Cruz / Will Venable
CF - B.J. Upton
RF - Torii Hunter
DH - Edwin Encarnacion
Bench players: Nick Punto, David Ross, Brian Bogusevic, Brian Lahair, Alfonzo Soriano, Mark Ellis and John McDonald.
The Edgar Martinez League looks to be much improved, including a pretty good Boston bunch that came over from the Lenny Harris side. Colorado has another awesome team and could be the team to beat. In the Baines Division, San Antonio is much improved, but don't count out KC, Helena and Halifax... this division could have a surprise winner this year!
The Bums like their chances for another playoff run, but it's going to be a very competitive year and the team will have to perform up to expectations in order to advance this year.
That is a dangerouse rotation. Playoffs should be in the cards for this season. The AL is getting tougher however headlined by the AL version of Washington (Colorado Springs).
ReplyDeleteThe one area that may need attention is that your lineup is very RH heavy. A definite playoff team nontheless. Verlander, Weaver, AND Wilson. Heck of a top 3.