BOW's 2013 Preview

Another disappointing year is in-store for Bowling Green.  An almost total house cleaning has taken place, as most of the remaining players from our inaugural year have been shipped-off (Jeter / Ludwick / Sabathia / Arroyo).  That leaves G. Floyd / P. Hughes. / J. Thome as the only players left from Year 1!

A youth movement is underway, as the gray beards mentioned above have been replaced with much younger players.  J. Masterson and M. Scherzer join Floyd, Hughes, and 2^nd round pick M. Fiers in the rotation.  Filling-in when needed will be injured tandem of D. Gee and B. Beachy, last year’s 1^st round pick.  The swingman / long relief position will be filled by rookie lefty P. Corbin.

The bullpen isn’t too bad, but one gets the impression there won’t be too many leads to protect.  Leading the charge will be the flame-throwing tandem of lefty A. Chapman and righty E. Frieri.  Both averaged over 13 Ks per 9 IP.  With another year under his belt, T. Collins is a backwards lefty that every bullpen needs.  Rookies B. Brach, C. Allen, and S. Tolleson all come with impressive minor league numbers, but can that translate to the Majors?  Hothead A. Aceves will be a mop-up man, in hopes that he can rebound next season.  Former 1^st rounder N. Feliz will have to wait another year to decide if the experiment to make him a starter will be successful.  M. Bowden also returns.

The position players are as follows:

C = J. Saltalamacchia  He got so hot that in July that he was batting clean-up for the BoSox, but cooled-off by Aug. / Sep.  He’s still maturing.

1B = M. Moreland (+ Car. Lee)  With M. Young finally out of the picture, perhaps Moreland  can get more ABs and reach his potential. 

2B = J. Altuve will be the starter, but pick-ups of projected starting 2Bs D. Solano (MIA) and R. Flaherty (BAL) could make any of them bait next year.  Defensive wonder / PED-taker F. Galvis is also out there.

3B = M. Machado was the 2^nd overall pick this year, so I hope that he doesn’t disappoint.  With Manny's < 200 ABs, oldster S. Rolen will be there to assist.

SS = After many years, it’s going to seem weird to not see D. Jeter out there every day, but stop-gap measures R. Furcal and J. Lowrie will have to do.

OF = Hopes that C. Maybin finally reaches his potential are still high, but in the meantime, his glove and speed will keep him in the line-up.  C. Ross will stick-around another year.  Speedster J. Dyson finally has enough ABs to play semi-regularly.  He’ll platoon with former 1^st rounder Dom. Brown, who also is full of potential just awaiting his chance to break-out.  Late 1^st round pick A. Eaton will have to wait until next year to show what he is made of.  Projected MIN starting CF D. Mastroianni is also available.  Powerful Ty. Moore will get more ABs in WAS, now that M. Morse has departed.  Minor league slugger Matt Adams is hoping to break into STL’s line-up.

DH = J. Thome returns for his swan song.  He is currently TBA’s reigning “HR per fewest ABs” player.  Car. Lee will also get time here too.

What’s the prognosis for BOW this season?  As Mr. T said in Rocky III, “PAIN!”