Reno 2013 Preview

2012 was a banner year for the Aces as they captured the Hello Kitty Cup and overcame a weak 2011 playoff run with a fantastic 2012 postseason. 

2013 is going to be an interesting year for the Aces as they fall back to earth after 110 win seasons in each of the last two years.  The pitching has gone South in a big way.  Looking at the roster I am not even sure the pitching will start to look good in 2014.  So all in all, Reno is in wait and see mode for the 2013 season.  If the numbers start to pile up in the Majors early in the season and Reno is starting to look reasonable for 2014 we will hang in there and endure a long 2013 TBA season.  If the pitching doesn't start coming around real quick then you will see Reno turn into buyers or sellers depending on whether we get off to a fast start in the TBA.  Again, wait and see. 

Here is what we look like now:

C - Santana.  He of the 90 walks a year will be just fine.

1B - Rizzo.  Can't hit lefties, yet.  I am guessing we can throw someone in to hit those guys.  Dunn is around too, but I am hoping someone will see the value in a guy that walks 100 times and hits 40 homeruns at some point this season.  As long as Rizzo keeps progressing I believe we finally have a long term solution at this position and Dunn is very expendable.

2B - Infante.  This is just a placeholder until we can draft a decent second baseman.  I considered Rutledge during the draft, but guys that don't take pitches don't fit into the scheme in Reno.  Expect a high draft pick at this position at some point unless someone like Dee Gordon moves over to second base or someone on my roster steps up big time this year.

3B - Youkilis.  Hoping for one more good year for new Yankee and the Golden God of Walks.  Then third base becomes a draft need.

SS - Pennington.  Will cover most at-bats against righties as his card is decent.  Segura looks to be the long term prospect here.  Have Gordon and some other options too in case he fails. 

LF - Hamilton.  We'll see what the move to Los Angeles does for him.  I think his power plays well anywhere, but Josh Hamilton in LA doesn't seem like a good personal fit.  He could be dealt at some point this year.

CF - Bruce.  We don't really have a true centerfielder, so Jay Bruce will have to do.  He hits a ton and takes a walk.  He fields really well.  Now if we could only get that average up.

RF - Pence.  We don't like him.  But we are hoping for a big season for him so we look good drafting his dumb ass.  We'll see.  Outlook not good.

SP - Shields, Latos, Lincecum, Guthrie, Correia.  I remember the good old days when we had a halfway decent starting staff.  It seems so long ago now.  We are just hoping these guys can eat innings and put us in position to get a good 1st round draft pick or trade for some value next year.  Maybe they'll bounce back.  We can hope.

RP - Crap, crap, and more crap.  We pieced together 6 or 7 guys to throw the ball to the catcher. 

We took a lot of potential at-bats late in the draft, so we have some upside possibilities with a team that had no picks at the start of the draft in 2013 and we are at plus three picks for the 2014 draft with the potential of more to come.

All in all outlook not so good.  The good news is that once the Championship hangover is over I have proven that I can build a winner and it will be time to get back to work.