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Stout Division
Divisional Rank: #1 in Import League (#3 in BLB)
Washington Bats
Finish: 1st in Stout
Shavermetrics Rank (IL): #1
What We Like: Consistency – The Bats have run off an impressive run of seven straight seasons of 90 or more wins – a feat accomplished by only one other team (Maine – who has never fallen below 90!). The team has a knack for reloading instead of rebuilding when faced with retirements or the rare departure of a Free Agent. This season they replace the recently retired Martin “Eager Beaver” Carlton with another top BLB arm in Joe Toapanta. It will be interesting to see how Toapanta adjusts to pitching in front of crowds on more than 8,000 who actually care about baseball.
What We Fear: Power at a Price – Long considered perhaps the premier “small ball” team in the IL, the Bats noticeable lack of power (Mike Murdock lead the team with 25 HRs in ‘91) should be boosted with the acquisition of Larry Headington early in Spring Training. While the 32 year old Floridian certainly posses 30+ HR power, his career .306 OBP goes against nearly every principle that this team was built on. Can Headington learn to play “Bat Ball” or is this a sign of a new D.C. philosophy?
What To Watch: Show Me The Money – Two of D.C.’s favorite sons – Michio Nago and Miguel Angel Padilla - are in big contract years and it will be interesting to see how focused the players and team are in getting a deal done early in the season. This owner is a gambler who usually has a trick or two up his sleeve, so how anything goes. We wouldn’t be surprised to see both players locked up long-term or sporting a new uniform by season’s end.
Virginia Colonials
Finish: 2nd in Stout – IL Wildcard
Shavermetrics Rank (IL): #2
What We Like: Top Dogs – Virginia currently boasts, arguably, the #1 position player (Woodbury) and the #1 hurler (Herrera) in the BLB. Though major changes had to be made up and down the roster, when you have that kind of talent on your team, it’s hard to bet against you. With young bats like Hector Chavez and Yoritoki Maeda and young arms like Jerry Morgan backing them up, the foundation should be set to keep this team viable for a handful of years to come.
What We Fear: Bustin’ a Cap – The Colonials were the first and devastating victims of the BLB’s new salary cap era. Four key players (Perez, Collins, Poling and Tosselli) from the Colonials’ 119 win, record shattering ’91 Championship season are now sporting new uniforms. While Virginia is under the cap today, with future pay days and hefty arbitration rulings on the immediate horizon, locking up players on long-term controllable deals will become a major focus of the team this season. A focus that could shift attention away from the on-the-field product.
What To Watch: The Replacements – When big names ship out, new names have to step up. The Colonials ability to adjust to their lost cap casualties will be the key to their success. In one calendar year, the starting 1B job in Virginia moves from Hall of Famer Everardo Gremades to Josh Poling to a platoon of Rule V #1 Pick Toyoshige Yamauchi and longtime utility infielder Doug MacPherson. Tosselli will leave LF to a platoon of Lonnie Scott and “Mr. Virginia” Danny Nelson. And the pitching staff will boast rookies and soft-tossers in hopes of making up for the loss of Perez and Collins. Hang on, Fans, it’s going to be interesting.
Wilmington Wildcats
Finish: 3rd in Stout
Shavermetrics Rank (IL): #10
What We Like: Keeping the Fans Interested – Wilmington is a young, rebuilding team with boatloads of potential. Unfortunately, most of that potential won’t be realized for at least a handful of seasons. But, instead of sitting on their wallets, ownership decided to at least treat the fans to a little fun in ’92. Bring in Vets Ken Cahill and Johnny Buzzell may seems like a waste of money on a team that may be lucky to win 65 games, but those moves should at least put fans in the seats to watch two guys still considered premier bats in the BLB. If they can stay healthy, they’ll entertain the fans and, perhaps, teach some of the young Wildcats how to be Professionals.
What We Fear: That Is… If They Show Up – Keeping the fans interested, but getting them there may be the trick. The devastating 1991 season in Wilmington was perhaps best evidenced by their attendance figures. A team the annually draws 2-3 millions fans, saw their turnstiles click just 630,000 times last season. With a young nucleus putting it together in the minors and in “the show”, and two more 1st Round Picks joining the organization in June – the Wildcats will be back. The question is – who will be watching?
What To Watch: Young Guns – The ‘Cats top three prospects – all rated Top 100 by Baseball America – are all Starting Pitchers that should be in the rotation at this time next season. With Lonnie Bird already making hay in Wilmington, we’ll be tracking Ismael Ortega and Rex Caldwell to see if they make the jump sometime in ’92.
Morgantown Mohawks
Finish: 4th in Stout
Shavermetrics Rank (IL): #12
What We Like: We’re #1’s – While Mohawks’ fans may not have a lot to cheer about, yet again this season, they will have a unique opportunity to, most likely, to watch both the 1990 and 1991 1st Overall Draft pick take the field all season. Doug “Stinger” Coates (1.1 in 90) looks like he’s shaping up to be the ACE that everyone expected when he was drafted and could already be the top Pitcher in the organization as well as the next great hurler in the Stout. Elman Amilakhori, who immigrated from Belarus – the recently established republic of the former Soviet Union – to play baseball for the Fighting Illini, played just 71 minor league games before getting the call late last year. Though injured in Spring Training, “Khory” is a slick fielding SS that has the Morgantown faithful excited about the future.
What We Fear: Slow and Low, That is the Tempo – Morgantown’s rebuilding… or building rather… since the expansion draft has been a slow one. Though greeted with some immediate success after entering the league, the Mohawks have averaged just 63 wins in their first 8 seasons. Though the youth explosion seems to be imminent, it will be important to move players along at the right pace.
What To Watch: Deadline Player – Morgantown has two things going for it right now, youth and money. The youth will work itself out; the money will be an interesting aspect to watch. If the Mohawks gel early, this team could become a buyer during the season and bring in some legit talent that could be salary cap’d out of their current homes. Most experts agree that real high-end talent is acquired via trade and not free agency. Morgantown could be the landing spot of big names in the next 4-5 months.
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