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Porter Division
Divisional Rank: #2 in Import League (#4 in BLB)
Baltimore Bulldogs
Finish: 1st in Porter
Shavermetrics Rank (IL): #3
What We Like: The Maine Event – If Shavermetrics would have been run at the end of the ’91 season, the Bulldogs would likely find themselves much further down the overall Import League rankings. But what a difference and off-season can make. The acquisition of Kyoden Kubota (FA) and Gil O’Moore (Trade) from perennial powerhouse Maine, sent Baltimore skyrocketing up the rankings settling comfortably at #3 in a “tier” by itself. Kubota is a young stud with his best years likely still ahead of him. O’Moore, though a little older, has been hamper by injuries the last two seasons which only allowed him to register 9 wins each season. If he returns to his consistent double-digit win form as the clear ACE on this staff, Baltimore will be a contender.
What We Fear: Baby Bull – Youth is a good thing. Giving prospects opportunities is great. Having almost no high-end proven Vets in your bullpen can be a little scary. The Bulldogs likely feel very confident with their starting rotation, but can’t feel great about handing the ball over in the 7th, 8th and 9th. Though there is talent in the ‘Pen, they’re largely untested in these lockdown roles.
What To Watch: Leave ‘Em Wanting O’Moore – Locking up the 7-time All-Star to a multi-year deal has got to be a priority for Baltimore this season. With no front line pitching in the high minors and Akira Abe also likely walking this off-season, a one and done Bulldogs career for O’Moore could set the franchise back drastically going forward.
Philadelphia Freedom
Finish: 2nd in Porter
Shavermetrics Rank (IL): #4
What We Like: A Fresh Approach – What does 98 wins and an epic 7-game 1st round loss in 1991 get you? Well, in Philadelphia it gets a grenade rolled into the clubhouse and a brand new team in ’92. Geoff Scott – gone. Ben Irvin – gone. Adam Starks – gone. Joe Seagarra – gone. For the second time in five years, the Freedom have traded their best player and started over. While other owners would be lambasted, we’re giving General Manager Brad Zabel time to show us his plan. With 4 playoff appearances in 6 seasons and never finishing lower than 2nd, we’re trusting that there is a method to the madness.
What We Fear: We’re Not Getting Older… Well Yeah… We Kinda Are – Philadelphia comes into the season counting on a lot of players with a fair amount of mileage on the old odometer. When you pay nearly $11.0 to a 40 year old Vittorio Samarano to anchor your lineup, it’s bound to raise a few eyebrows. Combine that with a 6-man rotation featuring only one player in his 20’s, it’s clear that it may be the Reaper that’s chasing the Freedom this season and not their Division foes.
What To Watch: Miles Ahead – While some scratched their heads when Philly made the decision to ship Ben Irvin out this off-season, most experts knew the reality of the situation – Doug Miles is ready… and basically demanded… to be the ACE. Though reports out of the City of Brotherly Love say that the only higher than the speed of his fastball may be his opinion of himself, the Freedom are denying rumors that the 24 year old Texan “demanded” to be elevated to the top of the rotation after back to back 18 win seasons. If there are clubhouse issues, they certainly don’t impact the kid on the field. He’s got high end talent and a ceiling many scouts feel is still elevating. He looks to be the best young Pitcher in the Porter division today.
Batavia Muckdogs
Finish: 3rd in Porter
Shavermetrics Rank (IL): #8
What We Like: ‘Pen’d Down - While Vernon “Old Blue” Simmonds continues to add to his BLB record for Career Saves, it’s not hard to imagine a day when that record sits in up-state New York. Ken Bayer may be the best player in the Brewer’s League. He’s certainly the best Closer. Even a rough ’91 campaign yielded 33 saves – good for 3rd in the IL. The Canadian-born southpaw with the lights out fastball and flat nasty slider signed a 5-year extension with the Muckdogs just weeks after his 28th birthday. When this team become relavent and the talent around him catches up, he has the potential to put up staggering numbers. Add in young super stud Basil Petrohilos in the setup role, you’d better have a lead going into the 8th in Batavia or it’s Game Over.
What We Fear: The Curse of Mediocrity – Despite finishing 4th in their division for the past 5 seasons, the Muckdogs tend to post at least respectable records. While you never like to complain about wins, these 70+ win seasons consistently leave Batavia out of the top of the draft where the Superstar talent is slightly easier to find. A team with Batavia’s history of finishing last should have a better farm system than they do. Even this season, the Muckdogs’ 1st round pick (1.6) was shipped off in a trade to Carolina (and later moved to Virginia). Some “experts” around the league feel that if Batavia doesn’t “make the leap” in the Porter soon, they need to buckle down and concentrate all of their energy and resources to stock their farm system. Even if that means moving some of the assets they do have.
What To Watch: Ace’s Up – Batavia tried developing an ACE the old fashioned way, but fell short on all attempts. So, last season, they just went out and got one. Hector Castre cost them a King’s ransom in return, but sources close to the team say that they finally feel confident that they have the #1 starter they’ve been looking for since their inaugural season. On Opening Day, Castre signed a 5-year extension to stay with the ‘Dogs through what will hopefully be his prime. That kind of stability at the top of the rotation could mark a turning point for this team.
California Kodiaks
Finish: 4th in Porter
Shavermetrics Rank (IL): #9
What We Like: Selling High – The Kodiaks Management identified the direction of their team this off-season. Perhaps spurred by the season-long injury to the league’s highest paid player Donato Guardamagni. Perhaps their decision to let frontline starter Joe Toapanta walk in Free Agency. Whatever the reason, California decided to burn it down like the Wildfire that once emblazoned their uniforms. Conan Wilkerson was shipped to Syracuse for a truckload of booty. More impressively, journeyman Raul Zamora was parlayed into the #1 pitching prospect in the BLB in a deal with Pawtucket that some scouts are calling “the most lopsided deal in the last decade.” Whatever the reason the decision was made, California did what so many teams that are starting over don’t do… not only did they not take pennies on the dollar when blowing it up… in some cases they got dollars on the penny.
What We Fear: Bad For The League – All signs point to this being a bad season for California. With one of the best Ownership groups in the BLB, the Kodiaks being down again is just bad for baseball. Perennial losers like the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots are things we just accept in sports, but no one likes to see Winners become non-factors in their sport. It would be like the Buffalo Bills, Michigan Wolverines or Notre Dame fall off the map – as crazy and unlikely as it sounds. The BLB season is just more fun when California is relevant.
What To Watch: What’s Next? – California currently sits with the #3 farm system in the league and four of the first 50 picks in this year’s draft. How quickly and effectively Lint can turn this roster over will tell the story for the Kodiaks in the early 90’s. The next 24 months should be very interesting for this club.
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