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Catcher: Dave “Champ” D’Orio, Gil Rader
Orio was acquired on last years trade deadline from Syracuse in a deal that saw five players change organizations. In 59 games with Washington, “Champ” hit .285, with an .832 OPS, 14 HRs and 41 RBI. He also struck out 58 times. The free-swinger might break the team record for strikeouts in a season (152 in 1990; Miguel Angel Padilla) but he also could break the homerun record (40 in 1990; also Miguel Angel Padilla). Rader was originally the 25th overall pick by Davenport back in 2002. Unexplainably, he was cut two weeks after the draft and scooped up by Washington. A former minor league All-Star and two-time Glove Wizard, Rader has only 13 career BLB at bats. The switch-hitter struggled in Spring Training but is only expected to play when D’Orio needs rest.
1B: Pat Ladd
The hometown hero had a career year in 2006. Setting career highs in runs, hits, doubles, triples, homeruns and RBI. Ladd won his first Stout Slugger award in a landslide over Windy City’s JJ Caplan, often regarded as the leagues best hitter. While he was on fire with the bat, Ladd did struggle defensively playing first base for the first time in his career.
2B: Cy Gray, Alex Otero
Yes, Gray is still in the league. The defensive stalwart returns for his 12th BLB season and fourth season in Washington. During those four years his batting average has been .222, .230, .180 and .206. He “won” the job in Spring Training over a large field of youngsters. Should his hitting get any worse or his defense start to show any decline, he could quickly be replaced. Behind him is the story you have already heard too much of, Rule V closer turned infielder, 22-year-old Otero. He is only on the 25 man roster because he has to be. Now a valued commodity, Otero is the top prospect in the Bats organization. If Gray struggles or gets hurt, his replacement will likely come from Triple-A and not Otero. But he is expected to be a pinch-running option all year.
3B: Tyler McLouth, Victor Sandoval
McLouth has been an “every other” type player. Ever since becoming a starter in mid-2001, his OPS by year: .654, .792, .685, .735, .652, .792. If history is to repeat itself, McLouth should OPS in the .660-.670 range. His .730 OPS in Spring Training is probably more likely. Or maybe at 30 years-old, he has finally found his grove. His backup, Sandoval, will be expected to play all over the infield at 1B, 2B, 3B and SS. The past two years in this utility back-up, pinch runner, defensive replacement role, he hit .207 with a .575 OPS.
SS: Antonio Cardenas
In 149 games last year, Cardenas hit 126 RBI to lead the Bats. It was also his first season being above league average defensively at SS after learning the position in Washington the past three seasons.
LF: Willie Garcia, Gabrielle Clareno
One man’s trash…Garcia was a 1999 6th round pick by Syracuse who was cut on draft day 2000. Clareno was waived by Batavia after a 10-year minor league career. Garcia has started parts of the past four years in D.C. and has a career BLB .785 OPS. Clareno hit .835 in 116 games and was handsomely rewarded in his first arbitration year at $4.25M, Garcia took home $7.25M. Both have decent speed and defensively flexibility and will be used in a variety of ways in the lineup and off the bench.
CF: Manny Reyes
I think this could be a breakout year for the 25-year-old. In 68 games as a rookie, Reyes hit .344 with a 1.007 OPS in 2004. Since then, as a full-time player, he has hit “just” .798 and .725 the past two seasons. Not a very patient hitter but Reyes as power to all fields and speed to burn. This will be his first season as the full-time center fielder as he is my only “durable” regular outfielder.
RF: BJ Jobe
The former centerfielder made his second All-Star game in 2006 a year in which he continued his third straight season of .300 average, .770 OPS and 25 stolen bases. He will now switch to right field after having injuries the past two seasons. The 31-year-old is slowly becoming one of those “long-tenured Bats.”
SP: Troy Hanback, CJ Skinner, Travis DuFour, Terry Bornemann, Lorenzo Campos, Zachary Lewis
Hanback and DuFour are the legendary names you know. But could this be a swan song? Both are on the final years of their deals and at 33 and 34, respectively, how much longer are they expected to anchor? Arguably the best starter on the roster is a (tell me if you have heard this before in DC) former reliever, Skinner. His past two years as a starter he has gone 30-10. Behind him are two lefties that had much higher expectations based on their lofty draft positions. Both have great groundball % and should be able to eat some innings. Last is my IL Refreshing New Brew candidate, Zachary Lewis. He has hovered from #11 best prospect to #94. 54th overall pick in 2000. Lewis doesn’t have great stamina but hits 100 MPH on the gun and is a rare team leader who only cares about winning.
RP: David Saucedo, Dusty Casserino, Tom Downs, Shane Ward, Zach Koenemann and Zack Minter
Suaucedo and Casserino are unknowns to casual fans but the duo combines as one of the best set-up duos in baseball. Downs is a swing-man who will probably lead all Bat relievers in innings because of his casual starts and good stamina. Ward has the best stuff (101mph cutter and 8 on changeup) and lowest control (current 2 of 3 from scout) on the team. Watch out. Behind them are mid-long relievers and former starting pitchers who hopefully won’t see a lot of innings this year. They combined for 80 last season.
CL: Armando Ureste
He has been a forgotten name the past two years struggling as a starter for Toronto in 2005 and being just a set-up man for lowly Pawtucket last year. But he is back on the scene after posting a 1-0, 22 save, 1.64 ERA and .78 WHIP for Washington down the stretch last season after being acquired at the deadline. I think it’s possible the 33-year-old could have a career year as a full-time closer with his 69% groundball, 97 MPH fastball and a superb defense behind him.
Expectations: Owner expects to win it all!
I said this on the forums earlier, I kinda feel like the San Antonio Spurs. We should have won the Brewmaster’s last year after cruising through the IL and then taking a 3-2 lead over Maine with the series coming home. But, shit happens. I have a veteran group that is focused and this is supposed to be a season of redemption. The Stout should belong to D.C. with Death Valley losing a handful of players to trades, free-agency and injury. Morgantown and Seattle have made significant improvements to their clubs by drafting well but neither team has had a .500 season since 2003.
The IL is normally better than this. The Porter has seen Philadelphia and California dramatically fall off the past two years from playoff contenders to sub .500 ball clubs without the talent of years prior. Baltimore, probably the IL surprise of 2006, just lost their best hitter for the season to injury in Al Hamilton. Windy City, Davenport and Batavia are lead by top notch pitching staffs but are the only other true “threats” keeping Washington from their IL best 8th non-steroided league titles. Windy City has the best rotation in baseball, the best closer in baseball and the best hitter in baseball. Oh and the rest of the team is pretty good. Davenport is young, hungry and talented across the board. Batavia had a Brewmaster’s hangover but should be better this year.
I think this team will probably end up with 90-92 wins but I don’t see much success beyond maybe a first round victory. This team is getting up there in years and if they are struggling by mid-season, I’d expect to trade some key veterans away. Need to start being realistic. This run can’t go on forever…can it?
Orio was acquired on last years trade deadline from Syracuse in a deal that saw five players change organizations. In 59 games with Washington, “Champ” hit .285, with an .832 OPS, 14 HRs and 41 RBI. He also struck out 58 times. The free-swinger might break the team record for strikeouts in a season (152 in 1990; Miguel Angel Padilla) but he also could break the homerun record (40 in 1990; also Miguel Angel Padilla). Rader was originally the 25th overall pick by Davenport back in 2002. Unexplainably, he was cut two weeks after the draft and scooped up by Washington. A former minor league All-Star and two-time Glove Wizard, Rader has only 13 career BLB at bats. The switch-hitter struggled in Spring Training but is only expected to play when D’Orio needs rest.
1B: Pat Ladd
The hometown hero had a career year in 2006. Setting career highs in runs, hits, doubles, triples, homeruns and RBI. Ladd won his first Stout Slugger award in a landslide over Windy City’s JJ Caplan, often regarded as the leagues best hitter. While he was on fire with the bat, Ladd did struggle defensively playing first base for the first time in his career.
2B: Cy Gray, Alex Otero
Yes, Gray is still in the league. The defensive stalwart returns for his 12th BLB season and fourth season in Washington. During those four years his batting average has been .222, .230, .180 and .206. He “won” the job in Spring Training over a large field of youngsters. Should his hitting get any worse or his defense start to show any decline, he could quickly be replaced. Behind him is the story you have already heard too much of, Rule V closer turned infielder, 22-year-old Otero. He is only on the 25 man roster because he has to be. Now a valued commodity, Otero is the top prospect in the Bats organization. If Gray struggles or gets hurt, his replacement will likely come from Triple-A and not Otero. But he is expected to be a pinch-running option all year.
3B: Tyler McLouth, Victor Sandoval
McLouth has been an “every other” type player. Ever since becoming a starter in mid-2001, his OPS by year: .654, .792, .685, .735, .652, .792. If history is to repeat itself, McLouth should OPS in the .660-.670 range. His .730 OPS in Spring Training is probably more likely. Or maybe at 30 years-old, he has finally found his grove. His backup, Sandoval, will be expected to play all over the infield at 1B, 2B, 3B and SS. The past two years in this utility back-up, pinch runner, defensive replacement role, he hit .207 with a .575 OPS.
SS: Antonio Cardenas
In 149 games last year, Cardenas hit 126 RBI to lead the Bats. It was also his first season being above league average defensively at SS after learning the position in Washington the past three seasons.
LF: Willie Garcia, Gabrielle Clareno
One man’s trash…Garcia was a 1999 6th round pick by Syracuse who was cut on draft day 2000. Clareno was waived by Batavia after a 10-year minor league career. Garcia has started parts of the past four years in D.C. and has a career BLB .785 OPS. Clareno hit .835 in 116 games and was handsomely rewarded in his first arbitration year at $4.25M, Garcia took home $7.25M. Both have decent speed and defensively flexibility and will be used in a variety of ways in the lineup and off the bench.
CF: Manny Reyes
I think this could be a breakout year for the 25-year-old. In 68 games as a rookie, Reyes hit .344 with a 1.007 OPS in 2004. Since then, as a full-time player, he has hit “just” .798 and .725 the past two seasons. Not a very patient hitter but Reyes as power to all fields and speed to burn. This will be his first season as the full-time center fielder as he is my only “durable” regular outfielder.
RF: BJ Jobe
The former centerfielder made his second All-Star game in 2006 a year in which he continued his third straight season of .300 average, .770 OPS and 25 stolen bases. He will now switch to right field after having injuries the past two seasons. The 31-year-old is slowly becoming one of those “long-tenured Bats.”
SP: Troy Hanback, CJ Skinner, Travis DuFour, Terry Bornemann, Lorenzo Campos, Zachary Lewis
Hanback and DuFour are the legendary names you know. But could this be a swan song? Both are on the final years of their deals and at 33 and 34, respectively, how much longer are they expected to anchor? Arguably the best starter on the roster is a (tell me if you have heard this before in DC) former reliever, Skinner. His past two years as a starter he has gone 30-10. Behind him are two lefties that had much higher expectations based on their lofty draft positions. Both have great groundball % and should be able to eat some innings. Last is my IL Refreshing New Brew candidate, Zachary Lewis. He has hovered from #11 best prospect to #94. 54th overall pick in 2000. Lewis doesn’t have great stamina but hits 100 MPH on the gun and is a rare team leader who only cares about winning.
RP: David Saucedo, Dusty Casserino, Tom Downs, Shane Ward, Zach Koenemann and Zack Minter
Suaucedo and Casserino are unknowns to casual fans but the duo combines as one of the best set-up duos in baseball. Downs is a swing-man who will probably lead all Bat relievers in innings because of his casual starts and good stamina. Ward has the best stuff (101mph cutter and 8 on changeup) and lowest control (current 2 of 3 from scout) on the team. Watch out. Behind them are mid-long relievers and former starting pitchers who hopefully won’t see a lot of innings this year. They combined for 80 last season.
CL: Armando Ureste
He has been a forgotten name the past two years struggling as a starter for Toronto in 2005 and being just a set-up man for lowly Pawtucket last year. But he is back on the scene after posting a 1-0, 22 save, 1.64 ERA and .78 WHIP for Washington down the stretch last season after being acquired at the deadline. I think it’s possible the 33-year-old could have a career year as a full-time closer with his 69% groundball, 97 MPH fastball and a superb defense behind him.
Expectations: Owner expects to win it all!
I said this on the forums earlier, I kinda feel like the San Antonio Spurs. We should have won the Brewmaster’s last year after cruising through the IL and then taking a 3-2 lead over Maine with the series coming home. But, shit happens. I have a veteran group that is focused and this is supposed to be a season of redemption. The Stout should belong to D.C. with Death Valley losing a handful of players to trades, free-agency and injury. Morgantown and Seattle have made significant improvements to their clubs by drafting well but neither team has had a .500 season since 2003.
The IL is normally better than this. The Porter has seen Philadelphia and California dramatically fall off the past two years from playoff contenders to sub .500 ball clubs without the talent of years prior. Baltimore, probably the IL surprise of 2006, just lost their best hitter for the season to injury in Al Hamilton. Windy City, Davenport and Batavia are lead by top notch pitching staffs but are the only other true “threats” keeping Washington from their IL best 8th non-steroided league titles. Windy City has the best rotation in baseball, the best closer in baseball and the best hitter in baseball. Oh and the rest of the team is pretty good. Davenport is young, hungry and talented across the board. Batavia had a Brewmaster’s hangover but should be better this year.
I think this team will probably end up with 90-92 wins but I don’t see much success beyond maybe a first round victory. This team is getting up there in years and if they are struggling by mid-season, I’d expect to trade some key veterans away. Need to start being realistic. This run can’t go on forever…can it?
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