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New Orleans Dukes: Last years runner up is hoping for return to the Brewmaster’s with a similar group
Anyone who predicted a run like that is a liar...or a Duke.
Entering the 2015 post-season, the Dukes were 96-66, the #3 seed but possibly the least media attention of any DL playoff team. Pawtucket was loaded, trying to three-peat. Indy lead the DL in wins with 104. Pittsburgh was getting all the headlines after a 2nd half run for the ages. Dallas shocked Pittsburgh in the Wild Card Game and some around the league had them pegged as the 2015 Cinderella story.
Instead, New Orleans took care of business and won their 5th ever DL Championship, first since 2000. Unfortunately the Dukes were defeated by the Morgantown Mohawks. Fortunately, the team looks almost exactly the same was we enter 2016.
This group is lead by a five-deep rotation and a handful of power hitters. With a farm system near worst in the league this veteran club is in a full Win Now mode. Let's see if they can take the next step and bring home their third Brewmaster's.
Around The Horn (5-Star Rankings):
Offense: 4.5
Defense: 3.5
Starting Rotation: 5
Bullpen: 1.5
Alcohol By Volume:
Batting AVG – .267 (3rd)
Runs Scored – 773 (3rd)
Home Runs – 217 (2nd)
Opponents Batting AVG - .251 (6th)
ERA – 3.63 (5th)
Defensive Efficiency - .680 (8th)
Next Round:
Zachary Compton, 21, 2B – 73rd
The hard working youngster has started to show the potential that got him drafted 6th overall in 2012. Not known for his defense, Compton gets high praise for what he can do on the other side of the ball. He boasts an incredible level of contact and scouts believe his ability to avoid strikeouts is his best quality. He’s also good on the base paths. The Dukes have him penciled in as the future 2B…but when will that be? He wasn’t ready at mid-season last year so the Dukes made a trade for veteran Joey Daily. Now the position is up for grabs. Is this the year we finally hear from Compton?
Prediction: 95-67 (1st in Lager)
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Dallas Sharks: To build on last years Wild Card win, they need a repeat season from Romero but is that what he wants?
Motivations are different for every player but also for every organization.
Player: Dallas 2B Danny Romero lead the entire BLB in WAR (7.1) despite missing the final two weeks of the season, and playoffs, with a sprained ankle. His All-Star campaign was a big reason for the Sharks surprise post-season run. Romero is a team leader who prides himself on his work ethic but most of all cares about winning. Despite not being known as a "greedy" player, Romero turns 31 in April and after battling injuries throughout his career, has to remember baseball is a business.
Team: The Sharks expect to make the playoffs again this year. To do so, they will need another big season from their team MVP. Despite a recent influx of young talent and a Top 10 farm, the Sharks are in Win Now mode.
Catch 22: Romero has a vesting option at a very under the market salary of $7.5M. To qualify for this, he needs 600 plate appearances. He met that mark the past two seasons, 639 and 637. However, known as a fragile player, Romero failed to reach 600 in three of his final four seasons in Washington. Romero wants to win but would he prefer to test Free-Agent waters? The top FA this year, 29-year-old infielder Xavier Garnett got $144M. Would he let an injury linger a bit longer in order to fail his 600 PA qualification? And what about the team? They know they need him to win, so would they give him regular days off to keep him healthy for the playoffs? Or do they want to give him maximum at bats to get him at $7.5M?
Something to keep an eye on. It's not the only story in Dallas this year...but it's definitely the most interesting.
Around The Horn (5-Star Rankings):
Offense: 2.5
Defense: 5
Starting Rotation: 4.5
Bullpen: 5
Alcohol By Volume:
Batting AVG – .255 (6th)
Runs Scored – 654 (9th)
Home Runs – 141 (9th)
Opponents Batting AVG - .274 (1st)
ERA – 3.17 (1st)
Defensive Efficiency - .712 (1st)
Next Round:
Dusty Orbon, 22, SP - 9th
During the final week of the September, while the DL playoff slots were still up for grabs, Orbon got the first start of his BLB career: 7 IP, 3 H, ER, 3 B, 6 K in a 7-1 win over the eventual DL Champion New Orleans Dukes. Orbon is expected to join a rotation that finished 2nd in the DL in ERA but in desperate need for a right-hander. Acquired as a youngster from the Millers organization, Orbon is known for his top-notch ability to induce groundballs (75%). It won’t be long before he is the ace of the Sharks staff.
Prediction: 89-73 (2nd in Lager)
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Los Angeles Dinos: This group has talent...but are they a team?
If BLB rosters were five players deep, the Dinos might be the favorites to win the Brewmaster's. Unfortunately, you need a 25-man team to win...and some depth behind them. The Dinos boast three of the leagues Top 16 hitters and it's #2 ranked SP. That doesn't even include names like David Palomares or Dave Perkins.
Last year, they were in the thick of the playoff hunt in early August. Sitting 56-52, only two games back of the playoffs, many around the league thought this group had finally put it together and was ready for a surge. However a poor final three weeks of August combined with a GM that didn't promote anyone from the minors when rosters expanded, the Dinos stumbled to a 78-84 finish.
This team needed to make some changes in the off-season but with player payroll of $110M Free-Agency wasn't an option. Rumors are swirling they are still shopping their higher paid players for more depth. This team has enough talent to win. However, if this team struggles like they did down the stretch, expect a fire sale.
Around The Horn (5-Star Rankings):
Offense: 4.5
Defense: 2.5
Starting Rotation: 4
Bullpen: 2
Alcohol By Volume:
Batting AVG – .250 (9th)
Runs Scored – 666 (7th)
Home Runs – 162 (7th)
Opponents Batting AVG - .256 (7th)
ERA – 3.59 (4th)
Defensive Efficiency - .674 (11th)
Next Round:
Bobby Marrero, 23, 2B - NR
Maybe you have heard of him. Maybe you haven’t. Marrero is no longer considered a prospect after logging 160 games the past three seasons. However, his inability to stay healthy has left him relatively unknown around the BLB. The switch-hitting slugger has hit 32 home runs and 107 RBI while showing the ability to play 2B-3B-SS and LF. The Dinos need a healthy season from him if that want to get back to winning.
Prediction: 83-79 (3rd in Lager)
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Denver Baseball Club: Reversing their old ways, Denver has committed to defense and drafting, in hopes of building a winner
Rewind three seasons ago. Denver was a talented club that failed to live up to expectations by finishing 69-93. The response from the front office? Throwing $65,000,000 at Robby Aten who has been a huge bust. Denver rebounded by going 79-93 and then 87-75, but with Aten struggling and eating up tons of money, the team wasn't able to fill the smaller holes throughout the roster. The big names have been shipped out of town while Aten is a glorified pitching coach down at Double-A, with $25M due.
The approach has changed. This off-season it was quiet in Denver and they are committed to build from within. GM Carlos has proven that he can draft. Now he just needs to prove he has patience.
They are buried deep in one of the stronger divisions in baseball...and that suits them just fine. They are in no rush. The fans know this....but how patient will they be?
Around The Horn (5-Star Rankings):
Offense: 1.5
Defense: 4.5
Starting Rotation: 1.5
Bullpen: 4.5
Alcohol By Volume:
Batting AVG – .247 (10th)
Runs Scored – 587 (10th)
Home Runs – 100 (12th)
Opponents Batting AVG - .251 (5th)
ERA – 4.06 (9th)
Defensive Efficiency - .686 (6th)
Next Round:
Tom Reed, 22, SP, 14th
Reed, considered by some to have one of the best fastball/changeup combinations in all of the minor leagues, doesn’t seem to care. “If I make it to the BLB or not, I know I can always go back home.” Reed comes from a ton of 6,000 people, Hillsboro, Illinois. Scouts have been puzzled for years why someone with so much talent doesn’t seem to want to work hard, care if his team wins or loses, nor does is he distracted by other academic or worldly pursuits. The lefty was a key piece in the deal that sent Ron Robertson and CJ Wilkinson to Death Valley.
Prediction: 72-90 (4th in Lager)
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