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Indianapolis Clowns: A team loaded with talent has two holes to fill on the infield (TWSS)
After a 104 win season the Clowns landed the #1 seed in the playoffs. However, a 2-4 loss in Game Six of the DLCS to the Dukes ended their season on a sour note. Not many teams have expectations as high as the Clowns do in 2016...nor do they have such a glaring question.
What is going on in the infield?
In 2015 at 3B, they had David Santoyo after he signed late in Free-Agency on a one-year $12.5M deal. He went on lead the BLB in walks (117) and tie a career high in WAR (3.5). Next to him, Fernando Lauriano played SS. He was solid with the bat (.356 OBP) and glove (1.001 EFF). This year, Santoyo is again sitting in late Free-Agency without a team. Lauriano's now playing for the Kodiaks after signing a one-year $1,000,000 contract.
Skeptics say the Clowns should have made more of an effort to clear salary to be able to bring them back. Unfortunately, they made a last season trade for SP Adan Neubauer who is making $11M and might not crack the rotation.
The big mystery is who will fill those roles. Pencilled in for Spring Training at 3B is 2015 first basemen Robby Lang. Despite the fact that he has two career starts at the position, the Clowns think the swiss army knife defender (1B-2B-3B-OF) can get the job done. At short stop, Shane Davis, a defensive wiz and burner on the base paths, who in 230 BLB games has hit .218 with a .555 OPS. It appears to be an upgrade defensively at SS, but a downgrade at 3B. The move also opens up flexibility at 1B/DH for the club. In GM Ryan we trust.
This veteran team has more pressure on them than most. If they fall short of their goal again, don't be surprised to see more changes than just at SS-3B in the off-season.
Around The Horn (5-Star Rankings):
Offense: 4.5
Defense: 4
Starting Rotation: 5
Bullpen: 3.5
Alcohol By Volume:
Batting AVG – .269 (2nd)
Runs Scored – 819 (1st)
Home Runs – 166 (6th)
Opponents Batting AVG - .244 (3rd)
ERA – 3.43 (3rd)
Defensive Efficiency - .686 (6th)
Next Round:
RJ Cheek, 23, 3B - #47
If moving Lang to 3B blows up in their face at least the Clowns fans know their top prospect plays the same position. Cheek, the 19th overall pick in 2013 has had many varied opinions. Some scouts had him as a consensus Top 5 hitting talent in the draft while others thought he doesn't have what it takes to even sniff the BLB. However, after finishing 2nd in the Single-A Outstanding Hitter voting and a 2015 Double-A All-Star appearance and Championship, the critics aren't so loud anymore. Still developing but might be on the fast track to the BLB if current plans don't work out.
Prediction: 99-63 (1st in Pilsner)
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Pittsburgh Millers: Last years busiest GM is at it again in 2016; you are going to need a program
STUCK ABOVE Abraham Santana’s locker at the Pittsburgh Miller’s spring training facility is a printed list of about 40 players last names, listed by uniform number. No positions, no first names. It’s taped to his locker with a small piece of medical tape. The words “la química por un campeonato” are handwritten in black sharpie at the bottom of the page. When asked, the 35-year-old Santana says, “It means chemistry for a championship.”
Chemistry is the buzz word this year for the Millers. Players and coaches are talking about it. The media is talking about it. For those that follow the club know it was key to their 2nd half success in 2015.
“I came in last year with Murillo, Taylor, Mattison,…ugh…”
All in all, the Millers were one of the busiest teams in the off-season with trades and signings, which continued by being the only club to make a major front office addition mid-season and further went on by making a lot of late season additions for the stretch run.
“that co-GM guy….I’m forgetting some players…Oh Gamboa!... (long pause… before trailing off…)”
After starting the season behind the eight ball, the group rallied to a surprising playoff-appearance. And in response, after building all that cohesion, they are doing it again.
“Gerlach, Medina, Michie….wait was Michie new?….ummm….”
This off-season the Millers sent familiar names Seth Herrington, J.D. Robillard and last years big import Murillo, out of town in trades to mix up their lineup and bullpen. Some long time fans have already shown up this Spring wearing Herrington’ #3’s and Robillard #24s, booing their new imports.
“Then at mid-season we added Cardenas, Alvarado,…there were others too I just can’t remember right now. You know I’m getting up there in years now!”
All in all, some scouts believe this team will be improved from a talent perspective. However, traditionalists have their doubts that they will harmonize before falling well behind in the standings just like last season.
“I figure, if I can’t remember their names, I’ll just say, Hola Amigo.”
Yes, indeed. Hola, Amigo.
Around The Horn (5-Star Rankings):
Offense: 4
Defense: 2
Starting Rotation: 4.5
Bullpen: 4.5
Alcohol By Volume:
Batting AVG – .264 (4th)
Runs Scored – 736 (4th)
Home Runs – 176 (4th)
Opponents Batting AVG - .259 (9th)
ERA – 3.67 (6th)
Defensive Efficiency - .672 (12th)
Next Round:
Amadeu Cleto, 22, 55th
You might not hear from this kid this season with the loaded OF in Pittsburgh but you will soon...maybe even just by Mike boasting his Triple-A numbers all season! Cleto is one of those guys that really came out of nowhere. An 8th round pick in 2014 who was later a throw-in as part of the deal that brought Abraham Santana to Pittsburgh. Since then scouts have started to see what Pittsburgh was after as the lefty can hit for power, shown a good eye, speed and defense at RF. He's one of the dumbest prospects in baseball but dammit, he's one of the hardest working.
Prediction: 90-72 (2nd in Pilsner)
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Syracuse Slammers: A year after investing in hitting, the Slammers spend money to keep their ace
Last years club had playoff aspirations but unfortunately didn't have a good jump from the get go. To start the year, Ethan Stuart, the $165 million dollar man couldn't live up to the pressure for the first month then tore his labrum, causing him to miss the rest of the season.
Before the start of the off-season, the Slammers made a last minute deal with SP Brendan Watts. Without anymore money, they were left to let SS Xavier Garnett leave to Los Alamos for $144M. Watts, however, appeared to be the smart money, as he re-signed for three-years at $19M per season. Ironically, him and Garnett are just two days apart.
In a division with Indy and Pittsburgh, it will take a major bounce back season from Stuart if they want to finish any higher than 3rd. If he can return to 30+ HR form, combined with Danny Gomez and Tzu Xiang, they could combine for well over 100 HRs.....and they will need every single one.
Around The Horn (5-Star Rankings):
Offense: 3.5
Defense: 3
Starting Rotation: 3
Bullpen: 2
Alcohol By Volume:
Batting AVG – .250 (8th)
Runs Scored – 701 (5th)
Home Runs – 184 (3rd)
Opponents Batting AVG - .247 (4th)
ERA – 3.83 (7th)
Defensive Efficiency - .710 (2nd)
Next Round:
Xavier Grant, 24, 2B - NR
Xavier to replace Xavier? Grant is not a top prospect by any means but he might be the next man up. The 24-year-old just posted a 1.4 WAR in his 2nd Triple-A season and with Gian Nero's and Rogelio Padilla's abilities to switch to SS, Grant could end up playing a lot this year at 2B.
Prediction: 75-87(3rd in Pilsner)
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Toronto Canadians: You get what you pay for. With BLB smallest payroll, the Canadians have no shot
Toronto hasn't had a winning season since 2001. Sometimes, you forget there is even a team in Canada.
With the smallest payroll in baseball, many thought the Canadians would be active in one of the best Free-Agent classes in years. However, the GM made the announcement at the beginning of the off-season that they would avoid expensive, long term deals, instead favoring one-year contracts they can flip or release. There is a plan in place, he says.
The best player is probably their closer, 22-year-old Ted Hatch. He somehow managed 33 saves for a team won only 57 games. Very impressive season for the promising youngster. There is also bit of excitement from the fan base after selecting 1B Dylan Owens 1st overall in 2014. The 19-year-old is already the most talented hitter in the entire organization but the fans will probably have to wait a few more years while the Canadians slowly build up the rest of the farm...and try to build something of a professional team.
The California Kodiaks went 39-123 in 1981. The only goal this Toronto club has this year is to not break that record. That would be an accomplishment. For Ted Hatch to break his season high of 33 saves, he might have to save every single win.
Around The Horn (5-Star Rankings):
Offense: 1
Defense: 2
Starting Rotation: 1
Bullpen: 4
Alcohol By Volume:
Batting AVG – .239 (11th)
Runs Scored – 554 (11th)
Home Runs – 108 (11th)
Opponents Batting AVG - .274 (12th)
ERA – 4.38 (12th)
Defensive Efficiency - .681 (7th)
Next Round:
CJ Johnson, 25, SP - 26th
In addition to Owens and Hatch, another building block for the club is Johnson. Armed with elite movement, he almost never gives up home runs. The lefty puts in long hours to his craft and boasts a 94 MPH sinker that induces lots of ground balls. After posting a 1.67 ERA in Triple-A last year, he got five BLB starts. He should be eased into the role but might be one of the best pitchers on the club already.
Prediction: 40-122 (4th in Pilsner)
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