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Regular Season Champs? – The 2023 Washington Bats
In recent years, the Bats have been the best regular season team in the league. Since 2018, Washington has racked up 591 wins, 40 more than any other team in the Import League during that span. However, all that regular season success hasn’t translated into postseason victories, as year after year, the Bats have fallen flat on their face once the playoffs have arrived. Their best pitchers step onto the mound and serve up batting practice, while All-Star hitters go into month long slumps once October hits. The Bats haven’t advanced to the Brewmaster’s Championship since 2014, the franchise’s longest drought since Virginia’s reign of terror in the 90s.
The team’s manager, Gene Legere, is as perplexed as anyone with the Bats' postseason struggles. “"Back in my playing days, we never had this problem (losing in the playoffs). It always felt like we were destined to win, almost like outside forces would will us to victory,”" said the Bats’ skipper, a three-time champion with the Colonials. Whatever the reason, the team he now manages can’t seem to find the same winning formula his Virginia teams enjoyed.
The 2023 Bats look like a similarly talented team. There are plenty of reasons to think that this group will win a lot of games and comfortably make the playoffs, but will things be any different for them when the postseason spotlight is upon them?
Probably not, but read on anyway.
What’s New?
There aren’t a lot of differences between these Bats and the version that took the field last season. The lineup will feature only one new starter – catcher Micah Garlick. He’s got big shoes to fill – former Bat Tristan Moody has been to four consecutive All-Star games – but Garlick could be up to the challenge. Team scouts have liked Garlick ever since the team nabbed him as an undrafted free agent after the 2016 draft. At 27 years old, he’s had plenty of seasoning for this role.
Who’s Back?
Perhaps the biggest “addition” the Bats made this offseason wasn’t a signing at all, but the return of Dave Honea to the rotation. In 2021, Honea was a star, racking up 24 wins with a 1.88 ERA. He’s back now after missing all of last season undergoing elbow reconstruction surgery.
Who’s Gone?
As previously mentioned, All-Star catcher Tristan Moody is gone after 4+ good seasons as a Bat. The team also said goodbye to all-time saves leader, Israel Rodriguez.
Rookies to Watch
These guys will likely play backup roles, but rookies that look to break camp with the BLB club include:
OF Alec Mohon – 3rd round pick in 2020. Will provide a right handed hitting corner outfielder mainly in a platoon with Dave Schneider. Hit .306 with 26 HRs and 115 RBI last season in AA and will skip AAA.
OF Milt Dearborn – 1st round pick in 2020. Projects to be mainly a 5th outfielder / spot starter / pinch runner.
C Ethan Page – Garlick’s backup at catcher, has a decent bat.
Prediction
This team is made up of proven BLB players, so there doesn’t appear to be a ton of bust potential here. The rotation should be one of the best in the league, and the lineup was the highest scoring in the IL last season, so the team should win some games. With stars like Geoff Yonke and Ed Carroll, the team should be in contention all season.
Final record – 97-65, 2nd in Stout. Lose in Division Series, as is tradition.
In recent years, the Bats have been the best regular season team in the league. Since 2018, Washington has racked up 591 wins, 40 more than any other team in the Import League during that span. However, all that regular season success hasn’t translated into postseason victories, as year after year, the Bats have fallen flat on their face once the playoffs have arrived. Their best pitchers step onto the mound and serve up batting practice, while All-Star hitters go into month long slumps once October hits. The Bats haven’t advanced to the Brewmaster’s Championship since 2014, the franchise’s longest drought since Virginia’s reign of terror in the 90s.
The team’s manager, Gene Legere, is as perplexed as anyone with the Bats' postseason struggles. “"Back in my playing days, we never had this problem (losing in the playoffs). It always felt like we were destined to win, almost like outside forces would will us to victory,”" said the Bats’ skipper, a three-time champion with the Colonials. Whatever the reason, the team he now manages can’t seem to find the same winning formula his Virginia teams enjoyed.
The 2023 Bats look like a similarly talented team. There are plenty of reasons to think that this group will win a lot of games and comfortably make the playoffs, but will things be any different for them when the postseason spotlight is upon them?
Probably not, but read on anyway.
What’s New?
There aren’t a lot of differences between these Bats and the version that took the field last season. The lineup will feature only one new starter – catcher Micah Garlick. He’s got big shoes to fill – former Bat Tristan Moody has been to four consecutive All-Star games – but Garlick could be up to the challenge. Team scouts have liked Garlick ever since the team nabbed him as an undrafted free agent after the 2016 draft. At 27 years old, he’s had plenty of seasoning for this role.
Who’s Back?
Perhaps the biggest “addition” the Bats made this offseason wasn’t a signing at all, but the return of Dave Honea to the rotation. In 2021, Honea was a star, racking up 24 wins with a 1.88 ERA. He’s back now after missing all of last season undergoing elbow reconstruction surgery.
Who’s Gone?
As previously mentioned, All-Star catcher Tristan Moody is gone after 4+ good seasons as a Bat. The team also said goodbye to all-time saves leader, Israel Rodriguez.
Rookies to Watch
These guys will likely play backup roles, but rookies that look to break camp with the BLB club include:
OF Alec Mohon – 3rd round pick in 2020. Will provide a right handed hitting corner outfielder mainly in a platoon with Dave Schneider. Hit .306 with 26 HRs and 115 RBI last season in AA and will skip AAA.
OF Milt Dearborn – 1st round pick in 2020. Projects to be mainly a 5th outfielder / spot starter / pinch runner.
C Ethan Page – Garlick’s backup at catcher, has a decent bat.
Prediction
This team is made up of proven BLB players, so there doesn’t appear to be a ton of bust potential here. The rotation should be one of the best in the league, and the lineup was the highest scoring in the IL last season, so the team should win some games. With stars like Geoff Yonke and Ed Carroll, the team should be in contention all season.
Final record – 97-65, 2nd in Stout. Lose in Division Series, as is tradition.
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