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California Kodiaks: 2023 Year in Review
California Kodiaks: 95-67 DLCS Loss
WHAT WENT RIGHT:
Sweep of Juggernaut Kansas City - For the second time under my leadership we advanced to the DLCS. This time it was a result of beating the greatest team (116 wins) in DL history in a three game sweep in which we scored 29 runs!
Pitching and BA/OBP - We made a conscious effort a few years ago to focus our draft strategy on choosing guys with either solid contact or eye or both and starting pitching. We finished third in BA and second inOBP. Our starters were also very strong finishing second in the DL with a 3.38 ERA.
Infield - Rizer, Morla, Wilkinson,and DeCicco had another strong year. Wilkinson may walk, but Rizer (5.0 WAR) and DeCicco (2.8 WAR) are continuing to develop nicely, and for the fifth straight year Morla (8.8 WAR) finished in the top three in WAR.
WHAT WENT WRONG:
Bullpen - I thought this would be the backbone of our team and it was an unmitigated disaster all season. Setup men Eguia and Brown were both relegated to middle relief and all world closer AJ Ingle struggled all year, as balls flew out of the park at record pace against our pen.
Outfield - Tom Wright continues to be a great FA signing offensively, but is not an everyday RF. Anybody we tried anywhere in the outfield didn't really hit or field all that well... Here's to hoping the glut of centerfield draft picks we have one or two develop.
Power We just can't seem to hit the long ball and our only real threat Wright and Deiwert are a combined 70 years old... Yikes!
OUTLOOK FOR 2024
For the time being, the strategy in California will remain the same... Pitching and hopefully better defence. We are likely using staff ace Contreras which will mean the call up of one of the AAA arms that my scout thinks are ready. Likely Wilkinson and Deiwert walk away from the last year of their contracts as well, which will leave a hole for Ron Hillert to hopefully fill and most likely a weak hitting defensive SS. Dan Bradford hopefully fills the role of staff ace and the rest of the pitching remains intact. The offence will again revolve around Mike Morla. It is hard to believe he has already played 6 full seasons. He continues his march up the Kodiak record books.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Well, at least we beat KC! In a season where there were record setting offences, it's hard to complain about our season. We have managed to stay competitive and not overly mortgage the future (we managed to hold onto our first round pick again) so we should be about the same next year. I'm not sure it's possible, but a season in the top 10 of [bold] twenty [/bold] offensive categories, a second straight batting title, decent second base, and 8.8 WAR almost seemed a little underwhelming. I guess that's what happens to players at that level... You expect Stout Slugger numbers every season!
California Kodiaks: 95-67 DLCS Loss
WHAT WENT RIGHT:
Sweep of Juggernaut Kansas City - For the second time under my leadership we advanced to the DLCS. This time it was a result of beating the greatest team (116 wins) in DL history in a three game sweep in which we scored 29 runs!
Pitching and BA/OBP - We made a conscious effort a few years ago to focus our draft strategy on choosing guys with either solid contact or eye or both and starting pitching. We finished third in BA and second inOBP. Our starters were also very strong finishing second in the DL with a 3.38 ERA.
Infield - Rizer, Morla, Wilkinson,and DeCicco had another strong year. Wilkinson may walk, but Rizer (5.0 WAR) and DeCicco (2.8 WAR) are continuing to develop nicely, and for the fifth straight year Morla (8.8 WAR) finished in the top three in WAR.
WHAT WENT WRONG:
Bullpen - I thought this would be the backbone of our team and it was an unmitigated disaster all season. Setup men Eguia and Brown were both relegated to middle relief and all world closer AJ Ingle struggled all year, as balls flew out of the park at record pace against our pen.
Outfield - Tom Wright continues to be a great FA signing offensively, but is not an everyday RF. Anybody we tried anywhere in the outfield didn't really hit or field all that well... Here's to hoping the glut of centerfield draft picks we have one or two develop.
Power We just can't seem to hit the long ball and our only real threat Wright and Deiwert are a combined 70 years old... Yikes!
OUTLOOK FOR 2024
For the time being, the strategy in California will remain the same... Pitching and hopefully better defence. We are likely using staff ace Contreras which will mean the call up of one of the AAA arms that my scout thinks are ready. Likely Wilkinson and Deiwert walk away from the last year of their contracts as well, which will leave a hole for Ron Hillert to hopefully fill and most likely a weak hitting defensive SS. Dan Bradford hopefully fills the role of staff ace and the rest of the pitching remains intact. The offence will again revolve around Mike Morla. It is hard to believe he has already played 6 full seasons. He continues his march up the Kodiak record books.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Well, at least we beat KC! In a season where there were record setting offences, it's hard to complain about our season. We have managed to stay competitive and not overly mortgage the future (we managed to hold onto our first round pick again) so we should be about the same next year. I'm not sure it's possible, but a season in the top 10 of [bold] twenty [/bold] offensive categories, a second straight batting title, decent second base, and 8.8 WAR almost seemed a little underwhelming. I guess that's what happens to players at that level... You expect Stout Slugger numbers every season!