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The 2058 Wilmington Wildcats Preview: The Loneliest Man In Baseball
The Wilmington Wildcats/Indianapolis Racers were a middling franchise that hadn't been to the post-season in years. They hadn't won a title since 2034. With their first round pick they wanted to draft a player who could lead them into a new era of baseball. Fans of the BLB were still confused if they were the Racers still. The team had a major hole in CF and their scouts were enthralled with a potential five tool centerfield. "He he had Speed, Throwing ability, Fielding ability, and could Hit for Average, and Hit for Power." With an early 1st round pick, the team got nervous that the hot prospect wouldn't reach their slot. Still in the Pac-10, the player himself, a right hander had been an All-Star and won the Platinum Stick Award for CFs. While finishing out his final season for the Oregon Ducks, a team that would only go 20-28 on the year, the Wildcats management informed the 20-year-old that if he was still on the board for their selection that he would be the pick. Excitement in the front office was buzzing.
At this point, you might know who we are talking about. If you guessed CF Evan Yanko, however, you would be wrong. We are here to talk about the Loneliest Man In Baseball, Raymond Dixon.
The parallels between him and Yanko are downright remarkable. But Yanko would be drafted 10 years later and go on to help lead his team to their first Brewmaster's Championship since 2034, where he would be named MVP of the final series. Dixon on the other hand took a much different path and could have never imagined this current scenario in his worst nightmares.
Dixon, selected 2nd overall in 2047, had a much more difficult path to success. While Yanko flourished through the minors in quick fashion, Dixon struggled in Rookie Ball and Single-A at 20-years-old. He would again struggle in Triple-A at 21 and 22. But OSA recognized his potential, featuring him as a Top 100 prospect for four straight seasons, as high as #10 in 2049. He would make his BLB debut later that year. A decent rookie and sophomore campaign, he would even hit for the cycle in his third season.
Just three seasons later, Dixon would help lead the Wildcats to their first playoff appearance in 16 years with career highs in games, hits, 2B, HR, runs and RBI. In that post-season they would sweep Hartford in the Wild Card and then push the (eventually Brewmaster's champion) Pawtucket Patriots to six games. In that post-season the then 27-year-old would hit .333 with a 135 OPS+. Dixon would later make the 2055 DL All-Star Team, become a team captain and a fan favorite. He was the toast of the town and the face of a young, up and coming team that was ready to compete at the highest level.
Then it all started to come crumbling down.
Two weeks after his All-Star appearance, Dixon would be shelved for most of the remainder of the season with a back injury. Fortunately for him, this didn't give the Wildcats pause as they rewarded him with a 4-year, $75.6M extension and he would be recognized as the Designated Driver in CF despite missing almost 60 games. The team would fall out of the playoff race, however, with their CF hurt. The following season his OPS would drop .200 points, the team would fail to get above .500 and change was coming.
Just before the start of Spring Training, a new GM was hired and Dixon took it upon himself to let the front office know he would do whatever it takes to get the Wildcats back to relevancy. The team informed him, due to a lack of talent available in Free-Agency and on the roster, that he would be moving back to his old position of centerfield. Dixon was pleased as behind the scenes he felt the move to RF played a part in his major statistical dip in 2056. It felt like a breath of fresh air for the team as well as a fresh start for Dixon.
Then it got worse.
On April 1st in Spring Training, April Fool's Day 2057, while legging out a double, Dixon would tear his Achilles tendon running the bases and be out for nine months - The entirety of the baseball season. The rest is history, or at least recent history as the Wildcats would go on to not only draft his replacement just two months later, but that kid would go on to be the player Dixon was supposed to be. When things seemed like they couldn't get worse for Dixon, it did. Because he wasn't on the Opening Day Roster, BLB did not recognize him as part of the Championship Team and with Wilmington's tight ownership, he wasn't given a ring.
Fast forward to today. Reports have been swirling that Dixon's rehab stint, while a success medically, was the darkest time in his professional life. Not only was Yanko the hottest name in not only Wilmington, but arguably all of baseball, he didn't really have a spot to return to. Yanko is in CF. Zeke LeBron is in RF. Neil Wanat is in LF. Dixon, however, is due almost $45M the next two seasons, both the highest salary totals for 2058 and 2059, on the roster. Even if his salary didn't demand it, his contract actually explicitly states that he must be in the starting lineup. A few days before Spring Training, local reports are that Dixon will try to revive his career by learning LF and 2B. Dixon's tone has changed from this time last year and is apparently resistant to playing infield, something he hasn't done since he was in high school.
So, here we are. Days away from the title defense and the teams highest paid player is in limbo. What should be expected of Dixon? Could he be moved? If he becomes problematic, could he be released? How is the first meeting between him and Yanko going to go? But while we are here, let's take a look at the rest of the Wilmington Wildcats roster and their chances of a title defense.
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What Returns:
The Wilmington Wildcats current active roster, before Spring Training invites, features 22 players that were on the BLB club last year...and Dixon. Obviously a positive as the key components, majority of the SP, almost the entire lineup and most of the bullpen, return to defend their title. The major question of the off-season was what the team would do with 1B Cory Petit as the team battled with the idea of declining his $10M final arbitration. The team caved and brought back the .343 hitter for at least this season. Bringing him back was essentially our Free-Agency.
What Departs:
According to lost WAR, the Wildcats had the 4th worst off-season at -7.2 WAR. A total of 11 players on BLB contracts left for Free-Agency (or retirement) with the biggest names being: SP Drew Henthorne, C Bert Thoma, SP Brock Luger, 1B Burgess Nalivkin and CF Garry Akonia. Not to mention about a handful of RPs. Luger reportedly had shown signs of decline as the season ended but was still offered a chance to return on a minor league contract. Feeling slighted after his impressive playoff performance, he took a similar deal to play for the Maine Guides, leaving the Wilmington pitching staff without a single left handed pitcher.
What's New:
Oof. Ownership cut the team's budget to start the off-season by $8M to start the off-season before having a change of heart in February by raising it $12M...after most of the key free-agents had signed. With most of that money the team invested into scouting, player development and some new coaching hires. With at least five roster spots left open, the Wildcats will turn to a bunch of non-roster invites, some via FA and others in-house, to compete for the spots. The names to probably keep an eye on are C Andy Benner, SP Dillon Vossen and RP Braeden Staley.
-Benner, like the departing Bert Thoma, makes his mark behind the plate by framing pitches and helping call a good game. He hit just .246 with a 91 OPS+ in Triple-A last year and the 31-year-old has yet to see BLB pitching in his career. He's the current favorite to win the catching job, mainly because of his defense, over the offensive-first options Danny Whitlock and Neal Constantinescu - the latter two have a combined 70 catching ability...the same as Benner himself.
-Vossen, is a 34-year-old right hander who has only had a cup of coffee in the pros. Signed last off-season to a minor league deal and $50K bonus, the extreme groundball pitcher will be given first crack at the empty #5 spot in the rotation. There are other options coming from a deep veteran Triple-A squad, but Vossen was earmarked last season as the "next man up" if any SP were to get hurt.
-Staley, 26, has 3.1 career BLB innings. The left hander was actually down in Wilmington's Double-A roster for 2057 and didn't pitch particularly well despite good ratings. He's a longshot but there is no other lefty really of BLB quality.
What To Expect From Dixon:
Your guess is as good as mine. He was coming off an abysmal season in 2056, and then before the Achilles injury, he took a ratings hit to start the 2057 year from my scout and OSA. My scout now thinks he should be a functional bench player and as the team's highest paid player, again, this year and next, I don't know how that works. I don't think I will entertain a salary dump. But as much as this is simulation baseball, he kind of holds the cards. He's a team captain, a fan favorite and he's been promised $45M, along with a starting spot. I'm going to try and teach him a little 2B/LF as I mentioned earlier, in hopes to just find some ABs for him. If I can rotate him at LF, RF, CF, 2B, 1B and DH, maybe, just maybe, he gets 2-3 starts a week and stays happy. What do I expect from production? He hits righties and lefties about the same, can still run a bit, and should at least be a plus defender in a few spots. I think he will get 300+ PA if he can stay healthy, knock on wood (or maybe I'd rather him be injured?), and hopefully a 1+ WAR. Pinch run, defensive replacement, spot starts, etc. If there is any type of resurgence, it will be largely due to the talent around him.
2058 Crystal Ball:
I think this team will be good and even possibly better than the 2057 version...in the regular season. 88-74, last year's record, is probably a good over/under. While the team lost more talent than it gained in the off-season, the oldest regular contributor is probably $20M Closer Kristofer Humberto, who in a contract year, should bring his "A" game. We do have about $5-$6M available for Free-Agents but that is exclusively coming from cash surplus as the team is currently $10M over budget. Like last season, the team will likely ride with what we have for the first months and then address needs (cheaply) via trades or the remaining FA pool.
The big difference, coming full circle, from last year to this year, is probably Yanko and...well, Dixon. Yanko is a huge upgrade in CF over anything we threw out there the first 3/4 of the season, so that should help, a lot. Dixon, if he gives us anything of value really, will be a pleasant surprise. The pitching and defense will be good, so as long as Yanko provides that spark, the team should be a playoff contender.
I'll say 87-75 - Divisional Round exit.
The Wilmington Wildcats/Indianapolis Racers were a middling franchise that hadn't been to the post-season in years. They hadn't won a title since 2034. With their first round pick they wanted to draft a player who could lead them into a new era of baseball. Fans of the BLB were still confused if they were the Racers still. The team had a major hole in CF and their scouts were enthralled with a potential five tool centerfield. "He he had Speed, Throwing ability, Fielding ability, and could Hit for Average, and Hit for Power." With an early 1st round pick, the team got nervous that the hot prospect wouldn't reach their slot. Still in the Pac-10, the player himself, a right hander had been an All-Star and won the Platinum Stick Award for CFs. While finishing out his final season for the Oregon Ducks, a team that would only go 20-28 on the year, the Wildcats management informed the 20-year-old that if he was still on the board for their selection that he would be the pick. Excitement in the front office was buzzing.
At this point, you might know who we are talking about. If you guessed CF Evan Yanko, however, you would be wrong. We are here to talk about the Loneliest Man In Baseball, Raymond Dixon.
The parallels between him and Yanko are downright remarkable. But Yanko would be drafted 10 years later and go on to help lead his team to their first Brewmaster's Championship since 2034, where he would be named MVP of the final series. Dixon on the other hand took a much different path and could have never imagined this current scenario in his worst nightmares.
Dixon, selected 2nd overall in 2047, had a much more difficult path to success. While Yanko flourished through the minors in quick fashion, Dixon struggled in Rookie Ball and Single-A at 20-years-old. He would again struggle in Triple-A at 21 and 22. But OSA recognized his potential, featuring him as a Top 100 prospect for four straight seasons, as high as #10 in 2049. He would make his BLB debut later that year. A decent rookie and sophomore campaign, he would even hit for the cycle in his third season.
Just three seasons later, Dixon would help lead the Wildcats to their first playoff appearance in 16 years with career highs in games, hits, 2B, HR, runs and RBI. In that post-season they would sweep Hartford in the Wild Card and then push the (eventually Brewmaster's champion) Pawtucket Patriots to six games. In that post-season the then 27-year-old would hit .333 with a 135 OPS+. Dixon would later make the 2055 DL All-Star Team, become a team captain and a fan favorite. He was the toast of the town and the face of a young, up and coming team that was ready to compete at the highest level.
Then it all started to come crumbling down.
Two weeks after his All-Star appearance, Dixon would be shelved for most of the remainder of the season with a back injury. Fortunately for him, this didn't give the Wildcats pause as they rewarded him with a 4-year, $75.6M extension and he would be recognized as the Designated Driver in CF despite missing almost 60 games. The team would fall out of the playoff race, however, with their CF hurt. The following season his OPS would drop .200 points, the team would fail to get above .500 and change was coming.
Just before the start of Spring Training, a new GM was hired and Dixon took it upon himself to let the front office know he would do whatever it takes to get the Wildcats back to relevancy. The team informed him, due to a lack of talent available in Free-Agency and on the roster, that he would be moving back to his old position of centerfield. Dixon was pleased as behind the scenes he felt the move to RF played a part in his major statistical dip in 2056. It felt like a breath of fresh air for the team as well as a fresh start for Dixon.
Then it got worse.
On April 1st in Spring Training, April Fool's Day 2057, while legging out a double, Dixon would tear his Achilles tendon running the bases and be out for nine months - The entirety of the baseball season. The rest is history, or at least recent history as the Wildcats would go on to not only draft his replacement just two months later, but that kid would go on to be the player Dixon was supposed to be. When things seemed like they couldn't get worse for Dixon, it did. Because he wasn't on the Opening Day Roster, BLB did not recognize him as part of the Championship Team and with Wilmington's tight ownership, he wasn't given a ring.
Fast forward to today. Reports have been swirling that Dixon's rehab stint, while a success medically, was the darkest time in his professional life. Not only was Yanko the hottest name in not only Wilmington, but arguably all of baseball, he didn't really have a spot to return to. Yanko is in CF. Zeke LeBron is in RF. Neil Wanat is in LF. Dixon, however, is due almost $45M the next two seasons, both the highest salary totals for 2058 and 2059, on the roster. Even if his salary didn't demand it, his contract actually explicitly states that he must be in the starting lineup. A few days before Spring Training, local reports are that Dixon will try to revive his career by learning LF and 2B. Dixon's tone has changed from this time last year and is apparently resistant to playing infield, something he hasn't done since he was in high school.
So, here we are. Days away from the title defense and the teams highest paid player is in limbo. What should be expected of Dixon? Could he be moved? If he becomes problematic, could he be released? How is the first meeting between him and Yanko going to go? But while we are here, let's take a look at the rest of the Wilmington Wildcats roster and their chances of a title defense.
---
What Returns:
The Wilmington Wildcats current active roster, before Spring Training invites, features 22 players that were on the BLB club last year...and Dixon. Obviously a positive as the key components, majority of the SP, almost the entire lineup and most of the bullpen, return to defend their title. The major question of the off-season was what the team would do with 1B Cory Petit as the team battled with the idea of declining his $10M final arbitration. The team caved and brought back the .343 hitter for at least this season. Bringing him back was essentially our Free-Agency.
What Departs:
According to lost WAR, the Wildcats had the 4th worst off-season at -7.2 WAR. A total of 11 players on BLB contracts left for Free-Agency (or retirement) with the biggest names being: SP Drew Henthorne, C Bert Thoma, SP Brock Luger, 1B Burgess Nalivkin and CF Garry Akonia. Not to mention about a handful of RPs. Luger reportedly had shown signs of decline as the season ended but was still offered a chance to return on a minor league contract. Feeling slighted after his impressive playoff performance, he took a similar deal to play for the Maine Guides, leaving the Wilmington pitching staff without a single left handed pitcher.
What's New:
Oof. Ownership cut the team's budget to start the off-season by $8M to start the off-season before having a change of heart in February by raising it $12M...after most of the key free-agents had signed. With most of that money the team invested into scouting, player development and some new coaching hires. With at least five roster spots left open, the Wildcats will turn to a bunch of non-roster invites, some via FA and others in-house, to compete for the spots. The names to probably keep an eye on are C Andy Benner, SP Dillon Vossen and RP Braeden Staley.
-Benner, like the departing Bert Thoma, makes his mark behind the plate by framing pitches and helping call a good game. He hit just .246 with a 91 OPS+ in Triple-A last year and the 31-year-old has yet to see BLB pitching in his career. He's the current favorite to win the catching job, mainly because of his defense, over the offensive-first options Danny Whitlock and Neal Constantinescu - the latter two have a combined 70 catching ability...the same as Benner himself.
-Vossen, is a 34-year-old right hander who has only had a cup of coffee in the pros. Signed last off-season to a minor league deal and $50K bonus, the extreme groundball pitcher will be given first crack at the empty #5 spot in the rotation. There are other options coming from a deep veteran Triple-A squad, but Vossen was earmarked last season as the "next man up" if any SP were to get hurt.
-Staley, 26, has 3.1 career BLB innings. The left hander was actually down in Wilmington's Double-A roster for 2057 and didn't pitch particularly well despite good ratings. He's a longshot but there is no other lefty really of BLB quality.
What To Expect From Dixon:
Your guess is as good as mine. He was coming off an abysmal season in 2056, and then before the Achilles injury, he took a ratings hit to start the 2057 year from my scout and OSA. My scout now thinks he should be a functional bench player and as the team's highest paid player, again, this year and next, I don't know how that works. I don't think I will entertain a salary dump. But as much as this is simulation baseball, he kind of holds the cards. He's a team captain, a fan favorite and he's been promised $45M, along with a starting spot. I'm going to try and teach him a little 2B/LF as I mentioned earlier, in hopes to just find some ABs for him. If I can rotate him at LF, RF, CF, 2B, 1B and DH, maybe, just maybe, he gets 2-3 starts a week and stays happy. What do I expect from production? He hits righties and lefties about the same, can still run a bit, and should at least be a plus defender in a few spots. I think he will get 300+ PA if he can stay healthy, knock on wood (or maybe I'd rather him be injured?), and hopefully a 1+ WAR. Pinch run, defensive replacement, spot starts, etc. If there is any type of resurgence, it will be largely due to the talent around him.
2058 Crystal Ball:
I think this team will be good and even possibly better than the 2057 version...in the regular season. 88-74, last year's record, is probably a good over/under. While the team lost more talent than it gained in the off-season, the oldest regular contributor is probably $20M Closer Kristofer Humberto, who in a contract year, should bring his "A" game. We do have about $5-$6M available for Free-Agents but that is exclusively coming from cash surplus as the team is currently $10M over budget. Like last season, the team will likely ride with what we have for the first months and then address needs (cheaply) via trades or the remaining FA pool.
The big difference, coming full circle, from last year to this year, is probably Yanko and...well, Dixon. Yanko is a huge upgrade in CF over anything we threw out there the first 3/4 of the season, so that should help, a lot. Dixon, if he gives us anything of value really, will be a pleasant surprise. The pitching and defense will be good, so as long as Yanko provides that spark, the team should be a playoff contender.
I'll say 87-75 - Divisional Round exit.