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***
When the Virginia Colonials finally broke through in 1989 and captured their first Stout Division title of the modern era, there were no arguments that the team made it on the strength of their young pitching staff. Unlike the countless seasons before (and most of the rotations around the BLB) the Colonials had built a starting rotation comprised of 100% homegrown talent. A staff that would produce 4 double-digit winners and the team’s first ever IL Pale Ale Pitcher in Pancho ‘Ironfist’ Herrera. Herrera, however, would not only be a high, but a low of the season as he suffered a playoff injury that will cost him his entire 1990 campaign. So the question becomes, can the Colonials make another run without their Ace?
<o:p> </o:p>
THE ROTATION<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
SP (RH) – Jerry Morgan (’89: 15-7 – 3.33 ERA – 1.12 WHIP – 181 K ) – The 22<sup>nd</sup> pick in the 2<sup>nd</sup> Round back in 1984, Jerry Morgan had a breakout season in 1989 and will be asked to the play the role of #1 Starter in the absence of ‘Ironfist’. Morgan’s ’89 campaign left him on the IL Leaderboard in 15 different categories including a league high 5 complete games. Morgan will need to keep the ball down in ’90 and attempt to keep it in the yard – he also lead the league in HR’s allowed (28). The 23 year old, who has worked on perfecting his Sinker in Spring Training, will get the Opening Day call.
<o:p> </o:p>
SP (LH) – Jerry Collins (’89: 10-10 – 3.20 ERA – 1.13 WHIP – 132 K) – A tale of two halves for Jerry Collins last season left the 22 year old southpaw on the IL All-Star team and struggling with his control by the time the playoffs came around. Collins, who is actually the cousin of Virginia Owner and President Clay T. Shaver, has desperately worked in winterball to develop a third pitch (a changeup) to add to his already top level fastball and knee-buckling curve.
<o:p> </o:p>
SP (LH) – Nate ‘The Skull’ Magness (’89: 16-9 – 3.88 ERA – 1.25 WHIP – 125 K) – A consummate teammate, Magness readily accepted losing the “Ace” designation to Pancho Herrera and simply continued to perform with the poise and control that made him the #1 overall pick in 1983. The compact left-hander who was easily the team’s best post-season hurler bounced back from a 1988 injury and won 16 games for the third time in his career. He signed a long-term deal for All-Star level money last season and will need to put it up on the field to earn his keep.
SP (RH) – Arlen Spencer (’89: 8-6 – 4.76 ERA – 1.52 WHIP – 67 K) – Hard to believe the 24 year old with just 22 BLB starts on his resume is actually one of the old guys in the rotation, but Spencer, drafted 1.5 in 1984 took two quick jumps all the way to the BLB level last season to hold down the 5<sup>th</sup> Starter spot in the breakout rotation. Spencer, who many experts thought would be replaced with a Free Agent this off-season, will actually get the chance to nail-down the role of second right-handed starter and get 30+ starts in 1990. Spencer doesn’t look like a longterm solution, but if he can give the team a confident season, his loyalty will be rewarded.
<o:p> </o:p>
SP (LH) – Jayson McQueen (’89: 2-2 – 6 Saves – 2.30 ERA – 0.93 WHIP – 126 K) – After turning in an IL Last Call Relief quality season in the Setup role on one of the top ‘Pens in the league, many though McQueen was the natural choice to take over the full-time Closer role in 1990. In fact, the team’s media guide actually still lists McQueen as the team’s fireman. But a rumored meeting between McQueen and the Staff just before Spring Training had the Texan back in the Starting Rotation. Pitching Coach Marvin LaPointe spoke with the media shortly after the team arrived in their <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Clearwater</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Beach</st1:placetype></st1:place> spring facilities and said, “We see McQ as a dominant arm that doesn’t necessarily fit perfectly in either role. But the bottomline is without Fist (Herrera), we need another Starter and Queen has the goods.”
<o:p> </o:p>
THE BULLPEN<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
MR – Ivan Perez (’89: 83 Games - 11-1 – 2 Saves – 2.71 ERA) – Crafty lefty that can start in a pinch provides a solid 1<sup>st</sup> option out of the ‘Pen 90 to 100 games.
<o:p> </o:p>
MR – Sammy Scott (’89: 60 Games - 1-4 – 4.68 ERA) – Second year player with decent ratings bump in the off-season, should provide the first option right hander with the ability to work multiple innings when called.
<o:p> </o:p>
MR – Artie Montgomery (’89: 53 Games - 6-2 – 1 Save – 5.98 ERA) – Good in ’86 and ’88. Great in ’87. Massively inconsistent last season. Which Artie Montgomery will we see in ’90?
<o:p> </o:p>
MR – Tanner Reader (’89: AAA – 8-6 – 2.33 ERA) – Hasn’t been in the bigs since ’86, but one a bullpen spot in Spring Training. Provides a second southpaw in the middle innings.
<o:p> </o:p>
Set-Up – George McSwain (’89: 64 Games - 3-4 – 34 Saves – 3.34 ERA) – Last year’s Closer moves back to Setup in a contract year. Most do not anticipate McSwain in Colonial Blue again next year, but stability in this role could earn him one last contract.
<o:p> </o:p>
Closer – Ivan Olivo (’89: 56 Games - 5-2 – 2 Saves – 4.39 ERA) – 22 year old hard-thrower who came over in the Vernon Simmonds deal last season takes the Closer job. There are some quality Closer candidates coming through the high minors right now, so he’ll get a season headstart to cement the job for the next decade.
<o:p> </o:p>
ON DECK<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Agustin Figueroa (CL) – Was a starter at Clemson before being converted to a stopper after being taken in the 3<sup>rd</sup> Round (’89) by <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Virginia</st1:place></st1:state>. The big Dominican born hurler had 19 saves last season in the Bush League, but hard off-season work got him the bump to AA Battle Creek. At 22 and with the college polish already in place, he could be on the fast track through the system with many seeing him as a possible ‘Pen arm coming out of 1991 Spring Training.
***
When the Virginia Colonials finally broke through in 1989 and captured their first Stout Division title of the modern era, there were no arguments that the team made it on the strength of their young pitching staff. Unlike the countless seasons before (and most of the rotations around the BLB) the Colonials had built a starting rotation comprised of 100% homegrown talent. A staff that would produce 4 double-digit winners and the team’s first ever IL Pale Ale Pitcher in Pancho ‘Ironfist’ Herrera. Herrera, however, would not only be a high, but a low of the season as he suffered a playoff injury that will cost him his entire 1990 campaign. So the question becomes, can the Colonials make another run without their Ace?
<o:p> </o:p>
THE ROTATION<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
SP (RH) – Jerry Morgan (’89: 15-7 – 3.33 ERA – 1.12 WHIP – 181 K ) – The 22<sup>nd</sup> pick in the 2<sup>nd</sup> Round back in 1984, Jerry Morgan had a breakout season in 1989 and will be asked to the play the role of #1 Starter in the absence of ‘Ironfist’. Morgan’s ’89 campaign left him on the IL Leaderboard in 15 different categories including a league high 5 complete games. Morgan will need to keep the ball down in ’90 and attempt to keep it in the yard – he also lead the league in HR’s allowed (28). The 23 year old, who has worked on perfecting his Sinker in Spring Training, will get the Opening Day call.
<o:p> </o:p>
SP (LH) – Jerry Collins (’89: 10-10 – 3.20 ERA – 1.13 WHIP – 132 K) – A tale of two halves for Jerry Collins last season left the 22 year old southpaw on the IL All-Star team and struggling with his control by the time the playoffs came around. Collins, who is actually the cousin of Virginia Owner and President Clay T. Shaver, has desperately worked in winterball to develop a third pitch (a changeup) to add to his already top level fastball and knee-buckling curve.
<o:p> </o:p>
SP (LH) – Nate ‘The Skull’ Magness (’89: 16-9 – 3.88 ERA – 1.25 WHIP – 125 K) – A consummate teammate, Magness readily accepted losing the “Ace” designation to Pancho Herrera and simply continued to perform with the poise and control that made him the #1 overall pick in 1983. The compact left-hander who was easily the team’s best post-season hurler bounced back from a 1988 injury and won 16 games for the third time in his career. He signed a long-term deal for All-Star level money last season and will need to put it up on the field to earn his keep.
SP (RH) – Arlen Spencer (’89: 8-6 – 4.76 ERA – 1.52 WHIP – 67 K) – Hard to believe the 24 year old with just 22 BLB starts on his resume is actually one of the old guys in the rotation, but Spencer, drafted 1.5 in 1984 took two quick jumps all the way to the BLB level last season to hold down the 5<sup>th</sup> Starter spot in the breakout rotation. Spencer, who many experts thought would be replaced with a Free Agent this off-season, will actually get the chance to nail-down the role of second right-handed starter and get 30+ starts in 1990. Spencer doesn’t look like a longterm solution, but if he can give the team a confident season, his loyalty will be rewarded.
<o:p> </o:p>
SP (LH) – Jayson McQueen (’89: 2-2 – 6 Saves – 2.30 ERA – 0.93 WHIP – 126 K) – After turning in an IL Last Call Relief quality season in the Setup role on one of the top ‘Pens in the league, many though McQueen was the natural choice to take over the full-time Closer role in 1990. In fact, the team’s media guide actually still lists McQueen as the team’s fireman. But a rumored meeting between McQueen and the Staff just before Spring Training had the Texan back in the Starting Rotation. Pitching Coach Marvin LaPointe spoke with the media shortly after the team arrived in their <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Clearwater</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Beach</st1:placetype></st1:place> spring facilities and said, “We see McQ as a dominant arm that doesn’t necessarily fit perfectly in either role. But the bottomline is without Fist (Herrera), we need another Starter and Queen has the goods.”
<o:p> </o:p>
THE BULLPEN<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
MR – Ivan Perez (’89: 83 Games - 11-1 – 2 Saves – 2.71 ERA) – Crafty lefty that can start in a pinch provides a solid 1<sup>st</sup> option out of the ‘Pen 90 to 100 games.
<o:p> </o:p>
MR – Sammy Scott (’89: 60 Games - 1-4 – 4.68 ERA) – Second year player with decent ratings bump in the off-season, should provide the first option right hander with the ability to work multiple innings when called.
<o:p> </o:p>
MR – Artie Montgomery (’89: 53 Games - 6-2 – 1 Save – 5.98 ERA) – Good in ’86 and ’88. Great in ’87. Massively inconsistent last season. Which Artie Montgomery will we see in ’90?
<o:p> </o:p>
MR – Tanner Reader (’89: AAA – 8-6 – 2.33 ERA) – Hasn’t been in the bigs since ’86, but one a bullpen spot in Spring Training. Provides a second southpaw in the middle innings.
<o:p> </o:p>
Set-Up – George McSwain (’89: 64 Games - 3-4 – 34 Saves – 3.34 ERA) – Last year’s Closer moves back to Setup in a contract year. Most do not anticipate McSwain in Colonial Blue again next year, but stability in this role could earn him one last contract.
<o:p> </o:p>
Closer – Ivan Olivo (’89: 56 Games - 5-2 – 2 Saves – 4.39 ERA) – 22 year old hard-thrower who came over in the Vernon Simmonds deal last season takes the Closer job. There are some quality Closer candidates coming through the high minors right now, so he’ll get a season headstart to cement the job for the next decade.
<o:p> </o:p>
ON DECK<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Agustin Figueroa (CL) – Was a starter at Clemson before being converted to a stopper after being taken in the 3<sup>rd</sup> Round (’89) by <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Virginia</st1:place></st1:state>. The big Dominican born hurler had 19 saves last season in the Bush League, but hard off-season work got him the bump to AA Battle Creek. At 22 and with the college polish already in place, he could be on the fast track through the system with many seeing him as a possible ‘Pen arm coming out of 1991 Spring Training.