Tweet
LINK
1990 Recap
86-76; missed playoffs
4.89 ERA
.281 average
Optimal Lineup
1. SS Ivan Garcia - R
2. CF Takanibu Sato - R
3. RF Cesaro Campoveroe - L
4. LF Loren Wallace - L
5. 2B Noah George - R
6. 1B Don Castor - R
7. C Romano Rodenas - R
8. 3B Curt Boyd - R
9. Pitcher
Good luck finding a flaw in this group. After five seasons of a sub .260 average, Ivan Garcia had a career year in ’90, where the (now) 26-year-old hit .305, had 114 runs, 107 BB and 37 SB. Expect more of the same. In the two-hole, is fragile vet Sato. In ’89, he had a .325 average and .848 OPS. In ’90, those numbers fell to .271 and .721 respectively. Was ’90 a sign of things to come or an anomaly? Behind him is another living legend, Campo, who had his best OBP season in five years. Ten years his junior, Loren Wallace was arguably the best hitter in baseball in ’90. Sliding him into the clean-up spot creates more RBI opportunities for a guy who had 197 hits, 30 HR and 114 RBI last year, in the #3 spot. George is a professional hitter who as long as he stays healthy, might be able to break 100 runs for the first time in his career and 100 RBI, for the first time since ’83. But counting on George to stay healthy, (110 games, 57, 92, 121, games the past four seasons) is like counting on Linty to pull out. Not likely. Behind him is a superstar in the making, Don Castor. The former 9th overall pick has a ceiling as high as anyone in the BLB and after hitting 28 homeruns in Triple-A, Castor will expected to knock in a few runs this year. In the 7th spot, Romano Rodenas should provide some quality at-bats. The 33-year-old set a career high in batting average last season (.293). And last, Curt Boyd. In ’89, Boyd hit 58 doubles, 14 homers and 94 RBI, while hitting over .300. In ’90 however, his numbers dropped significantly. If the old guys in the lineup stay healthy, and the youngsters continue to develop, this could be one of the best lineups in the league.
Projected Rotation
1. Juan Jose Garcia – R
2. Tim Nathan – L
3. Akira Abe – R
4. Chad Stafford – L
5. Romano Gonzalez – L
Fresh off his first All-Star game, JJG will look to take his game to the next level as the staff ace. Behind him are veterans Tim Nathan and Akira Abe, both playing on their third team in as many years. Both had a 4.50+ ERA for Baltimore last season. Stafford is still very young but he clearly took a step back in ’90 after such a solid campaign the season before. Rounding out the rotation is recent signee Romano Gonzalez. No, not that Romano. Not “Revenant” the former D.C. ace. This Gonzalez is from Morgantown and slipped under the radar in Free-Agency after his worst season as a pro. If Gonzalez can regain his starting form, like he did in ’88, the Bulldogs could have a landed one of the few steals of Free-Agency.
Spring Training Position Battle
#5 Starter: Romano Gonzalez vs. Lonnie Grady
Lonnie Grady was acquired in a trade with Denver during last summer. While he only got four starts in the rotation, Grady is expected to compete in Spring Training for the final starting spot. Both Grady and Gonzalez have years of starting and relief pitching experience. However, Grady made his BLB debut in ’90 and Gonzalez made his debut in ’83. Odds are, the veteran wins out.
Prospect Watch
SP Dani Salcido
Currently the 50th overall prospect in the BLB, Salcido probably won’t get the call until later in the year. Originally a 7th round pick out of the University of Oklahoma, Salcido has a 12-6 curve ball that baffles hitters. It might not matter who wins the #5 starter spot to start the year because Salcido is going to be on the club sooner or later.
Season Projection
I think this is the best chance Baltimore has of reaching the post-season in a long, long time. However, I still think Philly and California have the mental edge as an organization. Plus, I’m not sure if Baltimore has enough pitching. There is going to be a lot of high scoring ball games but probably another .500 season.
1990 Recap
86-76; missed playoffs
4.89 ERA
.281 average
Optimal Lineup
1. SS Ivan Garcia - R
2. CF Takanibu Sato - R
3. RF Cesaro Campoveroe - L
4. LF Loren Wallace - L
5. 2B Noah George - R
6. 1B Don Castor - R
7. C Romano Rodenas - R
8. 3B Curt Boyd - R
9. Pitcher
Good luck finding a flaw in this group. After five seasons of a sub .260 average, Ivan Garcia had a career year in ’90, where the (now) 26-year-old hit .305, had 114 runs, 107 BB and 37 SB. Expect more of the same. In the two-hole, is fragile vet Sato. In ’89, he had a .325 average and .848 OPS. In ’90, those numbers fell to .271 and .721 respectively. Was ’90 a sign of things to come or an anomaly? Behind him is another living legend, Campo, who had his best OBP season in five years. Ten years his junior, Loren Wallace was arguably the best hitter in baseball in ’90. Sliding him into the clean-up spot creates more RBI opportunities for a guy who had 197 hits, 30 HR and 114 RBI last year, in the #3 spot. George is a professional hitter who as long as he stays healthy, might be able to break 100 runs for the first time in his career and 100 RBI, for the first time since ’83. But counting on George to stay healthy, (110 games, 57, 92, 121, games the past four seasons) is like counting on Linty to pull out. Not likely. Behind him is a superstar in the making, Don Castor. The former 9th overall pick has a ceiling as high as anyone in the BLB and after hitting 28 homeruns in Triple-A, Castor will expected to knock in a few runs this year. In the 7th spot, Romano Rodenas should provide some quality at-bats. The 33-year-old set a career high in batting average last season (.293). And last, Curt Boyd. In ’89, Boyd hit 58 doubles, 14 homers and 94 RBI, while hitting over .300. In ’90 however, his numbers dropped significantly. If the old guys in the lineup stay healthy, and the youngsters continue to develop, this could be one of the best lineups in the league.
Projected Rotation
1. Juan Jose Garcia – R
2. Tim Nathan – L
3. Akira Abe – R
4. Chad Stafford – L
5. Romano Gonzalez – L
Fresh off his first All-Star game, JJG will look to take his game to the next level as the staff ace. Behind him are veterans Tim Nathan and Akira Abe, both playing on their third team in as many years. Both had a 4.50+ ERA for Baltimore last season. Stafford is still very young but he clearly took a step back in ’90 after such a solid campaign the season before. Rounding out the rotation is recent signee Romano Gonzalez. No, not that Romano. Not “Revenant” the former D.C. ace. This Gonzalez is from Morgantown and slipped under the radar in Free-Agency after his worst season as a pro. If Gonzalez can regain his starting form, like he did in ’88, the Bulldogs could have a landed one of the few steals of Free-Agency.
Spring Training Position Battle
#5 Starter: Romano Gonzalez vs. Lonnie Grady
Lonnie Grady was acquired in a trade with Denver during last summer. While he only got four starts in the rotation, Grady is expected to compete in Spring Training for the final starting spot. Both Grady and Gonzalez have years of starting and relief pitching experience. However, Grady made his BLB debut in ’90 and Gonzalez made his debut in ’83. Odds are, the veteran wins out.
Prospect Watch
SP Dani Salcido
Currently the 50th overall prospect in the BLB, Salcido probably won’t get the call until later in the year. Originally a 7th round pick out of the University of Oklahoma, Salcido has a 12-6 curve ball that baffles hitters. It might not matter who wins the #5 starter spot to start the year because Salcido is going to be on the club sooner or later.
Season Projection
I think this is the best chance Baltimore has of reaching the post-season in a long, long time. However, I still think Philly and California have the mental edge as an organization. Plus, I’m not sure if Baltimore has enough pitching. There is going to be a lot of high scoring ball games but probably another .500 season.
Comment