Pastime Baseball League
Preseason 2010 Edition (cont)
Alabama Airmen
2009 Record: 72-90, 3rd Place, 33 GB
Draft Recap: Ray Brown (P), Eppa Rixey (P), Rube Benton (P), Stan Coveleski (P), Eddie Ainsmith (C)
Big Question: Does the offense grow up?
The Alabama Airmen drafted as many teams did, it seems, padding a strength rather than fixing a weakness. They took pitchers with the first four of their five draft picks, leaving the Southern League's next-to-worst offense to fend for itself. That's a lot of faith in Ed Delahanty (20), Jimmy Rollins (22), George Van Haltren (22) and Mike Tiernan (20) to develop this year from solid components to real forces.
Memphis Strummers
2009 Record: 105-57, 1st Place, Lost PBL Championship Series to Wichita
Draft Recap: Bubbles Hargrave (C), Ivey Wingo (C), Duffy Lewis (LF), Ray Caldwell (P), Shano Collins (RF)
Big Question: How good can Charleston be?
It may seem odd to ask how much better the reigning SL Outstanding Hitter can be, but it's a legitimate question. How many of those 57 doubles turn into add-ons to his 22 homers? Does he make the leap from 29 steals to, say, 40? Do either of those events pad his 133 runs or 133 RBI?
New Orleans Knights
2009 Record: 88-74, 2nd Place, 17 GB
Draft Recap: Jack Fournier (1B), Red Smith (3B), Jack Tobin (RF), Rabbit Maranville (SS), Tom Seaton (P)
Big Question: Who are the real Knights?
The putrid team that led to Tony LaRussa getting fired? The team that played great baseball for four months, stirring hopes of a dramatic pennant race. Or the team that crumbled down the stretch, drawing within striking distance without ever having the real chance to strike. Skipper Walter Alston has a full year with the troops he led to surge. It will be interesting to see what he can do with them.
Orlando Orcas
2009 Record: 72-90, 4th Place, 33 GB
Draft Recap: Benny Kauff (CF), Walton Cruise (LF), Red Faber (P), Larry Cheney (P), Reb Russell (P)
Big Question: Is Honus Wagner fixed?
He never went down with a major injury (in fact he played in every game), but Honus Wagner - thought before last year's inaugural season to be among the top 5 players in the PBL - wasn't right last year. How else do you explain a .237 batting average with 18 homers and 65 RBI. He struck out 165 times. Wagner alone, of course, won't make up 33 games. But this team will be much, much different if he performs to expectations.