2081: Desperation in Denver

[jamus23]

2083 Offseason Preview: Free Agents, Part Five: Pitchers
Al Vincent
Staff Writer


Starting Pitchers:

A pair of former Tucson pitchers lead the field this offseason. Scott Council enjoyed a breakout season last year, going 21-8 with a 3.29 ERA, 188 strikeouts, and a 1.18 WHIP. The 30 year old Council has basically no weaknesses to his game.

Meanwhile, 34 year old Cleveland Lauria is coming off of a bit of down season. Lauria was 19-15 with a 4.16 ERA, 213 strikeouts, and 1.02 WHIP. His career ERA and WHIP are 3.99 and 1.01, respectively. Lauria is two wins away from 200 for his career.

What kind of deal Vicente Caruso gets should be interesting. On the one hand, the former Phoenix pitcher is 37 years old, an injury risk, and has an okay, but hardly exceptional career ERA of 4.28. On the other hand, he is coming off of the best season of his career. It was a season that saw him win 17 games with a 2.96 ERA, 202 strikeouts, and 0.99 WHIP. Will teams view last season as somewhat of a fluke and shy away from giving him a big contract? Or will a team close to a championship roll the dice, give him a bunch of money, and hope that he can repeat those numbers and lead them to glory?

There are a few other mildly interesting names among the starting pitchers. George Lasseter seems to have the raw talent to be a good starter, but his career ERA of 5.66 doesn't show that. Last year, while with San Diego and Hartford, the 31 year old pitcher posted a 5.17 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP while striking out 193 batters.

Former Sacramento pitcher George Molina has 205 career wins, a respectable 4.07 career ERA, and a solid 1.28 career WHIP. At 37 years of age, though, one has to wonder how much he has left. Last season, he posted an ERA of 5.14 and a WHIP of 1.51. Was that the beginning of the end for him?

28 year old Benjamin Guertin has struggled to keep a spot in the rotation, despite putting up decent numbers. For his career, Guertin has an ERA of 4.67 and a WHIP of 1.48. Last year, however, Portland used him exclusively out of the bullpen. He made 25 appearances, all in relief, and had an ERA of 4.11 and a WHIP of 1.76. A team looking for a cheap option at the back of the rotation might be pleasantly surprised.


In truth, the Broncos won't be looking at starting pitchers this offseason. With Ray Lockridge, Kenny Pillsbury, Robert McNett, Christopher Kirk, and George Buentello, plus James Myatt down at AAA, John Mounts feels that he has put together a rotation that rivals any team in the league in terms of both quality and depth. Additionally, this group of pitchers is relatively young, so it should be a few years before Mounts has to think about replacing any of them.

Relievers:

There aren't many exceptional relievers on the market this offseason, but 33 year old Mitchell Larson might be one of the better ones. Larson, formerly of Charlotte, made 54 appearances last season, saved 29 games(for a team that only won 65), posted an ERA of 3.30, and had a 1.13 WHIP.

Former Green Bay reliever Michael Leto is somewhat erratic- see his 4.45 ERA last season- but the 30 year old still saved 30 games and had a respectable 1.25 WHIP.

Victor Jones is death to left-handed hitters, and generally keeps the ball in the park. However, the 29 year old, ex-Harrisburg reliever does struggle against right-handed hitters. He posted a 4.36 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP in 64 games last year.

33 year old Todd Carpenter managed a 4.81 ERA and a 1.72 WHIP in 64 games last year for New Jersey and Portland.

And surprisingly, former Bronco Steven Andrade might be one of the more attractive relievers available this offseason, even at the age of 37. Andrade had a 5.62 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP in 30 games last year for Denver.

Given the scarcity of quality relievers in free agency, it is highly unlikely that Mounts commits any of his resources to any of these pitchers. Instead, if the Broncos are looking for relief pitchers, it is likely that they turn to internal options such as Larry Waltz and Omar Lopez.

And that completes the free agency preview. Things are about get very exciting for Denver as they attempt to fill several openings this offseason: backup catcher, 2B, 3B, DH, and maybe middle relief. Will they sign any free agents? Make some trades? Gamble with internal options? Stay tuned!

[jamus23]

Recapping Free Agency
March 1, 2083
Al Vincent
Staff Writer

Broncos fans may be wondering just what exactly general manager John Mounts has in mind. Despite having openings at second base, third base, designated hitter, and backup catcher, Denver seemingly addressed only one of those needs during the free agent signing period. Veteran catcher Greg Lauritsen was signed to a one year deal that will pay him $800,000 in 2083. The 34 year old Lauristen, who has played for Pittsburgh, Rochester, San Jose, Grand Rapids, and Sacramento in his career, is a lifetime .221/.280/.341/.621 hitter, with 16 career homeruns in 643 at bats. He is considered an average defensive catcher.

Although Mounts said that he had been in contact with former Broncos' second-baseman Tomas Sato, the two sides were unable to come to an agreement, and Sato signed a four year deal with Buffalo worth $1.8 million per season. It is not believed that Mounts and former third-baseman Joseph Swayze had any communications. Swayze signed a four year deal with Sacramento for a surprisingly low $881,400.

Besides Lauritsen, the only other free agents that the Broncos acquired were signed to minor league contracts. Centerfielder Jorge Gonzalez and shortstop Efrain Ashlock were with the Broncos last season and aren't expected to contribute much beyond perhaps token September cups of coffee. Second-baseman German Leal, however, may be another story. If the Broncos decide to make Jack Rumfelt the starting second-baseman, and all indications are leaning in that direction, then the 30 year old Leal may get an opportunity to platoon with the left-handed hitting Rumfelt. Leal has 533 career at bats and has batted a respectable .266/.299/.424/.723 with 17 homeruns. Leal has a bit of pop, decent contact skills, and is a smart baserunner(22 steals in 30 attempts at the big league level). He is not very good defensively, however.

Despite the acquisitions of Lauritsen and Leal, there remains doubt about what the Broncos intend to do about third base and designated hitter. Michael Phillips may get a shot at third, but there is simply no one in the organization available to play DH. At this point, as the team prepares for the draft and the beginning of spring training, a trade is almost inevitable. The question is, who might the Broncos trade for, and who will they give up?

To switch gears a bit, Tomas Sato and Joseph Swayze were not the only ex-Broncos to sign with new teams this offseason. Former deisgnated hitter Mark Bakke, who considered retirement, wound up signing a one year deal with Green Bay for $421,400. Former utility man Patrick Chason signed with Kansas City for two years. The deal is worth $402,500 per year. Outfielder Michael Stennis signed a one year deal worth $410,400 with Charlotte. Veteran relief pitcher Steven Andrade signed with Hartford on a two year deal worth $799,200 per year. Former catchers Michael Grace and Gary Kibby both signed minor league deals with Los Angeles.

And now, it is time to hand out grades to each team for their free agency performances:

A+

Only the Hartford Whalers earned the highest possible grade. Hartford acquired perhaps the best hitter on the market, shortstop Ralph Jennings, and locked him up for seven years at more than $8.6 million per. For an in-his-prime star, that's an excellent deal. But the Whalers didn't stop there. They snagged probably the two best relievers on the market in Mitchell Larson and Michael Leto, and bolstered team depth with some very solid signings in 3B Don Guan, 2B Marion Hotchkiss, 3B Daniel Briese, and RF Larry Romanowski. But they didn't stop with those players, either. Veteran second-baseman Lucas Bustamante was dealt to Kansas City for 28 year old starting pitcher Edward Chambliss and a pitching prospect, and the newly acquired Guan was immediately flipped to Portland for 27 year old starting pitcher Bill Leatherman. In one offseason, the Whalers added a major young star, improved their position player depth, acquired two relatively young starting pitchers, and bolstered their bullpen. For a team that missed the playoffs by two games last year, this offseason could put them over the top.


A

Of course, the team that just beat out Hartford for a playoff spot last year might have something to say about that. The Buffalo Bills had themselves a nice offseason as well. The Bills signed first-baseman Carter Vanderhoof to a four year deal worth more than $4.8 million per year. They also added second-basemen Antonio Cortines, Tomas Sato, and Ciro Joubert. At first glance, adding three players at the same position seems odd, but it's really not as strange as it looks. Joubert fits better as a supersub, and a pretty good one. Cortines is coming back from an injury, so it's unclear how he'll perform. A Sato/Cortines platoon would work very well, and Sato can be moved around a bit, too, if need be.

Both Hartford and Buffalo will likely be looking up at Pittsburgh in the Northeast this year. Despite plenty of resources, the Pirates have tended to eschew free agency in favor of developing through the draft and astute trading. But when ace starting pitcher Scott Council unexpectedly drew little interest from teams, the Pirates swooped in and signed him to a very reasonable deal of $7 million per year for four years. The addition of Council makes an already formidable rotation a very scary one.

It seems that the Northeast Division as a whole had a very strong offseason. Rochester joins its division partners by getting a good grade, as well. The Rhinos jumped on the young slugger, RF Gustavo Manrique, and signed him to a four year deal worth over $5 million per year. They also added starting pitcher George Lasseter for four years and more than $3 million per year, and left-fielder John Schenk.

The Washington Senators get the final "A". Washington shelled out over $10 million per year to sign SP Cleveland Lauria to a four year deal. The Senators also added catcher Man Merino, signing him to three year deal worth over $3 million per year.


B+

Atlanta gets the only B+. The Braves signed RF Flavio Trujillo to a six year deal worth more than $9.6 milion per year. That was good. But they also signed 3B Andrew Francis to a four year deal worth more than $3 million per year. The amount there wasn't excessively bad, though it wasn't great, but four years seems rather ridiculous for the 35 year old Francis- especially when the Braves already have Raymond Stair to play third base. Definitely a questionable signing. Another dubious decision was to give RF Carl Gray a four year deal. Gray has been a servicable player the last few years with San Diego, but four years seems absurd.

B

Grand Rapids had two nice signings. First, starting pitcher Vicente Caruso signed a two year deal worth more than $7.3 million per year. Given his age and potential for injury, a two year deal isn't too bad for the 37 year old left-hander. Second, the Tigers signed catcher Ramon Martinez to a four year deal worth more than $3 million per year. This one is somewhat surprising, as the Tigers already have the talented 22 year old, Lucien Lum, to play catcher, but Lum is a bit injury prone, so this should provide Grand Rapids with some strong depth and insurance. If the Tigers can fit both into the lineup, that would be good, too.

Nashville had one big signing, adding catcher Daniel Lane. Lane received a 6 year deal worth more than $8.3 million per year. The only thing keeping the Predators from a higher grade is that they also inexplicably gave the 36 year old 2B Cristian Zarzuela a three year deal. Additionally, not making an attempt to bolster their rotation could come back to haunt them. Mose Urick carried Nashville into the playoffs last year, just barely. Can he do it again?

It seems odd to give New Jersey a high grade, but despite the Devils' awful record last season, their only truly gaping holes were at shortstop and in the bullpen. Their remaining positions either had solid players or young players that the Devils were getting a look at. New Jersey went out and addressed the shortstop need, signing Brian Hall to a four year deal worth $2.2 million per year. They didn't do much besides that, but it's not easy to be a player in free agency when you were the worst team in baseball the previous season.

Portland's offseason was interesting. The Trailblazers made only one big money signing, and it may have been one of the worst contracts doled out. For some unknown reason, Portland handed 32 year old starting pitcher Norman Dale a three year deal worth more than $4.1 million per year. That's the Norman Dale of the 7.38 career ERA. That's the Norman Dale who was 6-20 with an 8.55 ERA two years ago while playing for Grand Rapids. Aside from that baffling contract, Portland made a number of astute, solid, small money signings: 3B Fred Elliott, C Howard Bevers, 2B Aaron Palacios, 3B Aaron Buchanon, SP Jose Padula, C Andrea Burkley, LF Bryan Carley. They also picked up 3B Don Guan in the trade with Hartford.

Sacramento nabbed first-baseman Nestor Adrover, signing him to a three year deal worth more than $6.1 million per year. The Kings also added 3B Joseph Swaye for a pretty reasonable amount.

C+

Knoxville wasn't particularly active, but they did bring back shortstop Joseph Bailey, who has played the last three seasons with the 79ers, on a 3 year deal worth about $6.6 million per year.

On the one hand, Tucson brought back 2B Elmer Giancola on a one year deal worth about $4.5 million, added RF Richard Billips on a three year deal worth $5.3 million per year, and made some potentially solid signings of guys like SP George Molina, SP Benjamin Guertin, and 3B Charles Troutt. They even engaged in a multi-player trade with Charlotte, picking up outfielders Danny Guzman and Jonathan Constantino in exchange for infielders John McQuillen and Randall Bowen. On the other hand, the Diamondbacks lost two premiere starting pitchers in Cleveland Lauria and Scott Council, and did not adequately replace them. No, giving Pedro Pedilla of the 5.25 career ERA $1.4 million over four years doesn't count as "adequately replacing" anybody. Lauria and Council were two key components that kept Tucson near the top of the Central Division. With them gone, can the Diamondbacks remain competitive?

C

Assigning Denver a grade is a bit difficult, but a "C" seems reasonable. The Broncos did address their backup catcher need, but have done little else. They might be able to get by with what they already have to fill second base and third base, but that question mark at designated hitter lingers.

Kansas City didn't do much this offseason, but the Royals did pick up a couple of solid bench options in 3B Patrick Chason and LF Ronald Coughlan.

Memphis acquired CF Tristan Straub and 1B Mark Soderlund. Solid, if unspectacular, moves.

C-

Charlotte didn't do much in free agency, adding outfielders Michael Stennis and Derek Moos, but the Panthers did make that trade with Tucson. McQuillen and Bowen do bolster a weak infield, and dumping Danny Guzman's contract wasn't a bad move for a team in Charlotte's financial position. But one wonders why they also gave up the 26 year old Constantino, who is a talented young player seemingly on the verge of breaking out.

The Green Bay Packers are a mess of an organizations, which obviously makes it difficult to improve much in free agency, but still. The Packers signed a 38 year old Mark Bakke, and that's about it. Could things be more unexciting in Green Bay?

The same question can be asked about Phoenix, whose only signing of any note was of SP John Marcil, he of the 6.12 career ERA. And on a tangent, a better question to ask might be: Why have the 2064 expansion teams been so awful? All four(Phoenix, New Jersey, Charlotte, and Green Bay) lost at least 90 games last year, and none have really seen any sustained success at any point. Almost 20 years after coming into being, it seems that they should at least be competitive occasionally.


D

Harrisburg's offseason might have been even more dull than the previous teams. The Capitals' only signings were a bunch of middling players on minor league contracts. I suppose the bright side is that now Harrisburg has some decent relief pitching depth.

While the Capitals cornered the market on mediocre relief pitchers, Los Angeles was doing the same thing for middling catchers, grabbing the likes of Michael Grace and Gary Kibby, as well as a few others. At least in the Dodgers' case, they have a pretty talented team, so people can dismiss this as a silly obsession while the Dodgers likely finish with a winning record.

F

There is only one "F" awarded, and it may come as a surprise. Or maybe not, since they are the only team left. Do the defending West Division champions, the San Jose Sharks, deserve an "F"? Well, the Sharks' starting rotation has gradually been devolving into mediocrity, and in this free agent period, there were three premiere starting pitchers on the market. San Jose always has plenty of money to spend, so it seems inexplicable that no attempt was made at any of Lauria, Council, or Caruso. So they get an F for having the ability and the opportunity to address an obvious need and seemingly ignoring it.


Incomplete

San Diego and Miami both receive grades of "incomplete". Amazingly enough, the two defending league champions did not make any free agent signings whatsoever. Is that hubris?

[jamus23]

Alex Castilleja:

When one sims a league for many seasons, and at times, speeds through those seasons fairly rapidly, only concentrating on whatever team(or teams) one happens to control, it is very easy to miss things that are going on in the league as a whole. Sometimes you miss how good a particular player on another team really is. You might not notice when another team has an impressive run of success, or failure, over several years. A period of increased offense might not get noticed, and likewise, an era of depressed offense. Only when taking a closer look at the history of the league does one begin to notice these interesting little details. In particular, these Hall of Fame bios have forced me to that. They have forced me to examine almost every team in the league and what they were doing during various periods. They have forced me to notice a number of players that I hadn't really paid much attention to- and I'm not referring just to the Hall of Famers, either. To be honest, they have taught me quite a bit about my own league. The reason I bring this up is that I was recently examining the remainder of the "Group Four" Hall of Famers, and I noticed something interesting. This particular group of players happens to have a significant number of pitchers in it, compared to the previous group and, especially, the next group, in which there are no pitchers at all. If you recall, this group began with Manuel Reno, and I recently talked about Hector Soriano. The remainder of the group contains four more pitchers, starting with Alex Castilleja.

The history of the Rochester Rhinos can best be described as "frustrating." Rochester has consistently been at least decent, and sometimes quite good, throughout the history of this league, and yet they have long been second fiddle to Pittsburgh within the NL Northeast Division. In the early '30, however, there arose a player who the Rhinos hoped would lead them in an overthrow of the ruling Pirates. In the 2032 amateur draft, Rochester selected Alex Castilleja number eight overall. The promising 20 year old was assigned to AA to begin his career, and he quickly impressed, posting a 3.76 ERA in 21 starts, while whiffing 163 batters in 153 1/3 innings pitched. He was occasionally wild, as he walked 82 batters, but clearly, his stuff was electric. In late June, Castilleja was promoted to the big leagues. He made a pair of starts in July, but got knocked around for 7 runs in 12 innings. He also walked 10 batters. In mid-July, Rochester acquired another young pitcher with electric stuff, Vo-Gan Namboku, and Castilleja was sent back to AA. When veteran starter Leo Fronteras was lost for the season with an injury at the end of August, Castilleja would get another chance in the bigs. He made one start in August, and was effective, pitching 7 1/3 innings with one, unearned, run allowed. Down the stretch, however, he made 5 appearance, including 3 starts, and got absolutely lit up. He got torched for 28 runs, 25 of them earned, in just 18 1/3 innings, and he walked 22 batters. Rochester, meanwhile, were victims of the division-winners-only playoff format. Despite winning 93 games, the Rhinos finished a distant second to Pittsburgh, and then had to watch a 79-win Sacramento team squeak out a division win in the West.

The '33 season began with the Rhinos appearing to not know what to do with Castilleja. He was jerked around from AA to AAA and the majors several times over the first month or so. He made one strong start at AA, one ineffective start at AAA, and 21 dreadful relief appearances in April and May. In June, the Rhinos moved him into the rotation, and he responded with five solid starts, posting a 3.13 ERA. Control was still an issue, however, as he walked 19 batters in 31 2/3 innings. He then struggled badly throughout July and August before managing a somewhat respectable September. Rochester again had a winning season, going 88-74, but, once again, were well back of Pittsburgh in the division.

2034 was a strange year in the National League. Three teams(Hartford, Sacramento, and Portland) lost over 100 games, and four teams(Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Los Angeles, and Rochester) spent the year beating up on them, winning 90+ games each. For Castilleja, the season represented a major improvement. He continued to struggle with control, walking 126 batters, but his stuff was so good that it really didn't matter that much. He topped the league with 227 strikeouts and was practically unhittable at times. He posted a 4.00 ERA and was named to his first All Star team.

He had a major breakthrough in 2035, going 24-7 with a 2.26 ERA and 294 strikeouts. The wins and strikeouts both led the league, and the ERA was second. He was honored with his first Cy Young Award for his accomplishments. For the second time in four seasons, however, Rochester posted a winning record but had to watch a losing team make the playoffs. The Rhinos managed 88 wins, finishing in second place again, while Los Angeles captured the West Division with only 80 wins.

2036 was another good season for Castilleja, as he won 17 games and made his third All Star team, but Rochester slumped to just 70 wins because its offense was one of the worst in baseball. In 2037, that "one of the worst" became "the worst," as the Rhinos finished dead last in runs scored. But for one of the best pitching staffs in baseball(fifth in runs allowed), they likely would have had the worst record in baseball. As it was, Rochester finished with 94 losses. Castilleja was his usual self, winning 16 games with a 3.42 ERA and 281 strikeouts, but it wasn't enough.

Surprisingly, Castilleja had one of the worst ERAs in his career in the expansion year of 2038. Though, when 3.87 is one of your worst, you're pretty good. Castilleja also enjoyed his first 300 strikeout season. Rochester returned to being above .500, finishing with a record of 82-80. In '39, Castilleja posted the second 20 win season of his career and reached 300 strikeouts for the second year in a row, while helping Rochester to an 88 win season. Alas, 88 wins was only good enough for a very distant second place because Pittsburgh put forth one of the greatest records of all time, winning a stunning 125 games.

In 2040, Castilleja was simply brilliant. He went 27-4 with a 1.89 ERA and whiffed 363 batters. That strikeout mark set a Major League single season record that still stands today. The previous record had been 360 by the great Robert Jordan for Harrisburg in 2018. The 27 wins tied the National League record set by Jeremy Poss in 2029 for Sacramento. Naturally, Castilleja took home the Cy Young Award. Rochester, meanwhile, came its closest to finishing in first place since 2016(when the Rhinos finished five games out of first), coming up 11 games short of Pittsburgh.

Castilleja was essentially all the Rhinos had in 2041. Despite a strong season from him, Rochester allowed the fourth most runs in all of baseball and slumped to a 75-87 record. In '42, Castilleja reached 300 strikeouts for the fifth consecutive season, and Rochester bounced back somewhat to win 82 games. In 2043, however, the Rhinos completely imploded. Despite an outstanding season from Castilleja, one that included 17 wins, a 2.82 ERA, 288 strikeouts, and a no-hitter, Rochester plunged to a 64-98 record- its worst record since losing 100 games in 2005. The Rhinos tied for last place with Harrisburg.

The team wasn't much better in 2044, losing 91 games. Castilleja was excellent, but missed almost two months with an injury. 2045 was another tough season. Despite the efforts of Castilleja, Rochester finished in last place, losing 96 games. It was more of the same in 2046, as Rochester and Harrisburg tied for the bottom of the division, each losing 93 games.

In 2047, the team experienced a bit of a resurgance. Despite having little offensive help from a lineup that generated the sixth fewest runs scored, Castilleja went 23-7 with a 2.87 ERA, numbers good enough for his third Cy Young Award. Riding Castilleja's arm, the Rhinos managed an 83-79 record. The team remained solid in 2048, winning 84 games, and it was mostly due to Castilleja's arm once more. Castilleja went 21-9 with a 3.13 ERA, winning his fourth Cy Young Award.

Castilleja's last effective season came in 2049 at the age of 38. He was no longer the great strikeout pitcher he once was, managing only 154 in 229 2/3 innings, but he still posted a 3.45 ERA for the Rhinos. Rochester managed 85 wins that year. In 2050, he got off to a rough start, posting an ERA of 6.59 in the month of April. May wasn't any better, as he posted an ERA of 7.49. In early June, the Rhinos cut ties with Castilleja, ending a relationship that had begun in 2032. Towards the end of July, Castilleja was signed by Pittsburgh and made a handful of starts in AAA. He was added to the major league roster in September, and made a few appearances, mostly out of the bullpen, for the Pirates. Would Castilleja finally get a chance to play in the postseason? After all, Pittsburgh had not failed to win the division since 2016, and the Pirates might be willing to fit such a legendary player onto the postseason roster as a reliever. It was not to be. The Pirates were sluggish down the stretch, going just 5-5 in their final 10 games. Meanwhile, Hartford, a team often in the same position as Rochester(good, but not quite good enough), won 9 of its final 10 games. In doing so, the Whalers knocked the Pirates from their throne, winning the division by a single game.

Castilleja retired following that season. He finished his career ranking 12th all time in ERA, tied for fourth all time in wins with George Vives, second all time in strikeouts(behind only Robert Jordan), and tied for 10th all time in shutouts. Today, Castilleja ranks tied for 8th all time in wins, and second all time in strikeouts. And as I said, he is the holder of the single season strikeout record, with 363 in 2040.


Castilleja's stats:

Year    G  GS   W   L SV  ERA     IP   HA    R   ER   BB    K CG SHO Teams 
2032    8   6   1   1  0 7.65   37.2   41   36   32   35   25  0   0 ROC 
2033   43  22  13   7  1 5.65  165.2  168  109  104  100   96  1   0 ROC 
2034   36  35  13  13  0 4.00  225.0  186  109  100  126  227  1   1 ROC,NL 
2035   36  36  24   7  0 2.26  258.1  162   71   65  125  294  5   4 ROC,NL 
2036   31  31  17   8  0 3.29  202.1  157   84   74  111  227  1   0 ROC,NL 
2037   36  36  16  13  0 3.42  247.1  192  102   94  133  281  0   0 ROC 
2038   35  35  15  12  0 3.87  230.1  194  107   99  119  315  2   1 ROC 
2039   37  37  20  12  0 3.70  243.0  184  107  100  155  333  3   1 ROC,NL 
2040   37  37  27   4  0 1.89  271.2  169   64   57  118  363  7   4 ROC,NL 
2041   35  34  12   8  1 3.62  238.2  168  105   96  128  312  2   2 ROC 
2042   34  34  16   9  0 3.02  220.2  161   79   74  111  305  2   1 ROC,NL 
2043   34  34  17   8  0 2.82  233.1  173   88   73  120  288  1   1 ROC,NL 
2044   26  26   8   8  0 3.62  171.2  119   83   69   91  214  2   1 ROC 
2045   34  34  14   7  0 3.10  229.0  163   87   79  117  286  3   2 ROC 
2046   34  34  15   7  0 3.30  245.1  175   93   90   94  254  6   2 ROC 
2047   36  36  23   7  0 2.87  267.0  184  105   85   98  227  6   2 ROC,NL 
2048   36  36  21   9  0 3.13  259.0  209   99   90   75  157  6   2 ROC,NL 
2049   35  35  10  16  0 3.45  229.2  195  103   88   92  154  3   2 ROC 
2050   17  12   3   7  0 6.72   76.1   95   58   57   48   49  0   0 ROC PIT 
Total 620 590 285 163  2 3.39 4052.0 3095 1689 1526 1996 4407 51  26   
 
Career Minor League Pitching Stats
 
 
Year       G GS  W L SV  ERA    IP  HA  R ER BB   K CG SHO 
2032,  AA 21 21 11 7  0 3.76 153.1 133 70 64 82 163  3   1 
2033,  AA  1  1  0 1  0 1.59   5.2   5  1  1  6   8  0   0 
2033, AAA  1  1  0 1  0 5.40   8.1   8  5  5  3   4  0   0 
2050, AAA  6  6  3 1  0 3.12  40.1  43 14 14 13  55  0   0 
 
 
Career Batting Stats 
 
 
Year    G   AB   H 2B 3B HR RBI  R BB   K SB CS  AVG  OBP  SLG  OPS Teams 
2032    8   15   0  0  0  0   0  1  3   5  0  0 .000 .167 .000 .167 ROC 
2033   43   58   7  3  0  0   0  3  2  24  0  0 .121 .150 .172 .322 ROC 
2034   36   82   9  2  0  1   5  4  1  22  0  0 .110 .120 .171 .291 ROC,NL 
2035   36   86   8  4  0  1   4  7  2  39  1  0 .093 .114 .174 .288 ROC,NL 
2036   31   66   1  0  0  0   2  2  1  28  0  0 .015 .030 .015 .045 ROC,NL 
2037   36   83   5  1  0  0   2  6  5  33  0  0 .060 .114 .072 .186 ROC 
2038   35   77   7  2  1  1   2  5  2  35  0  0 .091 .114 .182 .296 ROC 
2039   37   88   3  1  0  0   3  5  2  39  0  0 .034 .056 .045 .101 ROC,NL 
2040   37   97  10  3  0  0   6  7  4  35  0  0 .103 .139 .134 .273 ROC,NL 
2041   35   74  11  4  0  0   4  6  2  30  0  0 .149 .171 .203 .374 ROC 
2042   34   68   5  1  0  0   4  3  3  27  0  0 .074 .113 .088 .201 ROC,NL 
2043   34   73   6  3  0  0   4  6  6  29  0  0 .082 .152 .123 .275 ROC,NL 
2044   26   53   7  2  2  0   1  3  1  19  0  0 .132 .148 .245 .393 ROC 
2045   34   74   6  2  1  0   0  1  5  30  1  0 .081 .139 .135 .274 ROC 
2046   34   83   6  2  0  0   3  1  2  29  0  0 .072 .094 .096 .191 ROC 
2047   36   90  13  6  1  0   2  7  3  34  0  0 .144 .172 .233 .405 ROC,NL 
2048   36   92   6  1  0  1   2  6  3  38  0  0 .065 .095 .109 .203 ROC,NL 
2049   35   72   5  0  0  0   2  4  4  28  0  0 .069 .118 .069 .188 ROC 
2050   17   26   2  1  0  0   3  1  2  13  0  0 .077 .143 .115 .258 ROC PIT 
Total 620 1357 117 38  5  4  49 78 53 537  2  0 .086 .121 .130 .251   
 
 
Player History
 
 
Drafted in 1st round, 8th overall pick, by Rochester in 2032...
Earned first career win on 8/31/2032...
Had first career hit (double) on 4/29/2033, off Pedro Cruz (HFD)...
Hit first career homerun on 4/26/2034, off Randy Pohlman (PIT)...
Was selected to the 2034 Allstar game...
Won Pitcher of the Month award on 6/1/2035, going 4-1, 1.80...
Was selected to the 2035 Allstar game...
Won Pitcher of the Month award on 9/1/2035, going 5-1, 1.22...
Injured on 10/2/2035 with a Torn Tricep Muscle, out for full season...
Won Cy Young Award in 2035, going 24-7, 2.26 ERA...
Was selected to the 2036 Allstar game...
Struck out 15 batters against San Jose on 4/1/2039...
Won Pitcher of the Month award on 5/1/2039, going 5-0, 3.24...
Was selected to the 2039 Allstar game...
Struck out 17 batters against Harrisburg on 8/13/2039...
Won Pitcher of the Month award on 5/1/2040, going 4-0, 1.85...
Won Pitcher of the Month award on 7/1/2040, going 6-0, 0.95...
Was selected to the 2040 Allstar game...
Struck out 15 batters against Hartford on 8/5/2040...
Struck out 16 batters against Hartford on 9/3/2040...
Set a new season NL-Record for Strikeouts with 360 on 10/2/2040 ...
Won Cy Young Award in 2040, going 27-4, 1.89 ERA...
Injured on 4/15/2042 with a Strained Back Muscle, out for one week...
Was selected to the 2042 Allstar game...
Pitched NO-HITTER against San Jose on 6/1/2043, striking out 14...
Won Player of the Week award on 6/2/2043, winning 2 games with a 1.06 ERA...
Was selected to the 2043 Allstar game...
Injured on 8/7/2043 with a Hyper Extended Elbow, out for one week...
Injured on 7/29/2044 with a Bone Chips Shoulder, out for 7 weeks...
Struck out 15 batters against Hartford on 5/19/2046...
Injured on 6/5/2046 with a Tight Elbow, out for one week...
Was selected to the 2047 Allstar game...
Won Cy Young Award in 2047, going 23-7, 2.87 ERA...
Was selected to the 2048 Allstar game...
Won Cy Young Award in 2048, going 21-9, 3.13 ERA...
Released by Rochester on 6/2/2050, refused assignment to minors...
Signed as a free agent by Pittsburgh on 7/28/2050 to a 1-year deal worth $340,000 per year...
Retired and inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2051.
 
 
Pitching Leader Boards Appearances 
 
ERA
2034 - 4.00 - 8th
2035 - 2.26 - 2nd
2036 - 3.29 - 5th
2037 - 3.42 - 8th
2040 - 1.89 - 1st
2041 - 3.62 - 10th
2042 - 3.02 - 3rd
2043 - 2.82 - 2nd
2044 - 3.62 - 10th
2045 - 3.10 - 4th
2046 - 3.30 - 5th
2047 - 2.87 - 3rd
2048 - 3.13 - 2nd
2049 - 3.45 - 6th
 
WHIP
2035 - 1.11 - 5th
2040 - 1.06 - 6th
2046 - 1.10 - 6th
2047 - 1.06 - 3rd
2048 - 1.10 - 5th
 
Wins
2035 - 24 - 1st
2036 - 17 - 9th
2037 - 16 - 8th
2039 - 20 - 6th
2040 - 27 - 1st
2042 - 16 - 10th
2043 - 17 - 5th
2047 - 23 - 1st
2048 - 21 - 1st
 
Losses
2049 - 16 - 4th
 
IP
2034 - 225.0 - 10th
2035 - 258.1 - 2nd
2037 - 247.1 - 5th
2039 - 243.0 - 6th
2040 - 271.2 - 2nd
2043 - 233.1 - 9th
2046 - 245.1 - 8th
2047 - 267.0 - 3rd
2048 - 259.0 - 2nd
 
K's
2034 - 227 - 1st
2035 - 294 - 1st
2036 - 227 - 3rd
2037 - 281 - 1st
2038 - 315 - 3rd
2039 - 333 - 2nd
2040 - 363 - 1st
2041 - 312 - 1st
2042 - 305 - 1st
2043 - 288 - 3rd
2044 - 214 - 7th
2045 - 286 - 1st
2046 - 254 - 4th
2047 - 227 - 2nd
 
BB
2034 - 126 - 1st
2035 - 125 - 2nd
2036 - 111 - 7th
2037 - 133 - 4th
2038 - 119 - 6th
2039 - 155 - 2nd
2040 - 118 - 6th
2041 - 128 - 5th
2042 - 111 - 7th
2043 - 120 - 6th
2045 - 117 - 7th
2049 -  92 - 8th
 
CG
2035 - 5 - 8th
2040 - 7 - 7th
2047 - 6 - 9th
 
SHO
2035 - 4 - 1st
2040 - 4 - 3rd
2041 - 2 - 7th
2045 - 2 - 4th
2046 - 2 - 10th
2047 - 2 - 5th
2048 - 2 - 5th
2049 - 2 - 6th

[jamus23]

Busy Day For Broncos; Ex-Bronco Returns To Denver
3/2/2083
Al Vincent
Staff Writer

It was a busy day for the Broncos and general manager John Mounts, and not just because of yesterday's amateur draft. In addition to a new influx of young prospects, Mounts pulled off a pair of trades that may offer some clues as to how the Broncos' designated hitter position will be filled this season.

The first trade was a three team transaction with the San Diego Padres and the Atlanta Braves. The Padres sent centerfielder Robert Turner, starting pitching prospect Martin Morales, and relief pitching prospect Roy Tuggle to the Braves in exchange for 37 year old infielder Ruben Diaz. The Padres then turned around and dealt Diaz and minor league outfielder Arthur Elbert to the Broncos. In return, the Broncos sent veteran relief pitcher Leo Salguero and 25 year old outfield prospect David Blackburn to the Padres.

Ruben Diaz returns to Denver, where he played from 2070 to 2072. His 379 at bats in 2071 with the Broncos remain the most he's ever gotten in one season. Diaz can play every infield position, albeit not very well, and has a solid bat. For his career, he has hit .268/.328/.430/.757, and he had a .772 OPS last season in 210 at bats. The Broncos likely intend for Diaz to become the DH, though he has never been a true everyday player before. Diaz said that he was excited to return to Denver, and happy to be playing for a winning team again(Atlanta has finished below .500 in each of the last three seasons). With Mark Bakke having left as a free agent, Ellis Bolling is the only current Bronco who played with Diaz. Bolling was in his second season when Diaz was traded away in 2072.

Arthur Elbert is a versatile 26 year old who put up excellent numbers in AAA last season despite missing two months with an ACL injury. For the Padres AAA team, Elbert batted .295/.341/.546 with 28 homeruns. Elbert isn't considered a potential starter, but could make a very capable reserve. A switch-hitter, he has a little pop, and is a smart, if not particularly fast, baserunner. He has a good glove in left field, and isn't terrible in center or right. He also has a strong arm. In addition to playing the outfield, he has some experience playing both first base and third base.

The trade allowed the Broncos to get rid of Salguero's $2.5 million contract which covered this year and next. For the Padres, the acquisition of the 33 year old Salguero is an attempt to address their biggest weakness- a shaky bullpen. The 25 year old Blackburn is an interesting prospect, but not one who was expected to be much of an impact player. At AA last year, he batted .286 with a .742 OPS. He also hit 51 doubles.

Atlanta, coming off of its third straight losing season, was looking to add both depth and potential to the organization. The 27 year old Turner was caught in a log-jam in San Diego, and has spent most of the last couple seasons in AAA. Last year at AAA, he batted .305 with an .800 OPS, hit 12 homeruns, and stole 33 bases. In 65 major league at bats, Turner has hit .338 with a .961 OPS. Atlanta will likely be able to fit him onto its major league roster, and maybe even the starting lineup. Morales is a 25 year old who spent last season at AA. Though his 4.29 ERA wasn't impressive, he showed pretty good stuff with 190 strikeouts in 168 innings pitched. Tuggle, also 25, split last season between AA and AAA. In 39 games at AA, he had a 2.89 ERA, and in 12 AAA appearances, he posted a 5.94 ERA.

The second trade that John Mounts made was with Pittsburgh. The Broncos acquired infielder Adrian Mingo in exchange for starting pitching prospect Isaias Villalon. The 30 year old Mingo is a left-handed hitter who can play 2B, 3B, SS, and CF. He is fast and an excellent base stealer. He also has very good plate discipline. He lacks power, and often struggles to hit for average. In 556 major league at bats as a utility infielder, Mingo has hit .218/.311/.317/.627, with 10 triples and 65 stolen bases. He struggled for most of last season, hitting just .195 for the Pirates. He did steal 21 bases. Mingo was well-regarded in Pittsburgh's clubhouse, and seemed surprised at being traded. He was the Pirates' second round draft pick back in 2071 and spent many years toiling in their minor league system before reaching the big leagues in 2077.

Villalon was the Broncos third round draft pick in 2078. The 23 year old right-hander throws hard, but has struggled to get control of all of his pitches. At AA last year, he posted a 5.89 ERA in 24 starts. He did manage 142 strikeouts in 133 innings. Mounts said that he hated to part with the young pitcher, but with Jack Rumfelt likely moving into the starting lineup, it was necessary to add a left-handed hitter to the bench. "To get something you want, sometimes you have to give up something that you like," he said.

With these two trades occupying the focus of Broncos' fans, the amateur draft almost slipped by without much notice. In the first round, the Broncos selected a 23 year old first-baseman: Henry Lewis, Jr. Lewis is the son of the former big league starting pitcher of the same name. The elder Lewis was 89-111 with a 5.56 ERA, and pitched for Atlanta, Nashville, and Washington. Lewis doesn't appear to have a high ceiling, but he is considered very well polished with little or no actual weaknesses.

Mounts went in the other direction in the second round, taking a tall and skinny 18 year old centerfielder, Charles Curran. Curran is considered very raw, but is fast, covers a lot of ground in the outfield, has a strong arm, and hits the ball with authority. Still, he'll need to fill out his 6'0, 155 lb frame a lot more if he wants to be a true power hitter.

In the third round, Denver selected a hard throwing relief pitcher, Harry Newbold. Newbold is just 19, and can hit the strike-zone pretty consistantly.

The fourth round draft pick went to a 19 year old catcher named Thomas Edmunds. Edmunds has good footwork behind the plate, but lacks a strong arm. His bat is also considered questionable.

With their final draft pick, the Broncos took a 19 year old third-baseman named Pedro Mejias. Mejias isn't very big, but has a commanding presence and is well-liked by everyone who has met and spoken with him. Unfortunately, neither his bat nor his glove are considered anything special. It'll take him a lot of work to move up the minor league ladder.

[jamus23]

2083 Season Preview: NL West Division



Los Angeles Dodgers:
2082 Record: 82-80
Record over the last five seasons: 387-423
Payroll: 47,738,242
Payroll Rank: 19th (of 24 teams)
Minor League Rank: 2nd (of 24)

Last year, the Dodgers caught fire in the middle of the season and unexpectedly contended for a playoff spot, ultimately finishing three games behind San Diego for second place in the West. It would have been the Dodgers' first postseason appearance since 2076. This year, Los Angeles will hope for the continued development of a pair of young starting pitchers: Robert Jones(25), who has gone 40-15 the last two seasons with ERAs of 3.14 and 3.02, and Francisco Savala(24), who was 12-5 last year with a 2.86 ERA and 205 strikeouts.

The Dodgers don't have a strong lineup, but they do have a few hitters that can do some damage. First baseman Timothy Wegener belted 29 homeruns last year. Veteran third baseman Oscar Elkins is the owner of 323 career homeruns, 27 of which came in 2082. Centerfielder Urbano Belmonte had a career year last season at the age of 36. His .356./.404/.541/.944 batting line included career highs in all of those categories. Leland Pye, the rightfielder, doesn't get a lot of mention, but he's a consistent hitter who has poked out between 19-29 homeruns in each of the last five seasons.

Los Angeles' biggest weakness could be the catching position. They will open the season with three catchers on the 25 man roster, however all have question marks. The expected starter will be 25 year old Daniel Moise. Moise has a respectable .725 career OPS, but he has just 159 career at bats. Can he hold up as a regular? Sharing the backup duties will be a pair of veterans: Richard Franco(33) and Michael Grace(37). Franco has just a .685 OPS in over 1500 at bats, while Grace has a .758 OPS in more than 2200 career at bats. Franco doesn't appear to be any good, and Grace might be at the end of his career so it's unclear how useful he will be.

There are two players who could really make or break the Dodgers' season. In 2081, shortstop Jose Valle was having a breakout season. Over the first three months of the season, he was batting .346/.440/.549. But near the end of June, he was lost for the season with an MCL injury. Last year, he batted just a middling .262/.334/.397. Now 22 years old, this former number one overall draft pick would be a huge boost to Los Angeles' lineup if he could get back to where he was two years ago.

The second player who could be a huge factor for the Dodgers is 23 year old starting pitcher Edward Tiano. Tiano is considered to be the second best prospect in all of baseball and obviously has tremendous talent, but has proven to be a significant injury risk. Last year, he missed about 8 months with injuries to his elbow and tricep. If he can stay healthy and begin to harness his potential, the Dodgers could have the makings of an impressive rotation; not many teams have three frontline starters to throw at teams.

Predicted finish: 4th




Phoenix Cardinals:
2082 Record: 72-90
Record over the last five seasons: 355-455
Payroll: 34,590,357
Payroll Rank: 22nd
Minor League Rank: 19th

The Cardinals enter their 20th season still searching for their first winning record. Since entering the league in 2064, the most wins that Phoenix has managed is 75. Many have wondered why a team was ever put into Phoenix in the first place. The nearby Tucson Diamondbacks have been consistently competitive throughout their history and are one of the most popular teams in baseball. It's unlikely that there are enough fans in the area to support two teams, especially if one team is simply not any good. Not surprisingly, the fan support in Phoenix is the worst in baseball; they have finished last in attendance for two straight seasons.

That being said, there is a bit of talent on the Cardinals' roster. Gary Hunter looks to be a rising star at catcher. The 22 year old batted .281/.359/.439 last year in 342 at bats. The first baseman, Eli Cuestas, has 359 career homeruns, and ripped 28 last season. 24 year old third baseman Anthony Nicklas has a .323 AVG and a .947 OPS in 558 career at bats. Shortstop Mike Morales(24) hit .330 with a 1.008 OPS and 34 homeruns last year. 26 year old center fielder Eduardo Braza batted .298 with 42 stolen bases in 2082. On the mound, veteran starter Edward Carbonell posted a 3.50 ERA and made the All Star team last year(although, much of his success came while with Portland; he struggled quite a bit after coming to Phoenix). Control artist Jason Bradford(25) has posted respectable ERAs of 4.79 and 4.57 the last two seasons.

Despite this, however, the Cardinals have a huge weakness in their outfield. Braza has some talent, but the remaining outfielders are little more than decent fourth outfielder types. Phoenix will be starting too many guys out there that simply shouldn't be starting. As well, the pitching staff after Carbonell and Bradford is very weak, especially in the bullpen.

Predicted finish: 6th




Portland Trailblazers:
2082 Record: 77-85
Record over the last five seasons: 347-463
Payroll: 41,562,286
Payroll Rank: 20th
Minor League Rank: 21

It's been over 10 years since Portland was relevant. The Trailblazers last had a winning season in 2072, and their last playoff appearance was 2070. This year, there just isn't a lot to get excited about in Portland. Jaime Alemany(30) and Robert Penney(36) give them two competent starting pitchers: Alemany has a 4.46 career ERA and a pair of 200 strikeout seasons, while Penney has had consecutive seasons with an ERA under 4.00. He also has 2 200 strikeout seasons in the last 4 years. Closer William Griffin(27) is solid; he managed a 4.13 ERA and 24 saves in 60 appearances last year. Bill Bruch is an extremely talented 20 year old first baseman who has managed a .777 OPS in 280 at bats. At the moment, however, he is blocked by veteran Edward Schuh, who hit 24 homeruns last year.

Portland has very good depth, as it acquired a number of players in free agency who are very capable reserves. The problem is, despite the good depth, there simply isn't enough impact talent on Portland's roster to allow the Trailblazers to do any damage. They might be one of the most boring teams in baseball. Losing young slugger Gustavo Manrique to free agency was a devastating blow for a franchise that's been searching for an identity for a long time.

Predicted finish: 5th



Sacramento Kings:
2082 Record: 79-83
Record over the last five seasons: 453-357
Payroll: 69,601,828
Payroll Rank: 10th
Minor League Rank: 12th

From 2066 to 2080, the Kings had just one losing season, and only two seasons that they didn't finish over .500. However, in 2081 and 2082, they have posted consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 2064/2065. The Kings haven't had losing records in three straight seasons since 2055-57.

It would be surprising if Sacramento did have a losing record for a third year in a row. The Kings have plenty of talent, starting with veteran catcher William Stokley. The 36 year old Stokley is a .345 career hitter with a .949 OPS. Last year, he batted .353 with a 1.007 OPS, so it doesn't look like he is slowing down anytime soon. The Kings also added a pair of slugging corner infielders in free agency: 24 year old first baseman Nestor Adrover, who has posted a SLG of at least .530 in three consecutive seasons, and 34 year old third baseman Joseph Swayze, who pounded 37 homeruns for Denver last year. Shortstop Alberto O'Campo slugged .600 last year and had a .983 OPS. Ramon Montalvo is a dangerous slugger in left field; he has 341 career homeruns, while Matthew Milewski is one of the best young right fielders around. The 25 year old had 28 homeruns and a .929 OPS last year.

Carl Strothers is an interesting question mark at the top of the Kings' rotation. In 2079 and 2080, he had a combined record of 46-15, posted ERAs of 2.31 and 3.21, and whiffed a total of 510 batters. In 2081, he got off to a good start, but began struggling in May and June. After righting the ship in July, Sacramento traded him to a very bad Green Bay team. He proceeded to go 0-8 in the final two months of the season, though he pitched well in September. He finished with a 10-18 record, a 4.09 ERA, and, for him, a somewhat low 189 strikeouts. He returned to Sacramento as a free agent last season, but had his season disrupted by two lengthy injuries. He finished 9-10 with a 3.49 ERA. If Strothers can stay healthy and return to where he was a couple of years ago, Sacramento's rotation immediately becomes a force to be reckoned with. Strothers is as talented a number one as any in the National League.

Pedro Godinez gives the Kings a possible number two starter. The 29 year old had a 3.93 ERA last year. Effective relief pitching can be hard to come by, so the Kings are happy to have Carlos Fleitas anchoring their bullpen. The 30 year old has a 3.76 ERA in 297 career games. Last year, he posted a 2.68 ERA in 63 games.

Sacramento doesn't have a lot of glaring weaknesses, but one position to watch might be centerfield, where the Kings are preparing to employ two guys who have been around for a very long time. Harold Willems is a fascinating story. Seventeen years ago, Willems was the American League Rookie of the Year as a member of the Denver Broncos. Seven years after that, he won a World Series with the San Diego Padres. The following year, 2074, he batted a pathetic .195 with a .714 OPS, and his days as a regular seemed numbered. His glove and his power, however, kept him around long enough to enjoy what has been a late career blossoming. Willems, now 38 years old, has posted OPS's of .860, .834, and .910 in the last three seasons. A year ago, he smashed 49 doubles and 38 homeruns. Despite just a .235 career batting average, Willems has clubbed 449 homeruns and has a career .807 OPS.

In free agency, the Kings added another 38 year old, Ulises Menendez. To put into perspective just how long Menendez has been around.... well, Menendez played in the major leagues before the second expansion. Menendez was the number one overall pick by Harrisburg way back in 2063- one year before Phoenix, New Jersey, Charlotte, and Green Bay entered the league- and he collected 171 at bats for the Capitals. Now, twenty years later, Menendez has compiled 3,119 hits and 471 homeruns. While Willems was enjoying one of his best seasons at an advanced age last year, Menendez showed his age considerably last season. Despite managing 18 homeruns for Miami last year, Menendez had just a .655 OPS. He did, however, win his fourth career Gold Glove in center field.

Although Willems has held up well as he's aged, it seems overly optimistic to expect him to keep it up, and Menendez seems unreliable as a backup. Look for the Kings to try and fill this position more adequately as the season progresses, especially if they have a shot at the postseason.

Predicted finish: 3rd




San Diego Padres:
2082 Record: 85-77
Record over the last five years: 382-428
Payroll: 57,022,171
Payroll Rank: 14th
Minor League Rank: 8th

The last 10 years or so have been a wild roller-coaster ride for the Padres. In 2072, the team lost 100 games for the first time in 24 years, finishing with a major league worst 107 losses. The following year, San Diego shelled out almost $45 million in free agent contracts. The free-spending paid off in a big way, as the Padres won 96 games and won their first World Series in 43 years. For two more years, the team remained competitive, winning 198 games combined in '74 and '75 and making the postseason both years. And then the piper came for his pay. San Diego lost 304 games over the next three seasons, and finished in last place in 2078. After an almost complete overhaul, San Diego returned to the playoffs in 2081 and hung tough against the eventual World Series winners, Pittsburgh, ultimately falling in seven games in the Divisional Round. Last year, it was the Padres who prevailed in seven games over the Pirates in the Divisionals, and then San Diego reached the World Series after handling San Jose with surprising ease in only five games. The Padres played well, but were overcome in six games by Miami in the World Series. Now San Diego looks to take it one more step.

Andrew Burdick, Gregorio Ruiz, Gaby Matos, and George Canales form the backbone of one of the league's most intimidating lineups. The 35 year old second baseman Burdick is closing in on 3,000 hits- he needs just 80 more- and after last season's Silver Slugger-winning campaign, he looks like he could play until he's 40. Ruiz, the 32 year old left fielder, batted .350 with 31 homeruns last year; he has 308 career roundtrippers. 22 year old center fielder Matos broke out last year and led the league with 48 homeruns. Almost forgotten sometimes is the first baseman, Canales(26), who enjoyed an .860 OPS and 31 homers last year.

Despite the powerful lineup, it is San Diego's pitching that will determine how good the Padres can be. 28 year old Casey Greene has established himself as a consistant, top of the rotation starter, with a career record of 43-21, a career ERA of 3.38, and a career WHIP of 1.19. However, it is 27 year old Carlos Lozoya who has the pure talent to be a dominating ace. Lozoya was 11-9 last year with a 3.77 ERA and 198 strikeouts. San Diego will need him to take another step forward if it hopes to win a World Series. Delbert Spicher gives the Padres a reliable, if unspectacular, third starter. Spicher won 14 games last year with a 3.86 ERA.

The bullpen is the area where the Padres have especially struggled. Closer Lamont Ruvalcaba may have saved 33 games, but his ERA was an unimpressive 4.56, and nobody is afraid of a guy with an 18/24 strikeout to walk ratio. Meanwhile, Ruvalcaba and Juan Donato were the only relievers in the bullpen at the end of the year who had ERAs under 5.00(left-hander Hernan Neyra had a 1.35 ERA in 19 appearances, but was lost for the season in early June with a torn back muscle and veteran right-hander Benji Padilla had a 4.26 ERA in 44 games before going down for the season in late August with a back injury, as well). The Padres like the talent of right-hander Dario Pena, but for him to be successful, he'll have to cut down on the walks: 60 in 73 1/3 innings simply won't cut it. San Diego made an attempt to address the bullpen weakness by acquiring Leo Salguero from the Denver Broncos. The veteran Salguero struggled last season, posting a 5.87 ERA, but the Padres hope that he will improve from that by coming to a more favorable home park and a non-DH league.

As far as other weaknesses, right field appears to be a question mark. San Diego expects to platoon 25 year old Chet Prime and 29 year old Michael Saldana to fill that spot. The left-handed Prime posted a .577 OPS in 231 at bats in his first extended taste of the big leagues, while Saldana batted .331 with an .832 OPS in 163 at bats. Those numbers, however, are a far cry from his .262 career batting average and .703 career OPS.


Predicted finish: 1st




San Jose Sharks:
2082 Record: 96-66
Record over the last five years: 488-322
Payroll: 61,040,000
Payroll Rank: 12th
Minor League Rank: 23rd

After winning three World Series titles in five years from 2064 to 2068, it has been much more difficult for San Jose. The Sharks' last championship came in 2072, and they lost in the World Series in both '76 and '79. Now they face challenges from a revived San Diego team and potentially competitive Sacramento and Los Angeles teams. San Jose hasn't missed the playoffs since 2074, but that is a possibility that wouldn't shock many.

On offense, the Sharks remain formidable. First baseman Ugo Momoru(32) is one of the most feared sluggers in baseball, and for good reason. He has a .945 career OPS and has clubbed 421 career homeruns. Catcher Charles Seaver is coming off of a slight down season for him- his .818 OPS was far below his career .896 OPS- but he is still one of the best hitting catchers, even at age 34. He needs 4 homeruns to reach 300 for his career. Shortstop Orlando Escobedo(28) does only one thing, but he does it pretty well: hit homeruns. He ripped 35 last year and has a .506 career slugging percentage. Left fielder William Natali might be 38 years old, but there are few who match his ability to steal bases. He batted .336 last year and was second in the league with 65 stolen bases. He has 437 in his career.

San Jose's pitching staff includes probably the best bullpen in the game. Relief ace Bill Frisch has some of the nastiest stuff in the league, and the Sharks lean on him heavily. Last year, he tossed 94 1/3 innings and whiffed 118 batters while posting a 2.86 ERA. For his career, he has a 2.93 ERA in 407 games. 37 year old Anselmo Ortiz is a hard-throwing left-hander who is pretty much unhittable against anyone, no matter which side of the plate they hit from. Left-handed hitters last year were an embarassing 5 for 54 with 18 strikeouts against Ortiz last year, but righties weren't much better, mustering just a .203 batting average. The rising star of the bullpen is 25 year old Clinton Blanton, who has a 2.75 ERA in 97 career games. Blanton doesn't throw fireballs like Frisch and Ortiz, but he throws practically every pitch in the book(and a few that aren't!), sending hitters into fits as they futilely attempt to make solid contact.

While the bullpen is dominant, the biggest weakness of the Sharks is the rotation. Their best starter last year was 35 year old Roger Salazar, who won 15 games with a 3.38 ERA. Salazar has good control, but when he gets careless, he can get taken downtown; he served up 41 homeruns last year. Barry Gowen was once the most effective starter on the team, but his 4.63 ERA last year was his first above 4.00 since 2071. His 1.58 WHIP was the worst of his career. At 38, it is doubtful that he will be able to bounce back and remain a capable starter. 34 year old Benito Ortiz was one of the most consistant strikeout pitchers in the National League for many years, but injuries in recent years have begun to take their toll on the 34 year old. His 4.64 ERA last season was the second worst of his career. His 1.52 WHIP was the worst of his career. He failed to reach 200 strikeouts for the first time since his rookie season of 2071(not including an injury-plagued 2078 that limited him to 16 starts). 34 year old Justo Rubino has good enough stuff to miss some bats- he struck out 185 batters last year- but he has managed only one season with an ERA under 5.00 in the last four years. An old rotation that is largely in decline is not a good recipe for success, so for the Sharks to remain a dominant team, they are going to have to hope that their lineup can keep them in games long enough for the bullpen to take over and secure the victory.

Predicted finish: 2nd

[jamus23]

2083 Season Preview: NL Northeast Division




Buffalo Bills:
2082 Record: 87-75
Record over the last five seasons: 378-432
Payroll: 52,453,087
Payroll Rank: 16th
Minor League Rank: 7th


The Bills are coming off of just their second winning season in the last twelve years. Buffalo had been consistently competitive in the late '50s and, after a slight downturn, the late '60s as well. But after winning 92 games and reaching the postseason in 2070, it got very dreary in Buffalo. The Bills lost 92 or more games in every season from 2071 to 2076, including three consecutive 100 loss seasons in '72, '73, and '74. 84 wins in 2077 stopped the bleeding momentarily, but the next three seasons were ugly. Buffalo bounced back to .500 in 2081, and last year earned a playoff berth with 87 wins. Now the Bills hope to make the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time in franchise history.

Buffalo's lineup has a nice foundation, starting with catcher Danial Knudsen(35). Knudsen has hit 327 career homeruns, including 36 last season. First baseman Carter Vanderhoof was allowed to test free agency, but he wound up returning to the Bills. The 28 year old
Vanderhoof had an .889 OPS last season with 28 homeruns. Right fielder John Kling(26) made many a pitcher nervous last year, belting 40 doubles and 36 homeruns while putting up an OPS of .966. But the guy to really watch may be 27 year old left fielder Terrell Carillo. This guy can really do it all, as he ripped 36 doubles, 9 triples, and 15 homeruns, drew 84 walks, and stole 23 bases, all while also winning a Gold Glove Award. Interestingly, the Bills' coaches feel that he could still improve his homerun totals without losing much from his overall game.

The Bills also have some quality pitchers. Christopher Cooper(33) has a solid 4.34 career ERA and has notched 200 strikeouts in five of the last seven seasons. Left-hander Paul Hilson is a nice, young complement to the right-handed Cooper. The 24 year old won 17 games last year with a 3.67 ERA. Veteran closer Asdrubal Rodrigues(36) has 223 saves and a 2.99 ERA in 776 career appearances. He saved 35 games last year with only
3 blown saves. 29 year old Glenn Johnson has posted two straight seasons with an ERA under 4.00, pitching a total of 151 games in the process.

There a few areas of concern for the Bills this season. Third baseman Thomas Herbert(30) was very solid last season, batting .303 with 11 homeruns in only 271 at bats. However, he is generally considered to be an average, at best, player, and his .721 career OPS in 788 at bats seems to agree with that opinion. If he performs closer to his career norms, the Bills may be in the hunt for a new third baseman.

Center field is another potential trouble spot. Alfonso Lugo(26) is a good fielder, but his bat is very weak. He has just a .705 career OPS and a pathetic .309 OBP. Last year, he had one of the worst OBP by any regular in baseball- an embarassing .286. His glove should keep him a starter only for so long. If he keeps hitting poorly, look for the Bills to acquire an alternative....which brings up another Buffalo weakness. Carillo and Kling are excellent starters, while Lugo is not. After that, the Bills have almost no outfield depth whatsoever. An injury to either Carillo or Kling could be devastating, as there is no one in-house to replace them adequately.

Another area that could make or break the Bills are a pair of young starting pitchers. Bartolo Furtado is 22 years old and absolutely dripping with talent. He struggled last year, posting an ERA of 5.32 in 15 starts, but he has the ability to be a top ace in this league. Twenty-five year old Bryan Tatro doesn't have quite as much talent, but it's pretty close. Tatro has made 40 major league starts and has a 5.77 ERA. If either or both can begin to harness their immense ability, the Bills have the potential for one of the best rotations in the National League.

Predicted finish: 2nd





Harrisburg Capitals:
2082 Record: 74-88
Record over the last five seasons: 371-439
Payroll: 48,488,843
Payroll Rank: 18th
Minor League Rank: 9th


The Harrisburg Capitals may have the most miserable history of any of the original 16 franchises of this league. They have reached the postseason once, way back in 2016. They have had one winning season in the last 17 years, and just two in the last 27 years. In the last 44 years, they have had three winning seasons. One can make the argument that they have been at a disadvantage, playing in a Pittsburgh dominated Northeast, but that doesn't excuse the lack of competitiveness. Hartford and Rochester played with the same disadvantage for the same length of time, and have always been able to stay competitive in most years. Even Buffalo, who joined the division in 2038, has had frequent success. Heck, even New Jersey, who entered in 2064 and has had very little overall success, has managed multiple winning seasons more recently than Harrisburg has.

The Capitals do have a few quality players. There are a lot of good catchers in the league right now, especially in the NL, so Errol McCullough doesn't get noticed much. That doesn't mean that he shouldn't, however. The 33 year old put up a .940 OPS last season, and smacked 46 doubles and 26 homeruns, while drawing 86 walks. Shortstop Coy Drews(26) has hit between 26 and 30 homeruns in each of the last four seaons, and has a career OPS of .856. He also drew 102 walks last year. Right fielder Bill Orsini, 28 years old, is a classic "three true outcomes" player. He batted just .236 last year, but belted 36 homeruns, drew 106 walks, and whiffed 98 times.

Edward Lovejoy is an excellent closer. The 36 year old reliever has 162 saves and a 3.42 ERA in 776 career games; he had 29 saves and a 2.13 ERA in 62 games last year. Ben Albacete(33) was a capable reliever from 2077 to 2081, posting ERA's between 2.61 and 3.78 in those years, but last year he struggled to the tune of a 6.03 ERA. If he can't bounce back, it could get very interesting as the Capitals try to protect their few leads, as the rest of the bullpen is pretty much a mess.

Speaking of messes, Harrisburg's biggest weakness is the rotation. Thirty-two year old Samuel Orellana is decent- he posted a 4.11 ERA last year- but has a tendency to throw meatballs, evidenced by his 48 homeruns allowed last year. Of course, he has nothing on 36 year old Josue Gorman. Gorman is one of the hardest throwers in all of baseball, but at this point in his career, he's pretty much slinging the ball wherever he feels like it. That tends to be either out of the strikezone entirely(128 walks last year) or right down the middle(53 homeruns allowed last year). Gorman has a tendency to wear out his welcome wherever he is, so don't be surprised if the Capitals try an unload his hefty contract, which pays him almost $7.7 million per year. Don't be surprised, either, when nobody is interested- the contract doesn't expire until 2085.

The rotation isn't the only weakness. First baseman Jerry Benson(27) is a useful player, but probably not a starting caliber first baseman. He has only a .774 career OPS. Second base could be issue as well. Del Shigemori is one of the greatest homerun hitters ever, with 616 to his name, but at 38 years of age, his bat simply isn't what it was. He remains an excellent fielder, but that likely won't be enough to keep him in the lineup. The Capitals also have Antonio Ornelas, who has a respectable .796 OPS in 340 career at bats. However, the 29 year old switch-hitter is a terrible fielder and an injury risk.

Predicted finish: 6th




Hartford Whalers:
2082 Record: 85-77
Record over the last five seasons: 389-421
Payroll: 75,522,928
Payroll Rank: 7th
Minor League Rank: 14th

Hartford posted winning records every year from 2070 to 2079, and hadn't lost 90 games in a season since 2063. Thus, back to back 93 loss seasons in 2080 and 2081 were shocking to a fanbase that had come to expect a winning team. Even after returning to their winning ways last year, there were a lot of disgruntled fans complaining about the lack of aggressive moves to bolster the team. Of course, losing their final 5 games and missing the playoffs by 2 games probably had a lot to do with the complaining. Well, the fans can't complain about a lack of action this year. Hartford was one of the most active teams in free agency, signing some very significant talent.

The biggest acquisition, of course, was shortstop Ralph Jennings. The 28 year old has an .896 career OPS and 209 homeruns. He had a .989 OPS last year and 41 roundtrippers. He'll join with the left-handed first baseman, John Rachal, to form a very formidable middle of the order. [b]Rachal[b], 30 years old, has a .961 career OPS and 270 homeruns. He has crushed 40 or more homeruns in three of the last four seasons. Second baseman, and all time RBI leader, Ricky Vega may still have a little bit left in the tank at 41 years of age. Last year, he hit .299 with 18 homeruns. Those numbers might be a bit optimistic for this season, but .270 and 15, plus his still excellent defense might be within reach. Left fielder John Gans(33) is a hit machine, with a .344 career AVG and five 200 hit seasons in the last seven years. He's also swiped 329 career bases.

Hartford's rotation is a collection of solid, but flawed pitchers. Unlike many teams, all five of the Whalers' starting pitchers definitely belong in the major leagues; however, none are good enough to be called an ace, nor are any good enough to even be an All-Star on a regular basis. Edward Chambliss(28) was picked up in a trade this offseason from Kansas City. His career ERA of 5.07 is somewhat inflated by a disastrous rookie campaign that saw him post an ERA of 8.95 in a little over 100 innings. In truth, he hasn't had an ERA above 5.00 since then, and his career ERA without that season is a much more respectable 4.71. Chambliss' main weakness is walks; he's walked over 100 batters every year except his rookie season, in which he walked 84 batters. Veteran Edward Headrick has a career ERA of 6.74, but the 34 year old has managed to post ERA's under 5.00 in each of the last two seasons. Headrick is a workhorse- he completed 19 games in 2081- but he tends to walk a lot of batters(5 seasons over 100) and give up a lot of homeruns(58 last year). Bill Leatherman was also picked up in a trade this offseason, as the Whalers acquired him from Portland. Leatherman(27) has a 5.94 ERA in 438 career innings pitched, but he was an acceptable 4.89 last year. Like the first two pitchers mentioned, Leatherman also suffers from control problems. He has walked over 100 batters in each of his two full seasons in the big leagues. Matthew Anderson(31) is yet another walk-prone pitcher, having walked 100 batters in every year of his career except an injury-plagued 2080 that limited him to only 12 starts. Anderson has a 5.29 career ERA. Youngster Raul Mattos is the only member of the Whalers' rotation that knows how to hit the strikezone consistently. The 24 year old walked just 34 batters in 218 innings last year en route to compiling 15 wins and a 4.67 ERA as a rookie.

As it is, Hartford's rotation has enough ability to keep the Whalers competitive and allow the offense to win games. At the same time, however, there are enough flaws to keep Hartford as a middle of the pack team as they hope to outslug opponents game in and game out. The lack of a true ace may be enough to keep the Whalers out of the playoffs.

One way to counter a potentially shaky rotation, as the San Jose Sharks have found out in recent seasons, is to have a dominant bullpen. Hartford may have the makings of such a bullpen. Closer Mitchell Larson(33) was added in the offseason as a free agent. He had 29 saves and a 3.38 ERA last year. Hartford also has the emerging Reginald Waters. Waters, 28, made 85 appearances last year and had a 2.56 ERA. If the Whalers can come up with a third effective reliever, it might mitigate the shakiness of the rotation.

One big weakness for Hartford on offense is likely to be center fielder Donald Thurlow. The 35 year old has been the starter for the Whalers since 2075, but in the last five seasons, he has managed only one season with an OPS greater than .700.


Predicted finish: 3rd





New Jersey Devils:
2082 Record: 58-104
Record over the last five years: 358-452
Payroll: 36,130,143
Payroll Rank: 21st
Minor League Rank: 5th

After doing very little in the first eleven years of their existence, the Devils had a reached a level of occasional respectability, posting four winning seasons from 2075 to 2080, though never winning more than 84 games in a season. But things have gone south in a hurry, and last year, they finished with the worst record in the majors. Much of that had to do with an extensive rebuilding process that gutted the team of virtually all of its veteran players and gave plenty of playing time to players with little to no experience.

As the start of the 2083 season draws near, the Devils feel as though they have some potential long-term answers in place at several positions. Catcher Norman Adrover(27) batted .323 with an .834 OPS and 14 homeruns in his first shot at regular playing time. In any other year, first baseman Amaury Lucia would have been a shoe-in for Rookie of the Year. The 25 year old batted .320 last year with a .996 OPS, while hammering 35 doubles and 37 homeruns, and winning the Gold Glove award. Alas, the emergence of Pittsburgh's Andreas Fajardo kept Lucia from the ROTY. Boyce Wimbush may not be a true long-term answer at second base, but the 32 year old batted .315 with 13 homeruns in 292 at bats last season. At the very least, he gives the Devils a stop-gap for a year or so. New Jersey ventured into free agency and picked up the slick-fielding Brian Hall to play shortstop. The 28 year old isn't all glove, however, as he managed an .811 OPS last season for Portland. Third base belongs to 28 year old Alfredo Escalera(28), who hit .302 last year and stole 56 bases. In right field, Zankuro Maresuke(30) put up an .873 OPS with 13 homeruns in 222 at bats.

On the mound, 30 year old Kenneth Chancey posted a 3.74 ERA. He gives the Devils the kind of number one starter that many teams that are better than New Jersey would love to have. 32 year old Armando Diaz pounds the strike-zone better than almost any pitcher in the league. However, his overall performances have been inconsistent, and he has missed a lot of time in recent seasons because of injury. The left-hander has made a total of just 42 starts in the last two seasons combined. He did have a solid, 4.70 ERA last season. New Jersey also made a quiet little pickup that might turn out very well for them. The Devils acquired 33 year old Kevin Phipps from Miami this offseason. Phipps had gotten lost in the shuffle in the crowded Miami rotation the last couple of seasons despite having pitched very solidly for the Dolphins. In 123 career games(111 starts) he has a 4.28 ERA. He had ERA's under 4.00 in both 2079 and 2080, and authored a no-hitter against Green Bay in 2079.

As far as weaknesses, the Devils primarily lack big-time talent. They have a number of good players, but nobody who is capable of carrying a team. As well, they have several players who could be good, but who could also just as easily stink up the joint. This is especially true in the bullpen, where pitchers like Pete West and Abel Mota have talent but have produced very little thus far.

Predicted finish: 5th



Pittsburgh Pirates:
2082 Record: 100-62
Record over the last five seasons: 508-302
Payroll: 49,940,000
Payroll Rank: 17th
Minor League Rank: 15th

The Pirates are a shining example of how to run a baseball team. Even in a time of transition, when long-time stars have aged, declined, and retired, the team has remained dominant. Still, many wonder how long they can keep it up. Buffalo looks good, Hartford looks good, and Rochester is always a threat. At some point, some of those teams are going to overtake Pittsburgh. It happened in 2077, when the Pirates missed the postseason despite 92 wins. It came close to happening the following year, when the Pirates managed only 86 wins- their lowest total in more than a decade- but squeaked into the playoffs as a second place team. It looked like they were on the verge of toppling permanently. It didn't happen. The Pirates ripped off four consecutive 100 win seasons and captured World Series titles in 2080 and 2081. But this team is a lot older. The youngest regular position player is 27 year old 1B/OF James Sequeira. Only two others are under the age of 30. The youngest reliever is 30 years old. Only one starting pitcher is under the age of 30: 27 year old Andreas Fajardo. So again, the question is, how long can they keep it up?

Catcher Aaron Quijada(35) has a .421 career OBP, a .919 OPS, and 206 homeruns. 29 year old third baseman Javier Rael has an .858 OPS and has belted 37 and 38 homeruns the last two seasons. Jerry Harmer, Jr. is an on base and doubles machine in left field. He has a .431 career OBP and has ripped 66 and 67 doubles the last two seasons. Augustine Oatman is still a terrific defensive center fielder, even at the age of 36. He has four Gold Gloves to his name, including each of the last two seasons. He also has an .831 career OPS and 243 homeruns.

The ace of the rotation is Andreas Fajardo, who captured both the Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award last season. In 39 career games, Fajardo is 24-4 with a 2.16 ERA and 4 shutouts. He's also 6-0 with a 3.04 ERA in 7 career postseason starts. Pittsburgh wasn't really looking to add anybody in free agency, but when 30 year old Scott Council inexplicably drew little interest from teams, the Pirates swooped in and signed him. Council enjoyed a breakout year last year with Tucson, going 21-8 with a 3.29 ERA and 188 strikeouts. These two pitchers give Pittsburgh a dominating 1-2 punch that will likely keep them in the postseason discussion for a while longer. Douglas Malone(32) provides a solid third starter with his 4.35 career ERA. Geronimo Otero, once one of the greatest pitchers in the game, will be considered the fourth starter as his career winds down. The 39 year old right-hander has 217 career wins, a 3.08 ERA, and a 1.10 WHIP. Last year, his 14 losses and 4.60 ERA were the worst of his career. The only question now for him is whether his career is deemed worthy of the Hall of Fame. Many people remember his two year stretch from 2073 to 2074, in which he was a brilliant 42-9 with a 1.67 ERA and a 437/22 K/BB ratio. They'll also remember his postseason numbers: 18-9, 2.67 ERA.

The anchor of the bullpen is 34 year old Joe O'Donoghue. O'Donoghue has a 2.59 ERA in 670 career appearances. In the last two seasons, he has gone 24-10, with 28 saves, a 2.34 ERA, and 219 strikeouts in 238 2/3 innings pitched. The rest of the bullpen is also strong, but all but one reliever is age 33 or older, with one, left-hander Bradley Hinerman, probably in his last season at age 38.

The main weakness for the Pirates is the 1B/RF situation. With Richard Billips having left as a free agent, Pittsburgh plans to move James Sequeira, who platooned at first base last season, into right field. The expected starting first baseman, then, will be long-time supersub Jose Arruza. The 36 year old Arruza has a career .832 OPS, but last season was the worst season of his career, as he mustered just a .734 OPS. Also, in two of the last three seasons, Arruza has failed to slug over .400. The team could also decide to keep Sequeira at first, and attempt some right field three ring circus of reserve outfielders Tony Francois, Matias Santos, and Ralph Triado. However, Francois has just a .711 OPS in 317 career at bats, Santos has a .715 OPS in 69 at bats, and Triado has a .989 OPS in 33 at bats. Not a lot of experience among that group, and not a lot of production. One other possibility that has been hinted at by unnamed sources within the organization would be to move Rael across the diamond to play first, and install minor league third baseman Michael Robinson as the starting third baseman. Robinson is a better fielder at third than Rael, and the 25 year old put up an .805 OPS with 60 extra base hits at AAA last year. One thing is for sure: the Pirates will be looking to get Robinson into the lineup somewhere before this season is complete.


Predicted finish: 1st






Rochester Rhinos:
2082 Record: 77-85
Record over the last five years: 444-366
Payroll: 82,708,142
Payroll Rank: 3rd
Minor League Rank: 18th

Last seasons' 77-85 record came as a stunning shock to a team that hadn't had a losing record since 2068. Also coming to an end was the Rhinos' consecutive playoff streak, which had stood at five years. Now Rochester is faced with trying to recover in a division that looks very competitive all of a sudden.

The Rhinos have one of the more dangerous lineups in baseball. Behind the plate is 29 year old Paul Bibbs. Bibbs had an .895 OPS last season and ripped 32 homeruns. First base belongs to veteran Rick Ahn. The 35 year old has a .901 career OPS and 306 homeruns. Injuries limited him to just 104 games last year, however. Sergio Salo is a patient hitter with some pop at second base. The 26 year old has a .391 career OBP and is good for about 18-25 homeruns per year. Third baseman Leo Guerriero is one of the best all around players in the game, and he's only 28 years old. He has a .961 career OPS and has slugged over .600 in three of the last four seasons. He's also an excellent fielder. The Rhinos made one big acquisition this offseason, and that was 26 year old slugging right fielder Gustavo Manrique. The 26 year old Manrique has crushed 37 and 36 homeruns the past two seasons.

At the top of the rotation is, of course, Segundo Narbaiza. Narbaiza comes into this season with 306 career wins, a 2.41 ERA, 3368 strikeouts, and a 0.93 WHIP. He also comes in at the age of 38, and following a season in which injuries limited him to a career low 20 starts. Narbaiza has spent his entire career in Rochester, bringing Rhinos' fans that long-awaited glory: a World Series title in 2078. Now, though, it could be the end of the line. He's still one of the best pitchers in the league, but another injury-riddled season would probably change that. And for Rochester, injuries to Narbaiza would be devastating, because after him, there just isn't much to like about the Rhinos' rotation. 32 year old George Lasseter has always had decent talent, but his 5.66 career ERA points to how much he's underachieved over the years. He should not be considered a reliable number two pitcher. Dennis Philson is even worse, with a 5.75 career ERA. Hector Rao and Evan Caserez have only 33 starts between them, and the results have not been pretty at all. To be blunt, if Narbaiza goes down like he did last season, then Rochester this year will be much like Rochester last year. Without Narbaiza, the Rhinos have very little chance of contending. With him... well that changes the equation somewhat. Pittsburgh has an okay offense and superb pitching. Hartford has a decent offense, but a mediocre, if reasonably deep, rotation. Buffalo has both a solid offense and a solid rotation. Rochester has the potential for an excellent offense. The question is, will the offense be good enough to allow the one man show rotation to overcome the more balanced teams in the division?

Like Hartford, Rochester will be hoping that a solid bullpen can offset some of the deficiencies of the rotation. Closer Nathaniel Owen(36) has made 617 career appearances, notching 146 saves, and while posting a 3.97 ERA. Last year, he had a 2.99 ERA. Lenard Luna is an emerging talent at age 25. He made 80 appearances last season, and picked up 10 wins, while posting a 3.89 ERA in 111 innings pitched.


Predicted finish: 4th