doh
THANK YOU Dermott McHeshi
So here we go with my pre-season thoughts on the team and I put them out as keys...
1. Bounceback Years
I had a few guys last year have years that were a big step back. Particularly at catcher with Umarah losing 2 WAR and over 100 OPS points. He needs to be back in the 1.5-2 win range for me to be back at the 95 or so win mark. SP Geiler Schulz had his BABIP, BB/9, K/9 all improve… and had an ERA jump of 0.60. He needs to be better with RISP and has to be a good around 3.60 ERA #4 for me. SP Reptile Tang went from NL ERA champ to a still solid 3.44 but I need him to find a consolidation year. In the bullpen, Hung and Kusama both had their worst years in a while. DLS was good for me last year and his 5 WAR was really needed but I'd like him to hit better this year too.
2. Stay Healthy
A large portion of my team is injury prone. LF Henry Brown, 2B Gabe Ramos, SS Porky Ogawa and a few pitchers all have a bad injury history. I do have have some depth at those positions but all three of those guys are huge for my team.
3. Two Young Stars
3B Cesar Sanchez (21 LY) and CF Dermott McHeshi (22 LY) both put up giant years last year at young ages. They are the core of my team and I need them to continue to improve and put up bigger yaers. If McHeshi stays healthy and puts up similar numbers I expect a top 3 WAR season. Sanchez is just about to put his skills all together and his 75 potential eye could be all the way there by the end of the season.
4. Where's the D at?
Last season I had the best defense in the league. This year I don't know if that'll happen again. Brown replaced Berrios who was a 75 defender and Ramos replaced Rivera who was very solid at 2B. Kattenberg and Bucci will be defensive replacements at 2B and SS respectively but I'm scared my overall team defense will be worse.
5. Bye Bye Pitching Depth
I thought I'd have some decisions to make on pitching before the year. Then Shrimp Correa, my second best RP, got hurt. Now I am extremely thin in the pen AND in the rotation. I can't afford an injury in the rotation and started out the year with 11 pitchers due to lack of depth.
6. The Farid Factor… and?
My only impact prospect in AAA is former top 5 pick Numad Farid. I don't think Farid is going to be a power hitter but he's an elite elite defener at all 3 positions and will hit for a high AVG/OBP while smashing doubles. Other than him… it's slim pickins in AAA. I have a few solid MIFs. No SP, RP. Two-way Cliff Johnson maybe can DH in a pinch/be a LH specialist but overall most of my future talent is in AA and not close to being ready.
7. Who's the Boess?
Sam Boessen was a late signee last year as I got him to sign a 2/1.9 + 1.1 TO deal. I'm going to try to give him one start at LF and one start at DH per week. It might increase on how he plays. Bad average/OBP guy but tons and tons of power which my team needs. He's alreay unhappy which is a bit of a problem though.
8. SOS to 1B/DH
I signed Alberto Ramos hoping to get a big year out of him OBP wise and have him mostly DH. bin Hamal I need to finally put up some good numbers. He has good ratings and amazing AAA numbers but his low contact rate and high K-rate have combined to have him struggle in the WBL. Jeronimo Falcheria is a former pitcher who killed LHP last year but had no chance vs. RHP. The big thing is all three of these guys are question marks. I could see one of them being bad and sent down/DFA with Farid getting some ABs.
Overall I think my lineup is a lot more solid 1-9. Losing Berrios to retirement kills me offensively and more important defensively. I have a huge OF and having three really good defense OFs is important. I think Umarah will bounce back and bin Hamal will be solid. The key will be if Brown can contibute and how healthy is Ramos. Farid might have to cover up a hole too.
Pitching wise I think I'll be about the same. Abel Hernandez is a big add but I do think my defense taking a step back will effect the pitching staff.
I'm not sure how many wins I'll get. I am a bit scared that I've traded some of my defense for marginally better offense. I might by the end of the year just go back to a more defensive lineup by having a Farid in LF, moving Brown to DH and having Ramos just play vs. LHP/ PH v RHP. I could also have Kattenberg play a bit more at 2B (he is already slated every sixth game to help limit chance of injury to G.Ramos).
1. Bounceback Years
I had a few guys last year have years that were a big step back. Particularly at catcher with Umarah losing 2 WAR and over 100 OPS points. He needs to be back in the 1.5-2 win range for me to be back at the 95 or so win mark. SP Geiler Schulz had his BABIP, BB/9, K/9 all improve… and had an ERA jump of 0.60. He needs to be better with RISP and has to be a good around 3.60 ERA #4 for me. SP Reptile Tang went from NL ERA champ to a still solid 3.44 but I need him to find a consolidation year. In the bullpen, Hung and Kusama both had their worst years in a while. DLS was good for me last year and his 5 WAR was really needed but I'd like him to hit better this year too.
2. Stay Healthy
A large portion of my team is injury prone. LF Henry Brown, 2B Gabe Ramos, SS Porky Ogawa and a few pitchers all have a bad injury history. I do have have some depth at those positions but all three of those guys are huge for my team.
3. Two Young Stars
3B Cesar Sanchez (21 LY) and CF Dermott McHeshi (22 LY) both put up giant years last year at young ages. They are the core of my team and I need them to continue to improve and put up bigger yaers. If McHeshi stays healthy and puts up similar numbers I expect a top 3 WAR season. Sanchez is just about to put his skills all together and his 75 potential eye could be all the way there by the end of the season.
4. Where's the D at?
Last season I had the best defense in the league. This year I don't know if that'll happen again. Brown replaced Berrios who was a 75 defender and Ramos replaced Rivera who was very solid at 2B. Kattenberg and Bucci will be defensive replacements at 2B and SS respectively but I'm scared my overall team defense will be worse.
5. Bye Bye Pitching Depth
I thought I'd have some decisions to make on pitching before the year. Then Shrimp Correa, my second best RP, got hurt. Now I am extremely thin in the pen AND in the rotation. I can't afford an injury in the rotation and started out the year with 11 pitchers due to lack of depth.
6. The Farid Factor… and?
My only impact prospect in AAA is former top 5 pick Numad Farid. I don't think Farid is going to be a power hitter but he's an elite elite defener at all 3 positions and will hit for a high AVG/OBP while smashing doubles. Other than him… it's slim pickins in AAA. I have a few solid MIFs. No SP, RP. Two-way Cliff Johnson maybe can DH in a pinch/be a LH specialist but overall most of my future talent is in AA and not close to being ready.
7. Who's the Boess?
Sam Boessen was a late signee last year as I got him to sign a 2/1.9 + 1.1 TO deal. I'm going to try to give him one start at LF and one start at DH per week. It might increase on how he plays. Bad average/OBP guy but tons and tons of power which my team needs. He's alreay unhappy which is a bit of a problem though.
8. SOS to 1B/DH
I signed Alberto Ramos hoping to get a big year out of him OBP wise and have him mostly DH. bin Hamal I need to finally put up some good numbers. He has good ratings and amazing AAA numbers but his low contact rate and high K-rate have combined to have him struggle in the WBL. Jeronimo Falcheria is a former pitcher who killed LHP last year but had no chance vs. RHP. The big thing is all three of these guys are question marks. I could see one of them being bad and sent down/DFA with Farid getting some ABs.
Overall I think my lineup is a lot more solid 1-9. Losing Berrios to retirement kills me offensively and more important defensively. I have a huge OF and having three really good defense OFs is important. I think Umarah will bounce back and bin Hamal will be solid. The key will be if Brown can contibute and how healthy is Ramos. Farid might have to cover up a hole too.
Pitching wise I think I'll be about the same. Abel Hernandez is a big add but I do think my defense taking a step back will effect the pitching staff.
I'm not sure how many wins I'll get. I am a bit scared that I've traded some of my defense for marginally better offense. I might by the end of the year just go back to a more defensive lineup by having a Farid in LF, moving Brown to DH and having Ramos just play vs. LHP/ PH v RHP. I could also have Kattenberg play a bit more at 2B (he is already slated every sixth game to help limit chance of injury to G.Ramos).