john_buffalo
Came, saw, conquered, left. Enjoyed it. Bye.
Muttering About the Murricans
An Exercise in Futility
A Blog by the Buffalo News
February 14, 2092
Team Analysis 101
So there’s a new management team in town. Will it help the hapless Murricans? A league powerhouse back in early 2070’s, the team is more a bottom feeder right now. Last time in the playoffs – 2085. Last time with a winning record – 2085. Loser of 103 games just two years back. Sad.An Exercise in Futility
A Blog by the Buffalo News
February 14, 2092
Team Analysis 101
Anyway, lets analysis the upcoming 2092 version of the ‘Cans. We’ll use the 40-Man Roster as a starting point for our analysis.
THE ROTATION
- Héctor López – 29-year-old left-hander is the ace. 9-8, 3.20 last season. Won 14 for Berlin two years back. Signed through 2094 at $23 million per year. He could opt out after 2093. He has a long list of minor injuries, but last year would have missed three months with bone chips had the season not mercifully ended. The trainer considers him at high risk for more injuries sooner rather than later.
- Ger Asseldonk – At age 26 the southpaw already missed almost the entire season in 2081 (torn rotator cuff), three months in 2089 (elbow strain), and five months last year (elbow surgery). When healthy, he pitched well in 2090 (3.76 ERA) and 2091 (3.24 ERA). Looks like another Injury List risk.
- Tores Heleno – Another left hander, he was 11-13 last year at age 22. He’s durable enough and will do well if he can keep his ERA down.
- Hud Numair – 19-24 over the past two seasons with an ERA around 3.10, a pretty good record for a horrible team like the Murricans. Age 27.
- Veniamin Albanov – 27-year-old was decent enough in relief last season (4-7, 3.23, 9 saves). Who knows how well he will transition into the rotation. (Aside: the Shadow Knows!)
- Hatay Ilker – The number two prospect in the WBL, he will most likely spend all of 2092 at AAA Philadelphia. He’s had three years in double-A, improving each season. The hope is to see him in a Murrican suit in 2093.
- Francisco López – Number 17 overall prospect was great in A ball last season and terrible in AA. Hopefully he develops enough over the winter to pitch well at AA Washington this season.Maybe he’ll be ready in 2094.
- Alfonso Muñóz – the best of a bad lot, he’ll likely be the closer. He pitched well enough the past two seasons and yet still posted negative WARs. Missed two months last year with a herniated disc.
- Caesar Hammer – 4.75 ERA and -1.6 WAR are not strong signs. He has pitched over 100 innings in each of the last two years, so he can eat some innings.
- Dong-Choon Namgung – has over 250 combined innings in relief over the past two years. His effectiveness improved last season but not enough to produce a positive WAR.
- Valerik Sanaev – ERA over 4.50 last year and the year before. Meh.
- Filipe Martin – He’s loyal, adaptable, and a hard worker. He wants to be in the rotation. Given his skill set, just making the roster will be an accomplishment
- Bill Palmer – Huh? 31-year-old started for AAA Philly last year. Won 3, lost 21 with an 11.73 ERA. Not sure why we bothered even listing his name. Well, somehow he made the 40-man roster.
- Sze Jen –Hard-working 26-year-old does a professional job behind the plate. His average slumped to .231 last year. We’d love to see him get up to .260. He still has two more years of arbitration.
- Okot Adipo – Pushing age 28, he has really never proved himself capable of hitting even AA pitching. A team has to have a backup catcher and he fell into the assignment this off season when Jorge Castillo opted for free agency. Replacing Adipo with a competent backup will be a primary assignment for the new management team.
- Tommaso Sanguinacco – Maybe he’s the replacement. He was just signed to a minor league deal. He has major league experience and can catch respectably.
- Sergio Guzmán – Team captain hit a resounding .145 last year and .207 the year before. At least he is OK defensively. But Fu-tang Tao, last year’s first baseman, is penciled in at third base, and someone has to play here. Watkins (see designated hitter below) could fill in, but his glove is made of cement. Help!
- Luka Braber – He’s a .240 AAA hitter who plays a fine defense. There’s nothing to suggest he would improve if promoted.
- Paco Díaz – 27-year-old had a -24 zone rating at second base last year while hitting .246. He needs to be replaced, but the choices in the organization are limited
- Stefan Galloway – He just signed a minor league deal with Buffalo that will give him a major league salary of $600,000 if he is promoted in the first month of the season. While he has never played above AA, he can play all four infield positions very well.
- Fu-Kang Tao – Only 23, he played first base as a rookie last year. He struggled defensively, but he did hit 35 home runs and knock in 96. There’s nothing to indicate he would be better defensively at third base, but with the loss of Rafael Muñóz to free agency, someone has to play here. There’s no one else around.
- Miguel Ramírez – He has trouble in the field - -8.8 zone rating. And he can’t hit - .182 batting average. Anyone got any suggestions?
- Luis Quiñones – A hard worker and speed demon, he’s at his best defensively in left field. Four-time gold glove winner and one-time all star, he’ll be a free agent next year if not signed to an extension. That extension is an owner priority. He can hit with power as well.
- Alexander Somerville – He had a plus zone rating in center field last year and he hit .292. Those are nice numbers for a Murrican. The center field job is his to lose.
- Félix Córdova – He’s 34, struggles defensively, and won’t hit higher than .250. Still, right now he’s the right fielder because Ronald Beers left for free agency.
- Dong-Hoon Ho – A sparkling defender in center field for AAA Philly last year where he hit .346. He’s a candidate to replace Somerville in center, but he’ll probably see significant time in right field during spring training.
- Félix Galindo – 30-year-old has zero defensive upside and hasn’t proven he can hit major league pitching. He’ll be lucky to make the team.
- Bill Watkins – We put Bill here by default. Listed as a first baseman, he’s a horror show defensively. Unfortunately he hasn’t shown he can hit either - .235 two years back and .214 last year. He will produce 20 odd home runs a year. If could replicate his 2089 season (.277 with 35 dingers), he’d be perfect for the DH job.
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