National League West Preseason Analysts

I'm starting the preseason blog with the National League West to honor that division for having the winner of the World Series. Also in full disclosure mode the Albuquerque franchise is run by my son. I will try to use the same standards that I use for all franchises when blogging, but you have a right to know that both Honolulu and Albuquerque have a hook with the blogger.

Vancouver franchise     owner: picc18              39 seasons in this league                               2,712 wins

     picc has moved the Oklahoma City franchise to Vancouver. Last season OKCity had over a minus 100 run differential. The situation isn't really that bad as the team promoted several rookies to the majors and a couple of established guys had down seasons. Both the veterans and the now second year players should have better seasons in 47.
 The pitching staff is headed by Rashun Pearson who had a 2.34 ERA in 161 innings last year. Javier Flores had 37 save opportunities last year and converted on 36. WOW!
 The bats will be better with Bronson Cassevah and Cy Eaton entering their second year. Marc Cone stole 37 bases while having a down year, and is expected to bounce back. Socks Gross is another player who is expected to pick up more hits after a tough season 46.
 The really good news in Vancouver is a huge amount of payroll flexibility. Less than 45 million is committed to returning players. Last year's payroll was budgeted at 106 million. A young core group with lots of dollars to bring in free agents!

Las Vegas franchise    owner: pimpbotlove      20 seasons in this league                               1,976 wins

 Well it had to happen; after winning the division for 19 consecutive years the Galaxy finally saw their star dim. Vegas also had over a minus 100 run differential. However the rebuild is already happening. The Vegas double-A team won 107, high-A won 93, low-A won 72, and the rookie league team won 42.
 Veteran Kike Guzman will anchor the rotation showing the ropes to future ace Terrance Durrington. The field players will be led by future gold glover Enrique Guerrero and left fielder Dude Haren.
 The good news for pimpbotlove and bad news for the rest of us, only 19.7 million is committed in salaries for this season.

Albuquerque franchise  owner: danxmcgraw   17 seasons in the league                                1,178 wins

The Dukes had a negative 32 run differential in season 46; an improvement of 109 runs from season 45.
 The improvements were from a lot pf players; pitchers: Ralph Collier, Alvin Hall, Marwin Arroyo and Braulio Vega. Two hitters that had good years were Tito Maxwell and Jairo Sanchez. With a bounce back year from Stolmy Castro things should look bright in Albuquerque.
 Albuquerque has 57.9 million committed in salaries for the season.

Seattle franchise           owner: jc44*                5 seasons in the league                                   362 wins

 A most improbable season 46 for this franchise. After going 82-80 in the regular season with a run differential of positive 66; the franchise went 14-7 in the playoffs, winning the World Series.
 Seattle had an incredibly young roster. The offense was led by Alex Martinez and Luigi Cruz who both scored 90 runs and drove in 85.Tripp Davis, Giovany Diaz and Jamie Wang each chipped in 20 or more home runs. All five of these player are 27 or younger. The top six starting pitchers and the three relievers with the most saves from season 46 will be back for this season .
 With all those players being young and cheap, Seattle has only 36.2 million committed in salaries for this season.

                        PRE-SEASON DIVISION EVALUATIONS ARE COMING

  I was looking to write something interesting for the upcoming season. It occurred to me in the last two seasons we have had 14 teams score 100 more runs than their pitching staff gave up. All but one of these teams made the playoffs. So if you can't score more than 100 runs than you give up you only have a 19% chance of making the playoffs.
 I'm pretty sure that any angle I would write about will leave some people high and dry. I don't want to offend anyone but I have to start somewhere. I also hope to cover to the minor leagues before the season starts. How I evaluate the minors will be subjective in that we all have different scouts and we all set our budgets differently for professional scouting.

New Blog-New Awards PART TWO (By Breeolad, Postseason 46)

Also we have another new Award.

The Dean Comeback Player of the Year, is awarded to:

Yunesky De Los Santos of the Toronto Shamrocks! 

In season 45 De Los Santos was on the 60 day disabled list with a Forearm, stress fracture. In season 45 he won 9 games in 21 starts with a 2.97 ERA. In season 46, healthy once again, he won 22 games in 34 starts with a 1.94 ERA.

New Blog-New Awards, PART ONE (By Breeolad,  Postseason 46)

I took over the Honolulu franchise from a manager named Kobylesky. Kobylesky, known as Koby by most folks, was one of the founding owners that started this league. He was a blogger for this league until he passed away.  I am going to try to takeover the blogging for this league; I should have done it sooner.

One of the things I think is important for a league is strong franchises. It's hard to win a world series. It is also hard to run six teams and be competitive in all six leagues. So we will now have a Kobylesky Award for the owner who wins the most games in all six leagues in a season.

Last year four franchises won over 500 games, Tacoma, Toronto, Fargo and Santa Cruz.

With 561 wins,  the Season 46 Kobylesky Award for best franchise goes to:

Renrog and the Santa Cruz Scream franchise!

Congratulations, Renrog.  Well done.

Koby's Prospect Report No. 3 - AL South

Today we are evaluating the AL South.  

New note, since this is the 1st divisional profile I am writing post S24 draft, I will not be including any pick that occurred this season.  So all prospects will have been acquired in Season 23 or sooner.

Houston Duoz – xmasjjm is a relatively new owner in season #2 after taking over and is looking to bring ownership stability to a franchise that has not seen it since seasons 7-14 when giles21 was in the league.  

Bill Badenhop– Drafted with the #11 overall pick in xmasjjm’s first draft Badenhop possesses great stamina and control with above avg splits vs lefties and just average vs. righties.  Decent groundball pitcher with not a lot of velocity.  His 4-seamer and curve are both effective pitches.  He won’t walk or strike out a lot of people but overall could should be in a 12-15 wins range.  .  Could realistically be a 3.40 to 3.70 with a couple ASG appearances.  As Houston rebuilds he could be their ace, but long term is more Anibal Sanchez to having a Justin Verlander on the roster.

Pascual Colon– first, he is a future short stop!!!  Lots of people play a bigger bat and a guy with 85-85-85-85 type fielding stats….which are very Jhonny Peralta like.  His 90 range is awfully good and his glove is AWESOME assuming!  Assuming of course his fielding coach is not Rob Deer. . So if he makes his projections he is a SS, if he doesn’t he would be more suited at 2b or make a gold glove 3b with a cannon arm.  I love how he has great range and garbage speed…haven’t figured out how that works.  As for his bat, with only a 58 eye and 41 split vs. righties even with his 75 projected contact rating he is a .230-.260 hitter.  He should hit 12-18 HR but he will likely have a high strikeout rate and moderate average.  He looks like a #7 hitter to me.   But his defensive ratings make him an everyday starter.  Gold Glover, yes at the right position.  All Star, not sure he has the bat for it.

Pete Henry– forget overall ratings…I LOVE this guy! With his 77 durability and 39 stamina he can be a 60-80 appearance and 80-100 IP guy out of the pen.  Everyone has different philosophies on the bullpen – Henry is a future closer, but we all know I am obsessed with closers like Ripken is obsessed with RuPaul, but more on that later.  Pretty good control, very good splits in the 70s as well. Great velocity and the best part only 2 pitches both rated in the 90s.  

San Antonio Papaya – Speaking of Ripken0713 and RuPaul, let’s talk about the Papaya’s next.  In his 16 prior seasons Ripken0713 has 8 playoff appearances and 3 World Series rings.  His obsession with RuPaul is not completely confirmed, but this is an internet blog, so why not say it.  Maybe the story gets picked up by TMZ.

Joel Priest – Yep, I love the future closer!  With a 99 durability Priest could be a 100 appearance a season guy.  With a projected 96 control and a 97 rated 4-seamer from the left side think Aroldis Chapman.  Priest will only have average velocity and a just above average show me curveball, but his 1 very dominant pitch should allow for an average of a K per inning.  Priest could contribute to the pen today, by next seasons he should have a full time job in the majors.

Fred Leary – Drafted #8 overall in Season 23 Leary projects as a solid 3b.  Decent range, but plus glove and plus arm the position imagine Cal Ripken after he transitioned from SS to 3b for the Orioles.  At the plate Leary will have average contact and a little above average batting eye.  Likely a .245-.255 hitter Leary possesses the power to hit 30-40 HR.  With very good splits, Leary should be an anchor in the 4 or 5 hole while holding down the hit corner.

Domingo Sosa – A 12.4 million dollar baby on the IFA market Sosa projects as a solid #2 or #3 starter on a championship team.  With good durability and stamina Sosa should take the ball every 5th day for 200-210 innings.  With a 90controland 88 velocity Sosa will know where his ball is going, but you sure won’t.  With a plus knuckleball, plus plus sinker and plus slider, good luck getting your timing at the plate.  That’s one weird three way with parts Jake Westbrook, Tom Candiotti and Jamie Moyerall in the mix.  Oh and he is left handed….awesome!  At 19 Sosa is still 203 years away from the majors, but should easily win12-15 per season.

Kansas City Aristocrats – mattjmiller, a veteran who has been in Stickball since Season 5, has 11 playoff appearances and 3 World Series to his credit.  As an admitted friend of Ripken this makes for a fun divisional matchup each year.

Jason Greer – Drafted 32nd overall in S23, Greer should easily eclipse the 200 IP mark.  If the 19 year old makes his projections his 90control and with 74 velocity, 81 GB/FB and 78 sinker make Greer a dead ringer for Justin Masterson.  The right hander will be very tough on right handed hitters but also has a good lefty split.  Despiute his 90 stamina Greer will struggle as a one pitch pitcher.  His curve, change and cutter all leave a lot to be desired.  He still projects as a topof the rotation guy, likely in the #2or #3 role on a playoff contender.

Brook Liverman –Drafted 34th overall inS23 Liverman and Greer pair together like an 8 oz Filet and a robust Bordeaux.  Liverman long term issue is having only an above average stamina rating.  He may be only a 180 IP guy and will have average control.  With phenomenal splits, and 80 velocity-GB/FB and sinker   Liverman should be able to overcome what will likely be a 3.5 BB/9IP stat.  With a solid slider to pair with his sinker Liverman should keep hitters guessing.  The KC coaching staff would be smart to convince Liverman that his curveball is so bad even Pedro Cerrano could hit it.

Bill Harris –Is ML ready now at the age of 22.  Harris could play either COF or 1b as well as DH.  With a slightly above average contact rating and plus eye rating to go along with his projected 100 power rating, Harris is 40HR waiting to happen.  The right handed will hammer left handed pitching.  He could struggle to hit for average against right handers, but again, big tie power bat especially if he finds himself in a hitters park.  

Memphis Pimpbots – ptwoner find himself in his 1st season in Stickball, but also is an owner in 6 other worlds.  

Ricardo Blanco – Projects as a future 3b with a plus plus glove and arm.  With a 75 range he just is not a SS in the long run.  At the plate with a 69 contact 81 power and 64 eye Blanco should not only hit for a strong average, but drive 22-28 HR/season.  With splits in the mid to upper 70s Blanco will be equally deadly against both right handers and southpaws.  His 70 speed will allow Blanco to hit anywhere from 2nd through 6th in the order.  

Vladimir Tapia – Signed inS23 to a big league deal with an 11.7 million bonus Tapia projects as a solid #3 or #4 starter.  With only a 69 stamina rating, Tapia will not throw a ton of innings, but the ones he does should be effective.  With plus plus control (88) and solid splits to go along with a deadly slider and plus plus curveball Tapia will be a tough lefty to face.  A show me knuckleball might be his most intriguing pitch as it will really keep hitter guessing.  

Rick Tracy – Drafted #29overall inS22 Tracy projects as a solid defensive CFer with 86 range and 78 glove.  Think more Jim Edmonds than Andrew Jones but still effective.  At the plate an average contact rating paired with a 64 batting eye means Tracy will not be a .350 OBP much less a .270 hitter.  But with his 86 power he can easily slide into the #5 or #6 hole and hammer the big fly.  Tracey is at AAA now, but probably needs this season and part of S25 to trulky be ML ready.

Koby's Prospect Report No. 2 - NL West

Los Angeles Galaxy – Mike1184 is an original owner dating back to Season 1.  With 14 division titles and 7 wild card appearances Season 1 and 2 are the only non-playoff appearances for Mike’s franchise.   

Emilio Tavarez – Signed in Season 23 to an ML deal this IFA earned a sign on bonus of 12.7 million.  Atgae 20 Tavrez has plenty of time to mature into the future ML All-Star he has the potential to be.  With plus plus range,  a plus glove and slightly above average arm Tavarez could see time at 3b or be a multi-time Gold Glove winner in COF.  Most likely he will find himself in either CF or at 2b where his bat will then have the most impact for that role.  With A++ power Tavarez is a future 50 HR player.  The right handed will slaughter lefties and more than hold his own against right handers.  Tavarez struggled late in the season at High A in his 1stAmerican pro ball campaign, but projects to be a solid .260-.270 hitter with 50 HR and 20 steal capability.   Deadly cleanup hitter looks to be his future I 203 seasons.

Carlos Tabata – Tabata was signed to an ML deal in Season 21 and has turned part of his 144.9million bonus into an Aston Martin Vanquish that he cruises around the streets of LA showing off.  Tabata projects to be a strong glove average range and arm COFer for LA.  But with a deadly combination of power and speed Tabata looks to be the ideal leadoff hitter.   With plus contact and a plus eye at the plate Tabata should not only hit for average but find his way to 1b via the walk as well.  Tabata has slightly above average power and projects to 12-15 HRs at the ML level.  Equally deadly against both right handers and southpaws,  Tabata should reach base with the frequency of Shin Soo Choo and steal bases like Jacoby Ellsbury.  Tabata hitting in front of  Tavarez will make for a destructive LA lineup in the future.  At21 Tabata is MLready now, but a whole season or 2 at AAA will only build a can’t miss prospect.

Gene Bailey – Bailey is the strongest of LA’s pitching prospects.  Drafted 25^th overall in Season 22 Bailey will start the season at High A but could be a promotional candidate to AA post All-Star break.  With good durability and stamina Bailey should easily reach the 200 inning mark, but he will not be 220 innings eater.  With plus plus control, and a very heavy 4 seamer and cutter Baileyshould be a ground ball generating machine.  A slightly above average curveball will keep hitters guessing, but Bailey will earn his money by pounding the strike zone.  With not a lot of movement on his 4 seamer and cutter they biggest key for Bailey will be location location location.  On a playoff contender he projects as strong #2, but could be a team’s ace if called upon.

Oklahoma City Chiefs – picc818 is in his 17^th season as an owner  and is looking to break through in to the playoffs in the near future and these prospects should help that cause:

Brennan Loaiza – Drafted in the 2^nd round (66^th overall) in Season 23 Loaiza projects as a future 2b or 3b defensively.  A future move to 3b would take advantage of his all well rounded skill set of his glove and arm.  As a hitter, his production looks to be more in line with a middle infielder than if he played the hot corner.  Loaiza will have above average contact/power ratings while knowing what pitches he should and should not swing at.  Against right handers with a deadly curveball he may have a little Pedro Cerrano in him as he will struggles with the off speed stuff from a righty.  A solid 7 hitter Loaiza should have a lengthy ML career.

Ronny Tomlinson – Drafted 15^th overall in Season 22 Tomlinson projects to be a candidate to be a dominant #1, but at a minimum will anchor any staff.  With good durability he will take the ball every 5^th day, but he projects as a 190-205 inning a year guy.  He will not be a complete game pitcher.  With A++ control  and a very heavy 4-seamer Tomlinson will have manager the strike zone in the same mold as Tom Glavine once did.  With a plus curve to back up the 4-seamer Tomlinson can keep hitters guessing.  He will need to avoid throwing too many change ups to right handed hitters, he can get a little meatbally if he tries to many rather than simply challenging with the heater.  15 wins a year and a sub 3.7 ERA with a couple of ASG appearances would make picc very excited as an owner.

Demond Parrish – Drafted 6^th overall in Season 23 Parrish projects as the dominant #1 in OKC’s organization which would make Tomlinson a deadly #2.  Combining his durability and stamina Parrish will be a 220 inning a season guy with 5-6 CGs per season potential as long as OKC lets him air it out and does not keep him on a tight pitch count.  The left hander will own lefties in the NL as he will keep the ball moving down in the strike zone with a a lot of movement on a heavy splitter and a fall off the table curve.  Parrish will have Jaime Moyer like stuff, nothing overpowering, but he will find the zone or miss low, induce the ground ball and keep hitters off base.   15-18 wins and 220 IPs are not unrealistic.  Combined with Tomlinson OKC has a deadly 1-2 punch in the coming years.

Arizona Wildcats – Freyja is in his 10thseason in stickball world, making it to the playoffs once as a Wild Card, and has finished 2^nd in the division 4 straight times.  Arizona is clearly a team built for today as “prospects” are like  Glee Club members in high school, if high school was in the early 90s….there just aren’t that many of them and they are not that popular.

Brad Scutaro – Is clearly the #1 prospect in the Zona farm system.  Drafted #1 overall in season 20 out of high school, Scutaro is Big League ready NOW!  Scutaro had a cup of coffee and donut in the bigs in Season 23 and it won’t be long before he assumes hi starting spot in the majors.  With projected 100 contact and 80 eye Scutaro will be a bad ball hitter, a good ball hitter and a mistake killer.  With a projected 87 power rating and Splits in the mid 80s and upper 70s think Miguel Cabrera meets chris Davis with a slice of Joey Votto.  He runs like a Molina brother, but it won’t matter he will anchor a lineup in the #3 or #4 hole.  He will have pretty good range for a 1B with an average glove, so he is not relegated to a lifetime of DHing, though in the AL that would be his ideal position.    This kid should be in the bigs seasons and is an everyday player waiting to happen.

Rich Adams – Drafted 27^th overall in Season 23, Adams projects as a plus plus range with a plus glove and average arm.  Adams could see a future in CF, but is probably best suited to 2b and you live with the average arm at the position.  At the plate if he hits his projections Adams will have a plus contact and plus eye rating.  Paired with an already great speed rating of 95 this guy is not only a threat to get on base but a major threat when he is on base.  Arizona hitters will be hard pressed to hit a double that he does not score on from first.  With just above average splits a .265-.275 average is not out of the question.  Adams projects as a #1 or #2 hitter, he does not have the power to bat in the middle of the lineup.  Rich is still a couple of seasons away from the bigs – heopfully he sees his ratings jump so he is truly effective.

Alan Ruebel- Rounds out the Arizona list.  A supplemental pick at #49 overall in Season 18, Ruebel projects as  decent  defensive 1b with a strong glove at the position. With average range for a 1B one thing for sure is he can get there he should catch it.  At the plate Ruebel has slightly above average contact and power ratings.  He will struggle some vs. lefties but this left handed hitter will hammer right handed pitching.  With an above average eye he should also be a walk machine.  With Rich Adams also in the organization Ruebel’s greatest value might be as a trading chip.    Ruebel, today, would be a valuable bench contributor and on a contending team that may be his best role as a part time 1b/DH or pinch hitter. 

Vancouver Drakes – this is season #4 for agent_wart as he took over a team on the downswing of a successful run and now looks to have returned the corner.

Vic Zumaya – Was acquired as an IFA signing inSeason23 for only $5 mil bonus.  On paper this looks like a theft in the Dominican Republic.  Signed as a short stop Zumaya’s future is at 3b.  With mid 70s range and glove ratings, an 80+ arm strength and low 70s accuracy, Zuamaya has gold glove potential at the hot corner.  At the plate Zumaya doesn’t amaze in any category, but he is relatively strong in all.  With above average contact, splits and eye Zumaya will get on base often enough and hit for a decent average.  Expect only 10-13home runs per season.  With a high 70s speed Zuamaya will also be a base path threat.  Zumaya could hit 1^st,2^nd, or 6thand below in any lineup depending on the needs.

Rusty Hawksworth – Admittedly Hawksworth makes this list over others due to my love of closers.  With a 77 durability and a 34 projected stamina, Hawk is not just your 1 inning closer.  He can be stretched when needed.  With plus plus control and velocity, hitters won’t know where the ball is going, just know it will be in the strike zone.  With a dominant 4-seamer and a serviceable above average curve Hawk should easily save 35+ games per season while appearing in 50 games for 65-70 innings with a sub 3.00 ERA.

Domingo Lunar –Checks in as the #3 prospect in Vancouver.  In Season22 Lunar inked for a 12.5 million dollar bonus, but with All-Star catchers hard to find this deal maybe worth it.  Lunar will be a slightly above average pitch caller, but a very good right handed hitter.  So good in fact that right handers won’t be able to sneak anything by him as he projects to a 100 split vs. righties.  With an upper 70s contact and mid 60s eye rating Lunar should easily hit in the .270-.280 range.  Oh, and he is no slouch against lefties either.  While not a power hitter, Lunar’s ability with the stick in his hand could land him ideally in the 5 or 6 hole as he does not run well enough to succeed as a #2 hitter.  While he could play today, Lunar sits at High A and 2 more seasons in the minors will make him All-Star caliber when he gets his shot.

MattJMiller

From: mattjmiller

Subject:   Interview

1. What is your favorite beverage? Explain.

I go through phases, sometimes a nice homemade Margarita (no sour mix bullshit), sometimes if I’m feeling girlier:  a nice Washington Apple (Canadian whiskey, Apple pucker, splash of cranberry) , also love Bloody Mary’s, Famous Dave’s or Zing Zang mix, but my go to is a dirty Beefeater martini. If I had to choose one last drink to have before getting the chair, I’d go with a Salt and Pepper Martini http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink459.html . However, Absolut Peppar is a little too pricey (I’m very cheap) so I don’t make it very often. When I go out, I’m a beer drinker, as anyone who’s watched Bar Rescue knows, beer is much cheaper than liquor to order. I’m about to finish my 4th Old Chicago tour. Where you at Ripken0713?