Helsingborg Hammers :: 2050 Season Preview
Lots of familiar faces in the lineup.
1. Ping Marroquin, SS
I decided to bring Ping back even though he was expensive. He is a solid SS still in his prime and a prototypical leadoff hitter. He will get on base and steal 60+ bases. Could reach 500 SB this year.
2. Razor Lopez, CF
The other half of the blockbuster trade with Zach Campbell. Razor is a good all around bat. He should hit for average and power and play great defense in CF. He also likes to hide in other player's lockers.
3. Mike Harris, LF
Harris is the other new name in the lineup. He is coming off a great year with the Riggers. He his a classic OBP/SLG bat. Even though he played in a pitcher's park, I think his average will come down. He will still get on base plenty for the 4 and 5 hitters and has the pop to drive in plenty of runs hisself.
4. Jay Brittain, 1B
Jay my probably my riskiest deal of the offseason. He was once one of the most consistent bats in the league, but last season he played terribly for both Borg and Dam. I am hoping he is happy now that he is back and getting paid well. His spring numbers were a good sign. Could reach 250 HR this season.
5. The Alchemist Cotterell, DH
Henny will hit 5th. Not much to say here. Mr. Hammer will be chasing 2000 hits this season.
6. Dennis Weber, RF
Weber is coming off a pretty shitty year. He is over 30, so his time in CF is likely over. I am hoping moving him to RF full time and regular rest will get him on track and back to a 4+ WAR season.
7. Owen Roddis, C
The 6'6" catcher has been a slight disappointment with the bat, but he is still a 3+ WAR player. Could throw out #200 this year.
8. Craig Decker, 3B
Craig should hopefully break out this year. He won't be a star, but should be an above average bat and glove at 3B
9. Danny Worsfold, 2B
Like Craig, Danny is looking to break out and reach his full potential in his age 25 season. He has done all he can in AAA and I am hoping those numbers will finally translate to the WBL.
My bench is solid. Andy Darrach is a super utility player who plays great defense at a lot of positions and still hits for a decent average. He isnt exactly pleased to be on the bench, but he will get plenty of ABs between 2B/3B/SS. I brought back Butcher Spitsbaard (via the Riggers) as the back up catcher. He did a great job there last season and I didnt want to spend much on the position. Former first rounder Tim Fisher will be the fourth OF. He can defend all three OF positions and has a passable bat.
I decided to give Naz the opening day start. He had a solid year in the bullpen last year, but it was also our worst season in a decade. Putting him in the rotation also forces me to run a six man rotation. I'll probably reevaluate this about a month in and see if I need to move Naz and his 35 stamina back to the pen. Schulz was my big FA signing this year. He should help make up for the loss of Campbell. Guti is a good to great #3. Rod and Dan are regulars in the rotation. Dan might fall back to the 'pen as he pitches better there, but he had a great spring. Racetrack Navio will round out the rotation. He pitched 1/3 of a season last year and won a BTT award. He has 3 great pitches, so I am hoping his pitching ratings pop a bit.
Sal Garcia was the odd man out of the rotation to bring Naz in. Jorge Martinez will probably be the closer, but I am going to start the season with no defined roles and see how things play out. The Munoz brothers are a bit redundant, but Ricardo might be more of a set up man or closer. The newest arm in the bullpen is Trevor Cosman. Cosman was an IFA signing a while back who I thought might be the next Naz, but his stamina is just too low. He strikes hitters out at a very high rate.
Overall I am hoping for a bounce back year. I think the slight improvements I made, along with playing rebounding from down years, will do just that.