NL West Preview: Season 24

This entry marks the second of a series of previews by division for the young 24th season of Upper Deck.  A run down of each team will be followed by an overall analysis of the division.  Today, we will wrap up the west coast by previewing the NL West.

Las Vegas Desert Dogs

Key additions: RP Ernesto Cervelli, RF Jordan Stark, C Orber Moreno

Key losses: SP/RP Roberto Nieves, RP Harold Lee

The Las Vegas Desert Dogs are only one full season removed from winning the NL West, but took a half step back last season.  They won just 85 games, six fewer than the year prior and good for third in the most competitive division in the National League.

Despite the Desert Dogs’ well documented bullpen woes - including a slightly above average 20 blown saves - the club actually finished with a pitching staff that was well above league average by most metrics.  What consistently plagued the team was an offense that triple slashed .251/.312/.409 - below average figures across the board.

Nonetheless, the bullpen may have cost the team a postseason berth, with a narrow margin of only three games deciding the second wild card team.  As a result, Las Vegas did its best to shore up an aging and at times ineffective pen.  They saved plenty of money by declining the $14.3M option of Roberto Nieves and allowed Harold Lee to walk after a largely ineffective season 23.  They then moved to sign 37-year old Ernesto Cervelli, who brings a 1.29 WHIP and a career 3.59 ERA in nearly 1,800 innings pitched.  Additionally, it is hoped that an early-season promotion of young flamethrower RP Wilson Cox will supplement the pen.

The club also signed C Orber Moreno to back up primary C Darron Wilson.  Moreno provides top tier pitch calling and a solid bat off the bench.  The biggest move, however, probably came in the form of a four-year extension for one star player, 1B Jamie Boyd. The left-handed first basemen has a career .838 OPS over parts of six seasons with the organization.  The extension buys out first three seasons of free agency.  Boyd will anchor the team along with LF Robin Fonville, 3B Frank Bigley, and SPs Zachrey Palmer and Andre Adams.

Omaha Ogres

Key additions: RP Armando Cruz, SP Jose Pelaez, SP Randy Sweeney

Key losses: RP Ernesto Cervelli, RP Luis Mantalban, LF Hideo Yang, SP Jamie Fulchino, RF Melky Gutierrez

Despite floating around .500 for a number of seasons, Omaha has helped its future efforts with several notable recent draft picks, including SP Tomas Cabeza and CF Yorrick Eyre.  Last season at the Major League level, a below average offense was coupled with an average pitching staff.  Unfortunately, an ownership lapse throughout the offseason may have hindered its present efforts to bring a championship to Omaha after two consecutive fourth place finishes.

Upon taking over of the front office, wxscott quickly made moves to stabilize the flailing organization. Veteran SPs Jose Pelaez and Randy Sweeney were signed to give much needed innings to an overworked pitching staff, and have thus far delivered.  RP Armando Cruz was brought in to replace some of the innings lost by the losses of RPs Luis Mantalban and Ernesto Cervelli, signed by division rival Las Vegas.

Another key move came earlier this season, when SP Onelki Galarraga was extended for four years by previous ownership.  His 1.32 WHIP over nearly 450 IP last two seasons certainly qualifies him as a rotation stalwart and worthy investment.  However, the lapse in ownership also allowed SP Jamie Fulchino and OFs Hideo Yang and Melky Gutierrez to leave via free agency.  The new ownership has since promoted the powerful LF Jason Evert to replace some of the lost production in the outfield.  Yang and Gutierrez remain unsigned.

Santa Cruz Mavericks

Key additions: SP Luis Sierra, IF Curt Gant,

Key losses: SP/RP Travis Thurman, SP Francisco Abreu, IF Jamie Won

The Santa Cruz Mavericks have improved each season under bigpop34’s leadership, and made the postseason as a wild card team last season at 90-72.  The pitching staff’s opponents’ average, on base percentage, slugging percentage, and team WHIP and ERA all ranked within the top four league wide, while its offense lagged slightly behind league averages.

Despite its pitching successes, the Mavericks allowed Travis Thurman and Francisco Abreu to leave via free agency.  The two combined for nearly 50 starts and 300 innings pitched, pitching to a sub 1.20 WHIP and 3.30 ERA.  To replace some of those innings, the team claimed SP Luis Sierra to fill out the rotation.  The team also let utility infielder Jamie Won walk, and have essentially replaced his starts with free agent signee Curt Gant.

In other important moves that did not re-shape the roster, bigpop34 drew up a five-year extension for two-time All Star RP Mike Lasker, a valuable bullpen piece for the club, and retained backup C Mike Cashner, who has accrued significant playing time behind season 23 Silver Slugger C Everth Hernandez the past three seasons.

Scottsdale Artichokes

Key additions: SS Edgardo Colon

Key losses: None

Last season, Scottsdale won 104 games, good for their second consecutive playoff berth and the best season after a long rebuild under alexkluge’s leadership.  Like division rival Santa Cruz, the Artichokes had a stellar pitching staff last season but, unlike the Mavericks, also had a top ten offense by various metrics.

After posting such a successful season, the Artichokes had a fairly quiet offseason, without much need to tinker.  In the most notable offseason acquisition, the club upgraded at shortstop, dealing prospect Pablo Nuno for Edgardo Colon, owner of 130 career HR through eight seasons and a recent four-year contract extension that begins in season 25.

Certainly, the club’s biggest moves came more than 20 games into the season with the promotion of several prospects (and the demotion of various long-term players to create roster space).  These include super prospect 3B Earl Reynolds, drafted by Scottsdale 6th overall in season 21.  He will make his long anticipated debut shortly, as will season 20 first-rounder RP Polin Martin and season 19 draftees RP Woodie Hutton, and slugging 1B Ivan Montilla.  These promotions should provide serious upgrade for a team that has begun the season 15-7.

NL West Analysis

The best division in the NL has certainly positioned itself to be the best once again.  Las Vegas addressed a serious need - its bullpen - and currently has no reason to believe another step back awaits them.  However, Scottsdale has managed to improve its already-top tier team and remains the team to beat in the West.  Santa Cruz, another team that could justify making relatively few big moves this offseason, may see itself become a serious buyer in advance of the non-waiver trade deadline should it need a boost in this competitive division down the stretch.

Despite its slow start, Omaha, under new and steady leadership, also appears ready to right the ship and stabilize for the duration of the season - though the ownership turmoil that endured makes it difficult to envision the club working its way out of the cellar for a third straight season.

AL West Preview: Season 24

This entry marks the first of a series of previews by division for the young 24th season of Upper Deck.  A run down of each team will be followed by an overall analysis of the division.  We will start with the AL West - the division of the reigning champion Albuquerque Arrows.

Albuquerque Arrows

Key additions: SP Bob Keefe, SP Albert Maradona

Key losses: RP Kurt Cepeda, SP Ramiro Bonifacio

Albuquerque had a reasonably quiet offseason, but as the expression goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”  The Arrows have won at least 97 games in each of the last six seasons and are coming off of their second World Series victory of the last four seasons.

The team was not without its offseason losses, however.  LHP Ramiro Bonifacio, signed away by the Salem Witch Hunts, made 208 appearances (130 starts) over five seasons with the club, compiling a 79-36 record to go with a 1.34 WHIP and 3.94 ERA in 841 innings pitched.  RHP Kurt Cepeda, 30, had spent his entire career with the Arrows organization, pitching well above league average along the way, despite a rocky season 23 (.300/.353/.538 against, 6.79 ERA in 55.2 IP).  He has signed with the Chicago Old Style.  Both pitchers were tied to draft pick compensation.

To replace those fairly productive arms, the Arrows moved to sign a couple of veterans: 36-year old southpaw Bob Keefe and 35-year old Albert Maradona.  Keefe, who has split time between the rotation and the bullpen over his career, signed a one-year pact worth $5.5M (including bonuses).  After a similar career workload to Bonifacio, Keefe’s career numbers come in slightly more favorably, with a 1.31 WHIP and sub-4.00 ERA.  Maradona, with more than 2,200 IP under his belt, signed a two-year pact worth $13M.  Both Keefe and Maradona have begun the season in the bullpen.

The biggest offseason move the Arrows made, however, may be the two-year extension of 1B Harry Crawford. The slick-fielding 32-year old clocked 48 HR and drove in 122 runs in season 23, slightly outperforming his robust career .262/.343/.507 triple slash.  He has thus far spent his entire career with this organization. The deal buys out his final season of arb eligibility and his first year of Free Agency.

Fresno Nighthawks

Key additions: 1B Omar Blasco, SP Bobby Lovullo, 3B Oswaldo Alomar, SP Phil Chen, 1B Dallas Bolsinger

Key losses: 3B Alfredo Pujols, SP King High, C Orber Moreno, RF Miguel Bocachica

Under the leadership of hofstad_c, Fresno has improved by 17 games over the course of three seasons, finishing second to Albuquerque in the previous two.  In season 23, however, its pitching was considerably below league average.  And despite an offense that was well above average, two-time All Star Miguel Bocachica, the team’s primary RF, retired.

To combat some of their pitching woes, the team parted ways with declining SP King High, who won 15 games in season 23 despite sub-par peripherals, and replaced him with SPs Phil Chen and Rule 5 pickup Bobby Lovullo.  Chen offers promise as a heavy sinker baller, but Lovullo, whose young career consists of only six starts, landed himself on the 60-day DL after only two in Fresno.  The team also dealt promising youngster Alfredo Pujols to put SP prospect Ahmed Olmos in the pipeline.

To counteract Bocachica’s departure, the Nighthawks signed power hitting 1B Omar Blasco to a three-year pact and picked 1B Dallas Bolsinger in the Rule 5 Draft, paving the way for what could be an effective platoon and allowing Rafael Balentien, who hit 39 HR last season, to shift to RF.  Oswaldo Alomar also provides a reliable bench bat, easing the departure of Orber Moreno, an offensively sound backup catcher.

Honolulu Lava

Key additions: C Blaine Knotts, 2B Gonzalez Carrasco

Key losses: None

Honolulu, like their division rival Fresno, have also improved in each of the last three seasons, though that hasn’t been enough to prevent three consecutive last place finishes.  In season 23, the Lava still found themselves somewhat below average in the batter’s box and on the hill.  Further, the Lava rated as below average defensively, a problem for a staff that can rely somewhat heavily on the ground ball.

The Lava didn’t lose many ML contributors this offseason, aside from a reliever with a bloated ERA or two.  They signed pitch calling wizard Blaine Knotts to back up primary catcher Oleg Blair, but their biggest move of the offseason involved the dealing of big time prospect Carlos Martinez for two prospects and 2B Gonzalez Carrasco, who has just made his big league debut and who easily fits into the Lava’s lineup as one of its more dynamic hitters.

Aside from those moves, key extensions were given.  RP Steve Ondrusek, who converted 31 of 36 saves for Honolulu last season, was signed to a two-year extension that carries a mutual option for season 26.  Additionally, 25-year old SP Vladimir Calvo was given a five-year extension, buying out his first two seasons of free agency. Calvo, acquired in another deal with Fresno last season, has shown promise at times during his young career, including a 1.28 WHIP in more than 100 innings in Fresno prior to last season’s trade.  Honolulu is betting on five seasons of that pitcher with this extension.

Salem Witch Hunts

Key additions: SP Ramiro Bonifacio, SP Jamie Fulchino

Key losses: SS Aubrey Kelly, SP Phil Chen, IF/OF Stryker Pagan

As with Honolulu and Fresno, Salem was plagued by a subpar pitching staff in season 23.  For this reason, the team finished four under .500 despite its powerful offense and above average defense, anchored by perennial Gold Glover Aubrey Kelly.

The Witch Hunts let SP Phil Chen walk, lured Ramiro Bonifacio away from division rival Albuquerque, and added groundball pitcher Jamie Fulchino, hoping both would strengthen the rotation.  In a bit of bad luck, though, Bonifacio suffered a stress fracture in his elbow in his fourth start in Salem.  Fortunately, the club did not lose its 13th overall pick pick, which was protected, for the signing.  They also acquired a pair of dynamite prospects in Domingo Nunez and Howard Rolls.

Salem also released arb eligible Stryker Pagan, who had played a variety of positions and averaged more than 35 home runs per seasons over the last three years.  While the production may be missed, the Witch Hunts will rely more heavily on Cesar Moraga and Sandy Sullivan at 3B and LF, respectively.  Both players are quite productive in their own right.

Despite such high profile additions and the loss of Pagan, some of the biggest moves came in the form of promotions from its minor league pipeline.  Salem traded defensive wizard to the New Britain Rock Cats, opening the door for rookie SS Pablo Aguilar, another defensive minded shortstop but with a stronger bat.  Among the other promotions include heavy ground ball pitcher Del Reagan and electrifying SP Zip Lawrence, who has already greatly reduced the impact of Bonifacio’s injury in his young career.

AL West Analysis

Honolulu continues to make incremental improvements to their big league club while continuing to build up their farm.  Fresno, while also continuing to rebuild, has bas aggressively upgraded parts of its club, though it may still find problems in its rotation with Lovullo going down early.

Meanwhile, Salem may have addressed its most pressing ML needs most aggressively, giving them short odds to be the most improved team in the division.  That said, Albuquerque is still the team to beat - and not just in the AL West - after returning much of the same roster from last season’s championship club.

Up close with Iowa City owner rschaitkin

Recently I got the chance to sit down with Iowa City owner rschaitkin and here is what he had to say...

1.) Who is rschaitkin?

I am about to turn 22 years old. I'm a huge Chicago Cubs fan, and I just graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.S. in Psychology. I've spent the past year doing research with the Children's Hospital which has been super rewarding. Next, I'm going to graduate school for Counseling.

2.) What are some of your interests and hobbies?

I love sports. I have MLB.TV and I watch it as frequently as I can. I'm a huge University of Pittsburgh sports fan (Go Panthers!), a Chicago Cubs and Bears fan, and a New York Rangers fan. I (sporadically) write about the Cubs for a FanSided blog, and I enjoy watching Game of Thrones, Sons of Anarchy, The Americans, and just about any sitcom.

3.) Did you play any sports growing up?

I played baseball and basketball my entire life, and I still enjoy going to the diamond with some friends or playing some pick-up basketball. I also ran cross country in high school and played one year of lacrosse for my high school team. We were not very good, haha.

4.) Do you have any sports-related items on your bucket list that you have not yet done? 

I need to see the Cubbies win a World Series before I go. I've been a fan for 17 years, going back to the summer of 1998 when Sammy Sosa was hitting every pitch into the bleachers. 

5.) What is your favorite WIS moment?
My favorite WIS moment was probably making it to the playoffs in Gridiron Dynasty last season for the first time as the coach of D-II Minnesota-Duluth. It's a feat I have yet to accomplish in HBD, but I think I'm getting close!

6.) What do you think is more important for an HBD team? A sure fire Ace? Strong pitching staff? Well rounded lineup? Speed, defense, coaching?

I think a strong pitching staff is crucial, as is defense. In my time here, I'm getting better, but a weak pitching staff down the stretch has cost me dearly in the past. I think your hitting can be average more or less as long as you have strong defense and pitching.

7.) Which five people, past or present, sit at your dream roundtable discussion? 

Ryne Sandberg, my dad, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Farley, and Charles Bolden.

8.) What is your favorite or most memorable in-person sports moment?

My most memorable in-person sports moment was the Pitt-Virginia Tech game my sophomore year of college at Heinz Field. VT was #17 in the country, and we were supposed to be pretty abysmal. Heinz was packed with VT fans who were antagonizing those of us that were Pitt fans early on, but we had the last laugh as we blew them out 35-17. Pitt held the lead from wire to wire.

9.) If you could change one thing in HBD, what would it be?

If I could change one thing about HBD, it would be budgeting. I don't understand why someone would lose half of the money they transfer to a different department. I'm no accountant, but I feel like in real life, if I had $300 and moved it around and they told me I only had $150 left, I'd be pretty upset!

10.) Do you have any favorite players from any of your HBD team(s)? 

My favorite player would probably be Pete Garcia or Dennis Chong. Chong has been on my team since before I started owning it, and he's a stud. Garcia was my first ever draft pick, so naturally I have a soft spot for him. He should be debuting at some point this season.

Up Close with New Britain GM dflom2008

Recently I sat down and chat with dflom2008, GM of the New Britain Rock Cats and founding member of Upper Deck 

1.) Who is dflom2008?

David Flom 42 years old 5th grade teacher and head boys basketball coach in Eden Prairie, MN.

2.) What are some of your interests and hobbies? 

Coaching takes most of my time. I still play amatuer baseball and play racquetball. I also coach my son's fourth grade baseball team. I enjoy anything outside.

3.) Did you play any sports growing up?

I grew up in a small town, so I played basketball, baseball, and football. I continued to play baseball and basketball at a D3 college - Gustavus.

4.) Do you have any sports-related items on your bucket list that you have not yet done? 

We do an awesome trip every year with my buddies and their sons - we simply call it our boys trip - we travel to different major league parks and bring our baseball equipment along - we pull over every 2-3 hours and play a game wherever we can find a field. It would be fun to eventually get to all the stadiums. I would also love to watch a final four.

5.) What is your favorite WIS moment?

I always enjoy looking at the draft and if you were lucky enough to get one of your top ranked guys - same goes for IFA. I have been able to get a few of those guys that past 3 years, so hopefully can compete for a world series soon.

6.) What do you think is more important for an HBD team? A sure fire Ace? Strong pitching staff? Well rounded lineup? Speed, defense, coaching?

I think well rounded pitching a good defense are the keys. However, I haven't exactly won any titles yet, so I'm not sure my advise is very good...

7.) Which five people, past or present, sit at your dream roundtable discussion? 

Jesus, Charles Barkley, Colin Powell, Mickey Mantle, Kate Upton

8.) What is your favorite or most memorable in-person sports moment?

When I was 18, I beat Trent Tucker in one on one - I bet him that if I won, he would have to fly me to NY for a Knicks game (this was in 1991). I beat him and he followed through. They played the Bulls. I was in the front row - was able to join him before and after game in locker room and at shoot around the day before. Got to meet Jordan after the game.

9.) If you could change one thing in HBD, what would it be?

Some method to shorten rollover time from season to season - not sure how to do that though...

10.) Do you have any favorite players past or present from any of your HBD team(s)? 

Brian Fornataro - He was the first pick overall in this world.

Up Close with Los Angeles Fresh Owner MisterFresh

 Recently I got a chance to sit down with MisterFresh who was in my inaugural world Puckett and is a founding member here is Upper Deck.

1.) Who is misterfresh?
I am a 35 year old investment analyst in the Kansas City area and I handle my firm's investments in the media, retail, and restaurant industries. I've been married for 10 years and have two boys, ages 4 and 1. My first name is Doug and so I was always "Doug E. Fresh" growing up... at some point or another that evolved into MisterFresh.
 
2.) What are some of your interests and hobbies? 
Between work, family, and a relatively new house, I stay pretty busy. I am a true media guy and I love good television shows, movies, books, video games, and live events. I've gotten pretty into whiskey (bourbon and rye in particular) and wine in recent years.

3.) Did you play any sports growing up?
 I played baseball from the 1st grade into high school and played football for a couple of years.

4.) Do you have any sports-related items on your bucket list that you have not yet done?
I really want to attend the Kentucky Derby. I'd like to go to a World Cup. As a Baylor alumnus, I am a diehard Baylor sports fan. Should they ever make a national championship game in football or men's hoops, I will find a way to be there.

5.) What is your favorite WIS moment?
Back when I played sim baseball (pre-HBD), I won a Tournament of Champions with a team of players from the 1986 season. I was down 3-0 and came back to win. Other than that, drafting and signing (against all odds) Willie Zumaya has been pretty fun.


6.) What do you think is more important for an HBD team? A sure fire Ace? Strong pitching staff? Well rounded lineup? Speed, defense, coaching?
I rarely have a sure fire ace, so Zumaya has been an exception for me. I always have a team that ranks in the top 3 or so in plus plays, so I will go infield defense first and try to stash a few impact bats at C, LF, and RF. I tend to think 1B is the most under appreciated defensive position in this game.

7.) Which five people, past or present, sit at your dream roundtable discussion?
This is the toughest question. If the goal is for the discussion to be interesting, I'll go with Dan Arriely, Seth Klarman, David Einhorn, Ricky Sandler, and Bob Iger. If the goal is for the discussion to be entertaining, I'll go with Jimmy Fallon, Justin Timberlake, John Oliver, Stephen Colbert, and Louis CK.

8.) What is your favorite in-person sports moment?
I'd have to say that the 2011 Alamo Bowl was my favorite in person moment. Unfortunately, I wasn't at the 2011 Baylor victory over Oklahoma (RG3 to Terrance Williams for the last second win). Baseball wise, I got to see Sammy Sosa ( I am a Cub fan) hit 3 homers against the Astros in 2001.

9.) If you could change one thing in HBD, what would it be?
If we're going to have the option to spend money on it (or to not spend money on it), scouting should be a lot more important than it is. I shouldn't be able to figure out how good a prospect is going to be based on his current progression.

10.) Do you have any favorite players from any of your HBD teams?
My all time favorite player is Renyel Franco from my team in Scottsdale (Glavine300). I really like Zumaya in this league.