As we head into the third season of the Bay League, let's take a detailed look at each of the eight teams.
We'll start our tour of the league with the Allison Spelunkers, a team that could well be on the rise.
2014 Season: 29-41, tied for 7th (last) place
2015 Season: 35-35, tied for 3rd place
Roster Losses: 3B Ron Swanson (14 AB over last two seasons)
All players will be listed with age, star rating, overall ratings and talents, followed by 2015 (last season) stats. Projected starters are shown in bold.
Position Players:
C
Arlon Martin (age 27, 1 star, 5/7/5/5/5 vs. 5/6/4/5/5)
.224/.261/.324, 5 HR, 17 RBI, 14 runs, 63 games (210 AB)
C Matt Waldman (age 29, 1 star, 4/7/5/3/5 vs. 4/7/4/3/5)
.316/.350/.421, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1 run, 9 games (19 AB)
Neither option is particularly palatable. Waldman is a better defensive player, but his lack of offensive skills makes him a poor option as a starter. Martin can hit a little bit, but scouts around the league think he's lucky to throw the ball down to second on the fly.
1B Larry Nielsen (age 32, 1.5 stars, 6/5/7/4/5 vs. 5/6/7/5/6)
.237/.282/.515, 6 HR, 19 RBI, 13 runs, 61 G (97 AB)
1B
Walter Sebring (age 19, 5 stars, 7/4/9/10/7 vs. 8/5/9/10/7)
.298/.398/.434, 6 HR, 29 RBI, 28 runs, 64 G (198 AB)
Nielsen began the season as the starter, having started in 2014, but it was quickly apparent that there was no reason to keep Walter Sebring down on the farm. Sebring took over the starting role in May and kept it the rest of the season, winning Top Rookie honors. Sebring is a special hitter, power, discipline and a sweet swing. He may someday be discussed in the same breath as the great Ace Gervin.
2B
Alton Strong (age 29, 4.5 stars, 7/6/7/9/7 vs. 7/6/7/9/7)
.253/.320/.438, 11 HR, 43 RBI, 37 runs, 9 SB, 68 G (233 AB)
2B Clayton Turner (age 33, 1 star, 4/6/5/3/5 vs. 4/6/4/3/5)
.111/.111/.111, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 run, 10 G (9 AB)
The question of last season was: what's wrong with Alton Strong? The power was definitely there, but he spent far less time on base (.389 OBP vs. .320 from 2014 to 2015) and with his speed, that really harmed the Allison run-scoring machine. He's a brilliant defensive player with outstanding range, and should be good for 15+ SB a season. If Strong can return to form this season, the Spelunkers should score loads more runs.
3B
Jeff Anderson (age 28, 3.5 stars, 8/6/2/8/7 vs. 9/7/2/9/7)
.340/.431/.441, 2 HR, 29 RBI, 37 runs, 70 G (247 AB)
3B Brian Wampler (age 32, 1 star, 4/5/6/4/4 vs. 4/5/5/4/4)
.500/.500/1.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 runs, 3 G (2 AB)
Anderson is miscast as a #5 hitter in the Allison lineup, where his great contact skills and plate discipline would be more wisely used in the 2 hole. While Strong, Richardson and Sebring are the public face of the team, Jeff Anderson is considered by the team to be the glue that holds things together. Simply a solid, dependable player who won't embarrass himself on defense either.
SS Jared Davis (age 34, 1 star, 3/4/4/4/3 vs. 4/5/4/5/4)
.231/.262/.333, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 3 runs, 31 G (39 AB)
SS
Rodney Miller (age 37, 2.5 stars, 4/4/2/7/4 vs. 4/5/2/8/4)
.233/.319/.314, 3 HR, 22 RBI, 23 runs, 69 G (210 AB)
Miller is clearly on the decline, but the local product remains a popular player with the fans. The Spelunkers don't currently own the rights to any other shortstops, so there'll be some serious consideration given this season to how Miller will be replaced.
LF
Garrick Brinkley (age 29, 2.5 stars, 4/7/5/5/4 vs. 4/7/5/5/5)
.244/.318/.400, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 18 runs, 6 SB, 50 G (160 AB)
LF
Derrick Zimmerman (age 32, 1.5 stars, 4/6/3/1/5 vs. 3/6/4/2/5)
.200/.243/.300, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 12 runs, 5 SB, 32 G (70 AB)
The left field platoon of Garrick and Derrick is another area where the Spelunkers could stand to improve. Luckily, the better hitter is the lefty-swinging Brinkley, which means he sees more time, but neither player will make a pitcher worry about leaving one out of the plate too much.
CF
Jules Cooper (age 26, 2 stars, 4/7/6/2/5 vs. 4/7/6/2/4)
.221/.246/.456, 10 HR, 27 RBI, 30 runs, 7 SB, 63 G (217 AB)
CF Joe Leonard (age 35, 1 star, 4/7/4/4/4 vs. 3/6/4/5/4)
.191/.242/.270, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 12 runs, 9 SB, 42 G (89 AB)
Another outfield platoon, and another pair of guys that aren't going to break any offensive records. Leonard is the player-manager of the team, which could partly explain how he got 89 AB. Cooper's the better hitter, but a poor defensive player. Another position to be upgraded. Cooper also sees time in right field vs. lefties, which should tell you about the state of Allison's right fielders...
RF
Dionsio Brey (age 33, 1 star, 4/6/7/5/5 vs. 4/6/7/5/5)
.180/.231/.336, 8 HR, 23 RBI, 21 runs, 4 SB, 64 G (211 AB)
RF Stephan Nolan (age 35, 1 star, 3/8/2/3/5 vs. 2/8/2/3/4)
.214/.241/.321, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 6 runs, 10 SB, 28 G (28 AB)
Dionsio Brey has won the Top Leather Award in right field in both seasons of the Bay League's existence. He doesn't look particularly smooth out there, but he gets the job done. If he could do the same at the plate, the outfield would be in good shape. Alas, he doesn't. Nolan is an incredible baserunner and useful in a pinch, but that's about it.
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Pitchers to come next...)