OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

illeracula · 09-17-2013, 12:01 AM

Last season we had a hole at firstbase. With rookie Chris Shopland getting the call to start at first. When injuries came Shopland moved over to 3B and we moved our DH/LF over to first base, Ron Alder, where he was the staple for the rest of the season, he started in 34 games. Shopland started 87 games at first, and 44 games at 3B.

Coming in 2015 we will have a dilema at first base, assuming we are healthy. Shopland hit .269-7-58 in his first season as a regular and is a solid utility man, playing 5 positions at 10 or above. He will be talked about at first base, as will Mauro Candelaria, Gilberto Ramos (41 starts last season) and, yes, Ron Alder.

The Big Leagues:
Chris Shopland is an interesting guy. He should be playing second, rated at 18, but maybe forced to play first, rated at 15. That being said he will be on the team, he will play and important role, we are just not sure where yet. Last season his first full season in with Norfolk he put decent numbers .269-7-58, but numbers that don't correlate with a corner infielder.

Gilberto Ramos another guy who plays multiple positions (6) but just didn't hit the ball last season. He will have some issues making the team this year. Two years ago he had a solid season .277-11-45, and a huge drop off last year .186-4-22, and with no options his roster spot might be in jeopardy. The reason we keep him around is his 20 defense at firstbase. Is it that important?

Ron Alder is an outfielder who is learning how to play first. This past season he was thrown to the wolves to learn the position for his bat. Too many outfielder/DH types healthy. Alder did alright posting a .981 fielding PCT, but is better suited for a corner outfield spot. He lead the league with 58 stolen bases, and put together a pretty solid year .263-11-58. He is another guy who will be in the lineup, just who knows where.

Mauro Candelaria is the most interesting player on this team. When healthy his the best pure hitter we have. His primary positions are 3B and SS, but most likely he will end up playing 1B everyday. He will compete at 3B this season, and may make Mark Morris expendable. There are going to be a lot of interesting battles going on and 1B will be center stage. Mauro hit .328-5-44 in 98 games last season and we look forward to having him healthy all season.

AAA Yokohama
Our primary firstbasemen last Jason St. John retired.

Joey Yates was our #2 in AAA, but isn't much to write home about. Last season he split time between AAA and AA. For AAA he put up dismal numbers .229-2-7, but did hit .350 in AA. At 26 it is very close to time for him to move on.

AA New Orleans
Kevin Howse was our first basemen in AA. He is 25 and still has a long way to go. If he reached his potential he wouldn't be bad sub, but at 25 that time might of come and gone. He most likely will start the season in AAA next year, and it will probably be his last horrah. For AA last season he hit .264-9-43.

David Ramirez is another 25-year old prospect on the way out. Last season he played in 78 games in AA and had a respectable season .293-9-43, which was a big drop from a promising 2013. Rameriz, as with Howse are getting close to just being warm bodies to fill roster spots.

A Jacksonville
Down here in A-ball we have some real promising kids. First is King Brock. Last year Brock was named the #7 prospect in the game. Brock has done nothing, but develop since he joined the league as a 18-year-old. Expect Brock, now 20, to move up to AA and show off his skills there. With great ratings with the bat, and brick for a glove he projects to be a DH. Hopefully he will be able to develop some fielding skills over the next few seasons. In A-ball this year Brock hit .285-7-79. He had an off year with the bat.

Francisco Gallegos was signed as an international free-agent. He has a tremendous ceiling and at 17 years old he has a lot of time to reach that ceiling. He has show flashes of tremendous power during BP, but the worries are his eye. He will be a better fielder than Brock in the long run. Last season after signing Francisco hit .333-0-14. Expect him to be the starting 1B here in A-ball next year.

Predictions for 2015: Last year firstbase was a mess, hopefully this year we will have some stability. I think the front runner for 1B is Shopland, which means Candelaria will be at 3B. That being said Alder will be putting up a fight for 1B duty as well. Its really up in the air. Expect a possible deal, Marcus Morris, Gilberto Ramos and/or Chris Shopland could be moved if the right deal comes a long... then again if you ask me tomorrow and I am pretty sure it all will change.

09-17-2013, 12:01 AM	#163
illeracula Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Delaware Posts: 3,931	Firstbase Overview Last season we had a hole at firstbase. With rookie Chris Shopland getting the call to start at first. When injuries came Shopland moved over to 3B and we moved our DH/LF over to first base, Ron Alder, where he was the staple for the rest of the season, he started in 34 games. Shopland started 87 games at first, and 44 games at 3B. Coming in 2015 we will have a dilema at first base, assuming we are healthy. Shopland hit .269-7-58 in his first season as a regular and is a solid utility man, playing 5 positions at 10 or above. He will be talked about at first base, as will Mauro Candelaria, Gilberto Ramos (41 starts last season) and, yes, Ron Alder. The Big Leagues: Chris Shopland is an interesting guy. He should be playing second, rated at 18, but maybe forced to play first, rated at 15. That being said he will be on the team, he will play and important role, we are just not sure where yet. Last season his first full season in with Norfolk he put decent numbers .269-7-58, but numbers that don't correlate with a corner infielder. Gilberto Ramos another guy who plays multiple positions (6) but just didn't hit the ball last season. He will have some issues making the team this year. Two years ago he had a solid season .277-11-45, and a huge drop off last year .186-4-22, and with no options his roster spot might be in jeopardy. The reason we keep him around is his 20 defense at firstbase. Is it that important? Ron Alder is an outfielder who is learning how to play first. This past season he was thrown to the wolves to learn the position for his bat. Too many outfielder/DH types healthy. Alder did alright posting a .981 fielding PCT, but is better suited for a corner outfield spot. He lead the league with 58 stolen bases, and put together a pretty solid year .263-11-58. He is another guy who will be in the lineup, just who knows where. Mauro Candelaria is the most interesting player on this team. When healthy his the best pure hitter we have. His primary positions are 3B and SS, but most likely he will end up playing 1B everyday. He will compete at 3B this season, and may make Mark Morris expendable. There are going to be a lot of interesting battles going on and 1B will be center stage. Mauro hit .328-5-44 in 98 games last season and we look forward to having him healthy all season. AAA Yokohama Our primary firstbasemen last Jason St. John retired. Joey Yates was our #2 in AAA, but isn't much to write home about. Last season he split time between AAA and AA. For AAA he put up dismal numbers .229-2-7, but did hit .350 in AA. At 26 it is very close to time for him to move on. AA New Orleans Kevin Howse was our first basemen in AA. He is 25 and still has a long way to go. If he reached his potential he wouldn't be bad sub, but at 25 that time might of come and gone. He most likely will start the season in AAA next year, and it will probably be his last horrah. For AA last season he hit .264-9-43. David Ramirez is another 25-year old prospect on the way out. Last season he played in 78 games in AA and had a respectable season .293-9-43, which was a big drop from a promising 2013. Rameriz, as with Howse are getting close to just being warm bodies to fill roster spots. A Jacksonville Down here in A-ball we have some real promising kids. First is King Brock. Last year Brock was named the #7 prospect in the game. Brock has done nothing, but develop since he joined the league as a 18-year-old. Expect Brock, now 20, to move up to AA and show off his skills there. With great ratings with the bat, and brick for a glove he projects to be a DH. Hopefully he will be able to develop some fielding skills over the next few seasons. In A-ball this year Brock hit .285-7-79. He had an off year with the bat. Francisco Gallegos was signed as an international free-agent. He has a tremendous ceiling and at 17 years old he has a lot of time to reach that ceiling. He has show flashes of tremendous power during BP, but the worries are his eye. He will be a better fielder than Brock in the long run. Last season after signing Francisco hit .333-0-14. Expect him to be the starting 1B here in A-ball next year. Predictions for 2015: Last year firstbase was a mess, hopefully this year we will have some stability. I think the front runner for 1B is Shopland, which means Candelaria will be at 3B. That being said Alder will be putting up a fight for 1B duty as well. Its really up in the air. Expect a possible deal, Marcus Morris, Gilberto Ramos and/or Chris Shopland could be moved if the right deal comes a long... then again if you ask me tomorrow and I am pretty sure it all will change. __________________ --- Check out my OOTP dynasty, the DelMarVa Baseball League: DelMarVa Baseball League. and the spin off: DelMarVa Baseball League - 2037 WBC Tournament - Won by Team USA - New England. DelMarVa Baseball League - 2039 WBC Tournament - Won by Team USA - New England..