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Spring Recap
The rosters are set and its opening day here the DelMarVa baseball league. I am happy to report that we made it through spring healthy, hopefully that is a sign to come, and with the best record in the league, going 19-5. All in all the roster trimming was pretty easy, the final batter was a tough one as well as the final 2 relievers. Yasutoki Ine was sent down to AAA and Bryan O'Neil, a spare outfielder, will be staying with us. O'Neil hit .283 this spring, slumping near the end, but with no options we figured we would give him a shot to show us what he has.
The line-up is set and it looks very similiar to last seasons, which should be a good thing. We have some questions regarding SS and 2B, but they shoudl work themselves out over time.
Kent Davis - CF
Roberto Perez - 3B
Jose Rodriquez - DH
Derek Campbell - RF
Pablo Freitas - LF
Mauro Candelaria - 1B
Julio Romero - C
Jesus Rivera - 2B
Augusto Rodriquez - SS
The bench will consist of 5 players:
Gilberto Ramos - 1B/RF/LF
Byran O'Neil - LF/RF
Cody Johnson - 2B/3B/SS/CF
Jose Escamilla - 2B/3B/SS
Ed Duke - C
Mauro Candelaria started playing first 2 seasons ago and he goes into this season with an 18 rating. He went from being a guy without a posistion to our starting first-baseman. He doesn't have the power that you would expect from your typical first bagger, but if he hits the way he shoul it won't matter.
Jesus, Augusto and Jose Escamilla will split time at 2B and SS till we figure out what we are going to do with that position, at least all 3 are good defenders and are welcome assets to our team.
During spring Pablo Freitas lead the way showing us that his injury from last season has healed and he his healthy and ready to go!
Only one starter returns from last seasons opening day staff, Sun Ho, so it should be an intersting season for us with our rotation. In a money saving overhaul I think we came out ahead, but we won't find out till the season gets going. Jose Matos was with us most of the season last year, but he was an early season aquisition.
The starting 5:
Miguel Contreras
Jose Matos
Ron Reilly
Sun Ho
Joe Parker
The bullpen is pretty much the same as it was last season with Jamie King on the opening day roster, being the only change.
Closer:
Dalton Whitaker
Set-up Men:
Will Rose
Jamie King
Middle Relief:
Elmer Hawkins (lefty specialist)
Ivan Pineda
Ron Harris
The bullpen to me is a little weak. I have tried to make some minor deals, but I can't seem to find anyone with the "control" that I like. Almost sent Ron Harris away, but thought a little more about it and it wasn't the right time. We will see, we have 2 or 3 guys in AAA that will be able to pitch up here if the time comes.
I am not sure what to say about our rotation outside of #1 and #2. Ho is back from injury, and I don't know much about Reilly and Parker. We have 2 young guys in AAA, plus Cooper that are ready to fill in, so I do like our depth.
Overall we are predicted to win 116 games, which I think is a little abusrd, but who knows.
Cavalier Predictions:
Pitchers in the top 10:
Miguel Contreras: 22-2 2.03
Jose Matos: 22-5 2.18
Sun Ho: 17-5 3.36
Ron Reilly: 18-10 3.80
Hitters in the top 10:
Roberto Perez: .293-24-105
Derek Campbell: .288-40-129
Not too shabby seeing 4 of our starting 5 in the top 10 predictions. They have a lot ot live up to to obtains stats like that. I was surprised to not see Kent Davis on the list, he has put together two great hitting seasons, so we will see.
Ex-Cavs making an appearance:
Don Sweetapple, Richmond: 16-10 3.69
Ron Alder, Ellicott City: .334-16-92
Jack Clow, Dover: 5-4 2.89 53 SV
Standings thoughts:
They are predicting big things in Georgetown, with them battling Dover for the division title. Should be interesting. Georgetown has never lived up to the hyper. Dover lost Anthony Cunningham and are still predicted to win 96 games, it'd be interesting to see how he'd help him if he was still able to play. And don't count the Braves out, they have the pitching (but they did lose their #4 for 3 months and their closer for a month)!!
The Iron Pigs did what they had to make sure they were going to be a team to compete long term, and any team with Marcos Estrada will compete. I don't see much change in this division, but I am surprised that New Castle, the Conference Champ is predicted to have an 82 win season!
The Baltimore have finished last in their division for 4 straight seasons, to think they will win it this year is a little far fetched, in my opinion. I just can't see the other 3 teams, which have always been battling for the top to not put up a tough fight!
Seeing us predicted to win 116 games is a little crazy. I still think we will need to fend off the Senators and the Cardinals. We are good, but not sure we are "that" good.
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