[illeracula]

Norfolk Update
The Cavaliers made no changes in February and will head in to Spring Training with a lot of questions around their pitching staff. So far we have shown a -6.0 drop in WAR this off season, losing and gaining 8 players. Our biggest loss was Ron Reilly (2.4), with Jamie King (1.1) and Mike Ford (1.5) being the only others that showed a 1.0 or better WAR. We only gained 2 players that had positive WAR (and only 3 and any WAR), Yann Gosselin (0.2) and Caludio Perez (0.6). With our financial troubles its easy to understand how we ended up with the difference.

Our biggest loss, however, might end up being Shawn Brock. Brock is now the #1 starter for the Wilmington Iron Pigs, but due to injuries, we didn't think he was worth the 4 million. I do believe that Brock will be one of the games top pitchers in the future, as long as he learns how to stay healthy.

Spring Training / Pitching Preview:

Starting Rotation
We have 9 starters in Spring Training this season, and there will be a battle for the #4 and 5 slots, as well as a show-down for the #6 slot. The #6 slot will most likely start the season in the bullpen, but will see some starts in there are any injuries, etc.

#1-3 in the rotation is a lock, barring something unforeseen.
1) Miguel Contreras (130-39 in 229 career starts, has won 15 or more every year of his career)
2) Matt Hollis (70-28 in 120 career starts, with back-to-back 20 win seasons and Golden Arm Awards)
3) Arturo Ramirez (35-6 in 60 career starts, injuries (Fragile) and stamina (7) have slowed him down)
- may end up being the closer when Dalton Whitaker can't get the job done any longer.

The rest of the rotation will be filled in with these guys, the top 3 are the favorites.
- Takayuki Iemochi (A lefty, went 5-4 in 11 starts last year. A star in the making)
- Vaughan Griffith (Gives up a lot of fly balls (46% GB%), but has good control and stuff)
- Paul Brown (3-1 7.06 in 6 starts last year, a top 3 rotation man of the future, Needs better control 7/11)
- Armando Lopez (22 years old, questions about Stamina (6) and Control (10/14) surround him)
- Jesus Ramirez (20 years old, pitched in 2 games last year. Not quite ready, but promising future awaits)
- Min-bum O (Just a placed holder, with an interesting name. Pitched 1 game last year, could do the same this)

The Bullpen
The bullpen is going to be under the most scrutiny this year, as the bunch last year had an incredible showing, but lost 2 of their big guns (Jamie King and Elmer Hawkins). Will the core of young guns be able to replace those two vets? We will see...

Returning in the closer role will be Dalton Whitaker. Whitaker has saved over 40 games the past 4 years and has struck out 96+ each of those years. A hard thrower who has the out pitch to get out of jams. He has had two inopportune injuries the past 2 years, and we are hoping he can return to form. Last year he was having one of the best years of his career before the injury.

The rest of the pen is up for grabs, but that being said we do have some favorites for the slots. I would like to carry 11 pitchers, but we may possibly go with 12, meaning 5 starters and 6 or 7 others... Here is how they break down. In order of probability:
- Rick Kelly (last year under contract, will be our set-up man, went 2-2 1.44 in 24 games, will see an increase in game time this year).
- Dan Nelson (Another closer turned middle man, pitched in 22 games with the Cav's, could be the next closer)
- Derek Carter (filled in as closer when Whitaker went down. Had a solid 24 games with the Cav's. Question about Control does arise)
- Luis Gonzalez (after being the 2nd lefty in the pen, he will most likely be our specialist. Struggled last year during the regular season).
- Ivan Pineda (returned from a season long absence due to injury. Has great control, but still faces questions concerning his recovery)
- Ernesto Benequez (An international free-agent 2 years ago. Has developed into a solid reliever. His GB% of 48% concerns me)
- Jeffrey Miller (A undrafted free-agent, has worked his way up to a roster slot and spring invite this year. He throws 3 pitches well, but many people question his velocity for the bigs / 89-90).
- Lorenzo Reyes (A free-agent signee, has pitched in AAA the past 3 years, and shows good stuff and gets grounders. At 29 he is an outsider for a roster slot)
- Claudio Perez (22 years old, rushed by the Iron Pigs, acquired in the off-season. Has lights-out stuff, but lacks control for the bigs 8/12. Throws in the triple-digits, a future star)

There should be some interesting battles over the next few weeks, as we weed our pitching staff down to 11 (or 12). We have 4 veterans (Hollis/Contreras/Kelly/Whitaker) on the staff then the rest our young guys trying to make it. Should be an interesting year and this staff will be under the microscope after the way last years performed.