I don't want to say I have high expectations in Carolina this year, but I do expect to do better than last year. While my owner has a goal of playing .500 ball I have my own goals this year, and I'd like to see a couple of players take a step forward among SP Eric Wilder, 1B Chris Lynn, CF Ramon Feliz, and SP Tim Rogers. Feliz played well in spring training, well enough to win a job to start the season, but he was demoted after hitting just .160. He's still just 20 years old, so I'm not exactly worried, but he's hitting just .143 in AAA. We'd really like to see him be ready to take over center field next season.
Eric Wilder and Tim Rogers are my back of the rotation pitching prospects. One of them really needs to show something this year. Then finally there is 25 year old 1B of the future Chris Lynn. He hit just .221 last year as a rookie with -1 WAR. Out of all the players I'm watching he's gotten off to the best start, hitting .306 with 2 home runs and .8 WAR.
Our big pitching prospects are at the lower levels, Matt Moore (Rookie), Ferri Boere (AA), Jose Ruiz and Phi Clark (A) with Miguel Vazquez, Maceo Cafasso, Juan Perez, and Ricardo Fabian in our international complex.
So I'm not as worried about playing .500 ball this year, just seeing enough prospects develop that I'll be able to escape from Carolina.
