Opening Week
This Week: 3 @ Christiana Blue Hens, 3 vs New Castle Colonials
Fan Interest: 100
Owners Mood: Delighted
Budget: $65,000,000 (t-22nd)
Payroll: $30,660,000 (23rd)
The trade for So put me in a bad posistion for the pitching staff. So is one of the better rated pitchers on my roster now so I have to make a move. Here is the problem, only 4 pitchers have options and 2 of those 4 are starters so they aren't going anywhere. The other two are Leo Hampton and Dan Kessler... I see it as 4 options:
1) Demote Kessler let him get some closer expereince
2) Demote Hampton since he had a bad spring
3) DFA Alberto Sanchez who had a great spring
4) Demote So
This is tough...
While I think on the pitching decision I will look at the batters. Same thing here I have to move one. The move will need to be an infielder or a catcher. The problem here is Jose Perez is the catches I would demote and to do that I need to DFA him. Or I go with Nelson Barrera or Tony Inman. Inman is slated as a starter and Barrera is a super utility guy.
And to boot I put in a claim for another outfielder who was on waivers. Dave Lewis, yes the same guy from Georgetown. He has the bat and some speed, but I could use him... again no options, which means I once again would be putting myself in a tough situation... But too many average players is a better place than not enough right?
Final Roster Moves:
Demoted MR Leo Hampton to AAA.
- I was going to demote Dan Kessler is a rule-5 pick so he has to remain with t he big club all seaon. I totaly forgot about that. So how I have some minor league depth and my pitching staff is at 12. For now Hampton will close games in AAA for the San Juan Hibiscus.
Demoted UTL Nelson Barrera to AAA.
- This was a tough call, I really wanted to keep Nelso around because he plays 2B, 3B, and SS at Glove Wizard caliber. But with him having an option I made the tough decision. His demotion may not last long however. He will be battign 2nd and playing 2B for the Hibiscus.
These two moves puts my roster at 25 players (12 pitches, 13 position players) and it looks like we are ready for opening day and our 3-game set against the Christiana Blue Hens.
Roster Overview / Opening Day Lineup:
3B Tony Inman (19 DEF, 15 Speed, 20 Steal, 0 G)
DH Francisco Reyes (12 Power, 13 Steal, 2340 G)
1B Woody Brown (L) (15 DEF, 10 Contact, 14 Power, 1363 G)
RF Vance Burns (13 DEF, 13 Avoid K's, 16 Speed, 20 Steal, 732 G)
SS Vincent Harrison (14 DEF, 13 Speed, 20 Steal, 380 G)
2B Sixto Hernandez (20 DEF, 13 Avoid K's, 12 Eye, 136 G)
C Jack Cavazos (S) (10 DEF, 10 Gap, 12 Power, 168 G)
CF Felix Olivas (S) (13 DEF, 16 Gap, 14 Speed, 20 Steal, 360 G)
LF Jamie Villareal (16 DEF, 10 Avoid K, 14 Speed, 20 Steal, 15 G)
Bench:
C Jack Perez (10 DEF, 14 Speed, 19 Steal, 13 G)
1B Anzhel Astsatrian (11 DEF, 11 Gap, 12 Power, 0 G)
2B Miguel Ramirez (11 DEF, 13 Speed, 20 Steal, 146 G)
OF Melvin can der Kamp (20 DEF, 15 Speed, 19 Steal, 13 G)
Opening Day Starter:
Angel Rivera (11/15/11, EXGB, 113 G / 31 GS)
Rest of the Rotation:
Estaban Calamacho (10/12/14, FBT, 97 G / 92 GS)
Lazzaro Tadiotto (12/12/14, GBT, 22 G, 6 GS)
Alfredo Mejia (10/13/11, NEU, 100 G / 39 GS
Jesus Salazar (10/6/12, FB, 9 G / 0 GS)
Bullpen:
Michael Heathcote (L) (10/10/11, 377 G)
Juan Fernandez (12/12/11, 159 G)
Alfonso Hernandez (12/11/12, 5 G)
Anthony Payne (11/12/11, 75 G)
Alberto Sanchez (12/9/15, 165 G / 2GS)
Hee-Seop So (12/13/15, 6 G)
Closer:
Dan Kessler (12/15/11, 0 G)
After this review I was surprised to see how much experience we actually had. Yes its not a lot, but it is more than I was expecting...
Mangaer Guilherme Guardio set the line-ups, expect for the DH. I put Francsico Reyes in the lineup instead of Miguel Ramriez... and he set the pitching staff, and I made 1 change swapping So and Kessler.
I feel good about this team. I don't think we will lose 100 games, and I hope I am not to far off from my goal of 70 wins.
Personal Message from Owner Ralph Corbin: Season Expectation: Tony,
Welcome to the new season. I hope that the off-season has treated you well! This is also a reminder that your goal is to stay respectable on the field.
Good Luck!
Ralph Corbin
Lets get our first season going...
PS: It is sort of odd to look at the team photo and not really recognize anyone...