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2015-2016
Fall/Winter Season
Forecast
September
14, 2015 (Federal League Wire Service)
Here's how the editors of South Florida Baseball Report
see the races shaping up:
Expansion
Division
1.
Davie Goliaths
Mgr: Anthony
De Filippis
Last Season:
8-24 (3rd place, lost in
play-in round)
The Story:
After experiencing former manager
Michael Gagnon's reign of error, the Philistines responded
positively to new manager DeFilippis. Although the record and
the finish looked similar to the season before, the G-Men were a
much more competitive and consistent team.
The Goliaths continue to acquire good, young, talent, with Best
Newcomer Award winner Vijay Patel being joined by outfielders
Tony Krahwinkel and Akeem Maynard, as well as infielders Beau
Lacerte and Christan Perez-Astudillo. Veterans like Juan
Gonzalez, Jorge Caballero, and Jeff Fazio give the Goliaths an
interesting roster.
Strength:
With a a group of starters that includes the likes of Andres
Gomez, Joe Feller, Mike Daniels, and Jason Lipoff, the Goliaths
have the core of an excellent mound staff. Team speed is a plus,
too.
Weakness:
Catcher remains an uncertainty
heading into opening day. The team has some untried rookies that
may get a look, or, that may cash in some of their outfield
depth and use Krahwinkel behind the dish.
Prognosis:
The
Goliaths have enough of the elements that could lead them to a
pennant.
Goliath Grunts:
The Goliaths will start the season
without last season's nominal ace, Sean Grove. The team is
hopeful that Grove will be ready to rejoin the squad by
mid-season.
2. Tri-Cities Tritons
Mgr: Mike
Whittaker
Last Season:
24-8 (1st
place, lost in Championship Final Series)
The Story:
The Tritons were
the league's most consistent and complete team all season, until
they stumbled in the Championship Final Series. A veteran cast
that has gotten a taste of winning might start getting used to
it.
Strength:
Last
season, the Tritons were excellent in every phase of the game,
but their pitching stood out as the team's undeniable strength.
Despite not having Frank "The Toe" Paul on the active
roster, as of yet, the Water Dwellers still have an ever
improving John Hardardt, dependable Eric Silverberg, and
promising rookie Travis Tyrell. Any staff that has
"Iron" Mike Whittaker on it, will almost never have
any concerns about depth.
Weakness:
Despite the presence of league MVP Jay
Warman and the very productive Silverberg, the Triton offense
experienced too many dry spells, particularly in the
Championship Series.
Prognosis:
The Tritons
are one pitcher and one more slugger away from being the
league's best team. In any event, the Sons of Poseidon are solid
contenders, nonetheless.
Writin' Triton:
The Tritons welcomed back former all-star
Andy Ruiz this season. It is still unclear where Ruiz might fit
in on the field, but his clutch bat will almost certainly find
its way into the lineup.
3.
Margate Sentries
Mgr: Dave
Munguia
Last
Season:
18-14 (2nd place, lost in
semi-finals)
The Story:
The Sentries had a remarkably unremarkable
regular season and then held to form in a lackluster post-season
appearance. The retirement of stalwarts like Jeff O' Kelley and
Andres Libran, along with the early season absence of outfielders
Jason Jones and Cody Stauble, are not exactly causes for optimism.
Strength:
The
Sentries will have some power. Rob Wiley, Phil Laufman, Paul
Gonzalez, and Tim Hopkins tote some productive lumber.
Weakness:
With Libran, Jones and Stauble absent, the
pitching staff is, at best, a work in progress.
Prognosis:
If
stockpiling your roster with corner infielders was a path to
success, the Gatekeepers would have the inside track.
Unfortunately, though, it appears, the Sentries' path might lead
to nowhere.
Sentry Posts:
This season, the Sentries will begin the
second Dave Munguia era. Munguia piloted the team for one season
previously, but is now in the skipper's chair for the long term.
4. Hollywood
Stars
Mgr: Billy
DeVuyst
Last Season: 8-24
(4th place)
The Story:
If the Stars have a
five year plan under manager Billy DeVuyst, the season should be
the payoff. This is DeVuyst's fifth campaign at the helm, and
while the club has steadily improved, they need to accelerate
the process.
Strength:
The Stars have a lot of good, young,
talent with emerging stars like Carlos Valdes, Jose Hernandez,
and opening day starting pitcher Andre Borrega. Holdovers from
the most recent youth movement like Jonathan Cruz, Kevin
Gonzalez, and Adryan Perdaza have all been on the all-star team
at least once in their brief careers. Outfield defense should be
a plus.
Weakness:
Behind Borrega, who is still an unproven
commodity, the pitching is questionable.
Prognosis:
The Stars
should keep the pressure on the Sentries in the playoff race.
Star Shines:
Third baseman Reol Alvarez, who had a very
strong rookie season, is expected back from a shoulder injury,
and should be ready in the season's first few weeks.
Original
Division
1.
Delray
Beach Mudcats
Mgr: Gus
Maestrales
Last Season:
23-9 (2nd
place, lost in play-in round)
The Story:
Up until last season, the team was known as
the Fort Lauderdale Blazers. The team was re-branded as the Delray
Beach Mudcats, but despite the similarity in name and, thanks to a
blockbuster trade, some familiar names, these Mudcats are the
lineal descendents of the Blazers and not the team formerly known
as the Mudcats. To make matters more confusing, former Mudcat (now
the Hallandale Twins) manager Gus Maestrales has taken over the
reins of these Mudcats.
Strength:
The team
should have
tremendous power. Peter Maestrales, Luis Rodriguez, Igor Molina,
and rookie catcher Troy Ambros will form a formidable middle of
the order. Table setters like all-stars Gary Frady, Aaron Morris,
and Matt Leban should help put a lot of runs on the board. With
Michael Cillica, Leban, and Maestrales, the pitching should be in
good hands, as well.
Weakness:
The team has a potentially great lineup,
deep pitching, solid team defense, and a good bench. If there's a
weakness, it is not immediately apparent.
Prognosis:
Barring a
string of injuries, the Whiskered Fish should be considered this
season's favorites.
Mudcat Musings:
The pitching staff is expected to get even
deeper when Chris Delgado rejoins the club next week.
2.
Broward
Cubs
Mgr: Ken
Brown
Last Season: 24-8
(1st place, won league championship)
The Story: Last
season, we wrote, "The
Cubs, five seasons removed from their lone championship campaign
completely retooled their roster and may emerge as the league's
surprise team." Mission accomplished.
Strength:
Any pitching staff that can send Best
Pitcher Award winner Chad Volbert to the mound for a regular turn,
has, by definition, a strength. However, the real key for the Cubs
may be their powerful and balanced lineup. Led by all-stars Nelson
Montalvo, Roberto Galvez, Albie Santiago, and welcoming back
former all-star Ricky Quintero, the Cubs should have a prolific
offense again.
Weakness:
With Ray Pereira on the inactive
list, the Bruins lack depth behind catcher Michael Robbins.
Prognosis:
While the Cubs
might not have as strong a roster as they did last season, there
remains enough quality to expect another championship run.
Cub Cribs:
After returning
ahead of schedule from shoulder surgery, former all-star first
sacker Jamie Bobrow has the challenge of competing for his old job
against the current all-star first baseman, Nelson Montalvo.
3. Sunrise Sunsets
Mgr: Brandon
Hull
Last Season:
14-18
(3rd place, lost in semi-finals)
The Story:
After a less
than inspired regular season, the Twilighters acquitted
themselves well in the post season and came within one win of
reaching the finals.
Strength:
The Sunsets
should have a pretty competitive pitching staff. Kyle Ruwe
established himself as a potential ace in a late season trial.
Newcomers Ryan Thompson and Jason Van Tol could factor as well.
Dependable Tommy Tritz should give the Twilighters quality
innings as well.
Weakness: Team
defense remains the squad's biggest question mark.
Prognosis:
The Sunsets should pitch well, and
have some power with all-stars Chris Price and Demetrio Green,
but Jimmy Schariest and Jacob Govern need to return to form for
the club to advance.
Sunset Grillings:
Joey Ursetti, another late
season pitching addition that impressed last season, remains
unsigned, unable to come to terms with the team.
4.
Hallandale Twins
Mgr:
Burke
Fox
Last
Season: 9-23
(4th place)
The Story:
The former
Mudcats (no relation to the current Mudcats) became the Hallandale
Twins during the off season and decided to start fresh, casting
off some veteran talent in an attempt to complete rebuild what had
been an underachieving squad.
Strength:
The
Twins are hopeful that sluggers, such as Cory McEwen, Nathanael
Rodriguez, Jesse Pirtke, and Wilson Marte willdent the fences
often this season. Team speed is also evident with rookie Anthony
Devlin, and veteran Luis Junco.
Weakness:
Crafting a credible pitching staff from
among lefty McEwen, ageless Doc Guida, young Patrick Murphy, and
manager Fox will be a challenge. Team defense is also a sticking
point, with shortstop a particular concern.
Prognosis:
The Twins
should experience some growing pains as they search for the right
combination of talent.
Twin Peeks: The
Twins traded for left pitching prospect Juan Rivas on draft day,
but, so far, the negotiations between Rivas and the team have been
fruitless.
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