|
Top
Story:
2018
Spring/Summer Season
Forecast
April
23, 2018 (Federal League Wire Service)
Here's how the editors of South Florida Baseball Report
see the races shaping up:
Expansion
Division
1. Tri-Cities Tritons
Mgr: Mike
Whittaker
Last Season:
40-0 (1st
place, lost in Championship Final Series)
The Story:
The Tritons ran
through the regular season schedule and the semi-finals before
getting swept in the Championship Final Series, ending their three
season reign as league champs.
Strength:
The
Water Dwellers, as always, will go as far as their pitching will take them.
Rotation anchors John Hardardt, Matt Arick, and two time Best
Pitcher Award winner Calvin Rayburn comprise the core of the
league's best staff. The lineup is balanced and
productive. Jay Warman, Chris Marrero, Zac Miller, and Mike
LaManna lead one of the league's best offenses. Newcomers, catcher
Griffin Sennett and infielder Krandon Gibbs, are expected to contribute.
Weakness:
The Tritons will be without former MVP
Julian Faria for the start of the season at the very least. Not
only does this cost the Water Dwellers a top defensive backstop,
but also deprives them of their cleanup hitter. Team defense is
only average.
Prognosis:
The Sons of
Poseidon remain among the league's dominant teams and are the pre-season
favorites return to the Championship Final Series.
Writin' Triton:
The Tritons picked up feisty Pat Murphy in
a trade with the Twins, but it is unclear how manager Whittaker
will utilize him.
2.
Margate Sentries
Mgr: Dave
Munguia
Last
Season:
16-24 (3rd
place, lost in semi-finals)
The Story:
The Sentries had a bounce back campaign last
season and finished a solid, if not surprising, third before
advancing to the semi-finals.
Strength:
The
Sentries, for the first time in a long time, might have one of
the league's most promising pitching staffs. The acquisition of
Raul Ascanio, along with the signing of free agent Alberto Baez
gives the Munguiamen a formidable top of the rotation. The middle of the order, featuring
hitters like Bennys Acosta, Dave Marquez, Andres Acosta, and
Jorge Michelina,
should be fine.
Weakness:
The fielding is mediocre at best. The
bullpen is uncertain.
Prognosis:
The
Gatekeepers feel like they are ready to challenge the Tritons
for the divisional crown, but will face stern competition from
the Goliaths and Stars in a close race for playoff positioning.
Sentry Posts:
The Sentries are unsure regarding the status
of rookie centerfielder Giornic Sille. The mercurial Sille has all
the tools, but was not yet signed for the season. The club is
hopeful that the details can be worked out in time for the opener.
3.
Davie Goliaths
Mgr: Anthony
DeFilippis
Last Season:
12-28 (4th place)
The Story:
The Goliaths endured a season of self destruction and wound up
in last place as a result.
Strength:
The Goliaths completely revamped their pitching staff and turned
it into a team strength. Draft picks Cristian Reyes and
Alejandro Uzcategui join holdovers Sean Grove and Paul "The
Fork" Tunink, and newly acquired Jesse Wallace as part of
the league's deepest mound corps. If Reyes and Uzcategui live up
to their promise, the Philistines' staff may challenge the
Tritons as league's best.
Weakness:
The Goliaths may not concede runs,
but scoring them may be an issue. Newcomers Pedro Milian and
Francisco Zabala will be counted upon to inject some life into a
mediocre, at best, lineup. Veterans, such as Jorge Caballero, Nick
Flesner, Marcelino Gomez, Chris Jonesand Jarrod Rubinstein are
adequate, but the lineup lacks a true run producer or leadoff
hitter.
Prognosis:
The Goliaths
need to address their lack of offense if they hope to
challenge for a playoff berth, but their pitching may carry them
as far as second place..
Goliath Grunts:
Top catching prospect Luis Velandia
remains unsigned, heading into opening day. If Velandia's hold out
continues, the G-Men might have to rely on newcomer Paul Nolan and
first baseman Rubinstein to share the catching duties. 4. Hollywood
Stars
Mgr: Teo
Zorrilla
Last Season: 18-22
(2nd place, lost in play-in round)
The Story:
Despite continuing
to improve, the Stars continued tinkering with their roster after
bowing out of last season's playoffs. Manager Teo
Zorrilla is, once again, frustrated that the team does not play
up to its potential. There is a world of talent here, but will it
produce results?
Strength: Newly
acquired catcher Alexis Garcia joins former
all-stars Osvaldo Capote, Adrian Giraldo, Ryan Gordon, and Ishy Demoya
to form the
basis of a strong batting order. Veteran Mario Ledesma is a
top notch starter.
Weakness:
The Stars need to improve their overall
defense and pitching depth. Workhorse Rafael Lara and former
Goliath Yoel de la Cruz have to improve on last season for the
Stars to contend.
Prognosis:
The Stars
might not reach the playoffs unless
they find some bullpen answers and tighten their defense, but
their offense should keep them in the playoff chase all season
long..
Star Shines:
The Stars traded first round pick, pitcher
Raul Ascanio, to the Sentries in a controversial deal after
accusing the Gatekeepers of tampering with Ascanio.
Original
Division
1. Sunrise Sunsets
Mgr: Brandon
Hull
Last Season:
33-7
(1st place, won League Championship)
The Story:
The Twilighters
dominated their division in the regular season and then shocked the Tritons in
the Championship Final Series to capture their third title.
Strength:
A prolific and deep lineup built around regular season MVP
Anthony Garcilazo, playoff MVP Chris Craig, and stalwarts like
shortstop Justin Dages, third baseman Javier Aguilar, and
dependable Jimmy Schariest. The pitching staff that includes veterans Tommy
Tritz, Brant Spring, hard throwing Dustin Hanley, and playoff hero
Zach Margules is above average. The
Twilighters boast the league's best bench and adding veterans
such as Nick Arata and Joe LaRocca gives them even more options.
Weakness: Unless
the starters are pressed into bullpen duty, the relief pitching is
non-existent.
Prognosis:
The Sunsets should not have any
trouble returning to the post-season, but replicating last
season's championship run will prove slightly more difficult.
Still, the Twilighters enter the season as the clear favorites
in, what might turn out to be, a tight divisional race.
Sunset Grillings:
Rookie outfielder Anthony
Izquiel had a phenomenal spring and earned a spot on the opening
day roster.
2.
Hallandale Twins
Mgr:
Brent
Campbell
Last
Season: 16-24
(2nd place, lost in semi-finals)
The Story:
The Twins
enter their third season under the stern, but popular, Brent
Campbell and are expecting some more positive results.
Strength:
The
Twins, surprisingly, could wind up as the best offensive team in
the league. Despite being without all-stars Gio Texiera, Manny
Blanco, and Jerry Ostes, the Twins picked up sluggers Rafael
Laureano and Esteban Reinoso for their outfield and added power
hitting third baseman Sheng Tzu Pang from Chinese Taipei. The
Twins traded Elijah Rodriguez, Chris Thompson, and Pat Murphy, but
Enrique Goicoechea, Jeff "The Pin" Lynch, and team RBI
leader Jehiel Russo return.
Weakness:
The Twins have a much deeper pitching
staff than last season, but the overall effectiveness of the
staff is still a major concern. Unproven lefties Jorge del Real
and Willy Chzen join Doc Guida, Joe Adair, and Campbell. Hard
throwing Sam Nelson will need to exhibit some control to
contribute.
Prognosis:
The Twins will
continue to experience some growing pains as they search for the right
combination of talent. Reaching the playoffs was a step in the
right direction last season, but they have a long way to go before
they are ready to contend for a title.
Twin Peeks: The
Hallandalers have another power hitter from Taipei, Clyde Yeh,
that they hope to add to the roster early this season.
3.
Delray
Beach Mudcats
Mgr: Gary
Frady
Last Season: 13-27
(3rd
place, lost in play-in round)
The Story: The
Mudcats changed managers and then changed the core of the team,
jettisoning some well known names in a drastic rebuilding
effort.
Strength:
The
Whiskered Fish should hit a little. Catcher Jamaal Thelwell will
be joined by newcomers Sev Arkelian, Dylan Razack, Sean Tucker,
and Francisco Azuaje in a revamped lineup. The pitching should
be pretty good Chris Delgado, Amaury Archbold, and Bob Villalona
will get most of the starts. Veteran lefty Brian Finneran and
rookie righty Randy Falcon will probably work out of the
bullpen.
Weakness:
Up the middle defense is going to be a
work in progress, particularly in the infield where shortstop
and second base are up for grabs.
Prognosis:
Much like
last season, the Twins, Cubs, and Mudcats could be embroiled
in a season long fight for playoff positioning. The Mudcats
might not be as strong as the Twins, but appear to be more sound
than the Cubs.
Mudcat Musings:
The 'Cats picked up infielder Ismael Moran
at the tail end of spring training in hopes of solving their
shortstop dilemma.
4.
Broward
Cubs
Mgr: Burke
Fox
Last Season: 12-28
(4th place)
The Story: The
Cubs were in contention for an Original Division playoff
berth
for most of last season, but after failing down the
stretch, the team saw a number of veterans leave
the team through injury, free agency or by holding out. If the
Bruins experience success this campaign, it will be via
the efforts of many new faces.
Strength:
Youth. Youngsters such as pitcher
Aaron Cooper, catcher Brooks Turner, shortstop Javier Morillo,
outfielder Nick Hernandez, and first baseman Tim Silk will get
plenty of opportunities to prove themselves, particularly in the
early going. Veterans Rick Hernandez and Omar Garcia will provide
some on field leadership.
Weakness:
Despite the acquisition of veterans
like Chris Thompson and Cory McEwen, the lineup is less than
adequate.
Prognosis:
It's going to
be a long season for the Cubs if they do not get some help along
the way. Expect the roster to turn over as the season progresses
unless some of the youngsters produce ahead of schedule.
Cub Cribs:
Top players, pitcher
Chad Volbert and shortstop Ricky Quintero both missed all of
spring training. The Cubbies acquired catcher Elijah Rodriguez
just before opening day, but have yet to get him signed.
Federal League on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FederalLeague
Other Headlines:
2018 Spring/Summer Draft, Team By Team Listings
Grading The
2018 Spring/Summer Season Draft
2017-18
Fall/Winter Championship Series: Sunsets Sweep Tritons
***2017-2018
Fall/Winter Season Schedule***
2017-2018
Fall/Winter
Season Awards Winners And All-Stars
2017
Spring/Summer Season Preview: Team By Team Breakdown
New!-Big
Kahuna: If
It Ain't Broke, Don't Break It
Original
Division Wins All-Star Slugfest
Answers To Some
Current Frequently Asked Questions
Send mail to webmaster@federalleague.com
with questions or comments about this web site.
|
Web Site Copyright, Federal League Athletics, 2018. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
