Top
Story:
2019
Spring/Summer Season
Forecast
April
22, 2019 (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:
32-8 (1st
place, won League Championship)
The Story:
The Tritons won
their second straight championship, and fifth in the last six
seasons, but the path to the title had more than a few obstacles
this time. The Water Dwellers are still the league's premiere
team, but are not dominant.
Strength:
The
Water Dwellers, as always, will go as far as their pitching will take them.
Rotation anchors John Hardardt, Matt Arick, and three 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. Rookie outfielder,
Gabriel Gonzalez, is expected to contribute immediately. Catcher
Armando Cupeiro was the league's defensive backstop last season.
"Iron" Mike Whittaker, the dean of Federal League
managers, is a positive force in the dugout.
Weakness:
While the Tritons don't have any prominent
weaknesses, the overall depth is shaky, particularly with respect
to relief pitching. 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 pared some of their disgruntled veterans, trading first baseman Magdiel Sanchez to
the rival Sentries, and infielder Donny Gagliano to the Cubs.
2.
Margate Sentries
Mgr: Dave
Munguia
Last
Season:
30-10 (2nd
place, lost in semi-finals)
The Story:
The Sentries came within one win of
advancing to the Championship Final Series. Manager
"Silent" Dave Munguia has made some bold off season
moves in hopes of over taking the Tritons.
Strength:
The
Sentries have a pitching staff that can go head to head with any
team in the league. Ralph Morel and Raul Ascanio lead the
starters and Pete Ginter returns to help shoulder the load. The middle of the order, featuring
hitters like Bennys Acosta, Dave Marquez, Osvaldo Capote, and
Jorge Michelina,
should be very productive. New catcher Rosier Pena is a top
prospect.
Weakness: Outfield defense is mediocre at best. The
bullpen is uncertain.
Prognosis:
The
Gatekeepers feel like they are ready to challenge the Tritons
for the league supremacy and the race could go down to the wire.
Sentry Posts:
The Sentries are hoping to get a repeat of
the tremendous production they received from Juan Mendez and Edwin
Meze.
3.
Davie Goliaths
Mgr: Phil
Laufman
Last Season:
19-21
(3rd place, lost in Play-In round)
The Story:
The Goliaths officially began the Phil Laufman era with a
decidedly inconsistent campaign that did little to inspire the
Philistines' fan base. However, Laufman is one of the game's
best managerial minds and, given the needed time, is certain to
return the G-Men to their long forgotten glory.
Strength:
The Goliaths may not have the league's best pitching staff, but
they do have one of its deepest. The addition of righties Miguel
Romaguerra, their first round pick, and youngster Anthony Aleixo
should pay dividends. The lineup boasts some strong bats, such
as former league batting champion Andres Gomez, promising
newcomer Jean Franco, slugger Paul Nolan, the supremely talented
Alvaro Gomez, and Paul "The Fork" Tunink. A bounce
back season by speedy Chris Jones will be helpful.
Weakness:
The Goliaths have a decided lack of
corner outfielders. While A.J. Aleixo is a top notch flychaser
in center, the Philistines will have, mostly, less than awe
inspiring defensive options with which to flank him.
Prognosis:
The Goliaths
can step into the pennant chase if the pitching performs as
advertised and if their hitting gets some extra production from
Jose Zambrano, veteran Roberto Galvez, newcomer Devin Santiago,
and Jones.
Goliath Grunts:
Much to the consternation of
Philistine fanatics, the Goliaths traded popular first baseman
Jarrod Rubinstein to the Atlantics in the off season. 4. Hollywood
Stars
Mgr: Ishy
Demoya
Last Season: 8-32
(4th place)
The Story:
The Stars took a small
step backward under new manager Ishy Demoya, but the long term
plan should see some desired results as early as this season.
Trading all star Osvaldo Capote last season was a curious move,
but most of Demoya's other maneuvers will strengthen the roster.
Strength: With
newcomers like shortstop Joel Barroso, outfielder Victor
Hernandez, and first baseman Gweshaughn Richards, as well as
all-star catcher Dio Castillo, the Stars will have a lineup with
power. Veterans like Teo Zorrilla, Lee Gonzalez, and Adrian
Giraldo will help to augment the batting order.
Weakness:
Despite the presence of workhorses like
righty Rafael Lara and lefty Brandon Von Achen, the pitching is
still too thin. Newcomers like David Cintao, Anthony Frisone, and
Carlos Ariza will need to produce quickly.
Prognosis:
The Stars
might have enough power to creep into playoff contention, but will
only go as far as their young pitchers can take them.
Star Shines:
The Stars acquired veterans Omar Garcia,
Adner Casano, and Andy Abrego from the Cubs in the off-season
providing the team with much needed experience and depth.
Original
Division
1. Sunrise Sunsets
Mgr: Brandon
Hull
Last Season:
19-21
(2nd place, lost in Championship Final Series )
The Story:
The Twilighters
played listlessly and uninspired for most of the regular season and then
played their best baseball in the post-season before
falling to the Tritons in a hard fought Championship Final Series.
This season, the 'Sets have upgraded the roster and
should see an improvement in their regular season win
record.
Strength:
A prolific and deep lineup built around former MVP
Anthony Garcilazo, all-star Chris Price, and stalwarts like
infielder Nick Arata, first baseman Javier Aguilar, and
dependable outfielder Jimmy Schariest. A pitching staff that includes veterans Tommy
Tritz, Brant Spring, and hard throwing rookie Jorge Romero is above average. The
Twilighters expect big things from rookie shortstop Luis Diaz, a
rejuvenated Elijah Rodriguez, and lefty slugger Johnny Cole.
Outfield depth is bolstered by the presence of veteran James
Carter. The infield depth is strong with Ronnie Rocca and George
Negron available.
Weakness: Unless
the starters are pressed into bullpen duty, the relief pitching
situation is muddled. While the front line pitching is solid, the
staff lacks any depth.
Prognosis:
The Sunsets should not have any
trouble returning to the post-season, but getting back to the
Championship Final Series is far from a certainty.
Still, the Twilighters enter the season as the clear favorites
in, what might turn out to be, a tight divisional race.
Sunset Grillings:
The acquisition of of catcher
Elijah Rodriguez will allow player/manager Brandon Hull to move
out from behind the plate and contribute in the infield. Such a
move might be worth 100 points to Hull's batting average.
2.
Hallandale Twins
Mgr:
Brent
Campbell
Last
Season: 14-26
(3rd place, lost in Play-In round)
The Story:
The Twins
are now entering their fifth season under manager Brent Campbell
and the time is nigh for the Fraternals to make some noise in the
Senior Circuit pennant chase.
Strength:
The
Twins' pitchers, long an area of concern, could, surprisingly, wind up as the
one of the team's strong points. Youngsters Obrayan Martinez,
Tyler Goff, and Francisco Calderon will join rubber armed Brent
Campbell and veteran Doc Guida in a reconstructed staff. Catching
prospect Javier Cruz and outfielder Corey Duncan will team with
all-star Esteban Reinoso in a better than average middle of the
order.
Weakness:
While the middle of the order should be
solid, the Twins need to find a leadoff hitter
that can get on consistently and get some production from the
bottom of the order.. Infielder Luis Pagan may win the leadoff job, or Jehiel Russo, looking to return to form, might emerge as
a rally starter. Without a true leadoff hitter, and with a shaky
bottom of the order, the Twins may be hard pressed to put runs
on the board.
Prognosis:
For the Twins,
the future is now. If the pitching holds up, and they find a way
to score, the Fraternals could
have an outside shot at the division's flag.
Twin Peeks: The
Hallandalers were expected power hitters Sheng Tzu Peng and Clyde
Yeh to rejoin the team, but that plan was scuttled when both
players were called back to Taipei for military service.
3.
Fort
Lauderdale Atlantics
Mgr: Gary
Frady
Last Season: 25-15
(1st
place, lost in semi-finals)
The Story: The
Delray Beach Mudcats changed their identity in the off season.
The team initially resurrected their old Blazers moniker, but,
just a few days later, rebranded the team as the Atlantics.
Either way, the team will look to fill the holes caused by
losing MVP Michael Deeb to the Chicago White Sox and shortstop
Brandon Vicens to the Chicago Cubs.
Strength:
The
Atlantics can swing the bats a little. Catcher Jamaal Thelwell
is joined by newly acquired Jarrod Rubinstein, switch hitting Dylan
Razack, versatile Willy Castillo, and player/manager Frady in a
still potent lineup. The outfield defense is first rate.
Weakness:
Despite the yeoman efforts of veterans,
righty Joe Feller, and lefty Joe Adair, the Atlantics' pitching
staff is very thin. First round draft pick Aquiles Torrealba and
promising righty Evan Parana will have to develop in a hurry to
lift the Oceaneers' mound corps.
Prognosis:
Last season,
the club won the division's pennant before slipping in the
playoffs. This season, the Atlantics will have to fend off the
improving Cubs just to qualify for the post season.
Atlantic
Crossings:
The team is in talks to bring back righty
Drew Hanke in an effort to address their arms shortage.
4.
Broward
Cubs
Mgr: Cory
McEwen
Last Season: 13-27
(4th place)
The Story: The
Cubs used a late run and fell just short of earning an Original Division playoff
last season. The team made some big trades in overhauling the
roster.
Strength:
If rookie Jonathan Ortiz is deployed
in centerfield, the outfield, including veterans Chris Thompson
and Jorge Caballero will be more than solid. Ortiz and infielder
Eduardo Combatti will help infuse some youth into an, otherwise,
veteran roster. Ricky Quintero, Reol Alvarez, Jamie Bobrow, and
player/manager McEwen form the nucleus of an effective top of the
order.
Weakness:
Outside of Ortiz and Quintero, team
speed is negligible. Chad Volbert notwithstanding, the mound staff
is questionable.
Prognosis:
If Ortiz and
Combatti produce, and Volbert gets some defensive support, the
Cubs can stay in the playoff race. If not, it could be a long,
long season.
Cub Cribs:
The Cubs acquired former
Tritons, catcher Patrick Murphy and infielder Donny Gagliano,
signed veterans Mickey Tanyi and Patrick Keane, and brought back
outfielder Mitch Kean in an effort to build some dependable depth
in the roster.
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