1995 Buffalo Bison Preview

[Fat Nige]

Last Year
Record: 56-106 4th in Atlantic Division (59 GB ) in Frick League

Buffalo’s Landis Memorial Series wins of ’82 &’83 seemed a lifetime away in 1994. It was a year the Bison will want to erase from their memory; the team imploded and sunk to their worst ever record, losing more than 100 games for the first time. Pitcher Jason Jacome pitched the most innings, had one shutout and two complete games, unfortunately he also posted a 4-20 record with a 7.21 ERA. Ray Fontenot was notable for his 4-18 6.85 ERA while Richard Tolleson was the staff’s ace with a 7-13 and 5.10 ERA. The only real spark of offense was provided by Kevin Stocker who had the single season record in ’94 for AB’s, the second highest games played in a season (160) and equalled Bison’s single season singles record of 134 – the fact that that all that added up to 17 HR, 67 RBI and a .288 avg showed the lack of support all around him. Only one player hit over .310, three more hit double digit tallies in HR’s while the top RBI man had 70.

1995 – The only way is up ?

Pitching

The Bison acted swiftly to change the ballclub’s outlook, gone is the entire 1994 rotation, Tolleson, Hunter Clark and Angel Miranda got a ticket to Triple A Syracuse while Jacome and Fontenot are in hiding although according to the MBBA Jacome remains in the organisation.
In their place Amen Mitrani the 23 year old 2nd overall MBBA prospect, is slated to be the ace of the rotation. Excellent control and movement should ensure plenty of strikeouts but is it too much to expect a rookie to lead the staff? High priced free Agent 31 year old Japanese pitcher, Katarou Sadao, will be expected to share some of the load while 38 year veteran, Phil Longwell, 13 years with California and Las Vegas (career record 110-129 4.16 ERA) will provide the experience. At the back end of the rotation will be 33 year old Joe Matson, a veteran of 397 games over seven years with Atlantic City and Omaha but with only 23 starts to his name and 27 year old John Oloughlin, a rookie with a good work ethic but little else.
In the Bullpen 26 year old Melvin Ripkin returns for his seventh season as Buffalo’s closer looking to add to his 133 career saves and 2.89 average. Thirty-two year old Darrel Akerfields will handle the spot starter / long relief role after seven season with Long Beach compiling an 18-18 5.96 ERA record. Saloman Torres (23-yr old rookie), Michael Smith (22 year old rookie), Antonia Fuentes (22-yr old rookie), Ernest Nilson( 24-yr old, formally Las Vegas and California 4-1 record 3 SV 3.59 ERA) will share the bulk of the workload with 36 year old veteran, Amaury Guillen who will be pitching for his sixth MBBA team in nine seasons; he owns a 18-25 record with 19 saves and a 6.06 career ERA. There is no lefty pitcher in the bullpen.

Offence

Matt Sinatro, 35 years old, will be back for his fourth year as Bison’s catcher but the veteran of 1038 games in a 10 year career will be looking over his shoulder at 24 year old Rod Smart who will want to add to his 141 appearances in two years with Buffalo.
The first base will be covered by Cristian Mejorado , 33 year old in his third season with Bison ( 7 HR 46 RBI .258) while the starting 2B will be 28-yr old Billy Johanson, in his sixth year in Buffalo ( 15 HR 182 RBI .297 48 SB). Billy is very versatile having appeared in all seven outfield positions last year, 22 yr old William Drayton Jr (2HR 11 RBI .250 in Calgary ’94) and 26 year old George Gaylor (6 HR 45 RBI .280 in Buffalo ’94) will provide 2B backup.
After three seasons in Omaha 29-yr old Harry Longnecker will man third base ( 26 HR 99 RBI .289 in four year career) with the 1994 offence machine, 25-yr old Kevin Stocker, will start at shortstop. Kevin has career figures of 36 HR 146 RBI .290 with 59 SB and will be backed up by 28-yr old Carl Abrahamson (9 HR 64 RBI .293 in two years with Bison)
Bison are carrying four outfielders on the 25 man roster, 30-yr old LF Oscar Viscaino(34 HR 208 RBI .350 48 SB in five years at New Orleans), 31-yr old CF Bruce Storm(13 HR 88 RBI .272 60 SB in four years in Buffalo), 24-yr old CF Larry Baker(9 HR 93 RBI .276 in three years at California) and 33-yr old RF Stephen Saxwho signed a large contract with Buffalo after six years at Omaha. Stephen has 167 HR 664 RBI .277 in a nine year MBBA career.

On the Farm

MBBA’s 21st overall prospect, catcher Jeremy Hunter, is in Double A at Anderson Joes and the 41st, pitcher Freddy Alonso, is at Syracuse but beyond that there are plenty of reclamation projects like Tolleson, Miranda and Clark waiting to bounce back into the MBBA.

Milestone Watch

Matt Sinatro is 85 runs short of 500 and 37 RBI short of 500

Prediction ?

I think I can honestly say that the Bison won’t be as bad as in 1994 but how far they climb depends on whether Mitrani and Sadao live up to their hype, whether the back end of the rotation can hold it together and whether the offence can find some pop. Stephen Sax has to justify his big contract while Johanson keeps on plugging the gaps all round the field. If they all hold up their end of the bargain I can see the Bison ending up as high as 70-92

[Afino]

That's a quality preview to start the league off with.

[pedersenkirk]

Love the new Bisons logo.. looks.. familiar. Great job with the preview!

[Fat Nige]

Thanks guys

[cramsey51]

Thanks for the preview Nigel, pretty spot on We have a lot of work to do to turn this team around and make a winning bunch here.