Las Vegas Preview

[corbino77]

Las Vegas Hustlers
It is interesting to note that while the Hustlers have the third lowest payroll ($49 million), they have an estimated $94 million budget. The Hustlers are living well within their means, which bodes well for the long-term health of the franchise. But some rumors suggest Oscar Goodman, the Hustlers owner, is in bed with the Nevada sex industry. Just recently Goodman has been spotted at the Buffalo Wild Wings location in Pewaukee collecting tabs from the underground sex industry. While the media has jumped on the issue and made a frenzy of it, the offseason scandal has nonetheless been of no bother to the illustrious Las Vegas players.
“We don’t pay much attention to all the stuff in the tabloids,” pitcher Heath Rockefeller said. “And we still have the best looking cheerleader squad in the league.”
It can be noted that Las Vegas has the only cheerleading squad in the entire league. With that said, here is your 1995 Las Vegas Hustlers.

CATCHER (Grade A)
Las Vegas has one of the best pure hitting catchers in the league with Riley “diamond Ri” Hinson. Hinson is as good with the bat as he is with his glove. He has been a starter with Las Vegas since he was 19 year old. Count on Hinson to have a career year.

FIRST BASE (Grade C)
Las Vegas employs a first base by committee, as Robin Larker and Stan Ross share duties. While Ross is more geared to man the position full time, it is difficult to ignore Larkers pure power to change a game with one stroke. But with that power, Larker strikes out in one-out-of-three at bats.

SECOND BASE (Grade B)
Brent Gates is just starting to shine. The 25 year old second baseman is starting his second season as the starter. Gates has the offensive and defensive skills to hold down that position for years to come.

SHORTSTOP (Grade B+)
Gabriel “pretty boy” Steele is as best of a fielding shortstop as they come. The question that arises is what will his bat do this season? He has potential to be a .300 hitter, but Steele’s career has been plagued by fluctuations in battling average. Steele is coming off his best year offensively of his career. Las Vegas’ success will hinge on Steele’s ability to put together successive offensive years – something he has struggled with.

THIRD BASE (Grade C-)
Third base is the weak link for Las Vegas. This is surprising because owner Oscar Goodman almost always gets to third base on just about every date. Rob Wells is still an unknown. There is not much history, let alone minor league stats to back up the assertion that he can start at the major league level.

[recte44]

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