by Caitlen Sullivan
Vancouver Sun Sports Reporter
March 1, 2000
Reviewing the Buffalo Bison
Today we take a guest role in reviewing the prospects for the Buffalo Bison, the team Vancouver beat in the Landis Memorial Cup last year for the league championship. Buffalo will similarly be reviewing the Mounties.
Rotation:
The Bison starting rotation will be a bit uneven to say the least. At the top there is none better than Amen Mitrani who posted a brilliant 24-4 mark in 1999 while striking out an amazing 321 batters in 281 innings (while walking only 48). He lost the Nebraska Award to Allen Izatt of Marquette (24-6). Mitrani will definitely be the Nebraska Award favorite for 2000 with Izatt lost for the entire season with a torn rotator cuff suffered in the playoffs. The number two starter again will be Melvin Ripken (13-9, 3.75), and he’s a quality arm that the team can depend on. Fighting for the 3rd and 4th spots will be Cletus Bullrush (15-15, 5.15) and Ken Gladden (9-12, 4.86), so there’s a dramatic drop off in quality after the top two. John Oloughlin started 18 games, going 6-2, but the jury is still out on him being a fulltime starter. Jim Cramer was 3-0 when he tore his rotator cuff in May, but he became a free agent at year end and will be wearing an Atlantic City uniform for his comeback attempt.
Outlook: Mitrani is unlikely to win 24 again, so someone else will have to pick up the slack, and it’s not at all clear who that will be. This could be a trouble spot as the Bison try to repeat as Frick League champions.
Bullpen:
Dick Tolleson and Dick Wasson split the closer role with Wasson prevailing by year end. Both will be around to provide solid late inning support out of the bullpen. A rising star is 22-year-old Felix Padilla, and it is not inconceivable that he will win the closer role before the year is over. Dave Cammack and Oscar Acosta are reliable middle relief men. Ernest Nilson, traded to Las Vegas, will be missed.
Outlook: a solid staff that can keep Buffalo in the game late if the starters get them deep enough into the game.
Catching:
Jeremy Hunter has unlimited potential at age 23 and starting his fourth season as the regular backstop. His home run (25/24/24) and RBI (88/88/85) numbers over his three years are remarkably consistent, but his batting average has improved by over 20 points per season up to his .341 mark in 1999. Defensively he is decidedly middle-of-the road. Backup Jim Ibar is no better defensively, and his .474 batting average was certainly an aberration unlikely to be repeated. Rod Smart is probably the best guy behind the plate, but he logged time at first base as well. With John Johnston on board from the start of the year, Smart may spend more time as the backup backstop.
Outlook: Hunter is a certified All Star and Smart will do just fine as the backup.
First Base:
John Johnston was acquired from Las Vegas in June to be the Bison first baseman. He hit .297 in Buffalo and has decent power, but his defense is a liability. Johnson has great speed but terrible base running instincts. He’s a lifetime .300+ hitter and is capable of hitting close to 30 home runs. Alistair Sharpe is much better defensively, but is likely to be at 3B again this year, so catcher Rod Smart will probably be the primary backup and he is OK defensively as well.
Second Base:
Kevin Greene played 2B last year but he declared free agency at year end and will be in a Phoenix uniform this season. And catcher Rod Smart logged the next most innings at second, but he’s unsuited to the position. Bill Drayton is the most likely candidate to play the keystone sack, and he’s at best adequate both offensively and defensively. George Gaylor is even worse in the field. This looks like a trouble spot for the Bison.
Third Base:
As mentioned, Alistair Sharpe played here last year and is likely to be the starter once again. While he has a great arm, he has limited range and would be better suited at first base, but Johnson holds down that spot. So Sharpe gets to play third to keep his potent bat in the lineup. Last year he hit .291 and belted 29 home runs.
Shortstop:
Ryan Savaikie was the regular shortstop in 1999, and he is probably the best defender in the Bison infield (at SS, 2B, and 3B). He had a fine year at the bat too, hitting .281 and had a career high 24 home runs. Carl Abrahamson could see some time here as well, but the veteran spent 1997 and 1998 in AAA (where he tore up the league at the plate). Last year he missed three months and hit only .230 in limited action with Buffalo. And he’s a defensive liability too.
Outfield:
The only outfielder with more than 1000 innings played last year at one outfield position (CF) was Jeffrey Lindquist. He hit .273 with 18 homers, and he’s a superb defender anywhere in the outfield where his great range makes up for a subpar arm. The other regular, Eric Lockett, split his time between RF and LF. He’s most comfortable in left, and his .319 average and his great speed on the bases will keep him the lineup somewhere. Dusty Light probably has the inner track on the third starting job based on his .281 average and his fine defensive range (albeit it he is another one with a weak arm). Time is running out on Robert “Wacko” Laperle fulfilling his promise. Defensively he’s brilliant except for an average arm, but he hit under .200 last year in 273 at bats. The wild card in the outfield is former Vancouver Mountie Sam Palos. He’s not so great in the field, and he too was under .200 in total last year after logging time in Las Vegas, Marquette, and Phoenix.
Bottom Line:
The starting rotation is fine at the top but questionable at the bottom. The bullpen is OK. Defense is an issue, especially in the infield. The outfield has good range but weak throwing arms. And Hunter is at best an adequate defensive catcher. Offensively the team is led by “Superman” Hunter but has no one who hit 30 home runs or knocked in more than 85 last season. Buffalo has their work cut out for them to repeat as champions of the Frick League Atlantic Division.
