by: Chris Wilson
MBBA
2000 by the numbers
81-81, .500; t-6th in FL
Runs Scored
803, 6th in FL
Runs Allowed
746, 5th in FL
Run Differential
+57, 4th in FL
Payroll
$58.5+ million, 11th in FL
Attendance
2.625+ million, 9th in FL
3 year record
218-268
2000 in Review
What went right
Rex Bell and Ferris Wheeler supplied the Blazers offense with a potent outfield duo. Bell hit .298/.359/.537 with 32 homeruns and 122 RBI. Wheeler was right on pace with Bell, hitting .297/.357/.502 with 29 homeruns and 125 RBI.
What went wrong
The run differential just did not work in the Blazers favor. Despite having the best run differential in their division, the Blazers still could not quite catch the Atlantic City Gamblers in the division, who had a run differential of -1! A lot of that blame could fall onto closer Leroy Manfredi, who despite saving 36 games, finished the season with a 2-10 record and a 5.25 ERA.
Looking Ahead to 2001
Three Key Questions
1. Can Rule V pickup Charlie Walker help stabilize the bullpen? Walker has a blazing 101 mph fastball that he mixes in with a devastating sinker. Walker has been an extremely successful pitcher in the minor leagues and will look to take full advantage of his first chance in the big leagues.
2. Is Duane Whitley the FL's top rookie this season? Whitley, who opened a lot of eyes of various GM's in the league when he at first appeared on the Rule V draft list, wound up in the last minute being protected by Montreal, and rightfully so. Now, the slugging first baseman will make his debut in 2001 in a Blazer uniform. The former 4th round pick and top prospect of the MBBA, enters the 2001 season as the 4th best prospect in the league. He projects to be a .330 and above hitter with the potential of 20 or more homeruns. You heard it here first, Whitley wins the FL rookie award in 2001!
3. Can the Blazers, with the 23rd ranked payroll, really contend in 2001? The Blazers are a full $47 million below the league cap and are spending $30 million below their allotted budget. This team had a good run in 2000 and was close to the playoffs. I am sure fans would have loved to have seen the GM spend a little more money and help improve this team's chances of the playoffs, a place this team hasn't been to since 1993.
Can Expect to Play Better
Hal I. Burton. This is simple. Burton missed all of last season with a torn labrum in his right shoulder which has sidelined the reliever for nearly 11 months of the season. When he returns, Burton will be a 5th starter at most. He isn't anything special, but I'm willing to bet that Montreal makes the playoffs last season if Burton is in the rotation.
Can Expect to Play Worse
Jaime Farrell. Farrell had a great season last year, but he now finds his name all over the trade block. With Duane Whitley now ready to make his full-time debut in Montreal, Farrell's playing time north of the border is likely to dwindle down. The Blazers would love to find a suitor for Farrell and someone willing to give them a fair amount. If not, the Blazers may have to just look to make any trade they can in order not to have a nice talent like Farrell just wasting away on the bench.
Projected Lineup
1. Joshua Yeomans - 3B
2. John Neely - 2B
3. Rex Bell - LF
4. Ferris Wheeler - CF
5. Duane Whitley - 1B
6. Pepper Brooks - SS
7. Jefferey Lindquist - RF
8. Wesley Brummett - C
Rotation
Eugene Miller
Tim Buchannan
Andre Benjamin
Alex Johannsen, Michael McNeill, Gerardo Grillo, Hal I. Burton
Closer
Leroy Manfredi
Milestone Watch
No major milestones upcoming this season for the Blazers.
A Closer Look
Fans of the Blazers have a lot to be excited about. The middle of the offense is stout with Bell, Wheeler, and rookie Whitley. John Neely at 2b is not slouch either. The offense should be extremely solid this year and help keep this team in the hunt. I'm not 100% sold on the pitching staff at the moment. 25 year old Eugene Miller has the makings of being a bona-fide ace in the league, but the rest of the staff is just average. But the FL Atlantic Division isn't exactly the best division in the MBBA which means the Blazers have a legit shot at winning the division this season. I predict that the Blazers will finally crack the .500 barrier, a mark they haven't reached since 1993. I predict the Blazers will go 83-79, but finish 2nd in the division.
