A Flock of Bluebirds 2040.5- Meet The Team: Pitching Staff

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A Flock of Bluebirds 2040.5- Meet The Team: Pitching Staff
February 26, 2040

While the position player group seems to be a strength of the 2040 Nashville Bluebirds, fans and scribes alike all agree that the pitching staff isn't so bad itself. Let's now take a quick look at the status of the Bluebirds hurlers.

Starting Pitchers
Sure Fire Locks: Chin Kim (LHP), Eru Likiliki (RHP), Josh Brown (LHP), Heinrich Peithner (RHP)
Near Locks: NONE
Trying to Get In The Door: Kidane Ata (RHP/CF), Bob Ramirez (RHP), Pedro Sanchez (RHP)
Breaking In The Back Door (NRI): Bert Hugill (LHP)

After acquiring Brown from Las Vegas, the 1-4 spots are set for the Bluebirds. What they are planning to do with the #5 slot is fascinating. The first option is to see if Ata can indeed start every fifth day in order to maximize both his center field skills as well as his powerful right arm. So he'll get a chance to prove himself in spring. Outside of that, it's a battle between wily lefty Hugill and hard throwing Ramirez. Sanchez is a prospect here due to his 40 man roster spot.

Relief Pitchers
Sure Fire Locks: Lorenzo de' Medici (LHP), Manuel Orozco (RHP), Rafael Morales (RHP)
Near Locks: Ben Velez (LHP), Ray Perkins (RHP), Bob Ramirez (RHP), Aleixo Urgeses (RHP)
Trying to Get In The Door: Manuel Bruno (RHP), Kevin Creelman (RHP), Francis Jesty (RHP), Jose Rangel (RHP)Carlos Manuel (RHP), Jose Rivas (RHP), Ulbert Vluegel (RHP), Akli Yoofi (RHP)
Breaking In The Back Door (NRI): Bert Hugill (LHP), Travis Arnold (RHP), Javier Castro (RHP), Joey Flannery (RHP)

de' Medici is the Bluebirds stopper and he'll have more help this year, thanks to the additions of Orozco and Rafael Morales. Velez was a strong lefty last year and saved 20 games so he is a near lock, along with the veteran Ramirez, righty Urgeses and probably Ramirez. After that things get interesting. With seven spots accounted for, it seems there is probably room for just one more. There are no less than TWELVE candidates to fill that role. The most likely outcome is either Rangel or Hugill take that spot. Options are a huge issue here, however. Bruno, Rivas, Vluegel and Jesty are all out of options and right now none of them have an inside track on making the team.