A Flock Of Bluebirds 2041.1- 2041 Pitcher Recaps

[recte44]

We didn't get a chance to finish this before the PP deadline for 2040, but still wanted to release the work done here.

Player Grades and 2041 Projections- Pitchers

Josh "Spud" Brown, LHP
30 years old
Contract Status: $7.2M for 2041

Nashville gave up a couple of low level prospects in order to add Brown to their rotation before Spring Training. He ended up bring just about dead nuts average to his career numbers, which was not exactly what the Bluebirds were hoping for. One thing Brown has been known for throughout his career is his durability, and for the sixth straight season he started 32 or more games (34, to be exact). Brown should remain around for his penultimate contract year and Nashville can expect more of the same.

2041 Projection: Save a rotation spot for him

Elliot "Snow God" Buckland, RHP
32 years old
Contract Status: $7.9M for 2041 and 2042, $7.9M Player Option for 2043

Panic is a strange phenomenon. It makes people do strange things. Things like signing an oft-injured 32 year old righty who had a 6.92 ERA with Nashville after being acquired by trade to a three year extension worth a possible $23.7 million. That's what happened with Buckland. Obviously this is a deep bet on health and prosperity for the once vaunted "Snow God".

2041 Projection: Locked into a rotation spot

Chin Kim, LHP
29 years old
Contract Status: $2.1M (2041-2042), $1.9M (2043-2044, 2045 Player Option)

The best contract in the BBA is attached to the left arm of Kim. He won 18 games, the most of his career and generally was the ace of the staff. Also set career highs in GS, IP, and K.

2041 Projection: Tippy top of the rotation

Eru "Doodle" Likiliki, RHP
24 years old
Contract Status: Arby ($3.4M estimate)

Doodle probably has the most talent of the Nashville starters, however his 2040 season was quite uneven. He's about to become more and more expensive. 2041 will determine whether he's part of the future or a trade chip.

2041 Projection: #2 Starter

Bob Ramirez, RHP
24 years old
Contract Status: Pre-Arby (Auto)

Pitched better as a starter than a reliever, but he's tough to get a bead on. Not too many pitchers in the league are blessed with a 10/10 changeup but Ramirez is, and also 8/8 Fastball and 8/8 Curveball. His role will continue to be fluid.

2041 Projection: Swingman

Lorenzo de' Medici, LHP
24 years old
Contract Status: $3,600,000 for 2041 (arby)

Based solely on pure stuff this guy is one of the more electric lefty arms in the BBA right now. His control is what is limiting him, especially combined with a borderline propensity for allowing the long ball. It is interesting to note that once removed from the closer role he pitched consistently well the rest of the season.

2041 Projection: High Leverage Reliever

Axel Goulding, RHP
25 years old
Contract Status: $700K for 2041 (Arby Eligible)

Hard to believe this 25 year old is a four year veteran of the BBA already. After three plus non-descript years of generic middle relief for Louisville, the Sluggers grew tired of his 5 ERA no matter how incredibly consistent he was. Nashville claimed him off waivers and he bounced back and forth between the big club and AAA before having a nice September for the Bluebirds and pitching himself right into the projected 2041 pen.

2041 Projection: Middle Relief

Ray "Chubby" Perkins, RHP
34 years old
Contract Status: $1,150,000 for 2041 (FA eligible)

Way back in 2030, Perkins was an instant sensation with Vancouver as a 24 year old closer. He's not that guy anymore but he's still plenty useful. IF the Bluebirds can use him frequently in a ROOGY role the $1.15M they gave him to return in 2041 should be a bargain.

2041 Projection: ROOGY/Middle Relief

Aleixo Urgeses, RHP
25 years old
Contract Status: $770K for 2041 (Arby Eligible)

2040 was a weird mixed bag for Urgeses. Three really good months (April, August, September) were dampened by three awful months (May, June, July). So which is the real Urgeses? It's the good one, most likely. His FIP was 3.85 which has been rather consistent throughout his four BBA seasons. Nashville should be able to count on him for solid relief innings moving forward.

2041 Projection: ROOGY/Middle Relief

Ben Velez, LHP
23 years old
Contract Status: $500K (Auto)

Velez had such an impressive rookie season in 2039 (2.44 ERA, 20 SV) that he was bound to have a bit of sophomore-itis in 2040. Realistically, the season wasn't too different- when you only pitch 45 innings in a year a few bad outings can skew your whole year. He'll be back in 2041.

2041 Projection: LOOGY/Middle Relief

Jose "Frankenstein" Rangel, RHP
25 years old
Contract Status: $500K (Auto)

Last year he pitched a no-hitter (5/1/2039 vs Brooklyn) and looked to be on his way towards being a part of the Nashville rotation moving forward. After a slew of injuries, he missed most of the first half of the 2040 season. Once back, the Bluebirds deployed him in a new role- as closer. Not even the Bluebirds front office could tell you with a straight face they expected him to have the amazing success that he did in that new role. In 14 games he had a 0.98 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 10 H allowed in 18.1 innings, 8 walks, 15 strikeouts and just one homer allowed while saving 5 out of 7 opportunities. It's unclear whether he could sustain that type of success moving forward (his FIP was 3.72) but he seems like a good fit in the bullpen.

2041 Projection: Relief role to be determined

[jleddy]

"The best contract in the BBA"

Understatement of the millennium.

[jleddy]

I know he was mentioned in the OF recap, but not even a note about Ata?