53.06 Future Outlook

[shoeless.db]

A boring look at what I see when I look into the Popes' future:

** Barring an implosion at virtually every position or a hard-coded punishment enacted by a rogue OOTP23 programmer, the 2054 Popes should see continued success as all but one player (Poncha Costa; 0.2 WAR in 2053; 1B platoon vs. LHP) will be back in Sacramento navy blues.

** I don't foresee the salary cap to be an issue despite having to resign 2B Dallas Dixon and relievers Aaron Anderson and Luis Ramos sometime next season. The recent long-term extensions for Nisanci and Isam are both highly front loaded, but still should leave around $8-$10 million to spend in finding a replacement for Costa.

** The BBA is heading for a steep decline in talent as the current crop of BBA players age out of their productive years. The Isam trade and extension was a hedge against this certainty as he is just 26-years-old. The extension will bring him into his age 32-year where we hope he will still be a viable contributor in the field at SS, a position with very few elite players working their way up any organizations' ranks.

** Alex Ramirez was signed for another one-year contract for next season, giving his heir-apparent, Juan Vera, another year to blossom in AAA Black Hills. Vera slashed .306/.369/.458 in AAA in 2053 despite being only 19 years of age.

** The Isam trade depleted my minors depth at starting pitcher, but the long term contracts for Vasquez and Turner along with team control over Joe King leaves us to find viable #4 and #5 starters over the next several years. Robert Hanson, Dylan Wonnocott, Paul Norton, and Cesar Macias will compete for those spots along with up-and-coming prospects James Robinson, Roy Nealy, and Mitchell Radnall. Lack of option years for Hanson, Wonnocott, Norton, and Macias will be pushing hard decisions during spring training.

** The current 40-man roster has just 31 players, leaving plenty of space to protect Rule 5 viable players.

** Because of this posts optimism, the Popes will likely be terrible in the coming years.

** I need to purchase several more goats to sacrifice.

** Prince Joffer, who set single A records in Runs and Stolet Bases this year with the Hollywood Silver Stars, should mature just as stalwart LF Todd Rice will complete his contract after the 2055 season.

[Dington]

** Barring an implosion at virtually every position or a hard-coded punishment enacted by a rogue OOTP23 programmer

^^^

[Jwalk100]

You have made some nice moves and have remained focused on the team's future. This is using Ron's 'sustained winning' sprinkled with some blood sacrifice. I may need to throw a sacrifice into a volcano.

[BaseClogger]

This a great post. Really helpful for me to learn from as I navigate my way in this league.

I'd be really curious to read a similar post by Brett about Rocky Mountain. Although I do fear that post would be a novel in length.