We are on pace (as of August 21st) to win a whopping 72.7 games based on our current winning percentage. As an operator, even if this is good enough for second place, it's nowhere near good enough for my expectations as a general manager. So then the first question is what are the goals?
My first goal for this team, having seen where the squad is, is to achieve a .500 record next year. Sure, we all have goals to win the Cup, but I sense that with my farm system being empty, that trying to build a 90-100 win team right now would be very detrimental to the long term health of the franchise.
So, the next question is, how do we win another 10 games without sacking the farm club?
Right now, there are a number of things the Bison don't do very well. We strike out too much for the number of walks we take, and we really don't hit the ball with much authority. We steal an ok number of bases, but that could improve, and I am still trying to find a good way to measure the defensive effectiveness of the club. By adding Sue to CF, and by having decent defenders (if not great) at 2B, 3B, and SS, I am hoping to at least be average on defense, with a goal of being stellar through the draft and organic improvements.
On the rubber, we have a different set of issues ahead of us. Right now, oddly, all of our major league ready starters are right handed. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, I cannot say it’s good either, and I would like to add a lefty or two to the rotation over the next few years. We also have a large percentage of our payroll wrapped up in guys who ideally will pitch one or two innings a game. Again, this is not a bad thing, but it’s clearly not a good thing either. But when it comes down to it, right now, the biggest problem this team has is the number of games the bull pen is losing for the starters, and for the team.
I have 5 pitchers currently on the staff in the pen, who all have at least 20 appearances, some more, and each of them has an ERA over 5.00, with two of them with an ERA over 7.00. Based on my ranking in the Frick League in number of HR allowed, I am guessing my field is not a band box, so this really is unacceptable on multiple levels, and is, therefore, my largest focus. How can I attract a number of strong arms to fill those slots next season? Those 5 pitchers (I am including Beaudry even though he is starting now for the squad) have lost 14 games already this year, and have blown seven save opportunities. I can’t expect this to fully change, and yes, I know that saves will be blown and the bull pen will lose games now and again, but even a casual observer to this team would know that the pen HAS to improve if this team is going to win 10 more games next season.
So there it is. While there are plenty of things to be fixed, you can rest assured that Buffalo has their eyes on the one thing that is really hurting this team the most, and that is who we hand the ball to when the starters are no longer able to go.
