Profiles of Birmingham's Position Players

[aaronweiner]

Here are your position players for the 1997 Birmingham Bandits!

C Pluvius Avis-Albus
1996 Stats: .323 AVG, .383 OBP, .763 OPS, 19.6 VORP

One of the few Birmingham players to receive Sawyer Silk votes last year, Avis-Albus was excellent last year, winning the FL Yogi Zimmer at catcher and posting career highs in OPS and OBP. Avis-Albus is a reliable on-base threat who will bat second, and undoubtedly demonstrate solid and possibly spectacular production this year. Signed through 1998 with a team option for 1999.


1B Jimmy Dugan
1996 Stats: .209 AVG, .707 OPS, 17 HR, .206 Isolated Power

Despite the fact that Dugan is coming off of the worst season of his career, he's just two years away from a .900 OPS season and still has prolific power. With a full season of at bats, Dugan was on pace for his seventh consecutive 30-homer season, and he's reportedly worked hard this offseason and looks fit and ready for the 1997 campaign. He'll bat fifth.


2B Willie Greene
1996 Stats: .273 average, .767 OPS, 19 HR, 82 RBI, 9.3 VORP

Willie Greene did not disappoint as a nearly full-time starter at second base last year. Greene's 19 home runs were among the league leaders at second base and provided stability through a balanced Birmingham batting order. He'll be the starter this year against righties and bat sixth, and despite his platoon with Porfiro Garza to start the year, Green will probably receive more time against lefthanders this season than last year.


3B Hector Fernandez
1996 Stats: .278 AVG, .782 OPS, 54 2B (led league), 71 EBH (5th) 102 runs scored (7th)

Birmingham is hoping that Hector Fernandez didn't just have his career year. Fernandez was absolutely rock solid last season and managed to put his disastrous 1995 season behind him and returned to more of his career norms. The Bandits are looking for more of the same from this consistent player, who will again bat leadoff.


SS Jack Dark
1996 Stats: .313 AVG, .819 OPS, 20 HR, 82 RBI, 35.8 VORP

Jack Dark was brought in last year to stabilize the shortstop position, but instead blew all expectations out of the water. Dark's .313 average was his highest since 1989 and his .819 OPS was his best full-season mark since 1991. Dark will again be expected to be above average offensively at shortstop, a task likely not too tall for the Space Assassin. He'll bat seventh.


LF Medric Wood
1996 Stats: .295 AVG, .826 OPS, 23 HR, 100 RBI (10th), 102 R (7th)

Medric is one of the better outfielders in the league and is still improving at the age of 29. Birmingham recently locked up their star outfielder until the 2001 season, so you can write his name into the third spot in the order for the next half decade. The Bandits are looking for a big year from Medric.


CF John Wright
1996 Stats: .269 AVG, .770 OPS, 16 HR, 9.5 VORP

John Wright is Birmingham's secret weapon from the #8 spot in the order. A lot of teams would like a guy who puts up consistently high-.700 OPS numbers from the #8 hole, and Birmingham has one. Wright will likely be replaced in late innings by and platoon with Doogie Howser (see below) this season but should be productive again.


RF Brett Favre
1996 Stats: .276 AVG, .845 OPS, 37 HR (6th), 127 RBI (2nd), isolated power .248 (5th)

What to say about Brett Favre's breakout season? Favre was expected to put up 20+ homers and 100 RBI from the cleanup spot, but managed to respond to the team's vote of confidence by eviscerating the Frick League. The team is looking forward to this year's effort, and Favre will bat cleanup again.


Bench Players


Utility IF Isaac Paul (I.P.) Daly
1996 Stats: .344 AVG, .831 OPS, 13.3 VORP

No one is expecting Daly to perform at this level again, but the team would be thrilled with another solid defensive effort and a .280 batting average from the veteran utility man.


Utility Porfirio Garza
1996 Stats: .736 OPS, 17 HR in Phoenix

The Bandits are not expecting any numbers close to the surprising totals that Garza had in Phoenix, but they are expecting him to play outstanding defense at all four infield positions and keep on the right side of the Mendoza line. He'll platoon with Willie Greene at 2B, but Greene will get the lion's share of at bats. Garza is a slightly better hitter and much better defensive player than John Carver, who was optioned to AAA Monroe to start the year.


4th OF Doogie Howser
1996 Stats: .365 AVG, .866 OPS in 58 PA

Howser is one of the top five defensive outfielders in the MBBA. The team was very high on Doogie Howser's offensive ability, but reportedly the young doctor overworked himself at the hospital and not enough in the weight room or the batting cage this offseason. Howser still has a solid contact bat and is the team's best sack bunter. He'll platoon with John Wright and provide spectacular late-inning defense.


5th OF Jorge Abad (most 1996 stats at AAA)

Abad could be the best fifth outfielder in the MBBA, and he'll be available if Birmingham suffers an injury to Brett Favre or Medric Wood - or if Wood goes on one of his preposterous rampages and gets suspended.


Offensive Expectations for 1997

The Bandits are deep and solid at all positions this season and could improve upon their 1996 3rd-place offensive ranking this season. There are again no apparent holes in the lineup; though how Jimmy Dugan will rebound from last year's disaster is anyone's guess, he can be penned in for at least 25-30 HR minimum from the five hole.

It is safe to expect Birmingham's offense to be one of the most solid units in the MBBA again this season, and they should finish somewhere in the top half of all Frick teams offensively.