He Who Walks Behind the Rows. Vol. 3. Ep. 1a

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He Who Walks Behind the Rows. Vol. 3. Ep. 1a

Post by FuzzyRawley » Wed Sep 09, 2020 9:25 pm

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With the 2044 season upon us, the Des Moines Register’s Roh Rindfleisch offers his season preview of starting line up for the Popcorn Men.

Starting at Catcher, is the venerable Luis Barrera. The veteran Chicagoan is coming off his first season playing for the Kernels and is hoping to improve upon his mediocre offensive contribution where he put up a less than league average WRC+ of 89. His split improves a bit to 105 when looking at right handed pitching but was an abhorrent 53 against lefties. He’s currently slotted in the 2nd position against righties but sits way down the order against lefties. Patrick Faber is expected to take over against lefties if Barrera continues to struggle. The good news is that Barrera continues to be above average behind the plate, posting a +2.1 ZR in 2043.

Moving on to 1B, we move into a platoon between Juan Mateoand Hector Cruz. Mateo will be the starting 1B vs righties, but he struggle mightily in 2043 against southpaws and will be relegated to bubble gum duty when a lefty SP is on the mound. The good news is that Cruz can handle lefties at an above replacement level. The downside to this platoon, is when the ball is hit down the right side, if Mateo is involved, the crowd takes a sip of their beer, if Cruz is involved, the crowd moves on to the hard stuff.

At 2B, the 24-year old Chua-kah Yang is coming off his first full season in the BBA. Yang, who came over as part of the Don Smith trade, still has room to grow, put up 37 HRs and 88 RBIs while batting in the middle of the order. It is hoped that he will improve upon his contact and BA to help bring him to the All Star level in the next few seasons. He better, because he’s projected to be nothing but average in the field with his glove and if 2043 is any indication, he has a long way to go to be average.

SS was a position of extreme terribleness for the Kernels in 2043. Alan Williamson, who was supposed to be a long-term pillar for the organization at this position, was let go after being multiple kinds of awful both at the plate and in the field. Back in December. The Kernels traded for Luis Cruz. The 25-year old Venezuelan, isn’t expect to be anything but a placeholder until the Kernels find a better player, but it won’t be hard to improve upon Williamson.

Moving on to 3B, the Kernels moved on from Kiichi Suzuki in 2043, releasing the high priced veteran in July after a dismal first half of the season. GM Webb was loathe to leave so much money on the books, but with Anastasio Guillen looking ready for the BBA, it was a decision that needed to be made. Guillen didn’t do anything to impress anyone in 2043, being sub par at the plate and in the field, but at 23 years, he has some expected improvement coming.

The outfield rotation will include the three youngsters Sui, Jorge Aranda and Mr. Yakuza, Nori ‘Knuckles’ Yokoyama . Filling in on off days and for injuries will Tucker York (The Third!) and Lucio De La Cruz After last year’s defensive debacle, these two are likely to spend more time platooning DH then trying to shag the many fly balls that are hit in the Heartland Division. (If this was the Pacific Division, then these two would see ample time in the outfield.)

Sui came over the Popcorn Men in the Jaimie Mendoza trade, a move that some in Des Moines question the logic, but no one can argue that help was needed in the outfield. Offensively, he’s not expected to provide much pop, but he’s yet to play a full season and he makes good contact, so a change of scenery might do him good.

Jorge Aranda had a decent 2043 season, putting up a 1.2 WAR and was average at the plate. But, he is another young player who may surprise this season.

Nori Knuckles, needs no more time. The Yakuza Muscle is here. Since coming over to the Kernels in the Don Smith trade, he has established himself as an above average to good BBA player. His outfield range is limited, but he makes up for this in spades at the plate, putting up a 151 OPS+ in 2043 and a 4.1 WAR.

At the DH spot, we have the aforementioned Tucker York (The Third!) and Lucio De La Cruz. Cruz is expected to get the majority of his at bats against righties where he’s historically had OPS’s above .800. Against lefties, not so much. Here, Tucker York (The Third!) is expected to get more at bats, but if he struggles, expect the Kernels to go shopping for a replacement right-handed DH.

There’s not a lot in this lineup to expect much more than an improvement on last year’s debacle, but with plenty of young fielders and batters, at least Des Moines has the potential to get better, or good trade value to pick up some more prospects and continue the march to the playoffs (this is not a rebuild!)
:cool: They say it don't be like it is, but it do!

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