WHIV 2057.10- Checking the Locks: Relief Pitchers

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Sure Fire Locks (2):
Todd Stone, RHP (12/8/10, 69 G, 7-3, 42 SV, 2.67 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 2.1 WAR with SA/LV)- Stone, 32, won the JL Egan Award and was everything the Hustlers thought he would be. Signed through 2058, he's arguably the elite closer of his generation.

Adam Bristcoe, RHP (15/9/6, 48 G, 4-3, 1 SV, 4.15 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 0.7 WAR)- Bristcoe, 25, has electric stuff. He needs to get the walks under control, which will in turn get the WHIP and other numbers under control. He figures to be the primary setup man, the Robin to Stone's Batman.

Near Locks (1):

Kyle McKinlay, RHP (8/7/9, 8 G, 4.70 ERA, 1.43 WHIP)- Funny that a guy who hadn't pitched in the BBA since 2053 is a near lock, but the 31 year old is a nice fit in the Hustlers bullpen for several reasons. First, he's a groundballer with a six pitch mix that can pitch in short relief, long relief, or serve as a spot starter. Second, he's cheap. Finally, he's out of options.

Trying To Break In (6):

Carlos Berrera, RHP (8/11/6, 6 G, 3.38 ERA for LV; 7-3, 4.13 ERA for Milwaukee in AAA)- Berrera didn't get as many opportunities as the Hustlers thought he might get last year. When an opening arose, he was injured or someone else got the nod. This year he'll be a swingman and probably once again ride the LV-MKE express, as he has two options remaining.

Scott Byrd, RHP (8/7/7, 5 G, 9.88 ERA for Vancouver; 8-4, 3.30 ERA for Vancouver in AAA)- Byrd was signed to a minor league contract with a major league option, then added to the 40-man roster prior to Rule 5. He will be in the mix for a bullpen job but figures more as a depth guy.

Alonso Chavez, RHP (8/8/7, 2 G, 1.23 ERA for Milwaukee in AAA). Chavez hadn't pitched anywhere since 2054 until the Hustlers signed him to a minor league deal late last season, and he made two appearances for Milwaukee. He's an intriguing guy with all of the things Las Vegas looks for in a depth pitcher, extreme groundballer, plus changeup, the ability to pitch multiple innings. Almost a mirror of Byrd.

Juan Garza, RHP (8/6/10, 5 G, 3 GS with LV/LBC, 3.92 ERA, 1.45 WHIP; 3.76 ERA, 1.24 WHIP with Commerce in AAA)- Garza has two options left and a lower movement than the Hustlers would optimally like to see. Lefties can do some damage against him as well. Probably ticketed for Milwaukee.

Weston Hand, RHP (8/7/8, 5 G, 5.27 ERA, 1.02 WHIP for LV; 28 G, 17 GS, 10-6, 3.77 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 3.1 WAR for Milwaukee)- Hand, 32, was finally rewarded for his long organizational service with a BBA callup, and didn't look totally out of place. He still seems like a guy who will be the first one waived off the 40-man roster if a spot is needed.

Ray Johnston, LHP (10/9/3, 6 G, 3.09, 1.20 WHIP for LV; 12 G, 1.04 ERA, 1.15 WHIP for Milwaukee)- Johnston has one big advantage, and that's that he's left-handed. He's a weird one, though. Scouts think he's tougher on RHP than LHP. Weird. After finally reaching the BBA last year, he then got injured, and had bone spur surgery on his elbow. LV doesn't usually dig low control guys, either, especially not this low, but they didn't find any other lefties.

Breaking In The Back Door (8):

Ash Davenport, RHP (8/9/8, 8 games, 6.56 ERA with ABQ and MKE in AAA). Like Byrd and Chavez, he's a darkhorse for the pen on a minor league deal. Davenport's story is much more intriguing, though. His last BBA appearance was in 2046 for Nashville. Not a typo, folks. 2046. Ten seasons have gone by without Davenport so much as sniffing the BBA. He was bombed out of Albuquerque and his career seemed over when Vegas signed him late in the season, and gave him one start for Milwaukee. Here was the line: 9 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, CG/SHO. What the hell? Anyways, he's a huge longshot; the longest of long shots, but we're saying there's a chance.

Curt Fields, RHP (10/8/7, 6-15, 5.77 ERA with Edmonton)- Fields signed late in the preseason to a minor league with major league option deal. On paper, it looks like he may be the best bet of this grouping of pitchers to make the club. Yes, his stats with Edmonton were awful last year. He was a starting pitcher though on a bad team. Way back in 2051, Charlotte was the first and still only team to use him only as a reliever and the results were great (19 G, 1-1, 5 SV, 1.18 WHIP). It's a stretch to base an opinion on 19 games from 6 years ago, but it's a low risk gamble on a fireballer.

Duncan King, LHP (7/8/8, 33 G, 5-1, 4.14 ERA, 1.36 WHIP for Milwaukee in AAA). King could compete with Johnston for the LOOGY spot, which begs this question: What's more important- stuff or control?

Taisho Nakagawa, RHP (9/10/5, 41 G, 4-3, 17 SV, 3.47 ERA, 1.21 WHIP for Milwaukee in AAA)- Nakagawa still hasn't appeared in the BBA. He's been in the Milwaukee system since 2049 but hasn't broken through. There has been some consideration of converting him permanently to a reliever. Stay tuned.

Bradley Ottaway, RHP (8/7/8, 1 game with Milwaukee-AAA)- Since he got a short cup of coffee with the Hustlers in 2054, Ottaway pitched in exactly ONE professional game, which was last year with Milwaukee. Yet here he is in Spring Training. The Hustlers are weird sometimes.

John Parker, RHP (13/7/4, 45 G, 1-5, 12 SV, 4.08 ERA for Duluth in AAA). He's a high stuff guy that the Hustlers are taking a look at. Seems ticketed for the minors.

Ajanidha Praveen, RHP (8/8/7. 19 G, 11 GS, 8-3, 4.75 ERA, 1.33 WHIP for Milwaukee in AAA)- With all the other middling veterans in camp, why not Praveen? He was a top starting pitcher in the GBC who has never had any success in the BBA.

Jacob Smiley, RHP (8/10/7, 11 G, 9 GS, 4-4, 1 SV, 5.52 ERA< 1.26 WHIP for MKE/ELP in AAA)- Because, we all want to see Smiley successful again, right? Remember when he fell off the roof?
1) Valencia issued their support
2) Madison got an injured dude
3) Chicago issued a warning to their players about Home Repair
4) Kate might have been involved in the accident
5) as the BBA investigated a Nashville player gave testimony
6) Smiley made a miraculous comeback
7) An AI reporter chimed in as the Hustlers signed him
8) he had a setback
9) after bouncing between the roster and DFA all year the Hustlers released him
10) Yellow Springs picked him up
11) finally Valencia brought him back home
...and he's bounced around ever since. All of this because of OOTP storylines, fellas. Good work.