Off Topic
TOO MANY CHOICES?
October 17, 2062, Marshall Islands > While the rest of the world focuses on the silly Monty SPET, and the primary movers and shakers that run the Bikini Krill are busy going to gala events celebrating their owner's latest endeavor, the rest of the club's minions are focused on what the team should look like next season.
Today the focus was apparently on the outfield, where, for the first time in the atoll's history the words "we've got too many guys who can probably play," were uttered. Several can even possibly field their positions. To some acumen, anyway. At least that's the rumor. And a quick scan down the list says that's probably right.
The kids, you see, they grow so excruciatingly slow. But they do grow.
Don't Be Daft: Center is Still In Question
The real sticking point will continue to be center field, a least until the off season ends and we find out if Ramon Sanz has been transmogrified from quite interesting into surefire thing. If one assumes he can at least play the role a bulk of the time, things look pretty good. If plan A doesn't work out, Plan B will certainly be from outer space.
[size]The Corners Are Going to Be Crowded[/url]
Unless a deal is made, as many as eight players could be coming to spring camp with an eye toward taking roles on the atoll. The breakout reads:
Fernando Bushey is now officially the old guard, and has the advantage of carrying the appearance of being a center fielder in case a Sanz emergency requires breaking that glass. He's not really going to work out there, but while his bat has not proven to be reliable, the power it brings is enough to make his metrics say he can at least play in the league. The team hopes that's as a 5th OF, however. Otherwise things will not be good.
Julio Lopez (24 yo, 12 HR, .273/.337/.413) and Kusuma Prawiranega (25 yo, 9 HR, .264/.335/.443) were last year's newbies, and each made a solid enough impressions to leave folks optimistic. Neither were quite as flashy with the glove as you'd like, but depending on the metric you used might have been something close to league average. Prawiranega spent a chunk of time on the IL with an elbow problem. Both are solid clubhouse guys, too, with Lopez already staking out a role on the team's kangaroo court. Both will be working on improving the rougher edges of their game this off-season, and the team hopes that they'll arrive at camp ready to compete.
20-year-old Al Schumann came over from Chicago last season and filled the Designated hitter role well enough (12 HR, .284/.327/.451) that coaches expect next year to be even stronger than that. There is hope that he could improve the glovework enough to compete in the field, too, however. He's precocious and an aggressive learner. It cold happen.
Glen Branham was given most of September to prove that he's not a center fielder. That doesn't come as a surprise, of course. Of greater question was whether he would hit--which he mostly did not. Scouts liked parts of what they saw, though, including stealing 10 bases in 11 attempts. He's probably a long shot, but stranger things have happened.
The most intriguing of the group have to be rookies Abhijana Swamy (21) and Juan Ramos (23). These are the stars of the group. Or at least the potential stars. Both destroyed AAA pitching last season, and Ramos had some eye-raising moments in a short stint on the atoll. Seven homers in 82 AB will certainly serve to raise a few. His .232 average was a little worrisome, but if it comes with a 126 wRC+, the team can probably live with that. Both of these guys will players of focus for the club going forward.
Finally, the dark horse is Felix Moreno, who at 21 could probably hold his own in left field today, and destroyed AA pitching after being drafted in the second round this year. No one expects him to OPS+143 in the majors, but the competition for right handed bats is Bushey and Branham. The team has jumped players from AA before, and that kind of offense would be hard to ignore, so it could happen.
Could a Deal Be Imminent?
Of course, this collection of at least semi-competent players suggests that the Krill front office could be busy this year, and we don't mean attending galas. Some in the group are questioning whether one or two of these guys could be peeled off to attempt to shore up other issues. This, too, is certainly possible.
We won't know until the SPET is over, though.
At least that much is sure.
October 17, 2062, Marshall Islands > While the rest of the world focuses on the silly Monty SPET, and the primary movers and shakers that run the Bikini Krill are busy going to gala events celebrating their owner's latest endeavor, the rest of the club's minions are focused on what the team should look like next season.
Today the focus was apparently on the outfield, where, for the first time in the atoll's history the words "we've got too many guys who can probably play," were uttered. Several can even possibly field their positions. To some acumen, anyway. At least that's the rumor. And a quick scan down the list says that's probably right.
The kids, you see, they grow so excruciatingly slow. But they do grow.
Don't Be Daft: Center is Still In Question
The real sticking point will continue to be center field, a least until the off season ends and we find out if Ramon Sanz has been transmogrified from quite interesting into surefire thing. If one assumes he can at least play the role a bulk of the time, things look pretty good. If plan A doesn't work out, Plan B will certainly be from outer space.
[size]The Corners Are Going to Be Crowded[/url]
Unless a deal is made, as many as eight players could be coming to spring camp with an eye toward taking roles on the atoll. The breakout reads:
| Role | Player | Role | Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| Left Field | Abhijana Swamy | Right Field | Julio Lopez |
| Fernando Bushey | Kusuma Prawiranega | ||
| Al Schumann | Juan Ramos | ||
| Glen Branham | |||
| Felix Moreno |
Fernando Bushey is now officially the old guard, and has the advantage of carrying the appearance of being a center fielder in case a Sanz emergency requires breaking that glass. He's not really going to work out there, but while his bat has not proven to be reliable, the power it brings is enough to make his metrics say he can at least play in the league. The team hopes that's as a 5th OF, however. Otherwise things will not be good.
Julio Lopez (24 yo, 12 HR, .273/.337/.413) and Kusuma Prawiranega (25 yo, 9 HR, .264/.335/.443) were last year's newbies, and each made a solid enough impressions to leave folks optimistic. Neither were quite as flashy with the glove as you'd like, but depending on the metric you used might have been something close to league average. Prawiranega spent a chunk of time on the IL with an elbow problem. Both are solid clubhouse guys, too, with Lopez already staking out a role on the team's kangaroo court. Both will be working on improving the rougher edges of their game this off-season, and the team hopes that they'll arrive at camp ready to compete.
20-year-old Al Schumann came over from Chicago last season and filled the Designated hitter role well enough (12 HR, .284/.327/.451) that coaches expect next year to be even stronger than that. There is hope that he could improve the glovework enough to compete in the field, too, however. He's precocious and an aggressive learner. It cold happen.
Glen Branham was given most of September to prove that he's not a center fielder. That doesn't come as a surprise, of course. Of greater question was whether he would hit--which he mostly did not. Scouts liked parts of what they saw, though, including stealing 10 bases in 11 attempts. He's probably a long shot, but stranger things have happened.
The most intriguing of the group have to be rookies Abhijana Swamy (21) and Juan Ramos (23). These are the stars of the group. Or at least the potential stars. Both destroyed AAA pitching last season, and Ramos had some eye-raising moments in a short stint on the atoll. Seven homers in 82 AB will certainly serve to raise a few. His .232 average was a little worrisome, but if it comes with a 126 wRC+, the team can probably live with that. Both of these guys will players of focus for the club going forward.
Finally, the dark horse is Felix Moreno, who at 21 could probably hold his own in left field today, and destroyed AA pitching after being drafted in the second round this year. No one expects him to OPS+143 in the majors, but the competition for right handed bats is Bushey and Branham. The team has jumped players from AA before, and that kind of offense would be hard to ignore, so it could happen.
Could a Deal Be Imminent?
Of course, this collection of at least semi-competent players suggests that the Krill front office could be busy this year, and we don't mean attending galas. Some in the group are questioning whether one or two of these guys could be peeled off to attempt to shore up other issues. This, too, is certainly possible.
We won't know until the SPET is over, though.
At least that much is sure.
