Charm City 2034 Preview

[niles08]

Even though I was told I might want to wait until the next round, I decided I had downtime today at work and would start it...well I finished it lol...If I need revise after signings or moves are made I certainly will...I also tried something a bit different since its my first team preview I have ever done...It is located below by the URL and is in magazine format...I used to put together a magazine type thing that was 4-6 pages long for one of my Madden NFL Leagues on PS4 at every advance and so I dove back into that a bit...but.I will also post it below for those that don't want to click the URL as the URL does not have names tagged but my bias opinion is the URL is certainly cooler and better formated than the information listed below.

https://joom.ag/drIY


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Charm City Jimmies


Charm City made the playoffs last season, for the third season in a row, but once again failed to bring home the Landis Trophy. They finished 2nd in their division with a 90-72 record, which is actually 6 games worse than the season before when they won the Atlantic division with a 96-66 record.
The offense is once again built around franchise cornerstones Alfredo Salazar (8/7/9/9/7 Talents, .314/.420/.541, 27 HR, 85 RBI) & Aubrey Anderson (6/8/8/4/7 Talents, .271/.305/.528, 39 HR, 109 RBI) who have been in the corner outfield spots for all 3 of the past seasons playoff seasons, while Carlton Winson (7/8/10/9/5 Talents, .300/.415/.667, 59 HR, 141 RBI) who came over in the beginning past of last season will bring the thunder again as he hit 59 home runs last season. The pitching staff will most likely be lead by Arturo Reyes who will begin his 5th season in Charm City along with Egbert Behner (9/7/8 Talents, 15 - 15, 4.04 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 166 K).

2033 at a glance
Record: 90-72 (2nd in Atlantic Division)
Hitting: 4.7 runs per game. .260 batting average (lowest in 4 years), 769 runs per game (also lowest in 4 seasons)
Pitching: 4.3 runs per game allowed, 4.00 ERA which is lowest in 5 seasons that team has existed. Walks down, strikeouts up over prior season,

Arrivals

3B Davis Locke (7/5/3/6/8 Talents, .225/.278/.273, 1 HR, 16 RBI)
SP Bonaventure Habermas (8/7/6 Talents, 5 - 4, 4.18 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 75 K)
RP Steve Russell (7/7/9 Talents, 5 - 1, 3.08 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 43 K)
2B German Perez (6/6/5/4/7 Talents, .350/.386/.600, 2 HR, 8 RBI)
C Alberto Padilla (5/5/8/9/3 Talents)
SP Randall Thomas (8/7/8 Talents, 7 - 5, 4.90 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 77 K)
RP Hector Mata (9/7/5 Talents, 0 - 0, 13.14 ERA, 2.43 WHIP, 6 K)(Via Rule 5 Draft)

The team didn’t make a huge splash in Free Agency but did sign some valuable players who can fill the roster and are capable of holding their own and providing some production. The big signing of the group may be the position battle that will take place between the resigned Bonaventure Hambermas & Randall Thomas (8/7/8 Talents, 7 - 5, 4.90 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 77 K) for the 5th spot in the rotation. Both pitchers seem to be capable of holding their own and could be steals for Charm City. Hambermas started 22 games last season for Charm City, and one would assume he will get the same opportunity this season as he pitched well.

Players/Positions to watch
SS Max Hatcher (4/5/7/6/3 Talents, .128/.208/.220, 3 HR, 9 RBI)
2B Position

This team is potentially going to live or die at the production they get out of their middle position. Hatcher was called up for part of last year and struggled immensely. The team had Pablo Soto at shortstop much of last season so Hatcher is certainly a downgrade. Hatcher does provide some offensive spark though with great pop to his bat that should hit some out of the park. No questions, Hatcher’s ability to play defense has been his road to the BBA.

At 2nd base, the team had Chris Workman (6/7/6/9/7 Talents, .267/.381/.422, 11 HR, 38 RBI) who is now a member of the Brooklyn Robins and who provided 2.3 WAR value last season. The team signed German Perez (6/6/5/4/7 Talents, .350/.386/.600, 2 HR, 8 RBI) in the offseason and also have Pedro Gutierrez as options but neither seem like great options at this point. Cristo Meza (4/5/2/6/4 Talents) may be the best option at this position but he, like Hatcher, has a very limited bat. Prospect Julio Chavez (5/7/1/4/5 Talents) may be the only solution in the minors for this team at shortstop or 2nd.

Sleepers
Pitcher Bonaventure Hambermas
Pitcher Hector Mata (9/7/5 Talents, 0 - 0, 13.14 ERA, 2.43 WHIP, 6 K)
Pitcher Randall Thomas (8/7/8 Talents, 7 - 5, 4.90 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 77 K)

Three pitchers that Charm City did very well this offseason that are on super cheap contracts and should provide some decent return for the Jimmies. We have discussed Hambermas and how his resigning may have been a steal for the team, and the same with Randall Thomas (8/7/8 Talents, 7 - 5, 4.90 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 77 K) who may be a sneaky starting pitcher or a good option out of the bullpen. We haven’t discussed Hector Mata (9/7/5 Talents, 0 - 0, 13.14 ERA, 2.43 WHIP, 6 K) very much. Mata was a rule 5 pick meaning he must be on the roster all season or be returned to the team selected from. Mata is 24 years old and throws hard averaging 96-98 mph and does a good job of keeping the ball on the ground which should suit the strong defensive infield for Charm City well. Mata cracked the majors first last season pitching in 12 innings to a large 13.14 ERA but 12 innings is like watching the opening credits for a TV Show and declaring it no good before giving it a chance. Mata does have some control issues but has good movement on his pitches and has the ability to make batters miss. And if he doesn’t work out? He gets sent back. No harm done on this move that could work very well in Charm City’s favor.


Bullpen

Closer: Wilmot Schlondorff (9/7/7 Talents, 9 - 9, 2.60 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 105 K)

Schlondoroff returns for another season with Charm City. He actually returns with a $20,000,000 extension for the next 4 seasons already signed. Schlondorff had 43 seasons last season over 82 appearances and seems to be the go-to guy.
Next: Jeff French (8/7/6 Talents, 6 - 2, 2.24 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 54 K)

The team will most likely turn to Jeff French (8/7/6 Talents, 6 - 2, 2.24 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 54 K) in the event Schlondorff can’t go. French appeared in 42 games last year and compiled a very good 2.24 ERA along with picking up 1 save over 60 innings of work.
Losses:

C Sam Adams (5/5/9/7/3 Talents, .219/.310/.425, 14 HR, 30 RBI)
IN Chris Workman (6/7/6/9/7 Talents, .267/.381/.422, 11 HR, 38 RBI)
P Nicholas Sutton (7/7/7 Talents, 9 - 10, 3.96 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 118 K)
IN Pablo Soto
RP Dillon Young (10/7/7 Talents, 6 - 2, 3.35 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 59 K)
RP Raul Sanchez (8/7/8 Talents, 5 - 2, 3.61 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 70 K)

Big losses for Charm City to overcome this offseason in both their middle infield along with their bullpen. Losing Dillon Young (10/7/7 Talents, 6 - 2, 3.35 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 59 K) & Raul Sanchez (8/7/8 Talents, 5 - 2, 3.61 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 70 K) are big blows to the team but nothing may be a bigger blow than losing Soto who started close to 150 games at shortstop last season.

Projected batting order
1. CF Maximo Quezada (6/5/7/4/5 Talents, .239/.305/.444, 29 HR, 81 RBI)
2. LF Alfredo Salazar (8/7/9/9/7 Talents, .314/.420/.541, 27 HR, 85 RBI)
3. 3B Carlton Winson (7/8/10/9/5 Talents, .300/.415/.667, 59 HR, 141 RBI)
4. RF Aubrey Anderson (6/8/8/4/7 Talents, .271/.305/.528, 39 HR, 109 RBI)
5. 1B Byron Hearle (6/6/7/8/7 Talents, .211/.327/.317, 9 HR, 30 RBI)
6. C Alberto Padilla (5/5/8/9/3 Talents)
7. DH Don Logan (6/5/6/9/8 Talents, .242/.392/.418, 14 HR, 42 RBI)
8. 2B Cristo Meza (4/5/2/6/4 Talents)
9. SS Max Hatcher (4/5/7/6/3 Talents, .128/.208/.220, 3 HR, 9 RBI)

Projected rotation
1. Egbert Behner (9/7/8 Talents, 15 - 15, 4.04 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 166 K)
2. Arturo Reyes
3. Tony Canales (7/7/8 Talents, 11 - 11, 4.36 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 112 K)
4 Cladio Escobedo
5. Bonaventure Habermas (8/7/6 Talents, 5 - 4, 4.18 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 75 K)

Prediction for the upcoming season:

Charm City has quite a bit to replace the lack of moves this off-season to replace those departing might hurt the team more than they had hoped for. I would predict this team might even drop below .500 this season if they are unable to get production out of the shortstop position and keep a solid bullpen. That along with an improving division has me pegging this team for an 81-81 finish and fighting for the 3rd or 4th wildcard spot come September.

[bcslouck]

Nice write up. Don't disagree though we've been counted out plenty of times. We'll find a way to make the magic happen.

[jiminyhopkins]

Comprehensive report. This team, though talented, came quite close to going in a different direction.

[ae37jr]

The jimmies are only a few moves away from being really good again. They don't need to come up with any stars, just a couple of blue collar role players. The problem they face is that every other team in the division but them took a step forward. Divisional wins are going to be hard to come by in the jla.

[usnspecialist]

The jimmies are only a few moves away from being really good again. They don't need to come up with any stars, just a couple of blue collar role players. The problem they face is that every other team in the division but them took a step forward. Divisional wins are going to be hard to come by in the jla.

i agree there are a few tweaks they can make, but i think they are actually in the best position of any possible sellers in the league. They have some pieces that can fetch a very nice return, and as presently constituted im not sure they have enough for a push (especially because the JL is very top heavy, very few mediocre teams in the league this year). Definitely a franchise at the crossroads.