2035 Nashville Goats - Know The Other Guy in the Division
Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2018 10:54 am
I'm going to take a different tact in this preview because I feel like re-iterating how bad the Goats are isn't really good reading. So, instead, I'm going to go through their roster and pick out the pieces I think they can build around, the pieces that they most certainly can't and the pieces that might be more productive in a different role. Hopefully their GM takes this in the spirit of constructive criticism as opposed to a hit piece - even if the vernacular trends dangerously close to the latter at certain points (it's just how I write/speak).
What I like from the pitching staff
1) It took a little while, but I found one! Cherono is your #4 SP of the future. Cherish him, because there isn't much else to hang your hat on here.
What I would do to the pitching staff
1) Send Tomanek down to AAA. The kid isn't ready to be in a ML rotation. At this point, at age 24 with his 3rd pitch still a '1', he may never be. But if he has any hope of filling out, throwing him to the wolves of the MBBA to let him get teed off on isn't the way to facilitate it. Let him go back to AAA's rotation where he can pitch in a more relaxed environment. And, if by this time next season that changeup still isn't above a '5' then start thinking of him as a ML reliever. Do this same thing for Frank (though he's closer to a lost cause being already 25), too. That 3rd pitch is important - don't ruin their confidence while they try to get it. Lindt, too. Jeeze... you have an epidemic of these guys, man. While you're at it, fire your minor league pitching coaches.
2) I assume this was your plan when you signed Maeda, but the goal here should be trying to trade him once June 1st rolls around. It might be tough with his contract (because there is no way he is turning down that player option), but try to get *something* out of the deal - even if it's just a small lottery ticket type prospect or two. If the league allows, retain some of his money to help facilitate a deal if you have to - it's going to be a little while before you need the budget room anyway.
3) Trade Martinez to a team with a pitcher's stadium (LOU and VAN spring to mind now that CAL has changed... not sure whom else might be out there). He isn't going to work anywhere but a cavern and teams like that might fall in love with the STU and give you something moderately useful in return. Do this for Figueroa, too.
What I like from the offense
1) Luo is alright. He could probably hang on as a back of the lineup (8/9-hole hitter) on an up and coming team (probably not on an already good team, though).
2) Tremblett is okay if you squint. Good defense at least. I'd probably try to trade him while his value is high (ie. while that '33 offensive career year is still fresh in people's minds), though.
3) You could do worse as a no-offense glove first option at 2B than Gomez. Not *much* worse, but still. And yeah, pre-empting the next section of this preview, to maximize his value he should be playing 2B (where he could be a +glove) and not SS (where he is a -glove) - he just doesn't have the range for the latter.
4) Curry is probably the best player on your roster - BY FAR. Even though this goes against my own self interest because I was trying to trade for him, I recommend that you don't deal him. Move him to RF, though... why is he tagged as a CF? He is never ever going to be even remotely useful there - and all you're doing is tanking his morale and trade value (in case you do persist in dealing him).
5) Piglet is pretty good, too - and has the potential to be an alright contributor. I would teach him LF to maximize his positional flexibility and future trade value, though.
What I would do to the offense
1) Trade Wilcox. He's probably just a RH platoon option for most teams out there, but you could maybe get a lottery ticket prospect for that so you should try.
2) Play Manning at CF. Billy is not your answer here - the guy would be lucky to break a .600 OPS as a starter. Manning doesn't excite me with the bat, either, but at least he's somewhat competent. Who knows, maybe he can get his CF rating to a '7' and become trade-able to a desperate team? Also move Curry to RF and Gomez to 2B. Who cares who they supplant and whether or not you have replacements at their former positions... at this point your roster is enough of a mess that trying to individually maximize player value as opposed to team value should be your #1 priority - so that you can market them for potential trades better.
What I like from the pitching staff
1) It took a little while, but I found one! Cherono is your #4 SP of the future. Cherish him, because there isn't much else to hang your hat on here.
What I would do to the pitching staff
1) Send Tomanek down to AAA. The kid isn't ready to be in a ML rotation. At this point, at age 24 with his 3rd pitch still a '1', he may never be. But if he has any hope of filling out, throwing him to the wolves of the MBBA to let him get teed off on isn't the way to facilitate it. Let him go back to AAA's rotation where he can pitch in a more relaxed environment. And, if by this time next season that changeup still isn't above a '5' then start thinking of him as a ML reliever. Do this same thing for Frank (though he's closer to a lost cause being already 25), too. That 3rd pitch is important - don't ruin their confidence while they try to get it. Lindt, too. Jeeze... you have an epidemic of these guys, man. While you're at it, fire your minor league pitching coaches.
2) I assume this was your plan when you signed Maeda, but the goal here should be trying to trade him once June 1st rolls around. It might be tough with his contract (because there is no way he is turning down that player option), but try to get *something* out of the deal - even if it's just a small lottery ticket type prospect or two. If the league allows, retain some of his money to help facilitate a deal if you have to - it's going to be a little while before you need the budget room anyway.
3) Trade Martinez to a team with a pitcher's stadium (LOU and VAN spring to mind now that CAL has changed... not sure whom else might be out there). He isn't going to work anywhere but a cavern and teams like that might fall in love with the STU and give you something moderately useful in return. Do this for Figueroa, too.
What I like from the offense
1) Luo is alright. He could probably hang on as a back of the lineup (8/9-hole hitter) on an up and coming team (probably not on an already good team, though).
2) Tremblett is okay if you squint. Good defense at least. I'd probably try to trade him while his value is high (ie. while that '33 offensive career year is still fresh in people's minds), though.
3) You could do worse as a no-offense glove first option at 2B than Gomez. Not *much* worse, but still. And yeah, pre-empting the next section of this preview, to maximize his value he should be playing 2B (where he could be a +glove) and not SS (where he is a -glove) - he just doesn't have the range for the latter.
4) Curry is probably the best player on your roster - BY FAR. Even though this goes against my own self interest because I was trying to trade for him, I recommend that you don't deal him. Move him to RF, though... why is he tagged as a CF? He is never ever going to be even remotely useful there - and all you're doing is tanking his morale and trade value (in case you do persist in dealing him).
5) Piglet is pretty good, too - and has the potential to be an alright contributor. I would teach him LF to maximize his positional flexibility and future trade value, though.
What I would do to the offense
1) Trade Wilcox. He's probably just a RH platoon option for most teams out there, but you could maybe get a lottery ticket prospect for that so you should try.
2) Play Manning at CF. Billy is not your answer here - the guy would be lucky to break a .600 OPS as a starter. Manning doesn't excite me with the bat, either, but at least he's somewhat competent. Who knows, maybe he can get his CF rating to a '7' and become trade-able to a desperate team? Also move Curry to RF and Gomez to 2B. Who cares who they supplant and whether or not you have replacements at their former positions... at this point your roster is enough of a mess that trying to individually maximize player value as opposed to team value should be your #1 priority - so that you can market them for potential trades better.