2039 Frick League Pacific Division Preview

Team, Division, League, Playoff, and all other comprehensive previews go here.
jleddy
Ex-GM
Posts: 3216
Joined: Mon May 27, 2019 5:46 pm
Location: Long Beach, CA
Has thanked: 3377 times
Been thanked: 1174 times

2039 Frick League Pacific Division Preview

Post by jleddy » Sat Jun 29, 2019 5:51 am

2038 Frick Pacific Division Review
As expected, the Pacific Division was exceptionally competitive last season, sending three teams to the playoffs. Since division re-alignment in 2035, the California Crusaders have won the Pacific three times with a second-place finish in 2037 when the San Fernando Bears took the crown. The Crusaders cruised to the title last year with a 103-59 record, leaving the runner-up Valencia Stars sixteen games back in the standings. While California and Valencia clinched the playoffs during the regular 162-game schedule, the Bears and Long Beach Surfers required a 163rd game to decide the Frick League's third and final Wild Card spot. Despite closing the regular season with a 10-2 record, the Bears fell to the Surfers in #163. The Pacific Division featured the two major award winners from the Frick League, with Ángel Zalapa of Valencia taking the Sawyer Silk Silver Slugger and San Fernando's Feliciano Rafael claiming the Steve Nebraska Golden Arm.

2039 Frick Pacific Division Preview (projected order of finish)
1. CALIFORNIA CRUSADERS
2039 Predicted Record: 91-71
2038 Record: 103-59, 1st

Key Additions: Sai Ahuji and Aarav Patil
Key Departures: RF Alfredo Martínez (159 OPS+, 3.2 WAR), SS Jesús Flores (82 OPS+, 2.1 WAR), GM Ted Schmidt

After fourteen trips to the playoffs and two Landis Championships in eighteens seasons under Ted Schmidt, ownership hands the keys over to rookie general manager Doug "Shoeless" Olmsted. Footwear be damned, as Olmsted has big shoes to fill with Schmidt's departure. The good news is he inherits a team coming off a 103-win season but like any good general manager will tell you, it takes work to win in the Brewster. With arguably the best pitching staff in the Pacific and in a pitcher-friendly home park, expect Olmsted to lean on his arms in order to return the Crusaders to the playoffs. Miguel Ramos and Luis Gracía will head a talented rotation, while Raúl Hernández will again be asked to contribute yet another 40-HR season for a middle-of-the-road offense. Chip Saunders' defense and veteran leadership behind the dish will be called on to provide stability as the team and fanbase adjust to new front office management. Could Olmsted look to make splash at the trade deadline by acquiring a big bat for one of his prized prospects?

The Crusaders win the Pacific if... their rotation doesn't follow Schmidt into early retirement. So, yeah, no pressure.

The Crusaders lose the Pacific if... Olmsted, from his short stint as general manager for the UMEBA's Mumbai Metro Stars, insists on team trainers using the ancient Indian holistic medical practice of Ayurveda. Injuries can strike any team at anytime, but significant losses in playing time to the few offensive standouts could be a huge burden for even the likes of Ramos and Gracía.



2. LONG BEACH SURFERS
2039 Predicted Record: 88-74
2038 Record: 85-78, 3rd (Frick Wild Card #3)

Key Additions: C Jim Miranda (101 OPS+, 1.1 WAR)
Key Departures: C Hotha Popo (92 OPS+, 2.7 WAR), LF Mark Sturdivant (109 OPS+, 0.9 WAR)

The Surfers may have overachieved last season, but that's not taking away the fact they are a well-run organization. The battle-tested roster returns almost entirely intact after a playoff appearance last year and returns two of the best players in the division, 1B Mark Simpson and SP Danya Tchekanov. One thing about Long Beach is certain: hand the ball off to the bullpen with a lead and the Surfers will most likely win the game. The four-headed relief monster of Luis "Bronco" Rojas, Diogo Lindt, Júlio Velasco and Imad bin Ibrahim -- plus Rule 5-addition Raúl Chavarría and his nasty cutter-changeup combo -- is as good as any in the Brewster and will play a big part in the team's return to the playoffs.

The Surfers win the Pacific if... Michael Best lives up to his last name. The offense is almost single-handedly carried by Simpson, but he's now on the wrong side of 30, so Best will need to put up a 6+ WAR season that many believe is in him to provided additional run production.



3. SAN FERNANDO BEARS
2039 Predicted Record: 87-75
2038 Record: 84-79, 4th

Key Additions: SS Jesús Flores (82 OPS+, 2.1 WAR), RP Miroslav Tomanek (214 ERA+, 1.4 WAR)
Key Departures: 2B Jared Gillstrom (123 OPS+, 4.9 WAR), RP Carlos Delgado (129 ERA+, 1.1 WAR)

After five straight appearances in the playoffs, San Fernando missed the postseason after a disappointing loss in Game 163. You can bet that didn't sit well with general manager Randy Weigand over the winter, as manager Mike Wilkinson was fired in February and replaced with Brewster retread Abe Colbert. All eyes will be on reigning Nebraska-winner Rafael and finding out what one does for an encore after going 17-7 with a 3.10 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. Fans will hope young Russian starter Sergei Hopkins will blossom under the tutelage of Rafael. Offensively, the Bears have a promising core of young hitters led by Ángel García who will be asked to take over at second base for departed legend Gillstrom. For those who subscribe to the see-saw pattern of some players, this ought to be an "up" year for 1B Tai hoi Wie who has seen his performance oscilate the last four seasons (6.7 WAR in '35, then 3.9, 6.3 and 3.9 last year.)

The Bears win the Pacific if... Luis Maldonado is more bullish than bearish. The five-tool outfielder failed to follow-up on his 57 HR/158 RBI Silk Award-winning season in 2037. A return to superstar production will do wonders replacing the loss of Gillstrom's bat.



4. VALENCIA STARS
2039 Predicted Record: 83-79
2038 Record: 87-75, 2nd (Frick Wild Card #2)

Key Additions: 2038 Wild Card banner in Honigsfeld Field
Key Departures: RP Rafael Morales (104 ERA+, 0.0 WAR), SP Zhi-xin Chien (119 ERA+, 3.1 WAR)

The Stars playoff appearance last year sent shockwaves through the Brewster and ended the franchise's fifteen-year drought from the postseason. Has the bar been set or will fans expect to return to mediocrity once again? Fortunately for the Valencia faithful, Zalapa returns with a Sawyer Silk Award in tow. The Stars offense isn't just a one-man band, as "Poison" is surrounded a talented outfield trio of Frank Mahaffey, Ramón Pagán and Wilton Rivera. On the mound, the team has a collection of average starters along with bullpen ace Luis Ortega. Insiders think this is a recipe for a potential mid-season deal for pitching with general manager Lee Honigsfeld possibly dangling prospect Aaron Haney as bait. While projections have the team dropping a few wins from their total last year, it's not the 90+ loss campaigns experienced in 2036 and 2037. Valencia fields the youngest team in the Brewster (average age 25.1), so while this might not be the season for the Stars, expect them to shine bright soon again.

The Stars win the Pacific if... Honigsfeld continues to restore faith in owner Paul McFarquhar Jr. After a decade of futility, Valencia has one of the lowest payroll budgets in the Brewster. For the Stars to turn the page and make the postseason regularly, McFarquhar will have to give Honigsfeld the ability to bring in free agent talent and lock-in their young stars.



5. HAWAII TROPICS
2039 Predicted Record: 69-93
2038 Record: 75-87, 5th

A history of low payroll has led to low win totals which has led to high draft picks. Maybe general manager Mike Bieschke is playing the long-game and stockpiling prospects to one day unleash on the Pacific Division? Unfortunately, Hawaii's best young talent are currently residing in the lower minor league levels, so celebratory luaus will have to have to wait for a few more years. For a team largely devoid of difference makers, Manuel Aguilar, Jr.'s breakout (40 HR, 111 RBI, .907 OPS) last year is just want the Tropics need more of. Same for young Stephen Taub and Zak Johnson, two pitchers perhaps on the precipice of greatness. However, paying reliever John Wick $2.6M to throw batting practice in Triple A Death Valley and having reliever Rodrigo Lugo, fresh off a $6.6M free agent contract signing, suffer a rotator cuff strain in the spring is the type of cursed luck afflicting the islanders in recent years. Remember, aloha means hello and goodbye.

Key Additions: Paper straws available in all Diamond Head Park concession stands
Key Departures: Dave Callahan's 150 innings of 71 ERA+ banished to Double A Carson City

The Tropics win the Pacific if... the lower 48 fall into the Pacific Ocean. Or Bieschke cloning eight more descendants of Manuel Aguilar, Sr.
"My $#!? doesn't work in the playoffs." - Billy Beane Joe Lederer

jleddy
Ex-GM
Posts: 3216
Joined: Mon May 27, 2019 5:46 pm
Location: Long Beach, CA
Has thanked: 3377 times
Been thanked: 1174 times

Re: 2039 Frick League Pacific Division Preview

Post by jleddy » Sat Jun 29, 2019 5:53 am

Enjoy a few planted Easter eggs within that preview! That was fun to do (looking forward to seeing how badly I prognosticated at season's end) and really valuable in learning other teams and players in the league.
"My $#!? doesn't work in the playoffs." - Billy Beane Joe Lederer

User avatar
RonCo
GB: JL Frontier Division Director
Posts: 19815
Joined: Sat Nov 14, 2015 10:48 pm
Has thanked: 1982 times
Been thanked: 2902 times

Re: 2039 Frick League Pacific Division Preview

Post by RonCo » Sat Jun 29, 2019 10:00 am

Quite fun.
GM: Bikini Krill
Nothing Matters But the Pacific Pennant
Roster

usnspecialist
Ex-GM
Posts: 6652
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2017 9:39 am
Location: Manama, Bahrain
Has thanked: 207 times
Been thanked: 776 times

Re: 2039 Frick League Pacific Division Preview

Post by usnspecialist » Sat Jun 29, 2019 11:19 am

I fired Wilkinson because he wanted something like 2.7m for an extension after this year and i was hoping a new guy would convince tai hoi wie to talk extension.

Good stuff on this.
Randy Weigand

Havana Sugar Kings/San Fernando Bears: 32-50 (1608-1481)
Des Moines Kernels: 52-

League Champion- 34
JL Champion- 34
FL Champion- 36, 37
JL Southern- 34
FL Pacific- 37, 39
Wild Card- 33, 35, 36, 40, 43

Image

User avatar
shoeless.db
BBA GM
Posts: 2317
Joined: Wed May 29, 2019 10:25 pm
Has thanked: 1823 times
Been thanked: 1090 times

Re: 2039 Frick League Pacific Division Preview

Post by shoeless.db » Sat Jun 29, 2019 1:50 pm

Fantastic stuff... I may need to look to add something better than Sai and Aarav...
Sacramento Mad Popes (unretired)
-- Vic Caleca Team News Award Winner 2052
-- BBA Champion 2053
-- Pacific Champs 2040, 2042, 2043, 2047, 2048, 2049, 2051, 2053, 2054
Life is a bit more beautiful when time is measured by the half inning rather than the half hour.

User avatar
HoosierVic
Ex-GM
Posts: 3106
Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2019 9:16 pm
Has thanked: 472 times
Been thanked: 1020 times

Re: 2039 Frick League Pacific Division Preview

Post by HoosierVic » Sat Jun 29, 2019 4:54 pm

No such thing as something better than Sai and Aarav!

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic

Return to “Previews”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests