Last Season:
Record: 81-81 .500
Finished: 5th in the Atlantic 15 1/2 games behind the leader.
Playoffs: No. Finished 6 games back of the final wild card spot in the Johnson.
2043 was a watershed season for the Brooklyn Robins. Long time GM, Alan Ehlers steps down after 19 years at the helm, and with it 8 playoff appearances, 2 Landis appearances, and one title. He walks away under his own terms, handing the team over to BBA new comer Ben Heuring. In his first season at the helm, Ben leads the Robins to a .500 record, and kept them playing meaningful ballgames late into September. Isn't that what every fan wants? Perhaps if your Wichita or Charlotte, but not here, not in Brooklyn.
Offseason Moves:
Added
- FA - RP Jose Luna - A 38-47 record and 163 saves for this what some may call a fragile journeymen pitcher in the BBA. He's on his 5th team in 8 years. The 29yo signed a 4-year deal with the Robins for 11.6m. He took a significant pay cut from 2043, dropping from 9.4m to 2.6m this year for the Robins. If he lasts the full 4, it will be the longest of any club for him. He still has some decent splits 8/5/7, and could be a nice compliment as a middle relieve / setup to the teams current closer Curt Phillips. He brings some experience to the club with a 2041 Landis ring in tow. His expectations could get interesting as he was promised and wants the closer role. But that spot is assigned to Phillips. We will see how his clubhouse morale goes as the season progresses and Brooklyn isn't playing above .500 ball, and he's not closing out games.
- FA CF Yi-Ke Zang - the 33yo CF signed a MiLB contract with the Las Vegas Hustlers' in the offseason. Not much will be missed offensively with this departure, as he only appeared in 32 games (starting 9) in 2043 with a .217 average. He is a above average defensive player (and his loss will be felt in that respect). This guy could play any outfield position, and play it well. He's got a career ZR of 9.6 for CF and 24.5 for RF. Racking up 688 games in CF and 419 in RF. Brooklyn may have to find 2 players to make up defensively and as a PR for this guy.
- FA SP Cris Rios - Loosing Chris might hurt this staff some in 2044. He ate up over 100 innings in 2043 with a 3.49 ERA while posting 8-3 record as a starter. But he's also a 35yo P, who was looking for a long term $ deal. It was time for Brooklyn to let him go and spend that money elsewhere. With the addition of Luna in FA, they might be able to make some innings there.
Brooklyn sat in the middle of the pack last year for offense as far as their league went. Averaging 4.5 runs a game, just a shade above the league average of 4.3. Taking a look at some of the other numbers
- Hits - 5th (above league avg)
- Doubles - 10th (league avg)
- Triples - 13th (below league avg)
- Home Runs - 4th (above league avg)
- BB - 7th (league avg)
- SO - 10th (below league avg) <-- that's a good thing
- SB - 16th (dead last)
- Slash - .262 / .320 / .440 (all above league avg)
C - Franciso Flores
1B - Art O'Bryan
2B - Richard Drouin
3B - Brian Dixon
SS - Dick Walton
LF - Felipe Vega (2043 Golden Bat & All Star)
CF - Sawyer Slizz (2043 All Star)
RF - Antonio Cordero (2043 Gold Glove)
DH - Ferando Cruz
Potential 2044 Opening day rotation and bullpen
This staff could sport 4 lefties in the rotation to start the season.
SP - (L) Pierre Legrand (239.1 IP) (All Star)
SP - (R) Takeo Aoki (206.2 IP)
SP - (L) Juan Rodriguez (205.2 IP)
SP - (L) Luis Espinosa (200.2 IP)
SP - (L) Luis Oliva (121.0 IP)
SU - (R) Jose Luna
CL - (R) Curt Phillips
A nice staff that many a BBA team would take. (I'm looking at you Madison). This staff is a solid, but not spectacular group that gives you a lot of innings. They allowed 4.1 runs a game below the league average of 4.3. They had a staff ERA of 3.84 (also below league average), and BABIP of .274, (again below league average).
In Summary:
So why was this team 6 games worse than their expected wins of 87 (which by the way would have put them in the playoffs) in 2043. Perhaps going 13-26 in 1 run games in 2043 might have something to do with that, or blowing 12 saves in 2043 (5 by Ramon Martinez, 4 by Enrico Morales, and 3 by Curt Phillips.) You now start to realize why the Robins targeted Rios in FA.
My Prediction for the 2044 season, not as rosy as the OOTP super computer 9000 predicts at 100-62 and a division crown, but I have them righting the ship and improving by 7 wins and making it to 88-76 this season. Good enough to snag the final wildcard spot in the Johnson.
