2045 Charlotte Cougars
If you read last year's preview of the Charlotte Cougars, you read about Keijo Reini returning home to Hungary in the offseason and getting a blood transfusion that somehow increased his Stuff to an amazing 15 rating. Well, Reini must have seen the same doctor again this offseason as he now returns with an even more amazing 18-rated Stuff. He also picked up a point on his Movement rating and 2 points on his Control rating. Can he improve on his JL-leading 263 strikeouts from last year? Barring injury, that's an easy yes.
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And now for the rest of the team:
After streamlining a whopping 45 players through the Charlotte clubhouse last season, the Cougars seem pretty set in their lineup, and possibly for a few years to come. Last offseason, the Cougars strayed from The Plan® a little, trying to get more offense while letting their defense slide a little. GM Golden gave up a lot this offseason but somehow managed to get better offensively and defensively, and seemingly able to increase on last year's JL-leading stolen base count.
Key Losses
The Cougars made some big trades this offseason - who did they lose? There were really only 4 players the Cougars lost that had a positive WAR: C Felipe Mercado (0.6 WAR, lost to FA), RP Bob Coleman (1.2; FA), SS Jeremy Webb (0.8; trade with El Paso), and RF Bobby Horne )1.1, trade with Portland). Other than Horne showing some showing some progress and potentially having a nice future, no earth shattering losses here.
Key Acquisitions
Well, we all know about the trade with Portland that brought SS Robert Menzies, SP Francisco Franco, and DH Bartolo Ortíz. There was another recent trade with Louisville that brought in RPs Andresa Pires and Manuel Pacheco. How about Free Agency? That brought in C John Hale, 2B Hakim Ngowa, 3B Curt Love, and RP Sean Spits. Between the losses and acquisitions, that's a total increase of 9.9 WAR.
Offense
Charlotte's infield is strong. Hale and Alfonso Jareño make for a nice pairing behind the dish, splitting time based on the pitching match ups. Splitting time at 1B will be Rashardo Menne III and last year's Rule 5 pick, Bob Irwin. Irwin hit well enough last year that he should be manning 1B full time but its awfully hard to ignore Menne's JL-leading 49 stolen bases and .400 OBP in 400 ABs. At 2B will be Roberto Viramontas - a solid player and Captain of the team. At 3B we'll see Rafael Gutiérrez. If Guiterrez can stay healthy, he should continue to add to Charlotte's high average, speed on the bases identity. At SS, most assume Menzies will spend the season there but if you look a little closer, Ignacio Venegas is only a couple of weeks away from coming off the IL after breaking a kneecap last season. That should push Menzies to CF, creating one of the stronger outfields in the JL. Menzies in CF means pushing last season's breakout star, Lorenzo Bueno to a corner position. In the other corner, Ramón Pagán, the sole player on this team that is not a plus defender. Oh yeah, we add in Ortiz at DH too. While this team wont be hitting many home runs, opposing teams better be on their toes as the Cougars will get on base and run.
Pitching
The Cougars pitching started strong last season, keeping themselves in the top 10 in the JL in most pitching stats. Franco was added and he immediately becomes the team's ace. Lefthanders Ashton Brooks and Emilio Brazini and back and along with Guillermo Sánchez, make for a nice mid-rotation set. As a 5th starter, more than a few teams would like to have Jorge García in that spot. The bullpen was often a soft sport for the Cougars last season but are looking to be a lot stronger this year. Pires and Pacheco are strong. We've already mentioned the big steps that Reini took this offseason and this year he'll split the Stopper duties with rookie Louis Adams. We've mentioned Sean Spits, who is good but might struggle with those tough left-handed hitters in the Atlantic. Claude Michaud and Robert Hobbs shouldnt embarrass themselves too often. Tony Cabrera should find himself filling out the staff in the long role while Jeffrey Russell will keep his bags packed in case he needs to get out of Richmond quickly.
Overall
Overall, the Cougars are more improved than that 9.9 WAR portray. A full season with some of the guys they called up late last season, coupled with these pitchers getting a full season at the power-killing Family Dollar Field and the overall increase in defensive abilities, this Cougar team should be able to reach the 85-win mark and possibly making a run to their first-ever playoff appearance.
