2050 Phoenix Talons
What Happened Last Year?
Last season in this space, we somehow decided that it would be a good time to predict the Talons finally achieving their dream of gaining a coveted JL Wildcard, with 91(!) wins, to boot. The Talons, gamely played along, staying in or near first place for much of the first 4 or 6 weeks of the 2049 season, until the inevitable fade as spring turned to summer. The club ended up worse and worse, until, finally the team began to trade away some of their established stars such as Gilberto Sosa, Tomas Ramirez, Liann-wei Mao, Donald Miller, and even Pedro Guzman, who reportedly wouldn't give the club the time of day when asked about an extension. Whew, the rebuilding has finally begun! ...Right?
In terms of performance and rankings, the Talons had usually spent the past few years near the top of the JL in most pitching categories, and near the bottom in almost every hitting category. Well, we can tell you that one of those things is no longer true, and unfortunately it's on the pitching side. Key injuries to LHP Jeremy Smith (in his first full season of starting duties) and bullpen stalwart Jason Clark (who has closer-level talent on any team), as well as the aging curve of fading veteran Feliciano Rafael caused the pitching rankings to slowly slip to mid pack. This, combined with an anemic offense that saw only two hitters with a WAR over 1.0 (LF Andrew Torres and Donald Miller before he was traded) contributed the club sinking back under .500 for the first season since 2043 with a mere 73 wins.
Key Losses
Most of the losses in this category were actually traded last August, and have been mentioned above. In addition, the Talons are still on the hook for some significant salary, especially for Tomas Ramirez and Chairman Mao. Even one of the guys they got back in trade, Cornelio Lozano, refused to stay with the team. There were some minor prospects involved in some offseason trades, but since the Talons have the 32nd ranked farm system, it's not that big a deal. One loss that will sting, if not in terms of WAR, is the departure of longtime Talon 3B Pankratz Isekenmier, who played over 10 seasons with the club and amassed 25.6 WAR (3rd all time for the franchise), putting him near the top of almost every offensive franchise list including career batting average (5th); Total Bases, RBI, and Runs Scored (all 2nd for Phoenix); as well as Games Played, Hits, and At Bats (all #1 in Talons history).
Key Additions
So, the Talons are rebuilding, right? Time to tear it all down, right? Not so fast, Aki Kondo would like a word with you.
Kondo, who famously bolted from the Talons a few years ago right after they traded the farm for him, is now back in Phoenix whether he likes it or not. The Talons traded two minor leaguers for Kondo and half his salary. So now he's the ace. But that's not all, as the club had, earlier in the offseason, also traded for two power hitters, old friends Norihisa Yokoyama and Chua-kah Yang. So much for rebuilding. And while they were at it, the Talons signed closer Gilberto Sosa to a three year contract. And hey, just for kicks, why not sign future HOF 2B Angel Zalapa to a 4 year deal. Like, why bother rebuilding, if all that's out there is a bunch of 50 rated "prospects" to rebuild with?
Pitching Summary
As mentioned, Kondo is now the ace. Not the Kondo of old, of course, but still more than capable of leading this staff, especially since Denny's Paul D Lunn Memorial Stadium Presented By Subaru has been rather kind to pitchers as of late. If anything, Kondo will put asses in the seats, as the Fan Interest is already back at 100 in Phoenix, no small feat after the selloff last season. Once again, the club will try lefty Jeremy Smith in a full season in the starter role. He seems to have recovered from his injury last season and the Talons will need him to actually put together the 30 starts that they think he can. In third place, another aging veteran, Feliciano Rafael. With a falling WAR the last four seasons, the Talons think they can get the most out of the borderline HOF righthander by limiting his innings so he only sees a lineup twice. This will tax the bullpen, but it shouldn't be a problem. Once again, the rotation will be filled out by Albert Krant and the one and only Roy Minty for starters four and five.
The bullpen is still capable of being among the best in the BBA, led as always by the great Tiernan O'Macken, along with Gilberto Sosa and Jason Clark, a righty who the Talons still haven't seen the best of. On any other team he'd be the closer, and that's not an exaggeration. Luis Alonso returns in long relief after a 1.2 WAR campaign in a similar role last season, joined by popular newcomer Rod Stennings. Two more new arms join the fray, both being presented as specialists first and middle relievers second. Facing lefties will be Gil Phillips, while the righty "specialist" looks to be rookie Ralph Page . If he or any others outside of the big three falter, the Talons should have no trouble finding more bullpen help down the road.
Lineup Summary
Going around the infield, calling the shots will be (old friend) power hitting catcher Ichizo Sugiyama, whom the Talons would love for his 10 rated power to count for something. First base will be manned by a pair of additional 10-rated power hitters, lefty Odemar Lock, the better defender, and Olivaro Luna, who should probably be a DH. Last year's SS Dick Walton returns, joined by his new teammate up the middle Angel Zalapa. Nothing wrong with this keystone combo. Of course, the signing of Zalapa means that Chua-kah Yang will be shifted over to third base, where he is capable, but it will once again leave young Murray Healey on the bench. Team Captain Ian Patrick Anderson backs up the rest of the infield.
In the outfield, the corners are manned by returning duo of Andrew Torres and Jorge Gutierrez. Torres played to career norms last season but the Talons had to be disappointed by Gutierrez, who performed well below what his ratings and past stats should suggest. Defensive specialist Jim Lorenzen is a stopgap measure in center field, while ex-Montreal Blazer Gilberto Villanueva should be an adequate fourth outfirlder. DH will be covered by Norihisa Yokoyama, who is also a barely adequate right fielder should he be needed.
Farm System Summary
Still 32nd in the BBA, but young SP Jorge Magdalena looks like he could be useful. And all eyes will be on 18 year old Jeffrey Flowers, whom the club converted to a starting pitcher mere months after drafting him. And power hitter John Molyneaux can crush it against right handed pitching, maybe he'll get a shot. After all, he's been in the Talons' system since 2043!
Overall
Hey who knows what could happen here. There's no doubt that the team added a ton of offense and signed a frontline starting pitcher. Is it enough? One thing's for sure: it better be, because the GM's never-rebuild policies just got ever more entrenched.
Its a strong lineup from top to bottom, with good defense up the middle, plenty of power, and good coverage from both sides of the plate. Will they be sabotaged by a park that seems to cause offense to vanish? The rotation will be average once again, and thats if their veterans can even eke out a season in one piece. The bullpen could be among the best in the game with Sosa back in the mix, but there are untested elements further down the depth chart.
Can't even give you a win total for this one, its a total crapshoot. But we'll take the over on .500, that's for sure.