Preface: 87-75 may be good enough for some GMs, but not here, not in “Sac-Town”. Home of Shoeless Reads, and Bad Poetry. Home of Fire Shoeless, and the Green eyed-woman. Life was good for the AFBI recluse GM, who is content with receiving Dick pics while a family events instead of talking BBA with other fellow GMs. 2052 was the teams lowest win total in 7 seasons, and only the second time they were below the 85-win mark in 10 seasons. Was it so bad he nearly stepped away from his beloved ‘Popes? So, what happened?
Team Pitching: The strategy is still working, the team continued to be in the top of the rankings in all major pitching categories, in most cases top two or three. With a few outliers at ninth (HR Allowed) and sixth (Bullpen ERA). The team wasted no time in the off-season when the free agent market opened, dropping down a cool 59m over 6 years for another quality starter in Tomas Turner.
The 10/9/10 28yo free agent signing threw the most innings of his career in 2052 (215.2). He can easily slide into the third or fourth spot in this rotation, anchored again by Joe King, and Vazquez. Lets also not forget about Cesar Macias. Turner as a nasty slider and solid fastball & splitter to go along with that. Toss in an above average curveball and the Sac-Master GM has just made one of his strengths even stronger.
Team Hitting: It was sink or swim for the Popes in 2052. They either finished first in the offensive categories, or fourteenth or lower. They put the ball in play ranking first in hits, and when they got on, they stole some bases (first), nor do they strike out a lot either, you guessed it, ranked first again. Losing Campbell to in division rival Hawaii and Charriere to Charm City, leads to the question, where is offense going to come from? Besides Dixon, Kinsella and Rice, no other player on the current roster generated over 1.2 WAR last season. They need to look to fill some holes at SS, 1B, RF, and 3B this upcoming season, and not with replacement level players this reviewer adds. They have the budget to bring in some bargain FAs for a season or two, if they choose to.
This reviewer feels that the team could go the long-term route and call up 22yo SS Frank Lee from AAA, along with 1B Jesus Cruz (think of the bobble head on that promo night), and this reporter feels that Niscani will get the full-time nod in RF after seeing some playing time in 2052. He does have a good enough arm to play the position.
This reviewer took a look at the OOTP/BBA prospects list, in preparation for this preview. We noticed that Sacramento does not have a single ranked offensive player in the top 100 prospects. Poppycock this reviewer says! This reviewer does not go by that, but instead his “Vizz-ness” himself has Frank Lee ranked at the #1 SS prospect in the MilB. His 11/11/11 ranking for SS is not too shabby. He played 129 games at Black Hills last season slashing .253/.353/.713 posting a 3.7 WAR. The kid also had a +18.8 ZR with the glove at SS. Unless Sac plays the Omaha Service Time game, he should be on the opening 27 this season, and will go a long way in replace that lost WAR. Take that #1 OOTP Ranked SS Brooks Eliot!
Outlook for 2053: It is not as if Sacramento has gotten any worse, it is just the rest of the Pacific has gotten better. With the likes of Vancouver, and Valencia, and Portland, it is no longer a one-team show. This division is too tough now, and I do not see the division winner topping 100 wins, but I do see at least 87-90 wins needed to punch your ticket. If Sacramento wants to make it seven seasons in a row of making the playoffs, they just need to just one better; I am calling it the 2053 Popes 88-74, making the playoffs again on defense and pitching, with just enough offense to get by. Plus I wanna write a good review so he sticks around - what can I say I like the kid. (Or at least to give @bschr682 some married "get sum" advice.)
P.S. Bonus Prediction: Frank Lee will win Rookie of the Year.
