2053 Portland Lumberjacks Preview

[neugey]

26. Twenty Six.

That number has been firmly entrenched in many Lumberjacks' minds and has been pasted on Portland clubhouse walls. It's a reminder of one of the biggest slights the organization has ever received, and that's saying a lot considering the Lumberjacks share a division with surly Doug Olmsted and his Sacramento team.

The normally happy-go-lucky David Wallace, owner of the Lumberjacks, is reportedly consulting with his lawyers and considering a defamation suit against the OSA and the writers who shockingly predicted the Lumberjacks to win 26 games and lose 136 in 2053. And maybe there is a strong case here. Since their inception in 2040, the lowest win total Portland has ever posted was 48 wins back in 2045. And this current incarnation of the Lumberjacks has a lot more talent than that team. Portland has posted a winning record from 2048 onward, has made the playoffs in the last four seasons, and made it all the way to the championship round in 2051. The BBA is a salary cap league, Portland has a healthy budget and the team is currently 7th in the BBA in payroll. Wallace and his legal team may have a strong case. The financial future of the OSA going forward could be in jeopardy if Portland moves forward. This will be a situation to keep an eye on.

But looking past that prickly matter, let's take a quick survey of the team Portland has put together for the 2053 season:

Rotation: The Lumberjacks are blessed to have Ken Sparks, an ace who went 17-10 in 2052 with a Frick-leading 3.05 ERA over 197.2 innings. Shortly after him is southpaw Steve Warren. Warren has a great repertoire, but his ERA ballooned in 2052 and he's looking for a bounce-back. Three other quality hurlers round out the rotation, and they are all in their 26-28 year old prime. This will be a strong staff for hitters to contend with.

Bullpen: This group lost 2052 saves leader Gilberto Sosa to Brooklyn in free agency. Thailand-born Xuan Ngo is the best remaining option to close games and has a fierce curveball. Hurlers like Patrick Rosales and Kam Fiscus show that Portland's bullpen, while not elite, has enough depth to be an asset for the club.

Catchers: Portland's big free agent signing was Ron Shiplack, formerly of Hawaii. The Canadian is a five-time All-Star with a great arm to limit steal attempts. Behind him is righty So Huynh, who struggled mightily in 2052 with a .185 average. The team will likely give Shiplack all the starts behind the plate that he can handle.

Infielders: The Lumberjacks strengthened the infield defense with the signings of SS Sid Turcotte and 2B Joey O'Brien. Neither of these players are great offensively, though Turcotte could surprise if he gets on a roll. Carlomaria Donadoni mans first base and is the biggest star of the infield. He hit 50 homers in 2052 to lead the entire Frick. Donadoni is one of the BBA's most popular hitters, having won 5 Cartwright Cup MVP's in the 2040's, but somehow has never made an All-Star game. Maybe 2053 is the year. GBC import Juan Hernandez is the most likely candidate to earn regular at-bats at the hot corner. He's a career .253 hitter though, so don't expect a lot of productivity.

Outfielders: Jiao-Long Ma has been superb, posting 12.4 WAR for the Lumberjacks in the last two seasons. 35-year old Dennis French may be past his perennial All-Star prime, but still provides solid hitting and important leadership to the club. Regular center fielder Ronnie Hubbard is 34 himself. The outfield is a bit old and may need a bit of an upgrade, but still is good enough to compete in the Frick.

Farm: Pitching prospect Umayr Suhayl has talent, but it's tough to project whether he will develop better as a starter or a reliever. 3B Hideaki Ohayashi has a high ceiling but will need a lot of seasoning in the minors before he is ready. 2B Edward Roundfield IV, selected at the end of the first round in the 2052 draft is only 17 but has tremendous power for a second baseman. The Lumberjacks decided to reset their upper farm and have a lot of openings and will need a lot of signings in the upcoming days. But the lower minors seem decent enough.

Summary: Behind their strong rotation and their big bats in Ma and Donadoni, the Lumberjacks should be able to post a winning record in 2053. They may not be the same caliber as the team that advanced to the final round in 2051, but another playoff appearance seems likely. 26 wins is indeed laughable, and the Lumberjacks will probably take it out on their Frick competion. If they are smart, the OSA should be in search of good lawyers.

[Dington]

I agree 26 wins is laughable. 23 tops.

[7teen]

Thanks for the preview, Mike.

I"m not too high on this year's Lumberjacks, though I am hammering the over on the 26 wins. I'm hopeful we are in a similar spot as last year which would be hovering around the .500 mark with a chance at one of the 4 wild card spots in the end.

Could really use a healthy Rex Foster, but that's about as laughable a hope as the 26 wins prediction.

[pandan]

Would 26 wins be the lowest in BBA history? Pretty bold to predict losing with such gusto. It's hard to be that terrible.

I am also on the over here -- should be at least double the W's