Thanks to a late run by the Charlotte Cougars coupled with a definitive crash by my Rockville Pikemen, the Cougars finished their 2052 campaign in 6th place in the Atlantic Division, with a 68-94 record. This year, the team is being led by new GM Taylor Skidmore. Veteran starting pitcher Alaric Wullenweber is the biggest offseason acquisition, acquired from the Des Moines Kernels for future Hall of Famer Aaron Haney. Longtime minor leaguers Miguel Rodriguez (RF) and Yalew Angolwisye (DH/1B) will have a chance to step up and contribute in 2053.
With Haney's trade, Charlotte lost their main power bat. The everyday lineup should cause some action on the bases, led by shortstop, leadoff man, and perennial on-base threat Robert Menzies, who struggled through some nagging injuries last season. Atypical first baseman Bob Irwin is another prototypical Charlotte hitter, with a .314/.336/.433 slash line, something one might expect from a veteran second baseman, like Charlotte's very own Pedro Diaz.
The addition of Wullenweber to the starting rotation followed the torn flexor tendon suffered by promising starter Jamie Barber. The staff, as a whole, keeps the ball on the ground. Ruben bin Majid al Din, with high velocity and 4 plus pitches, may be ready for a breakout season.
While the starting pitchers should be able to keep games close, manager Abdur Rashid Awan will need to keep an eye on a bullpen that thins out quickly past closer Jae-ho Chang, who is still developing, and setup man Brian Smith, who came over from the Madison Wolves. Middle reliever Harry Raymond gets all he can out of his limited talent.
Odds are that the Cougars will spend another season paddling to stay course with Rockville at the upper part of the bottom third of the Atlantic Division, hoping to see a few more guys in the prime of their career get locked in and stick around for the eventual development of the team's youngest prospects.
2053 Charlotte Cougars Preview
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