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2052 Season 64-98
Starting Rotation- The Seattle Storm will begin the season with a rotation led by 2nd year starter Lucio Juarez. Juarez made 21 starts last season while dealing with back issues that cost him about 7 weeks of the season. He was 8-5 with a 3.61 ERA in 122 IP with 78 Ks and 31 walks. Juarez is just a two-pitch pitcher, but he uses his fastball and sinker to good effect as he induces a lot of ground balls. Mark Smith will be in the rotation but has spent a majority of his career in the bullpen. He made 31 starts last season for Seattle going 7-10 with an inflated 5.20 ERA. He struck out 92 batters while walking a whopping 66 in 162 2/3 IP. Smith is another extreme groundball pitcher as he uses a run of the mill fastball paired with a nice slider and splitter combo. Doug Eckhof is another young starter in hos 2nd year for Seattle. Last season he made 28 starts going 7-14 with a 5.88 ERA. He struck out 102 batters with 62 walks in 153 IP. He has good stuff with three solid pitches (fastball, slider and forkball). Harley Phillips is also in his 2nd year with the team He made 18 starts going 7-7 with a 3.99 ERA. He struck out 81 batters with 37 walks in 115 IP. His stuff, movement and control is borderline but he throws a 97-99 mph fastball with a changeup and a really good screwball. 6-year veteran Malcolm Jolly is the lone lefty in the rotation. Last season he was awful making 32 starts and going 4-12 with a 6.28 ERA. He struck out 104 batters but walked 92, his fourth consecutive season walking 90+ batters.
Joe Jackson remains on the IL after a torn UCL and is close to a rehab stint. Len Conboy will start his rehab assignment after his torn rotator cuff kept him out since April 2052. Reynaldo Torres remains on the shelf for 7 more weeks with a ruptured UCL suffered in June 2052. He is considered wrecked, and Seattle shouldn’t count on getting much out of him.
Juarez and Smith keep the ball in the park, but the entire rotation leans heavily on their defense. They walk too many batters and don’t strike out enough of them while also not pitching deep into games. Shuffling of the rotation and bullpen after the rehab assignments may improve the Storm’s chances this season.
Bullpen- The ‘pen is a collection of arms that leave a lot to be desired. Royce Wright was the workhorse last season with 112 innings in 67 appearances. He was 2-4 with a save and 7 holds while posting a 4.98 ERA with 86 Ks and 34 walks. Young reliever Marcos Mendoza brings some high velocity out of the ‘pen. He pitched 93 1/3 innings last season in 63 appearances going 4-9 with 3 saves and 20 holds. He had a 4.24 ERA with 91 Ks and 54 walks. Their closer is Francisco Concepcion. He has good stuff and ok movement with his out pitch a Bugs Bunny change. Last season he was 6-6 with 25 saves and a 3.91 ERA. He struck out 50 batters while walking 28 in 69 innings of work.
Overall, this bullpen will walk a ton of batters and give up many homers.
Position Players- The Storm bring in former Valencia Stars catcher Kyle Baker on a 3 year deal to be their starter after he went unsigned in 2052. His 2051 season ended with a Puckett after slashing .268/.337/.440 with a 107 OPS+ and a 1.3 WAR. He hit 17 homers and drove in 63 RBI. His skills behind the plate are eroding but he still won’t embarrass himself.
Juan Cabrera is a capable backup for Baker and will start the season facing left handed pitching. In 258 plate appearances last season he hit .290 with 2 homers and 21 RBI with an 82 wRC+.
Francisco Martinez was signed in free agency to a 3 year deal to be the regular first baseman for the Storm. Martinez slashed .268/.347/.491 for Edmonton last season with a 115 OPS+, 26 HR and 78 RBI. Martinez fields his position well.
Wilson Andrade will man the keystone bringing 4 Pucketts and a Sawyer Silk to the table with his offense while his defense is solid.
Run-ming ‘Nasty Nas’ Gui is a slick fielding third baseman with power. He hit 29 homers with 82 RBI last season with a 3.3 WAR.
Shortstop Frank Lee was picked up from the Sacramento Mad Popes organization in the Rule V to play short. He is the #53 prospect in the BBA with borderline range for a SS, but he has a fantastic arm, rarely makes an error and can turn a double play. At the plate, he has gap power but very little speed. He steals bases with his timing of pitchers and runs the bases like a veteran. Veteran Orlando Lopez will back him up but his defense at short can be an issue.
Valentin Fitas will patrol left field. He isn’t a great fielder but will cost you a ½ win over the long season. He is great in a platoon as he has a career average of .316 against right handed pitchers over 14 BBA seasons but he has his ups and downs against righties.
Jamie Angwin is starting in center for the Storm. Angwin was a star player in the GBC for Beirut but he is a replacement level player in the BBA. He isn’t a great defender or hitter but he does just enough to stay in the lineup.
Alexander Julyan is the starter in right but he is out with torn ankle ligaments for 4-5 weeks. The aging star has seen his numbers drop the last two seasons and league experts he is on a decline.
Rookie Kevin McKnight will start the season as the designated hitter. McKnight is a contact guy but will swing at anything. He won’t walk much or hit for power but will get the occasional double. He is passable in the field but can only be tolerated in short stints.
The Storm is carrying just 26 players now so I suspect that they will be calling up an outfielder to fill in for the injured Julyan. Probably veteran Huan-di Chu. The Storm has Samuel Nebraska, Enrique Aguilar and John Parrish in AAA that may be ready sometime soon. Seattle will have an outstanding pitching staff in a couple of years.
2053 Prediction 68-94
