2057 Montreal Blazers Team Preview

[JimSlade]

David Bowie's "Golden Years" might be blasting in the clubhouse of the 2057 Montreal Blazers, masterminded by the Brothers Breum, Bob and Erik. The Blazers finished the 2056 season at an even 81-81 (with run differential of nearly 0!), good enough for 4th place in the Johnson League Atlantic Division. Better seasons from aging stars Aarnoud Budding (.234/.298/.429 slash) and RF Pedro Huerta (.237/.271/.416 slash) might have pushed the team closer to wildcard contention. Montreal fans are hoping the Golden Guys, also including the "still got it" Lineu Aldo (another 1B/DH), 3B Eduardo Gonzalez, and C Calvin Johnson can make a final push. If things go south, the organization will have some nice pieces to sell off at the trade deadline.

Young everyday players like RF James Belinda and DH/1B Hanibal Sayyid will be fun to keep an eye on. (Hey, how many first base bags are there to go around in this league?) Young SS Miguel Martinez has an appealing offensive toolset, but his glove may ultimately anchor him to second base.

Word is the pitching staff heading north is still being determined as opening day approaches. Veteran Cheslav Evgravfov has departed for Portland, but Juan Cruz returns from a solid 11-7, innings-eating campaign in 2056. Cruz put up a strikeout per inning pitched, with an impressive 3:1 K:BB ratio.

After Cruz, Montreal fans will get to see some mix of outlet mall free agents, like Chris Rankin and Kinzo Iwamoto. Perhaps Bill McIntosh will finally break through after a nice season at AAA. If nothing else, McIntosh could sneak into the bullpen.

The Blazers' bullpen starts - or ends - with Max Birstall, who put up 36 hard-earned, nail-biting saves last season. Rob Anthony and Jorge Santos are reliable middle relievers. Unfortunately, the team will have to wait a couple of months for young Tom MIller to return from a spring training injury and make his mark as a high-leverage reliever. In his rookie season, Miller averaged over 10 strikeouts per 9 innings and had an excellent K:BB ratio.

The caliber of Montreal's veteran everyday players should help them stay in the middle of the pack in the Atlantic, but pitching could be an issue. Perhaps some of the new additions will find added life surrounded by their graying, balding everyday core. The good thing is, GMs Bob and Erik are realistic and aggressively working to set the future of their organisation. (Yes, Canadian spelling and pronounced with a super-long i, like hockey dudes say it.)