2060 Vancouver Mounties Preview- New Logo, New Direction?
Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2024 11:55 am
Aaron Wharram came into the BBA with a flourish. After taking control of the Vancouver Mounties in 2055, he took a franchise that was in clear decline and turned it around immediately. He guided the team to an 84-78 record in 2055, missing the playoffs, but then gaining playoff berths in each of 2056, 2057, and 2058.
And then, it suddenly all fell apart. 2059 was an absolute trainwreck of a season. 65-97 record. 39 games out in the Pacific Division. The Mounties team batting average dropped to an abysmal .241, and their team ERA went up a run and a quarter to 4.63. There wasn't much to cheer about in Vancouver.
So, what will 2060 bring, besides a logo refresh (which is quite striking, btw)?
Position Players:
Serrano is a good young player, a premier defensive second baseman, and has a little bit of pop. However, if your leadoff hitter has a "3" Eye rating and had a .301 OBP last year (career .302 OBP), that's not an encouraging start.
Clover has been up and down for several seasons, and has never been a full time player. To me, he looks like a pretty decent short half of a platoon. In Vancouver, he's a #2 hitter every day. Not ideal.
It kind of boggles the mind how Turkes hasn't had more opportunity to play in the BBA, but with Vancouver he'll be the centerpiece of their offense. Is he that guy? Probably not, he'd be a pretty decent #2 hitter in my opinion, but he's a keeper...I think.
Pena regressed in his second year, but he's only 23 and he has pop. Gotta find a way to get on base a little more.
Hinkle is a Vancouver institution, a legend, a six time all-star. Like several players thus far, he doesn't get on base a lot. He hits some homers, and plays great defense.
Frost keeps hanging on. It's a sentimental signing, I get it. At some point during the season the Mounties are probably going to want to find a younger option at first base. They are everywhere. There's tons of 50+ POT first base guys that are 25 or younger trapped in the minor league systems of teams all over the BBA.
Zahir is a pretty darn good center fielder. If he somehow makes contact, he can hit homers. If he somehow, someway gets on base, he can steal. I'm starting to wonder if Aaron's theme in building this team is to NOT have guys get on base.
Villa is a good field, no hit and no get on base shortstop.
Cordova, signed in free agency, is 40 years old. He can still play a little but why this type of team signed him remains unclear.
Well...the pitching better be pretty damn good if this team expects to win many games.
Starting Rotation:
1- Dirk Bessi created a madcap bidding war for his services, based on the strength of his five year numbers of 30 wins, 54 losses, a 4.01 ERA, and 1.38 WHIP. He gets $17.7M this year in the first year of a five year deal. Highest single season WAR was 4.1 in 2058.
2- Vancouver did what two previous franchises could never commit to doing for Tom "Trout" Miller- they gave him a full season as a starter. And he performed pretty well, actually FIP says he should have been better than his actual numbers. Good WHIP, too. Nice pitcher.
3- Sam Fisher has produced a WAR of 3.8 over the last two seasons, pitching well enough to keep teams in the game. He strikes out no one, but Vancouver has an elite defense that allows a guy like this to be successful. He's Bessi without the good stuff, just for $13.7M less.
4- Rusty "3000" Miller will get a rotation spot as he starts out his first full season in the BBA. Interesting young arm, six pitch guy with good work ethic and good minor league numbers. Keep an eye on him.
5- If Dave Cain didn't give up so many dingers, he'd probably be a pretty decent pitcher. If nothing else, he's an innings eater.
Bullpen:
Closer- Another rookie gets an opportunity at a big role. Jesus Garcia saved three in September for Vancouver last year, after saving 41 for Victoria (AAA). Can he contain enough lefty bats to be successful???
Setup: Ross Brown is a solid, consistent veteran reliever. I'd probably have him as the closer, with Garcia used in more matchup based situations in either the seventh or eighth innings. Why hasn't Brown ever been a closer?
Middle Relief: Rodney Keeley has an electric arm, but lacks movement and can be susceptible to homers. Adamnan Maryadi is a step up from a "guy". Once upon a time, I thought Alex Brayton was going to be a big part of the Hustler bullpen. He had his best season last year for sure, but was it for real? Blaine Worthington III is perfectly average, and all that holds Malik bin Adnan back from being more valuable is a below average changeup.
Long Relief: Geoffrey Greening is another guy who tantalizes with great stuff and pitch arsenal, then will disappoint with lack of movement and middling control. Ty Vannatta? Exactly the same story.
Summary:
Looking at this team after going through each player leaves me thinking a few things. Why is Aaron seemingly infatuated with low OBP hitters? Why is Aaron seemingly infatuated with those 8/5/5 kind of pitchers that ultimately infuriate teams? Why did Aaron sign a bunch of old guys when this team is not positioned to contend this year? And the most important question- what's in the farm system and when can the franchise be restored to prior glory? WIthout getting into details (this is a BBA Preview, after all), I think Vancouver has a lot of interesting position players on the farm. Much like my own system has traditionally been underrated by BNN, Vancouver only has one prospect in the Top 100 and that's Rusty Miller. There is more to come. This year, however, is not destined to be successful.
Predicition:
70-92, last place in the Pacific Division.