2061 Vanouver Mounties

[handaspencer]

After having a 15 win jump last season in Vancouver they finished the season at 80-82 and are hoping to make another jump in 2061. For the most part the core of this club is returning while making a few additions this offseason to boost the club in 2061. Last season Vancouver had one of the best overall pitching staffs in the league as they only gave up 638 runs all season which put them in the top 3. In addition, defensively this squad was top 10 overall last season. Clearly this club has established their identity with pitching and defense, and any gm would be thrilled to have established that. One thing really held back Vancouver last season, and that was their ability to score runs. Vancouver only crossed the plate 594 times last season which was last in the BBA. We will take a look at this squad for the 2061 season.

OUTFIELD
There has been one addition to the starting outfield this season and that is the addition of Miguel Montero who was aquired from Charlotte via trade this offseason. Montero is a Vancouver type player who is an excellent fielder and will be an upgrade in RF. Montero had a 108 OPS+ last season and if Montero can repeat that this year Vancouver will be thrilled. There looks to be a little competition in CF this year but CF Shafiq Zahir seems to be the leading candidate over Luis Valles. Zahir is another steller defensive OF but he certainly has questionable offense as he only had a .258 OBP last season. In left field will be 25 year old Greg Clover who will be returning for his first full season in the BBA. In just 120 games last season he was able to hold his own and had a solid season at the plate. If he can have a good jump this season that will go a long ways to the success of this OF.

INFIELD
Vancouver seems poised to give the 3B starting job to Vance Cooper this year. Last season Cooper split time between AAA and Vancouver. Cooper did start 73 games last season and did struggle offensively last year. Hopefully Cooper can outpace last season but that might be a challenge. This offseason Vancouver brought in a new SS Quintin Trewartha from Hawaii. Trewartha will do everything you can ask for defensively but with a 37 OPS+ last year this looks like a liability with a bat. Returning to 2B this season will be Reynaldo Serrano who had a great season last year. Serrano is just a solid 2B who can field and hold his own with is bat as well. Returning to 1B after being acquired from Montreal last season is leonardo Rodrigez. Rodriguez is nothing special at 1B but he is also not a liability at the position either. Perhaps the biggest offseason move this offseason was bringing in C Todd Tatlock from Nashville. I really like this pickup for Vancouver as they have improved behind the plate. Tatlock could be a big key this season.

STARTING ROTATION
We are approaching the strength of this team as we look at the pitching staff. The rotation will be lead by Dirk Bessi who returns after going 16-10 with an ERA of 3.00. AFter trading for Antonio Baldez he will spend his first full season in Vancouver. He was very solid in Vancouver last season after going 4-4 with an ERA of 3.00 after being traded. If Baldez comes close to last season that will be a very good sign for Vancouver. The assasin Sam Fisher will be holding down the #3 spot in the rotation. Fisher went 12-13 with a 2.74 ERA last season in 32 starts last season. Tom Miller will be back in the rotation after going 11-9 last season with a 3.51 ERA. In another trade from last year Stephen Clulow Jr. will return for a full season who had a great season for Vancouver last season.

BULLPEN
24 year old Jesus Garcia will return for his second season after saving 43 games last season as a rookie. Vancouver is lucky to have a young guy the quality of Garcia in their pen. Vancouver was able to add a lefty to their bullpen this offseason as they signed Byron Ratcliffe. Vancouver needed a southpaw and Ratcliffe will be that guy. A big signing for Vancouver is bringing in a new setup man Tulon Koruturk who give Vancouver a very strong back end of this bullpen. Returning to the middle of the bullpen will be Ross Brown and Adamnan Maryadi to round out this bullpen.

PREDICTION
The game has currently predicted Vancouver to go 77-85 this season. I tend to believe Vancouver will do a little better than that. I think its very likely they get back to that .500 mark or possibly as high as 85 games. I like what Vancouver did this offseason they was not over aggressive but they made some smart moves that can help them. The bullpen got better and the rotation will be returning. One can argue their areas of strength got better as they should be better defensively and the bullpen also improved. The issue for Vancouver will be the same issue as last offseason is can they score runs. There is some potential in the offense and if some of the guys can over produce with the pitching staff they could get closer to that 85 wins but if the offense struggles they could even slide back closer to that 77 wins. I am sure Vancouver will continue to look for bats and if they are in contention at the deadline they could be a buyer to help improve this offense.

[Knucklehead254]

Excellent preview. I’m certainly relying on the younger bats to do better this season.

[BaseClogger]

Tatlock has to play well because Hinkle gave them 3.3 WAR last season.

[Knucklehead254]

At this point i would've taken the 77 wins lol. Disaster class of a season