The Recte Train is rolling again.As it does.
The Todd Stone era, for example, (where you would basically write down 40 saves and walk away) was really over last year, but with the 36-year-old's departure through Free Agency, it's official this year. Not that it matters, we suppose, because GM Matt Rectenwald always finds a way to knit together a bullpen. To be honest, I'm not sure how he does it, but sometimes it's just best to assume it will, then watch as it happens.
Last year it was 36year-old Alejandro "Mr. October" Chavez who grabbed 34 saves.
To be fair, part of the reason it worked last year is because Hustler bats destroyed Johnson League pitching. The team scored 907 runs, 66 more than the second place Calgary Pioneers. The Hustlers led the league in OBP and were third in homers. Not to take anything away from Stone or Chavez, but on a team that you can pencil in for 90 wins a year, saves are a target rich environment. It's probably fair to say that bullpen guys were having thumb wars every day to get the right to throw the 9th inning of any game.
Bottom line: Las Vegas ran away from the Frontier crowd early last year, and just never looked back. They won 101 games, which is about what run differential said they should have. I'm not sure I'm voting for total world dominance again in 2062, but, then again I'm not sure I'm against such a prediction.
After posting 3.1 and 4.8 WAR his first two seasons, 24-year-old second baseman Randy Wright exploded into true superstardom by posting 6.6 WAR last year. He can play a little. I'd say he's poised to be the next face of the franchise. At 24 and 25 years of age, center fielder Roberto Hampton and first baseman Czar Mamatulin did 2.8 and 3.9 WAR. Mamatulin is a sneaky-good player who provides more value than his ratings might suggest he might, partially because his glove is sublime. Sure, defense at first is less valuable than at other places, but less valuable is sill valuable. The question is always asked relative to the league rather than relative to positions, after all. Mamatulin's defensive prowess also helps another 25-year-old 1B, Luigi Canavan, who dropped 34 homers out of the DH role rather than having to butcher first base.
Bottom line, three Hustlers pounded out more than 30 bombs in 2061, and one more28-year-old Tankut Salik, who after a long, long development cycle seems to have finally arrivedadded 29.
You'll note all the guys I'm talking about are on the sweet side of 30.
On the hill, the team traded for Charlotte's Jim Fleming last year. He'll get the benefit of a full season with Hustler run support. Brett Harrell won 16 games last year, and Owen Geddes 14. 25-year-old lefty Claudio Rodriguez won 13. All those guys had better than league average FIP- numbers. In the bullpen, Chavez may be aging out, but 24-year-old Rafael Gonzalez (66 FIP-), and 26-year-old Augusto Dominquez (59 FIP-) seem ready to step up. Beyond that, while the Vegas farm system is in a moment of some depletion at the top, they have three young bullpen arms who I wouldn't be surprised to see be effective in Vegas sooner than later, the most intriguing being 21-year-old Nelson Curry, who came to the club as its second round pick last year, and dominated AA before combusting a little bit at AAA. Expect him to get a long look in the spring, and if he's not in Vegas in April, odds are good you'll see him by May or June.
So, bottom line. Here's my prediction.
Las Vegas will be good in 2062. And 2063. And...
That's how Rectenwald rolls, after all.
