Montreal 2009 Season Preview

[wualumni]

The Montreal Blazers are going into the 2009 spring with hope that some promising prospects can start to turn their franchise back towards a winning season. Last season the Blazers finished 67-95 after winning 63 games in 2007. There are some changes in the makeup of the roster with the biggest loss of 11-season Blazer veteran Rex Bell who signed a three year $27 million dollar contract Vancouver.

Off-Season Moves

Key Losses - DH/OF Rex Bell, SS Philippe LaRouche
Key Additions - P Fernando Garcia, C Rafael Rivera

The Blazers look to infuse some top prospect youth into their roster in 2009. Top prospects Moses Tallchief and Martin Huigens will be in the rotation this season after each getting a few starts in September last season. Also, prospect Ernie Stauffer will take over at 2B. Another top prospect in SP Jack Hanski, Jr. will probably need a little more time in AAA sharpening his skills, but could very likely be up to help the rotation out before the season is over.

Offense
Catcher - It looks like the catching duties will be split between newly acquired Rafael Rivera from the EBA and Cesar Fuentes. Rivera is an excellent receiver behind the dish, but after have an off year in the EBA last season posting a negative VORP & WAR it remains to be seen how he can hit against better pitching in the MBBA. Fuentes got most of the starts behind the plate last season for the Blazers and finished hitting .263 with 5 HRs and 50 RBI while posting a .679 OPS. He struggled defensively last season posting a -5.9 ZR which ultimately help lead to his negative WAR (-0.1).

First Base - Duane Whitley returns for his ninth season with the Blazers, but had his worst season as a professional in 2008. He hit .284 with 12 HRs and 84 RBI while posting a .760 OPS. The six-time All-Star is probably due for a solid bounce back year, but if not, the Blazers could be in real trouble offensively. Duane continues to play solidly at 1B posting a +3.8 ZR last season.

Second Base - Top prospect Ernie Stauffer will be the starter at 2B for the Blazers this season. Stauffer had an impressive short stint in a late callup last season batting .462 with 2 HRs and 9 RBI in 26 ABs. Ernie had an excellent year at AAA Fort Worth where he hit a career high 14 HRs while batting .337 and posting a .900 OPS. Stauffer will be backed up by journeyman Roosevelt Daniel who really has never hit at the Major League level and only brings an average glove to the team. Ernesto Lopez could also see some action at 2B in 2009 after being claimed off waivers this offseason from Hawaii.

Third Base - Another prospect in Yves Riviere looks to start at 3B after starting 16 games for the Blazers late last season. Even though Riviere struggled in his short stint batting only .186 in 59 ABs he has the ability to hit for a very high average and can hit the ball in the gaps very well. He won't hit very many HRs, but he should be on base a lot with his hitting ability and great eye at the plate. One area though that Riviere is not good at is in the field. In his 16 starts at 3B for Montreal last year he posted a -2.6 ZR. If he plays most of the games at 3B, he may post a -20 ZR or worse. Veteran Ron Evans will probably fill the role as "super-backup" this season and will probably be a late game defensive replacement as well. Evans had a good season for the Blazers in 2008 posting a 1.6 WAR and a +6.0 ZR between 3B & SS. Third year player Alex Sanchez could see some time at 3B as well, but he has struggled mightily in two seasons with the Blazers batting .205 in 2007 & .190 in 2008.

Shortstop - Rookie Danny Cornett will probably get the chance to start at SS in 2009. Cornett is a decent hitter, but has a superb glove which is so important at the SS position. If he has major struggles at any time this season expect veteran Ron Evans to start getting more playing time.

Outfield - The Blazers are set in the corner outfield spots with Billy Beauford in LF and Bart Hood in RF. Beauford hit .293 with 10 HRs and 53 RBI while posting a .789 OPS. Hood was possibly the Blazers best hitter last season batting .327 with 19 HRs and 97 RBI while posting a .895 OPS. Both players struggled in the field posting a -26.4 ZR between them. Beauford played out of position last season in CF and by moving him to LF should solidify that side of the field. CF appears that it will be manned by another prospect in Bob White. White has posted solid numbers in the minors and could platoon at times with recent Rule 5 draft pick Phil Hayden. Phelan Welshman, Julio Martinez and Kevin Irvin will be backups in the OF for 2009.

Designated Hitter - DH may be a spot that the Blazers will get the least production from this season. Last season's backup catcher Dave Parker will primarily fill the role of DH after hitting .255 with 4 HRs and 18 RBI while posting a .716 OPS in limited action. Ernesto Lopez could also see some action at DH in 2009 after being claimed off waivers this offseason from Hawaii.

Starting Pitching - The most exciting part of the 2009 Blazers will be the the arrival of top prospects Moses Tallchief and Martin Huigens in the starting rotation. Both pitched in two starts last season, but camp is buzzing as these guys lay the groundwork for the future of the Blazer franchise. Tallchief has been incredible this spring posting a 1.13 ERA and an insane 0.69 WHIP. Last season in AAA Tallchief was 11-7 with a 2.42 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. Huigens was 14-13 with a 3.82 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP in AAA.
The rest of the rotation looks to be made up of Martin Jiminez, Martin Bergeron, and Phil Richter. Last season Jiminez was 16-11 with a 6.06 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP. Bergeron split the season between AAA Fort Worth and the Blazers. In 14 games (8 starts) with the Blazers he was 3-2 with a 5.16 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. Richter missed most of last season with a torn rotator cuff, but pitched some at the end of the season going 2-2 with a 5.34 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP. Another top prospect in Jack Hanski, Jr. could make the rotation out of spring training, but more than likely will start the season in AAA.

Bullpen - The only addition worth mentioning to the Blazers bullpen is Cuban defector Fernando Garcia who will probably fill a setup role this season for outstanding closer Marc Jutras. Garcia has a top-notch arm, but there is no history to judge what will happen with him this season. Julio Feliz had a nice season for the Blazers last season going 0-0 with 1 save, a 3.69 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Former starter Nathan Molnar moves to the bullpen after going 6-24 last season with a 5.63 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. There isn't anything special about the other members of the bullpen; It could be a very weak spot for the Blazers this season.

Closer - Marc Jutras is back as the Blazers closer after an excellent 2008. Jutras who is known for some of the nastiest "heat" in the league went 4-3 with 36 saves, a 2.73 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP last season. He averaged almost 12 Ks/9 last season striking out 78 in 59 innings. If the Blazers starters and bullpen can get it to Jutras they should be in good shape.

Prediction - There is reason to be excited with so many top prospects finally making it to the show this season for the Blazers, but with so many prominent positions being manned by rookies and unproven players expect the Blazers to struggle again this season. If Tallchief and Huigens can be dominant at this level as they were at AAA then the Blazers may have an outside chance at reaching .500 this season. Unfortunately, that is unlikely to happen this season and the Blazers will struggle to a third place finish in the Frick League Atlantic division.

2008 Predicted Record - 72-90

[JohnC]

Nice job Jason. I was thinking around 75 wins. So we are pretty close in that regard.

[JohnC]

Huigens has scared me so far this spring. He has been hammered bad. I don't put much stock in spring numbers but I admit it is making me think twice about keeping him at the ML level.

[felipe]

I wonder if molnar is available?

I'd like to rescue him from that bullpen and put him in my rotation!

Would you trade him for one of my relievers?

Or maybe Cody chamberland?