2011 Las Vegas Preview

[wualumni]

After nine consecutive years making the playoffs including an impressive five Landis Memorial titles, the Las Vegas Hustlers missed the playoffs in 2010. After a very poor start in the beginning of the season the Hustlers made a charge at the Wild Card spot, but fell short finishing with a 83-79 record. In 2011 look for Las Vegas to have a similar record relying on their strong pitching staff while trying to score just enough runs with their sub-par offense.

Off-Season Moves

Key Depatures - 2B Donald Noboru, 3B Roman Empire, RP Art Messer
Key Additions - SS Billy Washington, DH Jody Browne

Offense
Catcher - It looks like the catching duties will be be mainly handled by veteran John Benke who re-signed with Las Vegas after the 2010 season. In 2010 he started 121 games at catcher for the Hustlers and batted .269 with 15 HRs and 51 RBI while posting a .756 OPS and a 1.8 WAR. It appears the Hustlers will go with Dave Parker as the backup in 2011 who posted an abysmal .500 OPS in 161 ABs last season.

First Base - Second year player Mark Davis will be the primary man at 1B this season after making his debut in 2010 mostly playing in RF. In his rookie season Davis hit .270 with 23 HRs and 53 RBI while posting a .890 OPS in 79 games.

Second Base - Last season's starting SS Raul Huerta moves over to 2B after the acquisition of Billy Washington after batting .259 with 25 HRs and 68 RBI while posting a .821 OPS.

Third Base - 2010 All-Star Ruben Venegas returns at the "hot corner" after splitting time last season between 1B and 3B. In 2010 Venegas hit .316 with 23 HR and 88 RBI while posting a .886 OPS.

Shortstop - Newcomer Billy Washington will be the Hustlers SS this season after coming over in the offseason in a trade that sent veteran Roman Empire to Calgary. Washington made his rookie debut with Calgary in 2010 hitting .304 with 1 HR and 20 RBI while posting a .734 OPS in 72 games.

Outfield - The Hustlers will have Chris Neal acquired from California in 2010 starting in CF. Between California and Las Vegas in 2010, Neal hit .252 with 5 HRs and 38 RBI while posting a .655 OPS. Based on Neal's career look for a bounce back season for him. In LF Las Vegas gets back slugger Joe Garland who missed most of 2010 with a broken bone in his elbow. The Hustlers are hoping he can post similar or better numbers than he did in 2008 & 2009 when he hit 25 and 20 HRs. In RF it looks like the Hustlers will go with a platoon that has 23-year old Honório Fradesso starting against righties and veteran António Pacheco going against lefties. In 2010, Fradesso went straight from college to the big leagues after signing with Las Vegas in June. In 74 games he hit .355 with 15 HRs and 59 RBI while posting a .998 OPS. In a similar role last season Pacheco performed well hitting .313 with 4 HRs and 22 RBI while posting a .805 OPS.

Designated Hitter - The DH spot also looks to be a platoon between rookie Jody Browne who also was acquired in the Roman Empire deal to Calgary and former starting OF Jacob Brown. Jody will start against righties and brings a lot of pop to the plate. Jacob will get the starts against lefties as the Hustlers try to take advantage of his ability to crush left-handed pitching.

Starting Pitching - The strength of the Hustlers roster is in its starting rotation. In 2011 Las Vegas will trot out this group of guys to start: Perry Eccles, Davey Acheson, Christopher Stoller, Kim Rodas, and Charlie Schaffer. Acheson heads a group of starters that have a combined 17 All-Star appearances and 4 Steve Nebraska awards between them. Acheson a 3-time 20-game winner went 13-11 last season with a 3.22 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. The veteran of the group Stoller is a 3-time pitcher of the year and although he is on the downside of his career still is very solid. In 2010 he went 17-12 with a 3.94 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Eccles the youngest in the group at 24 went 11-13 with a 4.27 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Rodas a 3-time All-Star had a down year in 2010 going 11-19 with a 5.19 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. The last man in the rotation is Charlie Schaffer who the Hustlers got around the trade deadline last season from Greenville. For the 2010 season he combined to go 13-13 with a 4.91 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP.

Bullpen - The Las Vegas bullpen has a lot of new faces for 2011 including 38-year old Robert Walton who was acquired in a pre-season trade with Carolina, veteran Scott Turner who returns to the MBBA after a three year hiatus in the EBA, and Jeff Long & Xu-gang Li who were waiver-wire additions. Long-time Hustler veteran Jonathan Salott is back for his 13th season and Eric Craigston will begin his 3rd season with the Hustlers. Finally 38-year old veteran Mike Tedder was signed in the off-season to fill the long-relief and possibly fill in as a starter if needed.

Closer - Paul Hogan is back as the Hustlers closer after a season where he was switched between closer and setup man. With veteran Art Messer gone Hogan returns to his usual spot closing down games for Las Vegas. Hogan the all-time Hustlers save leader with 277, went 4-7 with 22 saves and a 3.91 ERA while posting a 1.33 WHIP.

Prediction - 2011 looks to be season where the Hustlers will still have a chance to make the playoffs if their pitching stays healthy and performs at past levels. If any that doesn't come to fruition expect the Hustlers to post their first sub .500 record since 1995.

2010 Predicted Record - 82-80

[Al-Hoot]

Good job!

[bschr682]

Stoller is injured. For most of the season.

[wualumni]

I did this as if it was before the season started. Stoller was injured after the season started.

[bschr682]

Gotcha. That makes sense.