2012 Seattle Storm Preview

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2012 Seattle Storm Preview

Post by bigmike13 » Sun Aug 25, 2013 7:22 pm

After an 8 year absence, the Seattle Storm returned to the MBBA playoff picture with a dominate performance. The Storm captured the Frick League Pacific Division crown and took the second best record in the Frick into the playoffs before being upset in the Doubleday Series by eventual Landis Memorial Champion Montreal Blazers 4 games to 3.

Key Additions: None
Key Departures: None

OFFENSE:
C Ralph Butt – The veteran Catcher had no let downs in his second season with Seattle and followed up his productive 2010 with an even better 2011. Butt finished the year with a .274 BA, 127 Hits, 79 Runs, 62 RBI’s and 15 HR’s. Some people may question why the Storm rewarded the 35 year old catcher with a new 5 year contract extension in July but a closer look shows that year 4 is a team option and year 5 is a player option making this, potentially, only a three year commitment.

1B Grant Hardin – This is a testament to what hard work and perseverance can do. Hardin was an afterthought in 2004 as a 19th round pick, but just 4 short years later found himself on the bench of the big club and a starter at 1st the last 3 years. Hardin has capped his rise to solid contributor by being selected to the 2011 MBBA All Star game. Hardin enjoyed his most productive season yet as he contributed a .277 BA with 93 Runs, 81 RBI’s, 12 HR’s and even chipped in 19 SB’s.

2B Roman Empire – The MBBA legend was traded to Seattle from Calgary last August in a stunning 4 for 1 deal that saw the Storm deal highly touted prospect LF Marty Veeck. But Storm fans were soon saying “Marty Who?” as Empire flexed his considerable might with an astounding .383 BA for Seattle in the final two months and becoming an instrumental cog in their playoff machine. While he is on the downhill side of a Hall of Fame career, the former 9 time All Star still has some gas in the tank.

3B Trey Williams – People ask “why not put future HOF Roman Empire at 3B where he has played his entire career?” Trey Williams that’s why! Williams has been a machine at 3B for the Storm for the last 3 years and after destroying opposing pitchers to the tune of .373 BA in 636 AB’s there is no reason to mess with success. In 2011, Williams had a gaudy .423 OBP with 110 Runs, 105 RBI’s and 15 HR’s in as dominate a season as anyone can remember.

SS Dave May – The 2008 1st round pick made the jump to the parent club in 2011 and made sure everyone knew why he had been a 1st round pick. May wasted no time in solidifying his place as the Storm Field General with a .318 BA, 85 Runs and 113 RBI’s to go with a surprising 24 HR’s. The power was an added bonus from the wirey SS, but at 6’1” and 170lbs May generates some impressive bat speed. May was rewarded with the Frick League 2011 Joe Gillstrom Newcomer of the Year Award.

RF Austin Gibson – On a team with seemingly endless hitting stars, the popular Gibson always seems to standout. Gibson has spent his entire career with Seattle and has been one of their steadiest hitters. In 2011, Gibson “Only had” a .315 BA with 89 Runs, 104 RBI’s and 23 HR’s. Gibson will again be roaming the RF grass for 2012.

CF Tipper Kengos – To continue the embarrassment of riches for Seattle, Tipper Kengos, yet another future MBBA HOF candidate will be patrolling Center Field in King County Complex Kengos was another savvy 2011 acquisition that paid immediate and lethal dividends. Kengos gave the fans in Seattle an unbelievable .400 BA with 32 Runs and 18 RBI’s in only 105 AB’s. Another decorated veteran on the back side of his career, Kengos doesn’t appear to be ready to ride off into the sunset just yet.

LF Josh Tyler/Steve Watkins – LF looks like a possible platoon situation as both Tyler and Watkins have to ability and skill to be in the lineup every day. Tyler gave the Storm 54 Runs and 48 RBI’s in limited action last season and Watkins provided 29 Runs and 31 RBI’s while playing all three OF positions. A wild card such as Ivan Salas or Reggie Meurs could jump into the mix with a solid spring.

DH Richard Rollins – Rollins makes up for his poor fielding skills with excellent hitting skills. Rollins is tailor made for DH and gave Seattle another potent weapon. Rollins ended 2011 with a .304 BA, 75 Runs, 87 RBI’s and 16 HR’s. Slightly down from his 2010 numbers but a stat correction was predicted from most scouts.

ROTATION:
Morgan Ackerman – A 15 game winner in 2011, Ackerman will be called on once again to be the Ace of the staff. Morgan gave the Storm a career high 218.1 Innings and a serviceable 4.16 ERA in 2011 but his 5.3 WAR shows just how valuable he is for Seattle..

Domingo Becerra – Domingo made great strides from 2010 to 2011 dropping his ERA from 6.59 top 4.53 and upping his wins from 5 to 14. Becerra punched out 156 batters in 2011 and Seattle is hoping for even more growth from the 23 year old.

Cedric Ayers – The veteran hurler enjoyed his finest season since 2004 by going 19-7 with a 4.34 ERA to put even more distance between himself and the horrible season of 2009. Ayers has been a clubhouse leader for the Storm and should continue to be a positive influence even though a pullback is expected in his 2012 stats.

Esteban Benitez – In his first full season in the rotation, this starter from Ruston, La gave a good showing of himself. Ending the season with a 5.05 ERA and a 9-17 record doesn’t represent just how well Benitez pitched for Seattle and after spending time over the winter with Pitching Coach Ramiro Villa working on his control many good things are expected in 2012.

Mathew Krieger – The veteran struggled in 2011 ending with a pedestrian 11-10 record and a bloated 5.73 ERA. The 33 year old has the talent to be a more effective pitcher but for one reason or another seems to falter at the most inopportune times. Look for an upgrade to come if Keiger gets off to another horrible start in 2012.

BULLPEN:
CL Herbert Coolen – For the second year in a row, Coolen has provided the Storm with a effective shout down pitcher in the ninth inning. Coolen ended 2011 with a 43 Saves and a decent 3.93 ERA. Coolen will be an important piece of the Storm bullpen no matter what role he has in 2012.

Tomas Roman, Greg Downing, Roberto Garza, Johnson Walter, Dennis Tolbert and Coy Davis round out the Storm bullpen.

The Storm made some tremendous moves last season with the Win Now philosophy. The Storm had no major defections from their 2011 starting lineup and will be considered an almost lock for a playoff spot in 2012 and an early favorite for the “Chase for the Landis”.

Prediction: 93-69, 1st place FL Pacific
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trmmilwwi
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Re: 2012 Seattle Storm Preview

Post by trmmilwwi » Sun Aug 25, 2013 8:58 pm

Nice writeup! That batting order is really something...
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Re: 2012 Seattle Storm Preview

Post by bigmike13 » Sun Aug 25, 2013 9:06 pm

trmmilwwi wrote:Nice writeup! That batting order is really something...
I know what you mean. The more i wrote the more I just shook my head.
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Re: 2012 Seattle Storm Preview

Post by njherdfan » Mon Aug 26, 2013 7:46 am

bigmike13 wrote:
trmmilwwi wrote:Nice writeup! That batting order is really something...
I know what you mean. The more i wrote the more I just shook my head.
:plus1: This is a great writeup. I have a feeling that we're going to need to outscore a lot of teams, but I also think that's something we should be capable of doing in a lot of our games, but it's going to be a very close division race.
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