TN 63.03 Shredders Shore Up Their Defense

[Chuck V]

AUSTIN, TX Austin Shredders GM, Chuck Valenches made a pair of moves over the last two weeks that may pay dividends for the Austin baseball club. With these moves it is hoped that the lineup no longer features a bevy of Dr. Strange Glove's in the field and will address their biggest liability outside their pitching; the defense up the middle.
On June the 18th, a day that may live in infamy for the number of non-trade deadline deals, the Shredders sent reliever Pepe Rivera and minor league reliever Cipriano Menendez to the Las Vegas Hustlers for 24-year-old SS, Jorge Madrid and Rookie League pitcher Abdul-Khaliq Khoury. Then on July 2nd the Shredders dealt former #1 pick, OF Julio Blanco to the Louisville Sluggers for 24-year-old CF Jerry Woodall.
This move addresses two glaring holes in the defense, Center Field and Shortstop.
In the last two seasons, center field has bee patrolled by outfielder Takanobu Komatsu, an outfielder with an ever-increasing ability to mash the ball. Last year Komatsu hit.273/.317/497 with 33 HR and 97 RBI. Unfortunately, he also lacked the range and CF experience to be anything but inept in center. Komatsu average a -24.0 Zone Rating which meant he was costing the teams almost as many runs as he was producing. This had a lot to do with his 0.8 WAR last season despite such gaudy offensive numbers. The Shredders had hoped that Blanco could fill the role but his major league debut was very inauspicious and he proved himself better as a corner outfielder. Something he will get more of a chance to do with Louisville. The team even made a small deal for outfielder Mike Crowson in Spring Training from Mexico City and signed outfielder Mick Scott as a minor league free agent, but neither had the defense needed and neither had the bat to excuse the lack of defense either.
Woodall is a defensive whiz with outstanding range, glove and arm. He is not much with the bat and does strike out far more than you can excuse from somebody who hits from the ladies tee, but he is not there for his offense. If he can get on base at a .300 plus clip and play solid CF, management will be happy.

SS Jorge Madrid was a 4th round pick by the Las Vegas Hustlers in 2057 and even held the starting job in Vegas for three seasons. Like Woodall, he is not much with the bat, but is a superb defender, averaging a +7/0 ZR during his time as the starter. Not great, but much better than Jack Wesman. Wesman was game, but averaged about -3.25 ZR the last two seasons.

Will this help? Who knows. The Shredders do give up a bit of offense in center field by moving Komatsu to RF (Where he is excelling in the field) but gain much more in defense. While at short, it is strictly a defensive upgrade. Albeit, a very necessary one.

If it makes a difference, the team is 3-2 since both joined the club so we'll take that as a good sign.