Charm City 2056.5 - 3 Ups and 3 Downs at the Halfway Mark

[DaveB]

With the halfway point of the BBA season having recently passed I'm going to take a look at our top 3 surprises and disappointments in the 2056 season thus far.

3 Ups:

I'm going to start with the absolute no brainer for me. LF: Wilson Alomar was signed this past off season to be our DH vs RHP coming into the season. The 35 year old who didn't play in 2055, has been a great signing for us. He's posted a .324/.352/.532/.883 slash line with 19 homers and 62 RBI's so far. Alomar has arguably been one of our best players so far and with writing this I'll be expecting the Markus Math slump or an injury in the second half. Alomar also hit his 300th career home earlier this season.

3B: Manny 'Baby Driver' Collazo has really made my job as a GM a bit harder this season. Collazo has a team option coming this off season and going into the 2056 season I was relatively sure we were going to decline the option and either go with someone internal or try to locate a less expensive 3B in the off season. He then exploded to a slash line of .278/.360/.519/.879 with 16 homers and 63 RBI. The reigning 2055 Cartwright Cup MVP really is really pushing to have the option picked up. My biggest concern thus far has been the -2.2 ZR.

I considered and almost did not tender a contract to P: You-de Szema during the 2055 off season. It's not that Szema didn't perform well in 2055, it's that I wasn't sure if I wanted to have his contract on the team this year. Thankfully I decided to tender the man a contract. He's posted a 2.42 ERA in 48.1 innings of work with a 1.2 WHIP and a .293 BABIP. The BABIP is a good indication that his success in the pen this year isn't due to defense of being lucky. I'm lucky to have this guy on the roster because he can really help keep the team in a game eating innings out of the pen if we're behind and not worrying to much about blowing a lead.

Honorable Mention - I didn't expect much from UTIL: Tristan Colenutt when SS: Sammy 'Bumper' McNeill went down with an injury. Colenutt hasn't really hit very much in limited chances (.661 OPS in 64 plate appearances), but his defense and ability to play all over the field has really helped eat some innings for us in the field from a guy I didn't expect anything from.

3 Downs:

Where Szema has excelled CL: Manuel Barrera has failed this year. Barrera has limped to 5-12 record with 24 saves a 7.13 ERA in 41 games. We've seen Barrera blow 7 saves already this year. The 7 games ties a Charm City high. We've considered removing the former 4 time all star from the closers role, but I believe he can turn it around and if we make the playoffs we need him at his best anchoring the pen in the late innings.

Trainer: Nour bin Hilal has seen our Jimmies have among the highest level of team injuries this season. We currently have 4 players on the 60 day DL and have had 1 other on the 60 day DL this year as well as numerous other injuries. Hilal was one of the few members of the previous staff to remain in Charm City when I took over, he might not see a 15th season.

INF: Kilipaki Iugini and INF: Roberto Villanueva are going to be sharing the final spot on this list. Iugini made the opening day roster due to his lack of options left. He was thrust into the 2B role after All Star 2B: Dave Ackerman was lost for the season due to injury. I wasn't sure what to expect off Iugini, but I was expecting more than a .220/.270/.339/.609 slash line. I was expecting him to work grind out more walks and hit for a higher average. In Villanueva we weren't expecting him to perform like an all star, but we certainly weren't expecting a putrid .209/.246/.279/.525 with a -1.1 WAR so far this year. I'm hoping to see him bounce back in the second half.

[Jwalk100]

Barrera just imploded after a decent April. He may bounce back.

[pandan]

Curious what you'll do w/ Szema given he's going to be 31 and likely into his last year of arb.

Collazo I'd worry about his decline next season, not sure if I'd want to pick up the option and find out unless I'm strapped for a replacement.

[DaveB]

With Szema it’s going to depend on how he finishes the season and his arbitration numbers. I value his ability to work multiple innings because having him and a few others being able to work quality multiple innings gives me an option to carry an extra hitter if I desire.

[Krathan]

I like that Alomar was able to come in after sitting for a year and play that well. Wonder what his training routine was like during that time off.

[chicoruiz]

Barrera just imploded after a decent April. He may bounce back.

Yeah… sample size on closer is so small that just a couple of bad outings can really ugly up a stat line.