Wichita 2041 Review part.1 2041-34 (Wichita 2041-8)
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 2:27 am
So, I’ve arrived in Wichita, too late to do anything except review what the Aviators had. They had spent four seasons working up from their inaugural season tally of 67-95 to their best ever win total of 79-83 in 2039. Now, just two seasons later they’ve nose-dived to their worst ever 59-103 season, is this rock bottom? The state of the minors, with no prospects in the BBA’s Top-100, might suggest they could fall further if that’s possible. They have no money for extensions or free agents at the current time, the overall crowd for the season has fallen from its best of 3,169 in 2037 to just 1,719 in 2041. Wichita has just two seasons in profit ($2.2m & $11.5m) and now has made a loss the last three season, cumulating in a $15.6m loss this year. None of this suggests a quick and easy route out of the Frontier League cellar.
The 2041 Rotation Starters
Just two pitchers made regular starts all season long in the rotation and only six made double-figure starts during the season
29-yr-old Kevin Morales (9-13) made 34 starts at the head of the rotation. One of the last few examples of The Geniuses obsession with former team Louisville, Morales’ numbers have been on the slide throughout his three seasons in Wichita, winning nine games in 2041, the same tally as in 2040. This year he gave up career highs in hits (223), Earned Runs (117), HR (32), walks (54) and WHIP (1.49).
Future Prospects He could, but unlikely, opt out of his contract at this juncture, but assuming he doesn’t, has a guaranteed $12m on the table for 2042 and the same as a team option for 2043. That at least, coupled with even at this stage in his career he still produced 2.3 WAR, should see him back somewhere in the Aviators’ 2042 rotation.
37-yr-old Jesus Ramos (8-14) was the other pitcher that made 34 starts in 2041. Having posted winning records in his first two years here, it was disappointing to see him fall so far. He nearly doubled his ERA, increased his ER from 83 to 123 in 20 less IP, gave up 32 homers, his K’s decreased from 116 to 84 and his WAR from 3.7 to 1.2.
Future Prospects Given the franchises financial state, his 2042 team option of $6m is unlikely to be picked up.
32-yr-old Hirotada Miura (5-12, 3 SV) made 20 of his 33 outings as a starter, his last being mid-August when his ERA was touching close to 8.00. In his fourth year as a Wichita starter he posted fewest innings and fewest wins. He did reduce, just, his homers conceded and only had a small increase in walks allowed but halved his K’s down to 51.
Future Prospects Three years owed at $9m/year means that unfortunately Hirotada and his -0.3 WAR will be back for the next few years. A life on the waiver wire beckons.
22-yr-old Jose Montoya (3-5) made 16 starts in the BBA after getting a mid-July callup. He’s given up five or more runs on five of his 16 starts, but he did turn in seven Quality Starts. His age gives him room to improve on that in his sophomore season.
Future Prospects The chances of enough better players arriving in the near future to displace him from the rotation is remote. Pretty much nailed on for at least three years.
28-yr-old Lane Aldridge (5-3) Lane spent half of April in the bullpen but after making his first start on April 15th didn’t look back. making 12 consecutive starts. That was all ended on the first day of July when a torn meniscus in his knee put paid to the rest of 2041 for him. Difficult to judge his season, his fifth in Aviators colours, but was probably on course to match a fairly good 2040 season.
Future Prospects He’ll be fit for 2042 and with $1.8m & $2m owed for the next two years he will be a rotation mainstay in these difficult times.
35-yr-old Hiroyuki Rin (2-10) made 12 of his 29 outings as part of the rotation, his last start came on June 25th in an 11-0 loss at Edmonton. In 75 IP he gave up 125 hits with a surprisingly low 67 earned runs surrendered despite a WHIP of 1.95. His ERA of 8.04 was a career high though.
Future Prospects Two more years owed to him at $9m each will keep him in Wichita in the bullpen, but with option years left he could be spending his final years in Triple-A Albuquerque
Next time out we’ll look at the rest of the pitchers, the bullpen plus a section on those that spent their time in & out of the rotation.
The 2041 Rotation Starters
Just two pitchers made regular starts all season long in the rotation and only six made double-figure starts during the season
29-yr-old Kevin Morales (9-13) made 34 starts at the head of the rotation. One of the last few examples of The Geniuses obsession with former team Louisville, Morales’ numbers have been on the slide throughout his three seasons in Wichita, winning nine games in 2041, the same tally as in 2040. This year he gave up career highs in hits (223), Earned Runs (117), HR (32), walks (54) and WHIP (1.49).
Future Prospects He could, but unlikely, opt out of his contract at this juncture, but assuming he doesn’t, has a guaranteed $12m on the table for 2042 and the same as a team option for 2043. That at least, coupled with even at this stage in his career he still produced 2.3 WAR, should see him back somewhere in the Aviators’ 2042 rotation.
37-yr-old Jesus Ramos (8-14) was the other pitcher that made 34 starts in 2041. Having posted winning records in his first two years here, it was disappointing to see him fall so far. He nearly doubled his ERA, increased his ER from 83 to 123 in 20 less IP, gave up 32 homers, his K’s decreased from 116 to 84 and his WAR from 3.7 to 1.2.
Future Prospects Given the franchises financial state, his 2042 team option of $6m is unlikely to be picked up.
32-yr-old Hirotada Miura (5-12, 3 SV) made 20 of his 33 outings as a starter, his last being mid-August when his ERA was touching close to 8.00. In his fourth year as a Wichita starter he posted fewest innings and fewest wins. He did reduce, just, his homers conceded and only had a small increase in walks allowed but halved his K’s down to 51.
Future Prospects Three years owed at $9m/year means that unfortunately Hirotada and his -0.3 WAR will be back for the next few years. A life on the waiver wire beckons.
22-yr-old Jose Montoya (3-5) made 16 starts in the BBA after getting a mid-July callup. He’s given up five or more runs on five of his 16 starts, but he did turn in seven Quality Starts. His age gives him room to improve on that in his sophomore season.
Future Prospects The chances of enough better players arriving in the near future to displace him from the rotation is remote. Pretty much nailed on for at least three years.
28-yr-old Lane Aldridge (5-3) Lane spent half of April in the bullpen but after making his first start on April 15th didn’t look back. making 12 consecutive starts. That was all ended on the first day of July when a torn meniscus in his knee put paid to the rest of 2041 for him. Difficult to judge his season, his fifth in Aviators colours, but was probably on course to match a fairly good 2040 season.
Future Prospects He’ll be fit for 2042 and with $1.8m & $2m owed for the next two years he will be a rotation mainstay in these difficult times.
35-yr-old Hiroyuki Rin (2-10) made 12 of his 29 outings as part of the rotation, his last start came on June 25th in an 11-0 loss at Edmonton. In 75 IP he gave up 125 hits with a surprisingly low 67 earned runs surrendered despite a WHIP of 1.95. His ERA of 8.04 was a career high though.
Future Prospects Two more years owed to him at $9m each will keep him in Wichita in the bullpen, but with option years left he could be spending his final years in Triple-A Albuquerque
Next time out we’ll look at the rest of the pitchers, the bullpen plus a section on those that spent their time in & out of the rotation.