YOUR 2042 WICHITA AVIATORS
I’m happy with the promising batting line-up the Aviators are putting out this year, not an experienced one to be sure, 10 of the 14 batters have less than 350 career BBA appearances but they have room to grow rather than being washed up veterans. Some of them may well be gone by the end of the year or even the trading deadline but that will help both the finances and the farm in the long run.
The Infield
| Player | Age | POS | Bats | 2041 Level | G | AB | Slash Line | OPS | HR | RBI | SB | WAR | RNG (PB) | ZR (RTO%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jason Bowen | 24 | C | R | BBA | 134 | 488 | .219/.301/.395 | .697 | 15 | 62 | 0 | 0.1 | (6) | (30.0) |
| John Todd | 23 | C | R | BBA | 17 | 55 | .218/.348/.382 | .730 | 1 | 6 | 0 | -0.1 | (2) | (23.1) |
| Duane Whitley Jr | 30 | 1B | L | BBA | 145 | 519 | .237/.350/.434 | .784 | 25 | 88 | 19 | 0.8 | 9.97 | 5.0 |
| Miguel Ortiz | 26 | 1B | L | BBA | 41 | 137 | .343/.438/.672 | 1.109 | 10 | 21 | 0 | 1.4 | 2.23 | 0.2* |
| Jim Abernathy | 25 | 2B | R | BBA | 34 | 101 | .228/.271/.287 | .588 | 0 | 3 | 5 | -1.0 | 4.96 | -0.1 |
| Alex Ramirez | 26 | 3B | S | BBA | 147 | 582 | .271/.331/.491 | .828 | 28 | 88 | 47 | 3.2 | 2.67 | 5.0 |
| Hedde Aalbers | 22 | SS | R | AA | 135 | 535 | .234/.298/.336 | .634 | 6 | 54 | 3 | -0.3 | 4.43 | 8.2 |
| Jim Gouzzie | 22 | SS | R | BBA | 132 | 539 | .288/.340/.512 | .852 | 23 | 82 | 2 | 2.8 | 4.60 | 0.5 |
All of these will be looking to improve on their 2041 performance and can probably reasonably expect to. Ramirez is in a contract year and due to his demands will not be with the team in 2043 while if Aalbers lives up to our expectations, Gouzzie may well be attracting envious glances. Abernathy won his job on the strength of a good spring showing, now he has to go out and prove himself in the real world.
The Outfield
| Player | Age | POS | Bats | 2041 Level | G | AB | Slash Line | OPS | HR | RBI | SB | WAR | RNG | ZR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juan Roman | 23 | LF | L | BBA | 58 | 174 | .253/.298/.483 | .781 | 9 | 29 | 6 | 0.1 | 2.04 | -1.2 * |
| Juan Hernandez | 23 | LF | R | BBA | 127 | 435 | .244/.299/.495 | .824 | 13 | 48 | 33 | -0.1 | 2.09 | 2.9 |
| Jorge Rincon | 25 | CF | L | BBA | 123 | 403 | .266/.347/.355 | .682 | 0 | 30 | 40 | 0.4 | 3.22 | 9.4 |
| Hector Garza | 23 | RF | R | BBA | 63 | 206 | .286/.370/.427 | .797 | 5 | 23 | 9 | 0.3 | 2.58 | 0.5 |
| Herve Billy | 31 | RF | R | AAA | 69 | 118 | .271/.306/.441 | .747 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 0.3 | 1.72 | 0.2 ** |
| Matt Chambers | 21 | DH | L | AA | 113 | 390 | .274/.333/.556 | .889 | 25 | 66 | 0 | 2.3 | 2.00 | -0.4 *** |
** 2041 stats from the Chicago organisation
*** 2041 fielding stats at RF
We are excited to see young Matt get first crack at the DH role, he looks like he could really mash it (in Wichita terms), but if he can’t handle it we have plenty of aspiring DH’s ready to steal the job. The two Juan’s look as if they could be fighting over the LF starting role for some time and could well end up platooning the job. Hector will be glad to start the season in his more favoured RF role too.
So, there it really is, the young Aviators that hope to take the team forward. They haven’t really much of a chance, but tight wad owner Mr Magnum will be rubbing his hands at the prospect of a first profit since 2038. “Money before Glory” seems to be this year’s catchphrase. How will that play with the fast disappearing fans?
