Wichita Opening Day Starters, the Infield (2043-24)

[Fat Nige]

Opening Day Rosters 2043 - Infield

To be honest this could be a poorer bunch than last year, even though they are mainly last year's model. They don't look to have aged well. Stats are all at the quoted level for 2042.


CATCHERS

Age	Batter	Pos	2042 Level	BBA Games	G	GS	Av/OBP/SLG	OPS	H	HR	RBI	BB	WAR	SB
25	Jason Bowen	C	BBA	400	127	120	.252/.347/.459	.806	108	19	49	57	1.7	0
24	John Todd	C	BBA	76	51	42	.201/.283/.434	.717	32	8	25	18	0.4	0

The same two catchers are back for their fourth year (or part of) in tandem in Wichita, expect the same ratio of starts again in 2043. Only this year they’ve got to start looking over their shoulders, Bowen is now 25 and just got paid (arbitration lifted him from $500K to $2.1M), Todd will hit arbitration in 2045, there are others on the way up. If Bowen doesn’t produce and Todd can’t start looking more like a starter, then Gus Mollema and Brian Best will be coming into Spring 2044 with real hopes of one or both getting an Aviators berth.

The Infield

Age	Batter	Pos	2042 Level	BBA Games	G	GS	Av/OBP/SLG	OPS	H	HR	RBI	BB	WAR	SB
31	Duane Whitley Jr	1B	BBA	1,316	120	113	.231/.329/.429	.758	96	18	50	60	1.2	14
24	Clive Timberlake	2B	BBA	74	23	22	.232/.267/.451	.719	19	5	14	3	-0.3	0
23	Jim Gouzzie	3B	BBA	468	148	146	.233/.295/.434	.728	128	26	75	37	0.7	2
23	Hedde Aalbers	SS	BBA	91	91	80	.228/.300/.309	.609	59	2	18	22	-0.3	9

Not really a standout between them. Whitley Jr will get the majority of his starts at 1B, but will dabble at 3B, the rest and the backups are all utility players. Good all around the diamond but masters of none. Whitley Jr has two high-priced years left before taking his leave of Aviators. Timberlake is probably more of a first baseman, but will start 2043 at Second base, a bit of a problem base for Aviators. Everyone can play it but all a bit mediocre, Jim Abernathy was ticketed for the role but a .033 batting average in Spring pushed Timberlake ahead of him and only his defence all around the diamond kept him from heading to Albuquerque. He’ll back up wherever he can and grab AB’s where he can. Luis Alvarez has played at Second too, but will start 2043 at DH; he may well get some 2B starts as well. Gouzzie started last year at Shortstop but slid over to third, his more natural position, mid-season. Can be an emergency SS, but Wichita are looking for him to stick at third and improve his so-so fielding there, Gouzzie is another that enjoyed his first arbitration year ($500K to $2m) but unlike Bowen, doesn't have a close replacement on the horizon unless Ernesto Ramirez can make a strong impression as backup this year. Ramirez was a surprise inclusion as a backup 3B, having never played above Double-A, he improved at AA during 2042 and had a good stint at the FPL though, producing nearly 4 WAR in Columbus and can play first base as a bonus too. Hedde Aalbers, a Rule 5 pick last season, got the starting Shortstop role mid-2042 when Alex Ramirez was traded allowing Gouzzie to slide from SS to 3B. A reasonable fielder at SS, better than Gouzzie anyway, but will have to improve his swing if he’s to be a long-term solution there. Don’t be surprised to see Raul Lopez take the role in 2045 or ‘46. Even as early as ’44 if Aalbers is really poor this year.

Next time we will look at the Outfield and the DH spot.