1 April 2063
Boise, Idaho
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by Tony Toney
Boise GM Ben Teague took to the podium for a press conference announcing the Spuds' opening day starter and the staff. As anticipated, it is nearly a complete overhaul with the opening day starter being the only holdover from opening day 2062.
Rotation
Opening Day:
36yo RHP Mahad 'Furball' Einan
26 G, 26 GS, 13-8, 4.44 ERA, 150.0 IP, 2.6 K/BB, 1.41 WHIP, +2.3 WAR
Einan kicks off 2062 after making 26 starts with Boise last season.
33yo RHP Josh 'Kid' Clark
33 G, 33 GS, 6-11, 4.52 ERA, 163.1 IP, 3.8 K/BB, 1.22 WHIP, +1.5 WAR
It was really a flip of the coin for opening day between Einan and Clark, but Einan got the nod to make it 2 consecutive seasons. Einan and Clark should be a 1a/1b combo this season.
31yo RHP Niegloslaw Woywitka
32 G, 32 GS, 16-6, 3.44 ERA, 180.1 IP, 2.2 K/BB, 1.21 WHIP, +1.3 WAR
While Einan does get the edge over Clark for Opening Day, Boise will need Clark and Woywitka to be the young(er) core of the rotation with elder statesmen at the top and bottom.
26yo LHP Dan Boman
14 G, 14 GS, 8-6, 3.54 ERA, 86.1 IP, 3.8 K/BB, 1.18 WHIP, +1.1 WAR
The sole lefty in the 5-man is also the youngest.
38yo SP Thomas Turner
33 G, 33 GS, 9-11, 3.53 ERA, 183.1 IP, 2.2 K/BB, 1.27 WHIP, +2.2 WAR
Turner made 33 starts in 2062 but to expect a repeat from the 38yo is probably going a bit far. Should see plenty of spot starts in this spot from a handful of other pitchers.
Middle/Long Relief
26yo RHP Tariku Jabiri
(AAA) 25 G, 25 GS, 5-14, 4.51 ERA, 159.2 IP, 2.3 K/BB, 1.40 WHIP, +2.8 WAR
Jabiri will probably be the first in line for spot starts. 23yo LHP Felipe Ledesma will begin the season in AAA but should keep a travel bag with him.
28yo RHP Buddhapalita Kankipati
34 G, 22 GS, 8-5, 3.43 ERA, 126.0 IP, 1.9 K/BB, 1.1 WAR
If he had the stamina, Kankipati would be a fixture in the Spuds' rotation. He throws quality stuff...but only 90 pitches of it at most. Being able to make him the "Use More Often" option in the bullpen should create tough middle innings for opponents to navigate.
37yo LHP Juan Guzmán
41 G, 18 GS, 7-9, 5.59 ERA, 132.0 IP, 1.5 K/BB, 1.60 WHIP, +0.8 WAR
Guzmán struggled mightily in 2062 and there may be a quick trigger on him this year.
34yo LHP Art Cherry
32 G, 4-4, 4.75 ERA, 36.0 IP, 2.1 K/BB, 1.39 WHIP, -0.7 WAR
Cherry is a quality middle relief option...and a lefty to boot.
22yo RHP Máximo Rivera
(AAA) 15 G, 3-1, 4 SV, 5.06 ERA, 16.0 IP, 1.44 WHIP
Rivera is a favorite of Teague's and is ready for the ML level. Or he better be.
Backend
30yo LHP Samir Qasim
10 G, 6.59 ERA, 13.2 IP, 7.0 K/BB, 1.32 WHIP, +0.1 WAR
Teague, despite his best instincts, brings back an oldie but - back then, anyway - goodie in lefty Qasim as the lefty setup option.
24yo RHP Tim Stops
Stops returns from an extended IL stint that cost him essentially all of 2062.
26yo RHP Mario Santos
52 G, 6-10, 25 SV, 3.13 ERA, 60.1 IP, 2.3 K/BB, 1.36 WHIP, +0.7 WAR
Let's try this again, eh?