Taking a page out of team previews by the likes of Niles and Recte, we'll look at season projections, both offense and pitching, which will provide valuable -- both in participation points and roster management analysis -- season-end reviews.
2044 Boise Projections: Offense
CATCHER
The hope was going into 2043 was that Alexander would be passable as a full-time starter (as much as a catcher can be "full-time") as a rookie after his impressive 2042 Double-A season. Alexander wasn't quite up to the task, although he did post a 0.6 WAR season in 215 plate appearances (53 starts) despite a .164/.260/.312 slash line thanks to his defense and base running. Alexander will make the Opening Day roster, however he'll be eased into his sophomore season in a platoon role with Kato. Kato received several votes for the Zimmer Award, so his defensive acumen is greatly valued by the Boise front office and coaching staff.
FIRST BASE/DESIGNATED HITTER
Thanks to a reverse-split last year, Alfonzo (.647 OPS vs LHP, .815 OPS vs RHP) will return as the regular designated hitter. Alfonzo held his own with the bat as rookie, however his huge strikeout numbers and inability to draw walks will likely keep him in the bottom-half of the line-up. Madrid, like most of the hitters in the league, saw his numbers slump after a strong rookie campaign in 2042. Even with the drop in production, the hirsute slugger was strong against RHP, putting up a 124 OPS+. He'll platoon with newly signed veteran Simpson, who the Spuds believe still has plenty to offer when used correctly. Against LHP in 2043, Simpson got on-base at a .423 clip and slugged over .500. Simpson will see some at-bats at DH against LHP if Alfonzo's reverse-split continues, as well as pinch-hit off the bench on days Madrid draws the start.
SECOND BASE
While Rodriguez, the club's #2-ranked prospect, is expected to be the future at 2B sooner than later, Braun's veteran leadership and glove will earn him the start to begin 2043. Braun's bat is all but gone, but the Spuds stress defense and his glove will carry him to 400+ plate appearances at 2B and emergency SS. Rodriguez will be brought along slowly but the front office would love to see him grab the starting role by summer and get more than the projected 250 plate appearances. Douglas, a Rule 5 pick-up, will see playing time all around the infield as a super-sub and pinch-runner.
SHORTSTOP
Yamashita's exception bat control took a hit last year, hitting just .268 after two straight seasons of at least a .320 average. The coaching staff expects the defensive whiz and speedster (league-leading 68 steals in 2042) to bounce back, although sources believe Yamashita will hit near the bottom of the order, a change from leading off the last two seasons. The 25-year-old shortstop has had some nicks and dings during his career -- and his playing time projection reflects approximately 120 games started -- so expect the likes of Braun, Douglas and O'Brien to fill-in as needed.
THIRD BASE
Third base continues to be a gaping hole in the Spuds' lineup. Over the last five years, since GM Joe Lederer took over the Boise front office, the team has run out eighteen different players to start at the position, with nearly all of them providing less-than-league average production:
| NAME | GS AT 3B 2039-2043 |
|---|
| Sancho Castillo | 347 |
| Pedro Nava | 107 |
| Antonio Baca | 102 |
| Calvin Clohessy | 52 |
| Rob Thomas | 42 |
| Kiichi Suzuki | 39 |
| Yunosuke Terada | 26 |
| Susumu Nakanishi | 22 |
| Jared Gillstrom | 16 |
| Dave Richards | 15 |
| Dan Norman | 12 |
| Norm Smith | 10 |
| Joey O'Brien | 9 |
| Jorge Reyes | 4 |
| Lloyd Braun | 3 |
| Joaqin Torres | 2 |
| Ramon Vela | 1 |
| Arief Alatas | 1 |
Yikes. And while O'Brien isn't expected to be some sort of hot corner savior, the team feels his glove (and versatility) will offer more than just replacement player level results, as well as align with the club's over-arching philosophies (aka The Great Wheel™).
OUTFIELD
The outfield provides the bulk of offensive production, and all three starters flash elite leather to boot. French "only" put up 6.3 WAR and a .899 OPS in 2043, but those are still far cries from his typical seasons. Like French, Roman is expected to bump up his numbers this upcoming season. A 30 HR/40 SB year out of French and a flipped 40/30 campaign out of Rivera will do wonders for returning the Spuds to the playoffs after missing out last year. Ruiz has been remarkably inconsistent in his career, going on hot or cold stretches for multiple months. His 100 OPS+ in 2043 is still short of his rookie season 128 figure, but it was an improvement over 2042's 87. Ruiz's projection is another improvement but if he can approach the offensive output he showed in the minors and his rookie year, look out. Ruiz will replace Yamashita atop the lineup for most starts. Pereira lit up the minors for the last two years and could see plenty of playing time as a platoon-role with Ruiz, but he'll be brought along slowly as a rookie, especially if Ruiz doesn't show signs of struggling.
