1 April 2062
Boise, Idaho
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by Stubby Bardenwerper
Spring Training is a time for renewed hopes and dreams. Until they are dashed by injuries, but enough about the rotation. Boise is looking to log its 3rd winning season in a row and maybe sneak in the back door of the playoffs. Looking at season ticket sales, there's about as much excitement about 2062 as there was for 2061. That's sounds about right. So, let's get things rolling! Introducing your 2062 Boise Spuds INF/C:
3B Bill Kuhn
Catcher23yo Tadanobu Otani - 2061: 112 G, 18 2B, 0 3B, 10 HR, 54 RBI, .262/.317/.381, 0.3 WAR
21yo Roberto Martínez - 2061: 19 G, 3 2B, 3 RBI, .273/.298/.327, 0.1 WAR
These guys are really either/or, but Otani proved he belonged as the starter last season so he'll get that nod to begin the year.
First Base
31yo L Pedro 'Pocket Rocket' Hozven - 2061: 140 G, 28 2B, 1 3B, 27 HR, 76 RBI, .261/.343/.515, .858 OPS, +1.5 WAR
28yo R Tracy 'Jigga' Allison - 2061: 91 G, 13 2B, 6 3B, 8 HR, 35 RBI, 22 SB, .307/.336/.550, .886 OPS, +1.5 WAR
25yo L José Montoya - 2061: 141 G, 27 2B, 6 3B, 28 HR, 91 RBI, 7 SB, .269/.313/.497, .810 OPS, +1.7 WAR
Now comes the sticky wicket. vLHP is locked up for Allison as both Hozven and Montoya drop off on that side of the split. vRHP is more complicated. Allison can hit righties as well as lefties and he has excellent intangibles. If something bad were to happen, Allison could handle 1B alone. But Hozven rakes RHP, even if he has a slugger's AVG, and he has more Gap and Pow than Allison. The big question is if Montoya needs to start. He can play solid LF & RF and there is always DH, but that's complicated, too (will be covered by the post on OF/DH starters). There is a clear argument to be made that Montoya sits the bench v righties & lefties, but how do you leave a 30 HR, 100 RBI guy on the bench?
Uber-utility Guy
37yo R Damodaragoun Neela - 2061: 61 G, 8 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 21 RBI, .265/.331/.453, .784 OPS, -0.1 WAR
Every team needs a dude like this. Can play 2B, 3B, & SS...plus LF & RF. It frees up at least 1 roster spot. He's aging but I'll have him on my bench until he can't hold his glove up anymore.
Second Base
35yo 2B switch Ryan Geauxinue - 2061: 146 G, 8 2B, 3 3B, 16 HR, 71 RBI, .281/.324/.386, .711 OPS, 35 SB, +1.3 WAR
25yo 2B L Fernando Segura - 2061: (AAA) 109 G, 27 2B, 2 3B, 10 HR, 69 RBI, .300/.360/.447, .807 OPS, +2.7 WAR
Segura's numbers are from AAA as he didn't get much play at the ML level over Geauxinue and with Neela as the backup. Alas, Geauxinue hit the IL as Spring Training was wrapping up will miss the first few weeks of 2062 so Segura is getting some extra time to show what he's got. But Geauxinue has speed and the ability to generate RBI so he'll be the regular starter when healthy.
Third Base
24yo R Bill Kuhn - 2061: 151 G, 24 2B, 0 3B, 40 HR, 111 RBI, .301/.420/.562, .981 OPS, +5.6 WAR
Where did this guy come from. Sure, +2.6 WAR in his rookie year at Atlantic City is outstanding, but upping it to +5.6 in his sophomore campaign was very unexpected. His defense is not elite, rated 5 at 3B, but his POW & EYE give the indication that he won't slow down anytime soon. And I'm going to go ahead and restate my surprise that he received no awards or all-star nod last year.
Shortstop
26yo L Dan Raymond - 2061: 151 G, 18 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 32 RBI, .172/.226/.239, .465 OPS, 20 SB, -0.1 WAR
Ugh, what a stat line am I right? That bat has no business on a ML roster. Or even AA. But an 11 defense rating at SS, THAT'S ELEVEN, well...there are always exceptions. That's just a .971 PCT, +24.4 ZR, and 1.109 EFF, no big deal. Not only does that 11 rating lock down SS but his range removes any worries on that front at 3B & 2B.