WHIV 2056.11- Press Release: Hustlers Announce Opening Day Roster

[recte44]

Starting Pitchers:
Steffan Gimsing (RHP)
Jose Martinez (RHP)
Ashton Brooks (LHP)
Alex Payne (LHP)
John Rasmussen III (RHP)

The Hustlers' starting five has been set for the last third of Spring Training, so no big surprises here.

Relief Pitchers:
Josh Dougherty (RHP)
Francisco Salgado (LHP)
Adam Bristcoe (RHP)
Daniel Gonzalez (RHP)
Bret Harrell (LHP)
Kinzo Iwamoto (RHP)

Adding Salgado to the mix altered the makeup of the pen, and ultimately Iwamoto was kept on the OD Roster with a couple of good performances late in Spring Training. Harrell, the touted rookie, starts in relief as the second lefty after saving four games in Spring.

Two Way Players:
Don Jaramillo (RHP/RHB/1B/LF)
Peter Dean (RHP/RHB)

It's been a minute since the Hustlers had even one two-way guy, much less two. Jaramillo makes it as a non-roster player, pitching and hitting equally great in camp. One last hurrah for the veteran. Dean came in with a major league deal, albeit one cheap enough that he could have easily been jettisoned. He showed enough with the bat to augment his pitching abilities and will be the long relief dude.

Catchers:
Claudio Morgan (RHB)
John Stanley (RHB)

Morgan is the everyday guy. Stanley not only made the team, he's played his way into regular at-bats against lefties (probably primarily as the DH).

Infielders:
Cecil Clarke (RHB/1B/C)
Eugene Wolfe (RHB/2B/IF)
Eli Landgre (RHB/IF)
Tristan Lloyd (RHB/3B)
Juan Luis Manuel (RHB/SS)

Losing Brian Flint threw the whole roster in flux. He was expected to be the everyday first baseman but now it'll be mid to late May before he is able to play. This means Clarke is the remaining first base option, but with Flint out it appears manager Charles Allen will take the opportunity to get another lefty bat in the lineup against righties, meaning either Davis or Rex will play first base and the other left field. Wolfe won the everyday second base gig with Turton out, but a free agent signing is still a strong possibility. Lloyd will not only be the everyday third baseman, but the #3 hitter behind Rudge this year. Manuel is here for his glove, and any offense he provides from the #9 hole will be a bonus.

Outfielders:
Kidane Ata (RHB/LF/RF)
Roosevelt Davis (LHB/LF/1B)
Chris Hall (LHB/DH/LF)
Jose Leyva (RHB/CF)
Kenny Qasim (RHB/LF/RF)
Adam Rex (LHB/LF/1B)
Tom Rudge (RHB/RF/CF)

Las Vegas truly believed the last year of Ata's contract would be spent money. Not so, as he defies age (he's 39 years old and going strong). He'll play right field against righties, and left field against lefties to start. We talked about Rex and Davis in the infield section, they'll split 1B/LF against lefties. Davis hit so well in camp that he forced his way onto the team. Leyva is the centerfielder vs lefties, with Rudge starting in center field against righties, and moving to right field against lefties as he looks to defend his Silk Award from 2055. Hall almost didn't make the team after a lackluster Spring, at the end of the day Allen and Rectenwald decided his lefty power bat and amazing batting eye was needed. Qasim is like a persistent little gnat. The Hustlers have tried to get rid of him, waived him, sent him back to the minors, and here he is again. He just hits. He's kind of an ideal bench bat.

Injured List:
Brian Flint (RHB/1B)- Torn Quadriceps (6-7 weeks)
Barry Kelly (RHB/OF)- torn PCL (2 months)
Stewart Turton (RHB/2B/SS)- broken hand (3-4 months)

The loss of Turton can't be overstated. It's devastating to the ballclub. He was great last year and that was with negative WAR coming from having to play shortstop. At second base this year both Turton and the Hustlers were expecting big things. They'll have to tread water until July or August. Flint had won the first base job, so we'll see what happens when he gets back. Kelly could get into the reserve outfield mix when he comes back.

Final Cuts:
Carlos Berrera (RHP)
Edward Joseph Pfeffer (RHP)
Kutaiba Abdul-Nasser (RHP)
Allen Page (RHP)
Manuel Hernandez (RHB/C)
Tommy Rogers (RHB/C/CF)
Jibril Qasim (RHB/IF/OF)
Joe Edwards (RHB/DH)
Paco Humbert (RHB/LF/IF)

Surprises abound. It seemed like Edwards was a shoo-in, but several factors were in play in the decision to send him down. Flint got hurt, Stanley showed out, Davis forced his way on the team. and Edwards does not own a glove. Similarly, Berrera being sent down is almost shocking. Vegas wanted to keep Jaramillo and weren't ready to cut Iwamoto loose quite yet, so they decided that a regular rotation turn in Milwaukee was the right move for now. The three RHP's (Pfeffer, Abdul-Nasser, Page) all did nothing to lose a spot in the Hustlers' pen other than the fact that they had options remaining. Hernandez and Rogers are currently the top reserve catcher depth. Jibril Qasim and Humbert figure to factor into bench options at some point this season.

[ae37jr]

The Turton injury is a killer. I've become obsessed with stockpiling 3-4 options to play 2B/SS/CF because it's so hard to find one when you need them.

[recte44]

me too. it's bleak out there

[Jwalk100]

I like your double play combo and your defense in general.The pitching is really gonna benefit.