WHIV 2057.13- Checking The Locks: Outfielders/DH

[recte44]

Sure Fire Locks (3):

Kidane Ata, R/R
(6/9/6/5/6, .249/.316/.441/.757 with LV)- Ata, 40 years old, is back in left field. We know we overpaid, blah blah blah.

Tom Rudge, R/R (8/8/7/7/7, .289/.364/.505/.869 for LV)- Rudge's season was cut short due to injury, which was a shame. He's still Tom F-ing Rudge, though.

Chris Hall, L/L (7/8/8/9/5, .257/.367/.536/.902 for LV)- Usually when you hit 33 homers and put up a .902 OPS in your rookie season, you're pretty likely to win the Gillstrom Award. In Hall's case, he wasn't even the best rookie on his own team. Still, he's just 21 years old and his future looks bright.

Near Locks (2):

Murad Abdul-Alim, L/L (4/8/8/6/3, .187/.265/.378/.643 for LV)- This is the state of the center field position in the BBA. Abdul-Alim, coming off his .187 avg, is a Near Lock and figures to get the lion's share of the playing time in center field. There are simply no better options.

Kenny Qasim, R/R (7/6/4/6/6, .333/.415/.486/.901 for LV; .317/.388/.452/.841 for Milwaukee-AAA)- Enough of the back and forth, the never ending waivers and DFA. Qasim can hit. Las Vegas is convinced. He can stay.

Trying To Break In (4):

Roosevelt Davis, L/L (7/9/7/5/6, .293/.352/.497/.849 for Milwaukee-AAA; .238/.288/.384/.672 for LV)- Since he's a left fielder and not a really good one, he has to hit for him to work. Vegas gave him a rather lengthy trial last year after scouts said he was breaking out. He didn't hit, it didn't work. He could still get plenty of playing time this year, perhaps in an effort to spell Ata a couple games a week when the matchup favors Davis. But he has to hit in Spring Training, otherwise he already knows he'll be wearing a Milwaukee Choppers uniform in 2057.

Tankut Saltik, R/R 5/9/4/7/3, .288/.404/.442/.845 for Pahrump-A)- The BBA's #1 prospect is getting closer, but still needs more minor league time. Entering his 23 year old season, the Hustlers really hope that he'll develop throughout this year and be able to take over for Ata in 2058.

Barry Kelly, S/L (5/7/8/6/4, .297/.333/.784/1.117 in 37 at-bats for LV)- Kelly returns for the third year in a row. He just keeps getting injured so the Hustlers still don't know what they really have in him, if anything. He might hit a little more than Abdul-Alim but they would sacrifice center field defense to try it.

Doug Kindle, S/R (5/8/3/5/6, 3 for 24 for LV in September; .269/.342/.420/.762 for Milwaukee-AAA)- Kindle is only 22 years old, but he's as developed as he's going to get. He's not really a great center fielder, nor a great shortstop, nor a great second baseman or third baseman. He's average to maybe slightly above average at most of those positions. And he can run. It seems really likely that Kindle may make this team as a utility guy.

Breaking In The Back Door (5):

Saulo Bayi, L/R (5/7/6/5/6)- Played in lower levels of GBC minors only briefly last year. Signed as minor league depth.

Keith Jahnke, L/L (8/6/7/5/5, .300/.405/.511/.916 for 3M-COL; .458/.509/.625/1.134 for Pahrump-A; .224/.259/.303/.562 for Reno-AA)- Vegas' first round pick in 2056, they pushed him to Reno right away, and ended up having to send him back to Pahrump to get the bat going, which it did. Over the winter scouts see he's shown some improvements. Jahnke and Saltik are poised to be the ultimate successors to Ata and Rudge in the future Hustlers outfield. While Saltik needs more time to develop, Jahnke is much more BBA ready. The only thing preventing him from making the team this year will be available playing time.

Lao Kum, R/R (6/7/2/6/7, .229/.280/.276/.557 for JAX)- Signed to a MLC with ML option, Kum is one of several brought in as CF depth options.

Wasim Ala', S/R (5/8/9/7/3, .192/.283/.395/.678 with ORL/MKE in AAA)- Another depth guy.

Kosho Kondo, R/R (4/6/8/6/4, .218/.301/.388/.689 for DM)- Kondo could turn out to be the platoon partner for Abdul-Alim with a solid Spring Training.

[Dington]

Tankut Saltik, R/R 5/9/4/7/3, .288/.404/.442/.845 for Pahrump-A)- The BBA's #1 prospect

Not so fast my friend. Alfonso Gonzales has issues with your rankings.

[recte44]

Tankut Saltik, R/R 5/9/4/7/3, .288/.404/.442/.845 for Pahrump-A)- The BBA's #1 prospect

Not so fast my friend. Alfonso Gonzales has issues with your rankings.

Well, he was last year anyways.

[trmmilwwi]

I can see the "Saltik in '57" signs in the stands already.

[recte44]

Ata and Rudge, meet Saltik and Jahnke.

[trmmilwwi]

Ata and Rudge, meet Saltik and Jahnke.

Get a wheelchair ready for the broken down one.