2018 Brooklyn Robins Preview

[bigmike13]

The Brooklyn Robins first season after the move from Baltimore was rough to say the least. The team has been in disarray for the last few years, but things really bottomed out after the former owner was arrested on bestiality charges after the viral video of him at the petting zoo surfaced. Reports are that the Shetland pony had to be euthanized after the incident. Players didn’t want to be there and neither did the fans as attendance dropped to their lowest since the 1996 season.

2017 saw the team being run by the league while suitable leadership could be found. 2018 should hopefully be the start of a fresh beginning as new ownership, and a vibrant new GM named Blue Pasquale look to reshape the fortunes of the franchise.


Key Additions

SP Joey Budding
3B Davis Locke
SP Juan Hernandez
RP Jose Marroquin
SS Cisco Kidd
MR Lyenour Graves
RF Jose Escarceja
1B Miguel Carrasco
3B Yeong-hwan Kim
SP Eddie Stevens
IF Marvin Slater

Key Subtractions

SP Jason Brooks
SP Phil Briggs
SP Grey Street
MR Phil Flores
SP Ricardo Alfonso


Rotation (expected)

1. Francisco Medina
2. Alejandro Ramos
3. ?
4. ?
5. ?

The Robins rotation will have a dramatic new look to it in 2018 as the Robins sent their top two starters packing. The Robins made a ton of trades this off season bringing in some highly rated young starters, but none of them are ready for the big stage so expect to see a piecemeal rotation in 2018. That’s not to say that the Robins won’t have any talent on the mound as holdover Francisco Medina returns and becomes the staff Ace by default.

Medina is a serviceable starter, but nowhere near a #1. The Robins will be asking an unbelievable amount from the 24 year old and it will be an ongoing worry for management this season to not overload him and put his future development in jeopardy. In 25 starts in 2017, Medina produced an 11-8 record with a 4.52 ERA and 125 K’s over 193 innings of work. With the introduction of so much gifted, but young and unproven, talent being placed around Medina, it will be a struggle to meet those numbers again.

Barring something bad happening, 23 year old Alejandro Ramos will open the season as your number 2 starter. A talented pitcher, Ramos destroyed the competition in AAA with 21 Wins and a 3.07 ERA. 201 K’s in 267 innings shows that can be durable. Will be a solid #2 or 3 starter down the line, but he will probably encounter some major growing pains this season.

The remainder of the rotation is currently a tossup with many different potential options available, but none of them very good. Veterans like Wayne Bridges, Gerardo Arroyo, Pedro Silva and Juan Trevino could be pressed into the rotation, or Brooklyn can continue its babysitting service and elect to put Omar Sosa, Julio Martinez, Esteban Parra or Fernando Moran in those slots. Whichever way they go the Robins should order Mgr Larry Stephenson a drum of Pepto Bismol

Bullpen

1. Partidge in a Pear tree
2. Turtle Doves
3. French Hens
4. Calling Birds
5. Golden Rings
6. Geese a Laying
7. Pedro Silva
8. Lyenour Graves

If you thought the rotation was in flux, you obviously haven’t looked at the pen. The only 2 guaranteed spot will go to recently acquired MR Lyenour Graves and Pedro Silva. That gives them two solid bullpen options, but that's all you got. They have already tried out two hot dog vendors and had a tryout scheduled with former Romania gymnast Olga Trevleski but she tested positive for male growth hormones. This one is a hot mess.


Infield Starters

C. Ron Lipp
1B. Joseph Steward
2B. Bob Arnold
3B. Yeong-Hwan Kim
SS. Joseph Drew



Backups:
C Don Nelson
IF. Dorian Fox
IF. Tomas Rodriguez
IF. Caleb Webber

The infield has the potential to surprise this season with some decent pieces already in place.
The old guard of Lipp, Steward and Drew will be counted on to produce in a hurry all the while providing leadership.

I expect to see Rookie Bob Arnold take over at second base. He may only be 23 but he is having a nice spring and looks ready to contribute.

The offense got a huge boost with the addition of 3B Yeong-Hwan Kim who I am very high on.

Nelson, Fox Rodriguez and Webber are all good options off the bench that shouldn’t kill you and could even surprise on a good night. The Robins really wish that Webber could get his bat to catch up to his superb defensive skills.

With a little luck I can see this group holding it’s own.

Outfield Starters

LF. Kyle Stanley
CF. Bob Brandon
RF. Carlos Ortega

Backups
OF. Merlin White
OF. Bill Holman

Stanley and Brandon return to give the Robins some additional stability. Stanley is a quality outfielder and a good source of power. Stanley finished ’17 with 37 HR’s and 105 RBI’s and should be in that range again.

Brandon is a nice leadoff hitter and Brooklyn is hoping he can repeat last season’s 14 HR’s, 71 RBI’s 86 Runs and 43 SB’s to go with his .296 BA from last year.

The biggest buzz is coming from new RF, Rookie Carlos Ortega. Ortega has the makings of the Robins next superstar and becoming a force for this team.


Outlook For 2018

GM Blue Pasquale is full speed ahead on his rebuilding of Brooklyn. This will be frustrating for fans for a while but in the long run it will serve the team well. The recent moves have brought in a tremendous amount of young quality players into the organization that is already laden with quality young players and will be fun to watch in the future. But as far as the present is concerned, it will be ugly early and often.

Prediction: 54-108, Last Place in the standings, First Place in the Draft

[Blue]

Well said.

[trmmilwwi]

Awesome writeup... love the recaps on each position and the humor thrown in. Good stuff Mike!

Brooklyn is a team in transition... Blue has a game plan and has been putting it into action. It will take some time but the team has a solid group of youngsters. With a few patient seasons and some key planning for the future the Robins should make Brooklyn proud. That's if they don't get run out of town first!

[aaronweiner]

I don't know they'll lose 108 games.

On the other hand, they COULD lose 108 games.

[trmmilwwi]

I don't know they'll lose 108 games.

On the other hand, they COULD lose 108 games.

Medina cannot win 55 games buy himself;)

[crobillard]

This is a team that will definitely see some success in the future. The prospects they've acquired are not terribly far away from contributing in the majors. Very interested in how Blue will right this ship. This will be a fun one to watch.

[bigmike13]

57-105. I was pretty close. The record could easily be reversed in about 2-3 years