Brains! 2062.2: Finally, Solid Backups

[aaronweiner]

Jacksonville's consistent drafting is one of the hallmarks of any team which GM Aaron Weiner runs, but some of that is about to bear fruit. The Jacksonville Zombies should have as good a bench as any team in the BBA this season, and it should play out because of their development.
"We have a lot of guys now who can play in the minors, and we don't even necessarily have room for all of them," said Weiner. "This should go pretty well."

Backing up Gabriel Manuel and Don Colbert will be Isoruko Takimoto, who was the team's first round pick in the same year they selected Manuel. Takimoto would have a reasonable shot at being a starting second baseman on most teams that don't have Manuel, who might hit 40 homers this year but has also missed time in nearly every season, making the switch-hitting Takimoto an important cog in the Jacksonville machine.

"I just couldn't get the ball into play last year," said Takimoto, who hit a surprising .191 with the team. "I'm sure I'll do better this year, and I'm excited to finally make it to the big show."

Bae Pae is another outstanding backup on this team. He had started at least 120 games in each of the past two seasons, and the 2059 league leader in walks is still one of the most skilled players in the BBA in that category. Similar to Takimoto, Bae Pae backs up Steve Holcombe, who has been injured during every year of his major league career, including blowing out his knee last year tying his shoe.

"I'll still get some starts in center, some starts in right, some in left, I'll play a ton of late innings, I'll still get plenty of run," said Bae Pae. "I'll have lots to do."

Then you have the players who have already been stud backups: Randolph Clarke and Vlad Wishenkoff. Both players are solid defensively, and both are capable of double digit homers and even more under the right circumstances. They are very likely to be the starters against lefties instead of CF Jorge Hernandez and RF Benedict Daniel, which makes them a big deal in a league with Mexico City and especially Charm City.
"There are a lot of teams with strong lefties," said Clarke. "We're definitely going to get a lot of run against those teams and so we have to stay ready and stay vigilant."

All four of the above players were drafted by Jacksonville, either in the actual draft or the Rule 5 Draft; the last backup is Ziad Abdul-Samad, who was signed this offseason as a short-term backup catcher but has been a starter for the better part of a successful decade for the Madison Wolves. His defense makes it unlikely he will take Roy O'Donnell's job (5 WAR over the past two seasons) but he will be a valuable member against lefties.

"I'm on the anti-lefty brigade," said Samad. "We're focus testing the group name 'Charmless,' but we think it sounds too much like 'Harmless.' All of our other ideas are terrible: Tighty Righties, Matchup Masters. We've had a little bit of traction with 'Southpaw Slayers,' but I'm not a fan."

At any rate, Jacksonville should not fall off as much as in previous years when the starters are off the field - and that should lead to more wins in 2062.

[BaseClogger]

Ziad Abdul-Samad's 4 WAR season in 2059 is still one of the stranger performances I've seen in the BBA.

[aaronweiner]

Ziad Abdul-Samad's 4 WAR season in 2059 is still one of the stranger performances I've seen in the BBA.

Oh, definitely. But if he gives me half a WAR as a backup catcher I'm thrilled.