Rumors were confirmed this morning that Ricky McCoy, former GM of the Duluth Warriors, will assume Chief of Baseball Operations responsibilities for the Charleston Statesmen franchise.
"It's good to be home," McCoy told a small group of reporters in a brief press conference outside Moultrie Field.
When questioned on what direction McCoy intended to take the beleaguered Statesmen in the wake of departed GM Dave Barnett, McCoy noted that "generating depth in the organization" was a fundamental goal.
Charleston is projected dead last by all polls in the Dixie Division this year, currently 6.5 games behind San Antonio.
Last edited by DrewV on Sun Nov 22, 2020 9:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Charleston finished out a 2-2 homestand against Arlington this week, headed south to San Antonio through Thursday to face division leader San Antonio in a four-game stretch. Several AAA relievers including Chris Miller and Javier Martinez saw there PEBA season debut last week, called up to fill gaps from early season bullpen injuries plaguing the Statesmen this Spring. Outfielders Roy Meeks and Maskado Kato were placed on waivers this week, but both returned to the active roster.
The first trade under new GM Ricky McCoy was made official this morning, seeing young 2B Alonso Aguilar (2B) and a 3rd Round Pick off to Niihama in exchange for veteran minor leaguer Vaughn Davidson (2B), Reliever Kyuso Yoshida and a 5th Round Pick (Shin Seiki).
Last edited by DrewV on Fri Nov 27, 2020 3:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
An ugly road trip for the Statesmen, to be sure, who sink down to 8.5 games behind in the Dixie Division at 21-24. Charleston is 2-10 in their last 12, due largely to blown saves and an inability to capitalize on RISP. Despite the beating, 1B Norberto Escamilla leads PEBA in RBIs and is tied for 4th in home runs. He also leads the league in put-outs and double-plays. Closer Jorge Cordova has blown 7 games this season already.
The Statesmen lead the Dixie Division in both drawn walks and strikeouts--an odd combination, to be sure. The Statesmen may draw walks well, but they simply cannot hit the ball. The team's beleaguered bullpen, meanwhile, is putting up the worst numbers in the Dixie Division, by far. Charleston's collective ERA in relief is 3.75. While the Dixie is sparse on earned runs to begin with, Charleston also sits at the back of that scorecard with 168.
Likewise, Ricky McCoy's wheeling and dealing in the front office continued this morning, shipping prospects Ken Parker (A) and RP Euan ManKinlay (SS-A), along with $1.5 Million, to Tempe in exchange for SP Mito Okua,RP César León, and a fourth round draft pick.
These two moves seem oriented at producing more depth to the Charleston staff and bullpen--no doubt an attempt to draw down the bullpen's earned runs into June.
"I'm very pleased with the performance of our staff this season so far," GM Ricky McCoy told WCST Radio this morning in an interview. "I see our preliminary focus on shoring up the bullpen with targeted acquisitons, along with continuing to generate depth in the farm system."
The team's homestand against Amsterdam and Scotland continues to close out May for the Statesmen.
Statesmen wrote: ↑Fri Nov 27, 2020 3:45 pm
The Statesmen lead the Dixie Division in both drawn walks and strikeouts--an odd combination, to be sure. The Statesmen may draw walks well, but they simply cannot hit the ball.
I wonder if you have more called or swinging strikeouts - is there even a way to go back and see. Maybe you're guys are all too patient...
Michael Topham, President Golden Entertainment & President-CEO of the Aurora Borealis 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 PEBA Champions
The first 156 picks of the 2032 PEBA Amateur Draft are in the books, and new Charleston GM Ricky McCoy followed a clear strategy of drafting an eclectic class of pitchers. In a pool widely regarded as underwhelming, #5 Charleston picked up a cadre of high-stuff pitchers from both the collegiate and high school level. While some of today's picks could see development into a rotational role, current ratings put most into a potential long-relief class that will move through the minors together.
1.5 The #5 pick of the 2032 Amatuer Draft is SP Donnie "Speed Limit" Wheeler, an 18-year-old HSAA All-Star from Toronto, Canada. Wheeler enjoyed a career 0.72 WHIP and 142 ERA+ with Tennoji High School, alma mater of 2016 1st overall pick and current Shisa Kensaku "Little" Gato. Wheeler put up the best OBP vs. batters in the IHSAA in 2032. He is rated as a top-tier finesse talent with a plus-plus changeup and above-average fastball/slider combo. If Wheeler can develop as expected--a risk for any 18-year-old--and increase his velocity, he can be a top-tier PEBA talent one day.
2.5 The Statesmen's 38th overall pick was pitcher Horiuchi "Bronco" Shimizu. A little older and further developed than Wheeler, "Bronco" was the 2029 reliever of the year and scored marks on multiple all-time UT leaderboards, including #5 in Saves (single season and career), and #2 in games pitched. Bronco's stamina provides flexibility to any bullpen, and his fastball/splitter combination is likely to develop to top-tier. Unlikely to develop into a starter, Horiuchi could fill critical long relief role in any bullpen.
3.8 #72 pick Bill Allen is a hard-throwing lefty from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The 2031 USBCA Reliever of the Year, Allen enjoyed a career 0.98 WHIP at Michigan and earned top-ten all-time honors on nearly all Michigan pitching leaderboards. Allen's fastball-slider combo is plus-plus, but his changeup is unlikely to develop. This makes Allen a risk for any starting role and likely explains why he was drafted so low. His unreliable changeup, combined with underwhelming movement, could lead to far too many home runs. While home run danger is mitigated by Charleston's home field--the third-worst in all PEBA for long balls--Allen likely has a future in a specialist/long relief role.
4.5 #102 Suketsune Okamoto follows the pattern of high-stuff long relievers/borderline starters in the Charleston Class of '32. Another lefty, Kobe-born Okamoto has one of the deadliest fastballs in the ICBAA. His career WHIP of 1.09 and superior velocity makes him a likely contender for a future long relief role--as his fastball-changeup combo will likely prevent a more serious staff position.
4.10 #107 Héctor Morales has a plus-plus fastball and changeup combo, putting up astronomical numbers in four years at Northwestern. The San Juan native put up 18 innings as a closer with no earned runs all season, with a career 0.65 WHIP in the USCBA. If his changeup can devlelop, Morales could see a setup or even closer role one day at the major league level.
5.5 #132 1B César García is the first non-pitcher in Charleston's '32 class; a hard-hitting lefty drafted from Hoorn High School in the 7th round (185th overall) of the 2029 draft by Kentucky. Declining to sign with the Thoroughbreds organization, García attended three years at Atletico Castille Sociedad Deportiva, earning a career 90 OPS+ and .250 batting average.
5.27 #154 Carlos Pérez (RF) is another 18-year old, a Club Deportiva outfielder with a career OPS+ of 110. Pérez excels against right-handed pitchers, with a reliable enough arm to fill either corner. He should provide plenty of RBIs in rookie ball this year.
