Canton Preview

[Coqui]

1/3/2007: Canton, OH - As the sound of leather and wood echoes across the Walsh University, spring training home of the Canton Longshoremen, this intrepid Canton Repository reporter obtained a bat boy uniform for the purpose of sneaking into the clothes sessions to get the details at every position.

First Base: 26 year old Juan Otero has a lock on the starting job. Otero looks as if he is fighting off attackers when attempting to make a play in the field but that all changes when he steps to the dish. The Californian is a doubles machine who can put the ball in play to all fields. While not a prototype cleanup hitter, Otero will figure in somewhere in the middle of the lineup.

Second Base: A Cuban import, Manny Sanchez will hold down the second base position for Canton. Sanchez belies the stereotype that a middle infielder cannot hit by demonstrating ability to hit for both power (putting several balls on Market St.) and contact. Unfortunately Sanchez fields like a geriatric on downers. At one point GM Brad Dobney could be seen sitting in the bleachers, sobbing softly, after watching Sanchez throw another ball into a student parking lot.

Shortstop: George Riley. Any real PEBA fan really needs no more words but, in case you forgot, Riley is a stud. Apart from just being shockingly handsome, Riley plays the game like David Eckstein with talent. A slap hitter with an eye more critical than Simon Cowell's, Riley is able to hit at any place in the lineup. Riley does not have the cannon arm of his double play mate but there is a better than average chance that he will pick the ball up when he gets to it. This alone puts him ahead of his infield mates. His freakish range will also put to shame the average SS. Riley has been seen at several shelters in Canton, feeding the underprivileged. He, however, does not tip the batboy - what a jerk.

Third Base: Luis Hernandez is the power on the infield. The third baseman swings for the fences without regard for batting average or possible injury. As he told a seemingly innocuous bat boy, "Sometimes I swing so hard it hurts. I mean really hurts. I usually have to ice after games." That pretty much says it all.

Outfield: Out here in the grass, things are up for grabs. The only real speed on the Longshoremen, Randolph Stevens, plays CF but is not much of a hitter. Lee Ritchie will command a spot with his prodigious power but will not do anything to help the defensive issues. Waylon Whaley will probably take the third starting spot. Remi and Danny Young will battle with Jack Campbell and Cesar Costa for the fourth spot. This will be an intriguing matchup all Spring Training. Danny Young will have the hardest time sticking as he may need another year of polish in AAA.

Catcher: The vastly overpaid Jeff Cline will roam behind the plate. He is good both offensively and defensively and quite capable of changing the game either way. GM Brad Dobney was livid when he saw the salary of Cline screaming, "Are you kidding me!!! For him? Does he walk on water, pull kittens out of trees? (incoherent ranting ensues)" Dobney has not been available for comment since.

This writers picks for the Great Lakes Division are:

1. Canton
2. Duluth
3. Crystal Lake
4. Omaha
5. Kalamazoo
6. Fargo

Canton, Duluth and Crystal Lake look to be the cream of the crop in the division. Omaha may only be a year away with Kalamazoo and Fargo trailing by a larger margin. Canton should be able to edge away late on the strength of a stellar offense. No matter what happens, it looks to be a great race.