Trendsetters Season in Review: A Little Improvement and a LONG Way to Go.

[Trendsetters]

Trendsetters Season in Review: A Little Improvement and a LONG Way to Go.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – When Chuck Valenches took the call from owner Jack Cobb in late winter 2037, Valenches was not sure what to think. The long-time front office executive had worked in minor league development for numerous PEBA teams and had heard the rumors that long time GM Ray LeBlanc was ready to call it a career. “I honestly never thought Ray would hang it up”, said Valenches, “Ray was a baseball lifer and the relationship he had with Jack Cobb was a very close one. I was as surprised as anybody when Jack informed me that 2037 was it for Ray.” Valenches was being given the opportunity to take over a franchise that had not made the playoffs since 2010, had only finished above .500 six times since the inaugural season of 2007 (that’s 32 years for you math buffs) and had finished with no fewer than 98 losses in each of the last six seasons. Was Valenches ready to take on the challenge of getting the Trendsetters back to relevance?

If the 2038 season, Valenches’ first, is any indication, you would have to say, “Who knows?” The team did improve in a number of areas. They did hit better than the last two seasons and the power did increase with the most HRs since 2031, led by RF Bob Dodson, and the team did generate more revenue and improved attendance, if ever so slightly. However, the pitching was the worst since 2022 and the team has many holes and few stars to fill them. According to Valenches, the process has begun to rebuild and it may be a painful process for Trendie Town.

Let’s look at the hitters highlights and lowlights as well as the booms and busts of the pitching staff.

For the season, New Orleans finished in 3rd place in the Dixie Division of the Imperial League with a record of 65-97, which, believe it or not, is their best record in six years.

HITTERS
HIGHLIGHTS
Hitting MVP:
OF Bob Dodson. Dodson saw a bit of a career resurgence in 2038. Setting Career highs in HR (24) and RBI (70) as well as OPS (.742). He still can’t draw a walk to save his life (just 17 this past season in 608 PA), but he does put the bat on the ball and had just 82 K’s. Dodson is also an excellent defender in the corner OF slots and can also fill in at CF when needed. While not untouchable, you can likely pencil him in at the #4 spot in the lineup next year,
Runners up:
OF Kazunari Ito. Ito signed a 3-year $36 million dollar contract before the season, the first major free agent signing of Valenches’s tenure (*Vasil Albers, who had a solid season and locked down the defense at 2B, was offered his one year deal by the previous GM). Ito had a solid season with the highest WAR for a hitter on the club, a number that likely would have been higher if not for an arm injury that sidelined him for five weeks in early May. Ito played smart heads up baseball with solid numbers (.275/.343/.478 and a career high .822 OPS) . Ito may have played well enough for him to void his player option and seek a better deal. If not, he will be an everyday player for the Trendsetters in 2039
1B Ron King. King was not initially thought to be the starter at 1B as manager Alfredo Vega gave the Opening Day nod to Juan Jose Torres, last year’s starter and a better glove at 1B. However, King kept performing when called upon and by May 1st had pretty much taken over at 1B on an everyday basis. He is not a perfect solution at 1B, and, while providing better power at a corner position than Torres, he will be hard pressed to repeat his performance and his lack of speed and range at 1B could cost New Orleans a few runs.

LOWLIGHTS
Steve Doss OF/DH – Dodd led the team in HR in 2037. Yeah, it was only ten HR, but still. Doss got off to a horrible start in 2038 and on June 20th, Doss was optioned back to AAA after hitting just .218. Doss still shows signs of life with the bat, but he is slow and does not have a position he can be trusted with, His coaches at AAA told the roving infield instructor that when Doss breaks his glove, they call a welder.
Catchers, pick one. Neither Eduardo Rogacion or Juan Ruiz provided much of a spark at the plate or behind the plate. Ruiz got the bulk of the starts with95, but only managed to be notable by hitting into more double plays than any other Trendsetter. An upgrade at catcher will be on the chalkboard for Valenches this offseason. Rognacion did manage to have a positive Pitch Frame rate, but if that is all you have to brag about, just don’t.

PITCHERS
HIGHLIGHTS
Pitching MVP:
Nathan Gallard – Gallard continued his development by moving full-time into the rotation as the #2 starter and was pretty much the leader all season long as well as being a leader in the clubhouse. Gallard finished 7-10 with a 4.05 ERA over 193.1 IP. Solid numbers from the 23-year-old. Lack of run support (2.3 RS per start) hurt Gallard and he did wind up with a number of no decisions. As New Orleans does not yet have an “Ace” of the staff, Gallard will be penciled in as the #1 starter and will hopefully develop into an ace.
Odmar Bickford – Bickford inherited the role after both Hideo Miura and Jefferey Owen were spun off in separate deals as the GM, Chuck Valenches, felt that keeping good relievers was pretty pointless when you don’t have many leads to protect. Bickford started the year on the IL after being diagnosed with biceps tendinitis in spring training. When he did return, he held his own with a 2.84 ERA and 17 saves. Bickford is only 24 and has talent, but the biceps injury was his third injury of the same ilk in his career and is worrisome,
Shadi Quakili – Quakili was a bit of a surprise. The 22-year-old spent the entire season at AAA Fayetteville, but earned a September call-up after better than average numbers at AAA and a major league staff with much worse than average numbers in New Orleans. When he arrived, he immediately made an impact and, in six starts went 4-2 with a 3.15 ERA. He also had a 3:1 BB/K ration and only allowed 4 HR in 49 innings. Quakili is still young and may get knocked around his second time through the league, but he will get a chance at the rotation in 2039

LOWLIGHTS (No room to fit them all)
Joe Arnold – The first major trade the new GM made was one he would rather forget. Valenches sent a 10th and 13th rounder to Arlington for SP Joe Arnold. Arnold comes with an inflated contract that still had four years to run and goes from $22 million now to $24 million the last two years. “I’m not sure why he made that deal. We were all going to sit back and watch Arlington wear that albatross. Now its New Orleans albatross to wear.” Said one PEBA GM. Arnold didn’t do much to justify the money spent, going 7-16 with a 5.01 ERA. Hopefully Arnold will settle down in 2039. Otherwise, this may be the deal that sinks the nascent GM career of Valenches. Arnold was a big reason the Trendsetters had the worst Starters ERA in the Imperial League.
Raul Munoz – Munoz got off to a nice start with a 1-1 April and a respectable3.94 ERA, but then came crashing back to Earth, finishing at 7-7, but with a 5.78 ERA. Munoz is only 24 and still has options remaining. Don’t be surprised to see him back at Fayetteville in 2039 to work on his mechanics.

DOWN ON THE FARM
The Trendsetters farm system pretty much finished where they started with a system ranked in the low to mid 20s in the league and with few stars making their way up. Offensively, Michel Batisde has arrived at the major league level and had a good September debut. He will get regular playing time rotating between LF, RF and DH unless Ito leaves, in which case LF is his. #3 overall pick Gabriel Santos was impressive at SA Anchorage, batting .267/.389/.473 with an OPSD of .862. Santos hit 16 round trippers in 86 games and so far, his future looks bright. There is not much need to rush him and he will likely start the season at Ensenada next year and will still be just 18 when the first pitch is thrown in 2039. As for pitching, only a few names to mention as Quakili and David Sanz have made their moves to the bigs.Li-zho Ho started the year in Ensenada but was slightly overmatched and enjoyed much greater success once he was moved down to Anchorage where he put up a 5-4 record with a 2.71 ERA and a paltry 1.05 WHIP. Like Santos, he will likely start next year at Ensenada and will continue to develop his pitches, especially his ++ changeup.

RATING THE FRONT OFFICE
New GM Chuck Valenches learned this year that the other GMs are trying to win too and that there are no easy marks in the PEBA. He likely regrets the Arnold deal especially as he should have gotten good picks back or a prospect with Arnold if he were to do the deal again. Instead he got nothing and even gave up a couple of lower round picks. Valenches made two deals for relievers getting draft capital in return, along with David Sanz who very well could be in the rotation next year. New Orleans dealt top reliever Hideo Miura to Toyama for David Sanz and a 2nd and 3rd rounder, those picks turned into 1B Henry Cole and 1B Wil Van Houten . Van Houten was especially impressive in R Bridgetown, batting .326 with 28 HR and 65 RBI in just 276 AB. New Orleans also dealt RP Jefferey Owen to Hartford for a 3rd round pick and that turned into closer Santiago Garcia and OF, Toby Clark. Garcia has an am zing 98 mph fastball and a splitter. He put up solid numbers, but walks and dingers were an issue. His coaches think he has the talent to close at the major league level.

CONCLUSION
As Valenches told this reporter, “We are incrementally better this year than last. Though we had higher revenue and attendance than last year, we also had higher expenses. We are not yet at the level of a West Virginia or Florida where we can go out and offer top level contracts to top level talent (Though apparently he can assume top level contracts for below average pitchers). That is why we spent a lot of effort getting the right staff in place and investing in our Scouting and Player Development departments. We will have to grow our own until we have more success. I see high priced free agents as a final piece, not a foundation.” As for the near future, Valenches had this to say. “Our goals for next year are to upgrade the pitching and the catching either through minor league free agency, the draft or trades. We will continue to accumulate draft capital and invest in International Free Agency. Many of our high priced, aging veteran contracts are expiring and that money will go towards maximum bang for the buck players we think can fit our mold. Play hard. Play Smart. Be a part of the team. I think that is our path to success.” Off the field, the Trendsetters will continue to try and create a more social and fun atmosphere at New Frontier Park. Owner Jack Cobb did say that the team will likely update the team logo to more reflect the city while acknowledging the past. A new logo should be ready by Spring Training 2039 and will feature the colors of the Mardi Gras, Green, Gold and Purple and with a nod to New Orleans famous voodoo culture.
2039 will be the first full offseason for Valenches and Trendie Town is looking forward to seeing some improvements, no matter how big and how small they may be.