Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012

With 22 games remaining in the season, the Tempe Knights are virtually guaranteed a spot in the playoffs.  But despite the potential for glory, the organization’s future is uncertain at best.  For better or worse, it seems to be now or never for the Knights.

The Problems

Ownership
Sammy The Bull” Gravano is no stranger to trouble.  While the media has speculated greatly on how this one-time mob hitman-turned-snitch came into ownership of the team, the PEBA office has remained silent on the issue.  When other owners were queried as to how a league which prides itself on wholesome family sporting entertainment allowed such a curious purchase to take place at the PEBA’s inception, only New Jersey Hitmen GM Michael Czosnyka would answer.  “It wouldn’t be in my… errr, the PEBA’s best interest to slander such a fine owner as Mr. Gravano.”  What does it say that a GM who himself has been rumored to have mob ties fears drawing the wrath of Mr. Gravano?

But in the last month, Mr. Gravano has come under investigation for a variety of fraud schemes involving his various business interests in the Tempe area.  Mr. Gravano has also run afoul of the IRS, which earlier this month filed an indictment charging him with tax evasion, and he has received a court order freezing his assets until the charges are settled.

Strangely, Mr. Gravano’s chief accountant, Benny “Fish Lips” Scalfo, disappeared just hours after the court order was issued.  Asked to comment on Mr. Scalfo’s disappearance, Mr. Gravano would only say, “He went out for a pack of cigarettes, he didn’t come back.  What can I tell ya… it happens, ya know?”

With Mr. Gravano’s assets frozen, the Knights are likely to have very little flexibility in the upcoming offseason.

The Front Office
Complicating matters further is the recent disappearance of Knights GM Chris Van Hauter.  Just days after the disappearance of the accountant Scalfo, Tempe’s GM failed to turn up for work.  Police as of yet have no evidence of foul play and have refused to speculate on the fate of Van Hauter or the accountant Scalfo.  When asked what he knew about Van Hauter’s disappearance, Mr. Gravano would only say, “He went out for a pack of cigarettes; he didn’t come back.  What can I tell ya… it happens, ya know?”  Asked who is running the day-to-day operations of the Knights, Mr. Gravano told us, “I got my cousin Vinnie looking after things.  He’s a good fella.”

The aforementioned “Vinnie” would be Vinnie “The Whacker” Carbone.  Mr. Carbone’s baseball experience consists of once being arrested for beating a man with a baseball bat after a disagreement over a parking spot.  As Mr. Carbone is quick to point out, he was acquitted when several witnesses failed to show up to court.

Needless to say, the Knights ship appears to be nearly rudderless at this point, and they could begin taking on water very soon.

The Roster
Many key players are slated to be free agents this offseason, and two others have player options which, if declined, would open up even more holes on the Tempe roster.

The Rotation
The rotation will return almost intact, with one possible exception of note.  Carlos Cervantes, who has missed the second half of the season with a torn rotator cuff, has a player option for 2013.  If he declines the option, it would leave a hole at the back of the Knights’ rotation.  The erratic Tu-an Sima is arbitration eligible and expected to get at least $4.5 million next year if the Knights choose to offer arbitration.  With absolutely zero pitching depth in their system, the possible departure of Cervantes and a bullpen that needs to be completely rebuilt, the Knights are almost forced to offer Sima arbitration.  Even if Cervantes does stay, Sima would be needed in the bullpen as an emergency starter.  If injuries were to strike the Knights pitching staff next season, it could be disastrous.  Further complicating matters, Barney Sharp will probably be arbitration eligible under Super 2 status, thus further eating into the Knights’ budget.

The Bullpen
Here’s where the Knights face their biggest challenge for 2013.  Only Ben Truscott is seemingly assured of being back next year, as he will fall four days short of the necessary service time to become a free agent, but whatever he receives in arbitration could further tie the Knights hands when it comes to plugging holes.  Tempe hold a team option on Yoshi Ikeda, but the aging pitcher has lost his fastball and is rarely effective these days.  He’s unlikely to be brought back.  In a best-case scenario, the Knights have Truscott and Sima in the bullpen and five slots to fill.  In a worst-case scenario, Sima is in the rotation and the bullpen needs to fill six slots.

Furthermore, there is not a single PEBA-caliber arm in the Knights entire minor league system.  With team assets frozen, there will be no money for free agents.  The Knights could – and probably would under GM Van Hauter – trade away whatever minor league prospects and draft picks they have to try to fill the need.  But with the number of holes that need filling on this team and a limited amount of trade chips, it might be time for the Knights to finally pay the piper for their recent extravagant ways.

Catching
Chad Hull will return as the starting catcher, but Pablo Vélez is a free agent at the end of the season and the Knights have no flexibility to offer him a contract.  Expect veteran defensive specialist Richard Carney to return from his exile in AAA and assume the role as Hull’s caddy next season.  However, Hull is likely to be arbitration eligible under Super 2 status – another arbitration award that will cut into Tempe’s already tight budget for 2013.

Infield
The trade of a second round pick to rent the declining Michael Kelly will look even worse in retrospect when that hole at third base opens up this offseason.  Complicating matters on the infield is the possibility that shortstop Miguel Soto could opt of his contract after this season, possibly parlaying a career season into a more lucrative long-term contract elsewhere.  While the Knights would still have the young and talented Dean Bailey at first base and veteran All-Star second baseman José González, the loss of both Kelly and Soto is likely to leave role players like Wade Ferguson and Chris Gamble battling youngsters Adrián Romero and Robert Johnson for playing time on that left side of the infield.  On the plus side, if Soto were to opt out of his contract, it could free up some budget space with which to attempt to fill the voids in the bullpen.

Outfield
Carlos Mostas and Roberto Rodríguez will depart as free agents at the end of the season.  Both bats will be tough to replace, especially from a power perspective.  Rodríguez, who is having his best season ever, is going to be especially tough, if not impossible, to replace.  Orlando García will return, but it remains to be seen if he will be the same player after fracturing his ankle this season.  Tomás Gonzáles has taken the centerfield job and made it his since his midseason call-up, and Jason Kirkland remains to play right field.  Rodríguez, who has mostly been the designated hitter this season, will probably be replaced by Rick Glendenning.  The Knights have tried unsuccessfully to deal Glendenning this season, but he might be the best option they have to replace Rodríguez’s power.  Larry Cox will be back in his role as the team’s fourth outfielder, and Dick Little is likely to get the call as the team’s 5^th outfielder.  Both Cox and Little are speedy outfielders who can create havoc on the base paths but offer little in the way of power.

Overall
You couldn’t paint a much bleaker picture for the Knights going into this offseason.  The ownership and the front office are apparently in limbo.  The roster is set to be gutted by free agency.  The minor league system has been gutted by the win at all costs mentality of the now missing GM Van Hauter.  With the sale of the Knights a distinct possibility considering the present legal situation of the ownership, it’s unlikely that the team will be allowed to move any of its best players, or even top minor league talents, in trades.

The Knights and their fans should savor every moment of the present run to the playoffs, because unless there is a significant change in the situation, it looks like the club’s chances of repeating their success in 2013 are remote at best.