Friday, August 14, 2009

The playoff race has started to heat up and the Kalamazoo Badgers are in the thick of it.  The following is an analysis of the organization and what their outlook is for 2009 and beyond.

This Season

So far this season, Kalamazoo has been in pursuit of a playoff spot and it appears they will remain in that position the rest of the way (and I mean that in a good way, not a "they will never make it" kind of way).  The Badgers hitters have been keeping up with the best in the league and their pitching staff has been spectacular as well.  While ranking sixth in runs scored and fourth in home runs hit alone is impressive, add a crew of hurlers ranking fourth in runs allowed and fourth in strikeouts and you have yourself a club that will win games.

However, it might prove to be a difficult task to win more games than the Crystal Lake Sandgnats.  After closing to within a few games of the division leader, Kalamazoo has been slowly losing ground and is currently ten games behind.  At this point in the season anything can happen, but it might be more prudent for the Badgers to set their aim on one of the Sovereign League wild card slots.  If they play solid baseball in order to obtain a wild card placement it might even be possible for them to catch the Sandgnats, but as of the writing of this article it appears that the Crystal Lake ball club is determined to run away with the division.  It will also prove to be interesting to track Kalamazoo's record away from home for the remainder of the season and, if it is in the cards, for the duration of the playoffs.  The Badgers might be in trouble during postseason play considering the glaring disparity between their winning percentage while at home and on the road: they hold a dominating 40-20 record at Portage Park but a 28-30 while playing everywhere else.

The Players

This section will take a look at a few players in the Kalamazoo organization and how they might play into the future of the club.

1B John Collins
The 30-year-old slugger's contract is up at the end of the season, and it might very well be his last season as a Badger.  Compared to his 2007 campaign, 2008 was a bit of a disappointment for Collins as his power and on-base number fell off a little.  His woes carried over into the beginning of the 2009 season, though he seems to be regaining some of his old form.  However, his price tag will probably be up from the $13.6 million he made this year and, while Kalamazoo has a little wiggle room in their budget for next season, they may choose to tap their minor league system for a replacement rather than open up the wallet.

3B Henry O'Halloran
When you mention "up and coming Badgers prospects", you have to mention Henry O'Halloran.  This youngster (age 26) has had his second taste of the big leagues in 2009.  After briefly being called up in 2008, he has been given a longer look in 2009.  He's not on any of Baseball America's top prospects lists, but he has been quietly developing power in the minors and has shown a much improved eye in AAA Grand Rapids in 2009.  His numbers in the PEBA this season have been sub-par, but if his 2009 minor league success can transfer to the major leagues at some point, he will be a nice surprise power threat.

2B Joel Swedlove
The young infielder broke into the PEBA this year after rocketing through the Badgers' farm system.  He has started to develop some power in the upper minors this season and looks to be a serious offensive prospect.  The .290 batting average in AAA might not win any titles, but his .357 OBP and .537 SLG are nothing to joke about.  Joel has a steady glove at second or third base and possesses excellent speed on the base paths.  So far he hasn't had much luck with Kalamazoo this season, though he is still only 21 years old.  A little more seasoning in AAA might help Swedlove's game but it is pretty clear he's close to being ready for "The Show".

SP Er Hang
At 23 years old, Hang has already proved himself in the majors.  So far this season he is 15-5 with a 2.97 ERA and has a great 32/130 BB/K ratio.  If those numbers don't impress you, consider he posses a 19-6 career record in 38 games (23 starts) with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP.  There is plenty to be excited about here as he is very young and possibly still improving.  Oh yeah, we forgot to mention that he is also under team control for 5 more years, meaning that “Hand” will be a Badger for at least another half a decade.

The Future

It is pretty clear that the Badgers are making a firm push to make the playoffs in 2009, but how are they sitting for the seasons to come?  Taking a look at their current roster, there are several young prospects that look to keep the Badgers in contention for several years.  Currently the middle of the bullpen is a bit of a question mark, but there are several young arms in Grand Rapids that look like they should be able to contribute in the next year or so.  The minor league system as a whole is solid, though the talent seems to be concentrated in the high minors (and the major league roster for that matter).  However, since the Badgers have a core of young players, Kalamazoo will have plenty of time to restock their minor league system and develop the next wave of prospects.