By Scott Plack

11/1/2009: NEW ORLEANS, NO – While the players pack their lockers and share a few words about what might have been – proud to have made it so far and so close for a second year – Tanner’s job is just beginning to recycle.

The first three seasons of baseball in New Orleans have seen success but also a rather fluid roster, with noted names like Cal Edwards, Chris Nicholson and  Dominic Gagné finding new homes at the end of their respective seasons.  Valdéz went to the free agent pool last November only to resign with the Trendsetters mid-April.  Córdova was signed only a month before Augusto, playing in the last bit of Spring Training.

This offseason, however, will be a very different animal for the Trendsetters.  The only big offensive name leaving is playoff push rental José Cortéz, whose poor postseason performance along with the already overcrowded outfield makes New Orleans fans hopeful the door doesn’t hit him on the way out.  The lineup will still be quite formidable, with all nine starters capable of hitting double digits in home runs, though it still remains to be seen how Deschamps and Conard will fare after their recent lengthy injuries.  2010 will be Conard’s swan song as a Trendsetter, as he will be 36 next February and unlikely to garner any interest in a contract extension.  If the Trendsetters can stay healthy they should put up even better offensive numbers than last year, though Cline’s numbers alone skewed the average, so keeping on pace with last year’s numbers may be good enough.

New Orleans’ starting five are signed until 2011 and, barring injury, should continue to be a feared group.  Late-season addition Rocky Reed would qualify as an ace on many staffs, but for New Orleans will fill the fifth spot.  McCullough should continue to be golden as he continues his record-setting streak of 40 regular season games started without a loss.

Some question marks will be found in the bullpen, especially with Dave Phelps.  Phelps, who suffered early in the season, came back to have a tremendous second half and a second look by management heading into the period before free agency.  Phelps is demanding premium money and Tanner is awaiting the new budget numbers to be handed out before anything is settled on.  Tanner is also hopeful that Montgomery and Otero will be able to bounce back from off years and contribute in significant amounts to forego having to seek another bullpen arm.

The near future looks extremely promising for the Trendsetters, who should benefit from the fairly stable roster over the next few years as well as the consistent support from fans who of course enjoy cheering a winning team all to the way to the Rodriguez Cup.  The competition will certainly be fierce, especially in a dominant Dixie in which every team is only a few years or one or two players away from being championship contenders.