Monday, April 1, 2014

The Red Racers stayed in the playoff hunt until the final week of the season in 2013 but go into 2014 primed and ready to make another assault on a post-season berth.  By all accounts, the team is more talented than any Joplin squad in recent years.  The San Antonio Calzones de Laredo have stacked this club with a plethora of nearly PEBA-ready talent, and hopes are high.

The Rotation

Victor Hall – 27 – R – The popular Hall returned to the Calzones in a trade with Kentucky during the off-season.  Hall throws six rather average pitches but has the stamina to work deep into games.  His ability to get the groundball plays well with his “pitch to contact” approach.  Presently considered insurance for the Calzones, Hall provides a veteran presence at the front of the Red Racers staff this season.

Orlando Maldonado – 31 – R – Another veteran brought in to help guide the Red Racers’ young prospects, Maldonado is popular both with fans and team officials because of his dedication to the game.  Maldonado throws seven mostly average pitches but does touch the low 90s on the radar gun.  He could see the Calzones’ rotation at some point this season if injuries dictate.  For now, he provides much-needed veteran guidance to a talented young pitching staff.  Sharing the front of the rotation with Hall will take a lot of the pressure off the young guns.

Pablo López – 24 – R – Pablo rocketed through the Calzones’ system and has been a very good pitcher at AAA each of the last two seasons.  But López has struggled in the adjustment to the PEBA, posting a 1-15 mark with an ERA of 5.17 in 109.2 innings with San Antonio in brief trials each of the last two seasons.  His AAA numbers over the last two seasons are much better – an 18-13 record with a 3.45 ERA and 249 punch-outs in 237.1 IP.  The Calzones still have a lot of faith in Pablo and expect him to be a solid contributor in the middle or back end of their rotation in years to come.

Kenny Bender – 25 – R – Bender was tremendous at every level prior to 2013 but struggled upon his call-up to AAA, facing the first real adversity in his career.  How he responds in 2014 could tell us a lot about his makeup.  A 2010 2^nd round draft selection, Bender is not a hard thrower but pitches very intelligently and has the stamina to work deep into games.  He still needs some work on his control; he walked 50 in 108.2 IP last season.  The Calzones are expecting Bender to take a big step forward this season.  He is still very much in their plans for the future.

Xavier Gómes – 21 – R – Gómes was clearly rushed to AAA and suffered for it last season.  Much like Bender, the Calzones expect to see Gómes take a big step forward this season after dealing with adversity for the first time in his career.  Gómes hits 94 MPH on the radar gun with four plus pitches.  He has great ability to keep the ball down in the zone.  A clubhouse leader, the Calzones expect a big step forward from Gómes this season.  In combination with López and Bender, he gives the Red Racers a formidable middle of the rotation.

António Téllez – 24 – L – A soft-tossing lefty who keeps the ball down, holds runners well and works deep into games, António seems to do just well enough each season to stick around.  He put up consistent but unspectacular numbers in the lower levels, showing just enough improvement each season to stick around and eventually push his way to the next level despite his continued status as a non-prospect.  Téllez struggled mightily in his call-up to AAA last season, but at least part of those struggles was induced by an unholy .450 BABIP.  What impressed the Calzones was that despite his struggles, he only walked 26 batters in 111 IP between AA and AAA and struck 80.  Téllez is obviously the weak link at the back of the Red Racers rotation, but he has also shown to be a gritty player who keeps battling to prove his critics wrong.

The Bullpen

Ángel García – 23 – L – A soft-tossing left-hander with three pitches, García is a hard worker whose dominating personality lends itself well to him being a team leader.  His ERA over the last seven seasons – dating back to his final two years of high school – is 2.54.  He has allowed just 7 HR in 226.2 innings over that span.  The Calzones see him as a left-hander in the middle of their pen in the not-too-distant future.  García needs more time to grow but is expected to be a big part of the Red Racers bullpen in 2014.

Jim Phillips – 29 – R – Phillips is a veteran of the Calzones’ bullpen the last two seasons, where his rubber arm led the team in appearances.  A soft-tossing right-hander who has enough endurance to start in a pinch, Phillips was the odd man out in the Calzones’ new-look bullpen.  Known as one of the team leaders wherever he goes, Philips’s veteran presence should help to stabilize and calm a Red Racers team that is primed to win this year.  He will be a prime part of the Red Racers plans in the middle innings.

Nicolas Lavigne – 26 – L – Signed out of Canada midway through last season, this soft-tossing southpaw proved himself by going 3-0 with a save and a 3.19 ERA in his AAA debut.  Lavigne has enough stamina to start in a pinch, but the Calzones are not likely to use him in that capacity.  They view him as a potential left-hander in the middle of their pen someday.  This season, the Calzones are hoping to see him build on the success he had last year and serve as a vital part of the Red Racers bullpen.

Dave Copeland – 24 – L – A southpaw who throws in the lows 90s with three plus pitches, Copeland still struggles with the gopher ball.  That is something he will have to correct before making the jump to the next level.  His 14 HR allowed in 65.1 IP last season send shivers down the backs of the Calzones’ brain trust.  Copeland will work as the primary left-handed setup man this season.  Hopefully, the youngster learns to keep pitches off the fat part of the bat.

Brock Tunnicliffe – 24 – R – A soft-tossing right-hander with a three-pitch arsenal, Tunnicliffe lacks dominating stuff but makes up for it by being an intelligent and gritty competitor.  He posted a 1.87 ERA in 82 AAA innings last season.  Calzones scouts are less than impressed with his tools, but the front office believes the kid’s numbers say all they need to know.  He will be the primary right-handed setup man in Joplin this year and could see the middle of the Calzones pen at some point in the next couple of seasons.

Roberto Rosado – 23 – R – Rosado can bring it at 96 MPH with four decent pitches.  The Calzones have long faced the dilemma of whether he should be a starter or a reliever.  Rosado struggled in a call-up to San Antonio last season, and the organization seems to have settled on using him in a relief role going forward.  He will be the Red Racers closer this season.  The Calzones could see him as a major league setup man in the not-too-distant future.

Position Players

Roberto Luna – C – 23 – R – An excellent defensive catcher who is also nimble enough not to clog up the base paths, the Calzones are still waiting for Luna to grow into the power that scouts expect him to show.  At 23, he is still quite young for the level and the Calzones believe he still has a lot of untapped potential.  The starting catcher at Joplin this season, the Calzones are hoping to see Luna take a step forward and begin displaying the power they believe he possesses.

Felipe Oliva – C – 22 – R – This San Antonio native bounced all over the organization last season.  A very good defensive catcher with a decent eye at the plate, Oliva lacks in power and speed, leaving him as a backup option at best.  He could be pushed aside by Francisco Hernández at some point this season.  For now, he will be the backup in Joplin.

Masamichi Kishita – 1B/DH – 24 – L – Kishita mashed 20 HR in 270 AB between Hi-A and AA last season.  He is what he is: a masher.  That is really the only thing to expect from him.  It’s doubtful his game will translate well to the PEBA level, but his monstrous power could be a real bonus for a Joplin team looking to compete.  Expect Kishita to split time at the DH slot with some of the young outfielders who need at bats.

Ricardo Gonzáles – 1B – 25 – L – A 2010 14^th round selection by Bakersfield, Ricardo was signed as a minor league free agent in 2011.  He has made the most of his opportunity with the Calzones.  Last season, he batted .277 with 36 doubles, 8 HR, and 65 RBI in 430 AB.  Scouts continue to be impressed with his growth as a player, and he has gone from a filler role to borderline prospect in the organization’s eyes.  There are high hopes for Gonzáles this season.  It would serve the Red Racers well if he can turn into the 20 HR, 80 RBI player that the Calzones believe he can be.

Dan Basinger – 2B – 24 – L – Basinger is a singles hitter who rarely strikes out, but he doesn’t walk a lot, lacks the speed to steal bases, has no power and possesses a mediocre glove.  Injuries have curtailed his playing time in recent years.  Unless he establishes himself as a bona fide .300-type hitter, Basinger is likely to remain a Quad-A type who spends the next several seasons waiting for a call that may never come.  Still, he is a vital player on a Red Racers team that hopes to make a playoff push this season.  He will hold down the second base job and hopefully continue to produce a decent batting average in the 2-hole.

Keith Eby – 3B – 27 – R – A veteran glove man and a solid presence in the clubhouse, Eby won an All-Leather award at 3B for the Calzones as recently as 2011, and an All-Leather award at 2B in 2009 at Hi-A.  He has always struggled with the bat despite having some occasional power and is best suited to a utility role.  He will fill the utility role for Joplin this season, with his outstanding glove available to play anywhere on the infield.  His veteran leadership will be vital to the team.

Carlos Miranda – 3B – 24 – R – One of the brightest prospects in the Calzones’ organization, Miranda has struggled in brief trials with the Calzones and failed to impress in spring training.  Originally, the plan was for Miranda to make the big league club this season, but reality stepped in and Miranda will spend another season at AAA.  Miranda projects to be a solid all-around hitter with especially good power to the gaps.  His glove projects as league average at the hot corner, but Miranda has a nice combination of above-average speed with at least average power potential.  He should prove to be a key player in the middle of the Red Racers lineup this season.  He batted .283 with a .380 OBP last year, chipping in 6 HR and eight swiped bags in 343 at bats.  The Calzones hope that Miranda takes the big step forward this season and is ready to be with the club on Opening Day 2015.

George Árias – SS – 24 – R – Expected to pair with Miranda on the left side of the Calzones’ infield for years to come, the talented Árias will also get one more season of development at AAA before hopefully finding his way to the big leagues next spring.  An excellent glove man who should win multiple All-Leather awards, Árias also projects to have above-average power and at least average speed.  This season, expect Árias to be a force in a talented Red Racers lineup.

Sherman Hicks – RF – 23 – S – A switch-hitter with above-average power from both sides of the plate, Hicks still struggles with his plate discipline and needs at least one more season at AAA.  He is a capable but unspectacular fielder who makes all the routine plays and has enough speed to avoid clogging up the base paths.  Hicks hit 26 HR last season between AAA and San Antonio, and big power numbers are again expected of the San Antonio native.  A definite force in the middle of the Red Racers lineup and the everyday right fielder.

Curt Ramey – CF – 23 – R – A 2009 12^th round pick, Ramey has steadily climbed the ladder through the Calzones’ system and is now considered one of their brighter prospects.  A solid fielder, Ramey can occasionally steal a bag, but what scouts like is the power they project down the line.  He has to work on cutting down on the strikeouts, but he is still just 23 and should have plenty of time to develop into his power.  Ramey is already a gifted corner outfielder.  He will spend this season mostly working in centerfield to increase his versatility.  Another player expected to play a key role on a talented offensive team.

Ben Wagner – LF – 24 – R – Another of the Calzones’ bright young prospects, Wagner has excellent speed and at least average power potential.  His glove is best suited for a corner outfield position, especially considering the amount of ground to cover in the spacious centerfield in San Antonio.  In addition to his talent on the field, Wagner has a positive influence in the clubhouse.  Expect to see Wagner with the big league club in a season or two.  He’ll serve as Joplin’s leadoff hitter.

Josh Willard – CF – 25 – R – An excellent base runner who does the little things well, Willard lacks power but has a good eye at the plate.  He covers a fair amount of ground in the outfield, but his arm is rather average.  Willard will be the fourth outfielder for the Red Racers and a capable replacement if any of the starters miss time due to injury.

Lorenzo Castro – CF – 24 – R – A 2011 10^th round selection by Fargo, Castro batted .319 with 7 HR in 257 AB at AA after his mid-season trade to San Antonio last year.  Castro projects to have at least average power and speed, and scouts like his ability to hit to all fields.  He covers a lot of ground in the outfield but doesn’t have the most gifted hands.  Castro will be a valuable commodity as a gifted fifth outfielder this season, with a projected starting role at Joplin in 2015.

The Red Racers would be disappointed with anything less than a playoff appearance in 2014.  This is the most talented team to take the field in Joplin in quite a while.  The rotation should be solid, with a pair of veterans and three prospects who should take steps forward this year.  The bullpen is better than last season and has a nice mix of talent and experience.  The offense should be the team’s strength, with PEBA-capable prospects manning nearly every position.