Kiddie Calzones Expecting Growing Pains

1/5/2013: Laredo, TX – The San Antonio Calzones de Laredo will enter the 2013 season with one of the youngest teams in the PEBA.  Not a single member of the projected starting rotation has more than one year of experience.  In the bullpen, there are three pitchers with more than a year of experience, but not by much.  Long in the tooth on experience will be long-man and emergency starter Augusto Torres, with three years and 155 days of service time.  Behind him is situational lefty José Rivera with two years and 77 days, and then Jim Phillips with 1 year and 51 days.  Filling out the bullpen, Rule 5 acquisition and Laredo native Ken Rose will be 30 years old but throwing his first pitch at the PEBA level when he takes the mound next spring, and projected closer Cipriano Baca will be making his PEBA debut.

On the hitting side of things, the Calzones will enter the season with only two players with more than a year’s experience at the PEBA level.  All-Leather 3B Keith Eby, with two years of service exactly, and albatross Bob Jefferson, who after 14+ seasons still cannot have the decency to just walk away.

In part one of this series, we will look at the Calzones projected pitching staff.

ROTATION
Shayne Pulsifer – Left-handed – 30 years old – Rule 5 selection, round 4, pick 4, 12-1-12
Pulsifer is a Rule 5 pickup from the Crystal Lake Sandgnats organization.  He’s a large southpaw, but he doesn’t throw hard and relies on better-than-average control.  He is the quintessential crafty southpaw.  He throws seven pitches, none of which is dominant.  Despite the fact that he will be a PEBA rookie, his age and experience dictate that he will be asked to lead this young staff.  He’s far from the most promising pitcher in the Calzones rotation, but he should take the pressure off the younger pitchers and allow them to get more favorable matchups.  He will be asked to use everything in his arsenal to get as deep into games as possible.  He has decent stamina, holds runners well, works hard and pitches smartly.

Kelly Burns – Right-handed – 26 years old – Acquired in trade with Yuma Bulldozers, 5-7-12
Burns led the Calzones in wins last season with 10 despite the fact that he spent most of the season in the bullpen and made just 14 starts.  His excellent work in the pen eventually led to a promotion to the rotation, and he did not disappoint.  On the season, he posted a 10-4 record, with one save and a 3.70 ERA.  He struck out nearly a batter per inning but he still struggled with walks from time to time.  He’s not the smartest pitcher, but then again he’s not afraid to come after a hitter with a wicked slider or a low 90s fastball in any situation.  He will work deep into games and his ability to get a groundball helps him get out of jams.

Floyd Davis – Right-handed – 25 years old – Drafted round 6, pick 9, 129^th overall, 2009
It’s now or never for Davis, who has tantalized the Calzones brass with his live arm and ability to work deep into games.  The big right-hander has pitched in 72 innings in two brief stints with the Calzones over the last two seasons and is finally being inserted into the rotation on a permanent basis.  Davis was somewhat hurried through the Calzones minor league system, but his 11-7, 3.42 mark in 23 starts for a AAA Joplin team that had a worthless bullpen in 2012 leaves a lot of hope that there is more under the surface for this promising right-hander.  He pitches smartly, has an arsenal of 5+ pitches, has good stamina and gets more than his fair share of groundballs.

Greg White – Right-handed – 24 years old – Acquired in trade with Duluth Warriors, 7-4-10
White was called up mid-season in 2012 and started in the bullpen, where he pitched very well before an eventual promotion to the rotation.  He only chalked up 11 starts and 11 relief appearances, and finished with a 3-5 mark and a 3.06 ERA.  He can touch 93 on the gun and has an 8-pitch arsenal that keeps hitters off balance.  He fields his position very well, holds runners well and induces a lot of groundballs.  He was striking out more than a batter per inning over the last few seasons in the minors, and the Calzones are hopeful those strikeout totals will climb as he gains more experience at the PEBA level.  The knock on White is that he does not work deep enough into games and because of that he could eventually be shuttled back to the bullpen when some of the Calzones other pitching prospects are ready, but for now he will be the Calzones 4^th starter.

Albert Bush – Right-handed – 23 years old – Acquired in trade with Yuma Bulldozers, 5-7-12
Despite being the #5 starter, the young Bush appears to be the most promising youngster in the Calzones rotation heading into 2013.  He brings 5+ pitches to the mound with him and can hit 95 on the gun.  A hometown favorite, the San Antonio native pitches very smartly and has the type of makeup that could easily head up a rotation someday.  He’s still very young but fared quite well for a 22-year-old in his first PEBA season, posting a 6-8 record and 4.19 ERA in 19 starts.  If he can improve the control, he has the potential to be a quite dominating pitcher.

BULLPEN
Augusto Torres – Right-handed – 29 years old – Acquired in trade with Manchester Maulers, 5-1-11
Torres is what he is; a fairly average pitcher with a penchant for giving up the long ball.  He has seven pitches, none of them better than average.  He throws in the low 90s, has better than average control, holds runners well and has the stamina to work a lot of innings.  Torres brings much-needed veteran leadership to the pitching staff.  He will work in a long relief role and be expected to mop-up mostly, but should see an occasional spot start as well.

Ken Rose – Left-handed – 30 years old – Rule 5 selection, round 5, pick 4, 12-1-12
The Calzones picked up Rose, a Laredo native, in the most recent Rule 5 draft.  He has put up some really gaudy numbers as a designated ringer at the low levels of the minors the last few seasons, but finally gets a chance to pitch at the PEBA level.  He gives the Calzones a much-needed lefty in the middle of the bullpen, and his ability to pitch smartly and get ground balls should help with getting the team out of jams in the middle innings.  He has the stamina to start, but just three average pitches and a curveball that tends to hang has him relegated to the bullpen, where the Calzones feel that less exposure and more situational usage will serve the team well.  With the Calzones going with just 10 pitchers this season due to filling their bullpen with rubber-armed guys like Rose, look for the Laredo native to split time between the middle innings and a setup role depending upon the situation.

José Rivera – Left-handed – 28years old – Acquired in trade with New Jersey Hitmen, 5-7-12
Rivera gives the Calzones a second lefty in the bullpen, but how effective he will be remains to be seen.  Scouts have loved Rivera’s live arm for years, but his inability to harness his control and his tendency to groove fastballs has frustrated coaches and fans alike.  His 38 BB in 40.2 IP with SA last season earned him a demotion to Joplin last season, but the Calzones are bringing him back in the hope that he can finally start to put it together.  With a 7-pitch arsenal and a fastball that tops out at 96 MPH, Rivera could potentially work in the rotation if he can ever put things together.  For now, he will be given one last chance as a middleman in the Calzones bullpen.

Jim Phillips – Right-handed – 27 years old – Acquired in trade with Tempe Knights, 5-1-11
Phillips, a native of Plano, Texas, had a decent rookie season in the Calzones bullpen, posting a 3-4 mark with a 4.42 ERA.  He is a simple fastball/curveball pitcher who can barely touch 90 on the gun.  He has enough stamina to make an emergency start if he had to, but the Calzones prefer to keep the rubber-armed Phillips (68 appearances last season) in the bullpen.  Sadly for the Calzones, he is the best they have going into the season for a right-handed setup man, despite his skill set being better suited to middle innings.  He is a vocal leader who has a positive effect in the clubhouse.

Cipriano Baca – Right-handed – 25 – Acquired in trade with Duluth Warriors, 7-24-10
Okay, this should be interesting.  A rookie closer whose WHIP has been 1.80 and 1.63 the last two seasons at AAA.  A bit rushed through the minor league system, Baca’s less-than-dominant numbers at AAA can be slightly overlooked.  He has posted excellent strikeout rates, but his fastball tends to be a little straight and his control has been slow to develop.  He has mostly been projected as a starter.  He has a 6-pitch arsenal and good stamina, but as one Calzones employee told me, he has a million-dollar arm and a 99-cent brain.  He does seem better suited to the bullpen, and the Calzones are hoping he can adapt quickly to the role.  

In part two of this series tomorrow, we will look at the Calzones position players.