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2016
Spring/Summer Season
Forecast
April
20, 2016 (Federal League Wire Service)
Here's how the editors of South Florida Baseball Report
see the races shaping up:
Expansion
Division
1.
Davie Goliaths
Mgr: Tony
Krahwinkel
Last Season:
29-11 (1st place, lost in
semi-finals)
The Story:
The Goliaths had a rocky road to compiling the league's best
overall regular season record, and the consequences of traveling
that road were made apparent as the Philistines suffered a
semi-final round sweep at the hands of the Goliaths. Anthony
DeFilippis, who rebuilt the team, but never intended to be the
club's long term skipper, has ceded the managerial duties to
catcher Ton Krahwinkel. An active off-season sought to rectify
many of the team's problems that were masked by their first
place finish.
Strength:
Pitching remains the Goliaths' key to success. Stalwart Joe
Feller will be joined by heralded rookie Matt Niedzwiecki to
form a formidable 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation. The
middle of the order should be productive if DeFilippis,
Krahwinkel, Vijay Patel, and Jehiel Russo hit like expected.
Rookie Mike Young looks poised to make a big impact. Outfield
depth provided by newcomers Mark Lovecchio, Jonathan Kramer, and
returnee J.P. Lopez should make a former negative into a
positive.
Weakness:
While the top of the rotation is a
big strength for the G-Men, pitching depth is a serious concern
as Mike Daniels and Andres Gomez are not on the opening day
roster.
Prognosis:
The
Goliaths, if the pitching doesn't falter, should be the
division's top club. Whether or not they can win a championship
is still an open question.
Goliath Grunts:
The Goliaths brought Lopez back and
intend to give the fiery outfielder a chance to impress as a
pitcher.
2. Tri-Cities Tritons
Mgr: Mike
Whittaker
Last Season:
19-21 (2nd
place, lost in Championship Final Series)
The Story:
The Tritons were
and up and down club during the regular campaign, but Whittaker,
the dean of league managers, corrected course for a deep playoff
run before running out of steam in the Championship Final Series
for the second straight season.
Strength:
The
Water Dwellers will go as far as their pitching will take them.
Rotation anchors John Hardardt, Eric Silverberg, and Tre Dingus
will be joined by newly acquired Sandy Cabrera and rookie
Orlando Fallas in one of the league's deepest staffs. A lineup
that features former MVP Jay Warman, slugger Zac Miller, veteran
Andy Ruiz, and a revitalized Adrian Roznowski should be more
than adequate.
Weakness:
Other than the dependable Warman at short,
the Triton defense has been a sore spot. Rookie third baseman
Deion Rosalia should be an upgrade at the hot corner, but the
team's glovework still needs improvement.
Prognosis:
The Sons of
Poseidon are still championship contenders. Having Dingus for a
full season will certainly help.
Writin' Triton:
The Tritons are hoping top pitching
prospect Matt Arlick (1-0 0.59, in five games last season) will
be able to return from an elbow ailment by mid-season.
3. Hollywood
Stars
Mgr: Matt
Leban
Last Season: 17-23
(3rd place, lost in play-in round)
The Story:
After a five season
rebuild, chief architect Billy De Vuyst retired as Stars'
manager. The team quickly filled the void with veteran player,
but novice manager, Matt Leban. Despite a playoff appearance a
season ago, the Stars completely overhauled the roster.
Strength:
A pitching staff that features
player/manager Leban and the recently un-retired Rick Schaut,
should be capable of producing more than a few wins. The
outfield, led by emerging rookies Johnny Saiya and Osvaldo
Capote, might be among the league's best by season's end. The
infield defense should be sound if rookie shortstop Anthony
Alexander lives up to his advance billing.
Weakness:
The Stars have a few candidates at
catcher, including former league MVP Raul Nieto, but the
position still seems unsettled. The starting staff appears
solid, but the bullpen will be a concern.
Prognosis:
The Stars
should, once again, reach the playoffs, and, could advance if
the find some bullpen answers.
Star Shines:
The Stars acquired well traveled and well
liked veteran outfielder Luis Junco in closing moments of spring
training.
4.
Margate Sentries
Mgr: Dave
Munguia
Last
Season:
7-33 (4th place)
The Story:
The Sentries had a disastrous campaign last
season and purged the roster. There's really nowhere to go but up.
Strength:
The
Sentries will have some power. Rob Wiley, Phil Laufman, Paul
Gonzalez, Tim Hopkins, and newcomer Felix Martinez tote some productive lumber. Rookie
Pete Ginter could emerge as a top starter.
Weakness:
Infield defense will continue to be a work
in progress. Pitching depth is lacking.
Prognosis:
If
stockpiling your roster with outfielders and corner infielders was a path to
success, the Gatekeepers would have the inside track.
Unfortunately, though, it appears, the Sentries' path might lead
to nowhere.
Sentry Posts:
The Gatekeepers are expected to add veteran
Gus Vasquez to the opening day roster. Vasquez, who last played
for the Stars is, perhaps, better known as Pablo Sandoval's former
agent.
Original
Division
1.
Broward
Cubs
Mgr: Mike
Robbins
Last Season: 28-12
(1st place, lost in semi-finals)
The Story: Two
seasons ago, the Cubs won the championship, last season
the Bruins copped the Senior Circuit flag before
faltering in the playoffs. New manager inherits a deep
roster with power and pitching. The Cubs should be
regarded as the early favorites to win it all.
Strength:
Any pitching staff that can send Chad Volbert to the mound for a regular turn,
has, by definition, a strength. However, the real key for the Cubs
may be their powerful and balanced lineup. Led by all-stars Ricky
Quintero, Jamie Bobrow, Amed Martinez, as well as
player/manager Robbins, the Cubbies should put up some
impressive run totals. Robbins and veteran Ray Periera
give the team a strong backstop duo. Mitch Kean is a
defensive wizard in right field. Newcomers, such as
pitcher Jesus Pina, and speedsters Isaac Rodriguez and
Delancius Black give the club a shot of some fresh
blood.
Weakness:
It's hard to find a major issue on
this roster, but the middle of the order, populated by
veterans such as Nelson Montalvo, Keith Nicoll, and
Bobrow, is a little slow moving. The meat of the order
will have to advance a base at a time.
Prognosis:
Barring
unforeseen circumstances, the Cubs are poised to be the
league's best team.
Cub Cribs:
Former manager Ken Brown
has chosen to remain with the team as an active player
and could serve as an unofficial advisor to Robbins in
his maiden voyage as skipper.
2. Sunrise Sunsets
Mgr: Brandon
Hull
Last Season:
26-14
(3rd place, won league championship)
The Story:
After a very
slow to start last season, the Twilighters rebounded and barged
their way through the playoffs before sweeping the Tritons in
the Championship Final Series.
Strength:
A prolific lineup led by reigning MVP Chris Price and
all-star Demetrio Green, plus a top flight pitching staff that
includes Best Newcomer Award winner Ryan Thompson, Tommy Tritz,
veteran Jesse Wallace, and rookie Andrew McCarty.
Weakness: Team
defense remains the squad's biggest question mark. The loss
of leadoff hitter Brandon Hull, still recovering from Tommy John
surgery, should not be under-estimated.
Prognosis:
The Sunsets should not have any
trouble returning to the post-season, but replicating last
season's championship run will prove difficult.
Sunset Grillings:
Last season's championship
was only the second in team history. Their previous title was
won 28 seasons ago.
3.
Delray
Beach Mudcats
Mgr: Gus
Maestrales
Last Season:
27-13 (2nd
place, lost in play-in round)
The Story: After
transitioning from their previous identity as the Fort Lauderdale
Blazers, the Mudcats established their own brand last season.
The' Cats led the Original Division race for most of the season
before staggering to the finish line. An early playoff exit was
not only surprising, but completely unsatisfying.
Strength:
The
Mudcats boast a mound staff led by 300 game winner Michael
Cimilluca. Last season's play-in game aside, Cimilluca is an
almost sure thing on the mound. team
should have
tremendous power. Peter Maestrales, Luis Rodriguez, Igor Molina,
and rookie catcher Ian Robbins will form a formidable middle of
the order. Table setters like all-stars Gary Frady, rookie
shortstop Chris Jones,
and Cuban sensation Jorge Perdomo should help put a lot of runs on the board.
Veterans like Don Degli and Jose Ayala give the Whiskered Fish
one of the league's best benches.
Weakness:
The team has a potentially great lineup, solid team defense, and a good bench. If there's a
weakness, it is a lack of pitching depth.
Prognosis:
Do not sleep
on the Mudcats. This is still a quality team that is quite
capable of returning to the winner's circle.
Mudcat Musings:
The team was re-branded as the Delray
Beach Mudcats, but despite the similarity in name and, thanks to a
blockbuster trade, and some familiar names, these Mudcats are the
lineal descendents of the Blazers and not the team formerly known
as the Mudcats. To make matters more confusing, former Mudcat (the
team now known as the the Hallandale Twins) manager Gus Maestrales
is the skipper of these Mudcats.
4.
Hallandale Twins
Mgr:
Burke
Fox
Last
Season: 7-33
(4th place)
The Story:
The former
Mudcats (no relation to the current Mudcats) became the Hallandale
Twins last season and decided to start fresh, casting
off some veteran talent in an attempt to complete rebuild what had
been an underachieving squad. The new club found even more
difficulties as embattled first season manager Burke Fox sifted
through
Strength:
The
Twins have some power in the lineup with left slugger Cory McEwen
and newly acquired Jeff Lynch. A revamped pitching staff led by
rookies Jorge Serrano, Kenny Neale, and Mike Bigwood should be a
huge improvement over last season's staff. The position of
catcher appears to be in the capable hands of newcomers Eduardo
Luna and Javier Oliveros.
Weakness:
The team seemed directionless at various
points last season and it remains unclear how Fox intends to
remedy that condition. The team defense is still a major issue,
although it should not be as horrid as last season. There does
not yet exist an obvious choice for a leadoff hitter.
Prognosis:
The Twins will
continue to experience some growing pains as they search for the right
combination of talent. This is a tough division and the playoffs
might still be out of reach, but this should be a much improved
club.
Twin Peeks: The
Twins spent the entire off-season trying to deal McEwen to a
contender, but none of the offers were deemed sufficient to pry
the hard hitting McEwen from the Hallandalers.
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