CB’s Sky Sox have always been a veteran team, and this one is no different. Omar Ramirez and Raymond Higgens to free agency. Higgens never really produced up to expectations. In place comes another group of vets: Santiago Diaz (31), Phillip Killebrew (39), Stevie Logan (36), Wascar Nunez (29), Henry McFeely (36), and Hal Nen (29).
To break down those moves…Diaz is a fill in that hasn’t produced in the past. Killebrew was a good pick up for a Sub B. Logan is an interesting choice for closer, but looks solid. Nunez was given the starting job at 3b despite not being solid defensively. Henry McFeely was the best pick up. He still has some gas in the tank. The Springs should rebound and head back to the playoffs.
Salt Lake changed ownership again (welcome to the league gator), and this time they packed up the organization to flee north. Helena is just as scenic, and I hear it has a decent school system. They only made one signing, Vic Martinez, to help in the bullpen. Kenta Chong, Julio Olivo, and Butch Terry have all come up to fill spots for injured Brewers.
Their amazing run to the NLCS was truly inspiring. They still have a terrific offense. Their FIP correlates very well with the type of pitchers they have. The only thing they need is to find players that hit just as good, but play better defense.
VandyDave and his Canadians offense that finished 23rd seemed to take a step forward by picking up Bruce Buckley from San Antonio. He hasn’t produced in the past, but maybe a change of scenery will help. Rule five selection Brett Newfield was a great pick up. Markus Taft is finally in the Show along with lesser prospect Ewell Cromer. Other call ups are on their way. Key/Maxwell/Bragg on offense and Blasco for SP later this season. The team thinks .500 is a reasonable expectation and who am I to argue? Youth usually doesn’t come together. But with Vets in the mix you never know.
Tyler’s first order of business this off season was to address the problems that he could, without screwing up his rebuilding. He has a young team, but is still saddled with non-productive players playing out existing contracts. Case in point Yeico Guzman, Ernie Presley, Einar Ortega, and Don Duran. But young players like Kenneth Serrano, and Achilles George are the future of the franchise. Rick McClain and Josh Kotsay are fairly productive and are the kind of complementary players the 51’s should be focused on. Probably overpaid a little for Tomas Maduro, but a closer is a closer.
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