[Westheim]

1988 PORTLAND RACCOONS – Opening Day Roster (first set shows 1987 numbers, second set overall; players with an * are off season acquisitions):

SP Logan Evans, 32, B:L, T:L (13-8, 2.94 ERA | 112-82, 3.08 ERA) – despite awful control, kept the damage low again last season, and often struggled more with the run (un-)support he got from the team. Despite his flaws, he remains a very good pitcher, able to shut down opponents and go deep into games.
SP Carlos Gonzalez, 25, B:R, T:R (3-7, 3.46 ERA | 28-25, 3.44 ERA) – performed well enough first, then got hurt again, ending his season on the DL for the third straight time. As long as his arm holds up, he’s ace. Past July, he’s rarely been the last three seasons.
SP Kisho Saito, 27, B:L, T:L (14-8, 2.44 ERA | 91-66, 3.05 ERA) –workhorse, he was secured for five more years last season. Is a strikeout machine, but sometimes things escalate away from him. Would be #2 if that wouldn’t mean starting lefthanders three days in a row.
SP Scott Wade, 25, B:R, T:R (13-11, 3.11 ERA | 30-22, 3.24 ERA) – has finally become stuck in the majors, and had a very fine season last year. His slider kills people in bunches, and his career will only be held back for the lack of an effective third pitch.
SP Alejandro Venegas, 28, B:L, T:L (5-7, 4.00 ERA | 5-8, 3.96 ERA) – picked up on waivers from Pittsburgh last season. Is able to hold his ground, but nothing more.

MR Dirk Campbell, 33, B:R, T:R (4-2, 3.14 ERA | 11-12, 4.22 ERA, 2 SV) – claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh, too, he is a good option for a 6th or 7th inning situation where the Raccoons aren’t necessarily leading by one run.
MR Juan Martinez, 21, B:R, T:R (4-2, 3.21 ERA, 1 SV | 4-2, 3.21 ERA, 1 SV) – once an international discovery from Mexico, he made the team last year and won his first four games he appeared in. Made 18 starts overall, with a 3:1 K/BB ratio and many things to like about him.
MR Tim Moss, 32, B:L, T:L (5-0, 3.04 ERA | 24-20, 3.68 ERA, 7 SV) – one of two lefties in the pen, employed for situational use. His first season in Portland can be considered an all around success.
MR Jason Bentley, 26, B:R, T:R (2-2, 3.44 ERA | 3-6, 3.26 ERA, 2 SV) – solid performer out of the pen, filling a 7th inning role perfectly; held an ERA around two for most of last year before collapsing in September.
SU Richard Cunningham, 28, B:R, T:R (3-6, 2.20 ERA, 5 SV | 31-24, 2.24 ERA, 25 SV) – fireballer with even splits, who outright killed opposing batters last season – as always. The perfect weapon for a tied game, bases loaded, nobody out.
SU David Jones, 31, B:L, T:L (3-1, 2.29 ERA, 4 SV | 20-11, 3.31 ERA, 9 SV) – the left-handed setup complement to Cunningham, he does it more on deception and groundballs than brute force.
CL Grant West, 31, B:L, T:L (6-2, 1.82 ERA, 42 SV | 24-7, 1.70 ERA, 254 SV) – nickname “Demon”, says it all. Ultra-reliable, a true killer. Last season blew eight saves, but also pitched 74 innings, 12 more than the previous career high in 1986, making over-use a possibility here.

C Sam Dadswell, 27, B:L, T:R (.270, 10 HR, 63 RBI | .268, 63 HR, 292 RBI) – he continues to be plagued by nightmarish blackouts on defense. He will remain the primary catcher again this season.
C Gustavo Flores, 29, B:R, T:R (.268, 1 HR, 13 RBI | .268, 9 HR, 94 RBI) – horrible first half of last season, got more playing time against Dadswell in the last two months, but remains backup, starting primarily games against left-handed pitchers.

1B Tetsu Osanai, 29, B:L, T:L (.299, 21 HR, 109 RBI | .324, 119 HR, 549 RBI) – had a down year after winning the 1986 batting triple crown. Failed to bat .300 for the first time in his career by one hit. Questionable defense, but unquestionably the 1B starter.
1B/2B/SS/3B Winston Thompson, 34, B:L, T:R (.260, 0 HR, 29 RBI | .262, 7 HR, 163 RBI) – injuries start to get a toll on him, and he will platoon with Dani Perez at second base as well as backing up Osanai for late inning defense. Career .366 OBP.
1B/3B/RF/LF Mark Dawson, 34, B:R, T:R (.219, 16 HR, 75 RBI | .243, 222 HR, 966 RBI) – #1 on the all-time home run and RBI leaderboards, his production still keeps declining at worrying speed, while his defense at third base is outright amazing.
2B/SS Sergio Martinez, 29, B:R, T:R (.293, 1 HR, 44 RBI | .285, 5 HR, 314 RBI) – took the starting shortstop job (and eventually a roster spot) away from Steve Walker and will remain entrenched at short this season. Batted leadoff for most of the latter part of 1987, but will more look at a #6 spot in the lineup this year.
2B Dani Perez, 24, B:R, T:R (.226, 2 HR, 15 RBI | .234, 4 HR, 22 RBI) – will primarily platoon with Thompson at second base, but Thompson was hurt quite a bit the last two years, so his time may be coming sooner rather than later.
1B/3B/SS/2B/RF/CF Jose Sanchez *, 29, B:R, T:R (.181, 0 HR, 9 RBI | .240, 0 HR, 106 RBI) – versatile backup utility player, who was used scarcely by the Scorpions last season. Was acquired for reliever Juan Santos.

LF/RF Daniel Hall, 32, B:R, T:R (.243, 11 HR, 55 RBI | .265, 139 HR, 579 RBI) – starter in leftfield, he has range, speed, a contact bat, and power – if he can put it on the field. Injuries and terrible stretches alternate on him for three years now. Batted .210 until breaking out hot in late August last year, then got hurt right at the end of the season, again. Won his first Gold Glove last season.
RF/LF/CF Armando Sanchez, 33, B:L, T:L (.277, 16 HR, 51 RBI | .288, 132 HR, 718 RBI) – starter in center, who led the CL in stolen bases with 33 last season, territory where no Coon had ventured before. Very good producer in a #2/#3 position in the lineup.
RF/LF Yoshinobu Ishizaki *, 30, B:L, T:L (.294, 5 HR, 65 RBI | .325, 39 HR, 705 RBI) – veteran from the Federal League, who had a down year for the Gold Sox last season. Starter in right, and only this much: .448 OBP for his career.
RF/LF Gustavo Quintanilla, 24, B:R, T:R (.232, 3 HR, 17 RBI | .233, 4 HR, 31 RBI) – very strong defense, with some more bat work desireable, but he is able to deliver clutch hits.
CF/LF/RF Kelly Weber, 25, B:L, T:L (.251, 0 HR, 31 RBI | .249, 3 HR, 86 RBI) – good backup outfielder for all three positions, but has developed a tendency to strike out a lot.

Opening day lineups:
Vs. RHP: RF Ishizaki – CF Sanchez – LF Hall – 1B Osanai – C Dadswell – SS S. Martinez – 3B Dawson – 2B Thompson – P Evans
Vs. LHP: RF Ishizaki – SS S. Martinez – LF Hall – 1B Osanai – 3B Dawson – CF Sanchez – 2B Perez – C Dadswell – P Evans

We lost 1.2 WAR this off season, placing us 11th among the 24 teams overall.

Top 5: Bayhawks (+4.6), Warriors (+4.0), Buffaloes (+2.6), Indians (+1.8), Blue Sox (+1.7)
Bottom 5: Canadiens (-6.3), Falcons (-8.2), Aces (-9.3), Titans (-9.6), Scorpions (-10.2)

PREDICTION TIME:

If you look at it, our only acquisition is Yoshinobu Ishizaki. His addition could mean a big plus however. The Raccoons did not have a .400+ OBP leadoff man last year, with Martinez, Thompson, León, Walker, and Sanchez at various times a) struggling badly, b) being hurt), c) being gone. León and Walker are no longer available.

The Indians have maintained their roster, more or less. They lost Alvin Sutphen to his knee, Seitaro Ogawa, who was awful last year, and a few pieces out of their bullpen. Terry Reynolds will make their rotation even more impressive. The Raccoons absolutely HAVE to score more runs this year, because the pitching can hardly improve any more. Ishizaki will help in that regard.

The Raccoons will win about 95 games, and will narrowly out-last the Indians to face the Knights in a murderous CLCS. And I mean it! WIN NOW, WIN NOW, WIN NOW!!

Our first games will be in Indianapolis and San Francisco before heading home for a 2-week homestand. I will be wearing my Raccoons shirt and thus beg for trouble.