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dishnet34 · 02-29-2016, 04:58 PM

ABO DIVISIONAL BREAKDOWN
Part 3 - Pacific Conference, Central Division

Projected Standings

Arlington Blaze

Location: Arlington, Texas
Stadium: Wagonman Stadium
Main Jersey:

Analysis: The Blaze, compared to other teams in the Conference, have one of the most spacious parks (345 to both lines, the longest distances down the lines in the league), which might hinder their power-heavy offense a little bit, but with the other intimate parks (where there are a good number of in the PC), the dingers will still fly regularly. The Blaze have a lot of big boppers in their projected lineup, led by starting catcher Parker Martin (5*/5*). The 28-year old first round selection by Arlington (14th overall) is one of the few good defensive catchers in the league that can also hit as well. Because of their focus on chicks digging them, there is an underlying truth: a pack of snails could out-run them on the basepaths. They're only projected to steal a whopping five stolen bases in their whole lineup, basically the antithesis of the Indianapolis Hoosiers. Their rotation is a good rotation, led by 30-year old Fernando Batista (4.5*/4.5*), who may be prone to giving up dingers, but has good stuff and good control. They also have a good bullpen, that can finish games well, with closer Hal Burton (5*/5*) projected to save the most games in the ABO, with 42. In fact, you may not believe this, but they are projected to strike out the 2nd-most batters in the ABO, only rivaled by Las Vegas. A cool story to watch his how 43-year old RP Charles Patton (2.5*/2.5*) does in what is probably his only season in the ABO, although he is starting the season in the Prep League. The Blaze are a good bet to win the division on paper, and it'll be a shock if they miss the playoffs.
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Boise Apples

Location: Boise, Idaho
Stadium: GreenApples Stadium
Main Jersey:

Analysis: This offense is gonna put up a lot of crooked numbers, predicted to score the most runs in the league. They will probably take opposing left-handers to the woodshed, with 8 of their 9 hitters being right-handed. In most cases, that'd be enough to win you at least the division, having a Timmo Atteveld (5*/5*) in CF and a Frode Meerkerk (4.5*/4.5*) at 2B. However, outside of their 2 starting pitchers, the rest of their pitching staff looks awfully resemblatory of a burning Waste Management recepticle. Their projected team ERA of 5.07 is the second-highest in the entire league, just 8 hundredths behind division-mate Salt Lake City. Despite that, they do have a couple good pitchers in their staff, including their ace, 29-year old Hunter McIntyre (4.5*/4.5*). Other names to look out for on this team are 3B Ivan Aviles (4.5*/4.5*) and 25-year old 1B Luis Ruiz (4*/4*), who they took with their first round pick (21st overall).
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Glendale Copperheads

Location: Glendale, Arizona
Stadium: Tostitos Park
Main Jersey:

Analysis: The architects of the Copperheads' stadium tried their darnedest to keep balls from carelessly flying out the park, what with a 450-foot distance to center field, 340 down the lines, and 15-foot high walls. However, this is still Arizona, this is still a humid-as-hell area of the country, and this can still be a park where the ball more often than not will need FAA clearance. One of the players that will probably be investigated by the feds is RF Dave Hammond (4*/4*), who can absolutely kill a ball (17 power rating)...when he actually connects with the ball to do so. This guy's OBP is probably gonna be below .300, with a crap-ton of strikeouts, but with his power prowess, the SLG% will probably be upwards of .400. Helps that he can play defense pretty good in the spacious confines of Tostitos Park. Their current CF right now is 34-year old Craig Hudson (5*/5*), who is good in his own right, but in the next two or three years, expect that spot to be taken up by one of their better prospects at the position, 24-year old switch-hitting Englishman Ewan Baggerly (1*/2.5*). Baggerly will have the defensive capabilities to play CF in Glendale, but questions remain about how his bat will play. It'll be interesting to see how he does in the Prep League this year. As for their pitching, their star pitcher is their first round (9th overall) pick, Sherman Lewis. Lewis has absolutely filthy stuff, who will be gunning for the top strikeout marks in the league, with his nasty Forkball-Change combo. Their bullpen is rated as average, and ultimately, that could be the difference between a potential wild card spot and missing the playoffs entirely.
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New Orleans Krewe

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Superdome
Main Jersey:

Analysis: There's an old saying in baseball that goes something like this: "You may run like Mays, but you hit like-" well, you know the rest. This is the Pacific Division's answer to the Indianapolis Hoosiers in terms of playing style, except with a few more dingers. Their projected 177 stolen bases, most of them probably coming from the 9-1 combo of 3B Juan Mora (1*/2*) and CF Toby Newey (3.5*/3.5*), are the most in the ABO. Most of the guys in the lineup, save for 2B Raul Trejo (5*/5*, picked 6th overall), promising young SS Carroll Hammond (2.5*/4*) and maybe C Laurent Dumont (3.5*/3.5*), can't put consistent barrel on the ball. Their speed may help them erk out a few extra infield hits here and there, and could even sneak into the wildcard slot if they're lucky. Their rotation has 2 promising pitchers that could help them this year and beyond. 22-year old Jose Guzman (3*/5*) could play a pivotal role in the #2 spot in the rotation, throwing absolute gas at 96-98, and 31-year old 4th starter Pablo Damhuis (4*/4*), who has a plus-plus changeup, but a medicore curve and circle change is probably why he's not leading this rotation. They have an above-average bullpen to go along with it as well, anchored by closer Donald Middlemas (5*/5*), who is one of the hardest throwers in the league. Again, this team can contend for a playoff spot, but will they?
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Salt Lake City Bengals

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Stadium: Sinclair Stadium
Main Jersey:

Analysis: Well, this team did at least one thing right: they got the 1B with one of the best bats in the game in first round selection (10th overall), 26-year old Frederick Gonzalez (5*/5* with 20 (!) power and 13 contact), but other than that, the Bengals, from my perspective, look like a huge flaming pile of NOPE. There are a couple other decent hitters in the lineup in LF/DH Stuart Berriman (3.5*/3.5*), CF Karol Mertens (3.5*/3.5*), and 2B Manuel Lopez (1.5*/1.5*), but this looks like a major rebuilding project from the get-go. They will have the young talent to try and do that, with Gonzalez and 23-year old 3B Michael Evans (1*/3.5*), but if their pitching doesn't improve outside of starter Chris Hammons (4*/4.5*), this team will be going nowhere for the next few years. Their closer, Jose Garcia (5*/5*) is one of the few bright spots on this staff. The cellar of the division, the conference, and maybe the league, may be imminent.
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San Antonio Sharks

Location: San Antonio, Texas
Stadium: Main Street Field

Main Jersey:

Analysis: The Sharks will more than likely compete with their in-state rivals in Arlington for the PC Central Crown this year, and they have the talent to perhaps overtake them in that regard. The Sharks are a very balanced team, with a mix of power, speed and defense at its disposal, and you can find all of those in RF Carl Hoover (4*/4*). He is a great defender in RF, can hit for power, and can run a little bit, too. The Sharks' second round selection of SS Bill Jarvis (4.5*/4.5*) was also highly praised in the draft room, and LF Jack Allen (4*/4* with excellent speed) will be a name to watch in the near future, as well. If you can find a weakness with this team, though, it's the rest of the infield outside of Jarvis, who are ranked in the bottom third in the league at 1B, 2B, and 3B by OSA. As for their pitching staff, it is led by their first round pick (5th overall) Morgan Fowles (5*/5*), who has a nasty fastball-curve-splitter repertoire than can damage the souls of opposing hitters. Their closer, Carlos Mendez (4.5*/4.5*), is above average, but not quite in the company of the elite closers in the league at 36 years old. The Sharks have the talent to make a run at the division crown, and at worse, the wildcard slot.
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Hopefully you enjoyed this ABO Division Breakdown! The last installment will come out tomorrow with the Pacific Conference's Coastal Division!

Who do you think will win the PC Central? Leave a response in the thread!

02-29-2016, 04:58 PM	#6
dishnet34 All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,527	ABO DIVISIONAL BREAKDOWN Part 3 - Pacific Conference, Central Division Projected Standings Arlington Blaze Location: Arlington, Texas Stadium: Wagonman Stadium Main Jersey: Analysis: The Blaze, compared to other teams in the Conference, have one of the most spacious parks (345 to both lines, the longest distances down the lines in the league), which might hinder their power-heavy offense a little bit, but with the other intimate parks (where there are a good number of in the PC), the dingers will still fly regularly. The Blaze have a lot of big boppers in their projected lineup, led by starting catcher Parker Martin (5/5). The 28-year old first round selection by Arlington (14th overall) is one of the few good defensive catchers in the league that can also hit as well. Because of their focus on chicks digging them, there is an underlying truth: a pack of snails could out-run them on the basepaths. They're only projected to steal a whopping five stolen bases in their whole lineup, basically the antithesis of the Indianapolis Hoosiers. Their rotation is a good rotation, led by 30-year old Fernando Batista (4.5/4.5), who may be prone to giving up dingers, but has good stuff and good control. They also have a good bullpen, that can finish games well, with closer Hal Burton (5/5) projected to save the most games in the ABO, with 42. In fact, you may not believe this, but they are projected to strike out the 2nd-most batters in the ABO, only rivaled by Las Vegas. A cool story to watch his how 43-year old RP Charles Patton (2.5/2.5) does in what is probably his only season in the ABO, although he is starting the season in the Prep League. The Blaze are a good bet to win the division on paper, and it'll be a shock if they miss the playoffs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Boise Apples Location: Boise, Idaho Stadium: GreenApples Stadium Main Jersey: Analysis: This offense is gonna put up a lot of crooked numbers, predicted to score the most runs in the league. They will probably take opposing left-handers to the woodshed, with 8 of their 9 hitters being right-handed. In most cases, that'd be enough to win you at least the division, having a Timmo Atteveld (5/5) in CF and a Frode Meerkerk (4.5/4.5) at 2B. However, outside of their 2 starting pitchers, the rest of their pitching staff looks awfully resemblatory of a burning Waste Management recepticle. Their projected team ERA of 5.07 is the second-highest in the entire league, just 8 hundredths behind division-mate Salt Lake City. Despite that, they do have a couple good pitchers in their staff, including their ace, 29-year old Hunter McIntyre (4.5/4.5). Other names to look out for on this team are 3B Ivan Aviles (4.5/4.5) and 25-year old 1B Luis Ruiz (4/4), who they took with their first round pick (21st overall). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Glendale Copperheads Location: Glendale, Arizona Stadium: Tostitos Park Main Jersey: Analysis: The architects of the Copperheads' stadium tried their darnedest to keep balls from carelessly flying out the park, what with a 450-foot distance to center field, 340 down the lines, and 15-foot high walls. However, this is still Arizona, this is still a humid-as-hell area of the country, and this can still be a park where the ball more often than not will need FAA clearance. One of the players that will probably be investigated by the feds is RF Dave Hammond (4/4), who can absolutely kill a ball (17 power rating)...when he actually connects with the ball to do so. This guy's OBP is probably gonna be below .300, with a crap-ton of strikeouts, but with his power prowess, the SLG% will probably be upwards of .400. Helps that he can play defense pretty good in the spacious confines of Tostitos Park. Their current CF right now is 34-year old Craig Hudson (5/5), who is good in his own right, but in the next two or three years, expect that spot to be taken up by one of their better prospects at the position, 24-year old switch-hitting Englishman Ewan Baggerly (1/2.5). Baggerly will have the defensive capabilities to play CF in Glendale, but questions remain about how his bat will play. It'll be interesting to see how he does in the Prep League this year. As for their pitching, their star pitcher is their first round (9th overall) pick, Sherman Lewis. Lewis has absolutely filthy stuff, who will be gunning for the top strikeout marks in the league, with his nasty Forkball-Change combo. Their bullpen is rated as average, and ultimately, that could be the difference between a potential wild card spot and missing the playoffs entirely. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ New Orleans Krewe Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Superdome Main Jersey: Analysis: There's an old saying in baseball that goes something like this: "You may run like Mays, but you hit like-" well, you know the rest. This is the Pacific Division's answer to the Indianapolis Hoosiers in terms of playing style, except with a few more dingers. Their projected 177 stolen bases, most of them probably coming from the 9-1 combo of 3B Juan Mora (1/2) and CF Toby Newey (3.5/3.5), are the most in the ABO. Most of the guys in the lineup, save for 2B Raul Trejo (5/5, picked 6th overall), promising young SS Carroll Hammond (2.5/4) and maybe C Laurent Dumont (3.5/3.5), can't put consistent barrel on the ball. Their speed may help them erk out a few extra infield hits here and there, and could even sneak into the wildcard slot if they're lucky. Their rotation has 2 promising pitchers that could help them this year and beyond. 22-year old Jose Guzman (3/5) could play a pivotal role in the #2 spot in the rotation, throwing absolute gas at 96-98, and 31-year old 4th starter Pablo Damhuis (4/4), who has a plus-plus changeup, but a medicore curve and circle change is probably why he's not leading this rotation. They have an above-average bullpen to go along with it as well, anchored by closer Donald Middlemas (5/5), who is one of the hardest throwers in the league. Again, this team can contend for a playoff spot, but will they? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Salt Lake City Bengals Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Stadium: Sinclair Stadium Main Jersey: Analysis: Well, this team did at least one thing right: they got the 1B with one of the best bats in the game in first round selection (10th overall), 26-year old Frederick Gonzalez (5/5 with 20 (!) power and 13 contact), but other than that, the Bengals, from my perspective, look like a huge flaming pile of NOPE. There are a couple other decent hitters in the lineup in LF/DH Stuart Berriman (3.5/3.5), CF Karol Mertens (3.5/3.5), and 2B Manuel Lopez (1.5/1.5), but this looks like a major rebuilding project from the get-go. They will have the young talent to try and do that, with Gonzalez and 23-year old 3B Michael Evans (1/3.5), but if their pitching doesn't improve outside of starter Chris Hammons (4/4.5), this team will be going nowhere for the next few years. Their closer, Jose Garcia (5/5) is one of the few bright spots on this staff. The cellar of the division, the conference, and maybe the league, may be imminent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ San Antonio Sharks Location: San Antonio, Texas Stadium: Main Street Field Main Jersey: Analysis: The Sharks will more than likely compete with their in-state rivals in Arlington for the PC Central Crown this year, and they have the talent to perhaps overtake them in that regard. The Sharks are a very balanced team, with a mix of power, speed and defense at its disposal, and you can find all of those in RF Carl Hoover (4/4). He is a great defender in RF, can hit for power, and can run a little bit, too. The Sharks' second round selection of SS Bill Jarvis (4.5/4.5) was also highly praised in the draft room, and LF Jack Allen (4/4 with excellent speed) will be a name to watch in the near future, as well. If you can find a weakness with this team, though, it's the rest of the infield outside of Jarvis, who are ranked in the bottom third in the league at 1B, 2B, and 3B by OSA. As for their pitching staff, it is led by their first round pick (5th overall) Morgan Fowles (5/5), who has a nasty fastball-curve-splitter repertoire than can damage the souls of opposing hitters. Their closer, Carlos Mendez (4.5/4.5), is above average, but not quite in the company of the elite closers in the league at 36 years old. The Sharks have the talent to make a run at the division crown, and at worse, the wildcard slot. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hopefully you enjoyed this ABO Division Breakdown! The last installment will come out tomorrow with the Pacific Conference's Coastal Division! Who do you think will win the PC Central? Leave a response in the thread!