[BirdWatcher]

So sort of a step-back as I find myself thinking about the trajectory of this team.
In spite of the great decline in the record from the 1965 season to this 1966 season, I remain mostly optimistic about the team's future.
My biggest concern is certainly the pitching staff. At this late stage of the season, the starting staff, while not great, has been mostly pretty decent. Statistically, basically middle of the pack. The bullpen, on the other hand, has been mostly atrocious. With the pleasant exception of the development of flame-thrower Armando Cruz over the course of the season. Bill Roache, who was at least our third best pitcher in 1965, has had a horrendous season and it is showing no signs of improving.
The thing is though, the bullpen is quite young at this point and it is likely that Roache will bounce back next year and a few others might start to see their stats more closely match their perceived skills (ratings). The starting staff, meanwhile, is mostly getting old. The only part of the team where that can really be said.
So, 1967 might see a somewhat better bullpen but a worse starting staff.

As far as position players, though, I have to think there will be more steps forward than backward in 1967. Shortstop Chad Brown and leftfielder Antonio Puente are showing all the signs of having star to superstar potential in this league. Tanner Yurek is starting to look like a solid young star at secondbase and hopefully next season can be more consistently good. Catcher Sam Rogers is in the prime of his career and already a two-time All-Star. He will likely at least equal his 1966 production in 1967. Rookies Erik Shelton and Tom O'Donnell have both acquitted themselves well in supporting roles this season and if even one of them takes a step forward in 1967 that could bode well for the team. A.J. White is getting old, but has had a great season in 1966 at the plate. With his defensive skills at third diminishing, he will likely be used a bit more at firstbase next season (good platoon potential with young left-handed hitter Shelton). Zach Banks will likely share time in centerfield with Pat Rondeau. They are both exceptional defenders, speedy runners, and unproven bats. But Rondeau his decent contact potential and great gap power, so if he is ready he might start pushing Banks for the bulk of the playing time.

And then there is Ruben Souffront. What to make of Ruben? His overall skills set still looks solid. He has exceptional speed, above average hitting ability (with even some possible untapped power potential), and is a solid, if unspectacular, defender in rightfield. But his eye at the plate is really holding him back and he took a big step backwards this year from his rookie season. Lately he's been showing a bit of promise again, but he's going to have to take a big step forward next season if he's to hold off the fairly plentiful outfield prospects in the system.

So, what will really happen? Only time will tell. I remain confident that our scouting director knows what he is doing (he has a very good reputation) and I want to believe that this young team will blossom in the next season or two. Meanwhile, it looks like we will have a nice high draft pick in the coming new player draft. That can't hurt, long-term anyway.

But what to do about that aging pitching rotation? That remains the nagging question. (And the need for at least one or two good lefties in the pen.)