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luckymann · 09-03-2020, 08:33 PM

LAST YEAR: 62-78 23 GB, 6th / .318 / 4.76
BNN PREDICTION: 74-66 8 GB, 3rd / .265 / 2.87
FARM SYSTEM: 8th
PAYROLL: 15th, $19,565
HIGHEST PAID PLAYER: SS Angel Salazar, $1,400
CASH BALANCE: $111,776

Well the league’s “NKOTB” have wasted no time in showing the rest of the league that the shift in ownership and location has brought with it a shift in attitude, with the club heavily involved in the trade market over the offseason.

As the Orioles, this franchise was occasionally competitive but generally underwhelming. That said, they already had the makings of a good squad with a balanced mix of veterans and younger players. With some of the moves they have made, clubs such as Washington, Detroit, Philadelphia and Chicago will now be able to see them – albeit at a safe distance for now – in their rear-vision mirror. And, one would think, feel a bit uncomfortable about it. Especially with those types of mirrors making objects seem closer than they really are.

Danny O’Connell had a great rookie year and should be amongst it again this time around. John Wilson is a fantastic player who should feature heavily in MVP talks. At 29, Eric Soderholm has plenty of good years left in him. 2B Bump Wills seems too good a player to come off the bench so they’ll need to find a way to fit him into the everyday lineup. Rookie Mike Vail is a real smoky who could threaten for the batting title. Offseason acquisition JaCoby Jones is no superstar but should still be a solid contributor in CF. A solid bench will help keep things on a more even and consistent keel than previous seasons. On the whole things look good in this area.

But none of this will amount to a hill of beans if their pitching doesn’t hold up. Theirs isn’t a bad rotation by any means. But neither is it a great one. Juan Nieves and Jeremy Bonderman are a decent enough 1-2 pairing. But Mike McCormick and Ben McDonald – the self-styled “Mac Attack” – are both real question marks. Question marks that need a decent bullpen to get them the last 9 to 12 outs in tight games. A bullpen that, apart from Mike Paul and the injured Bob Sebra (he’ll be back mid-season at the earliest), the Highlanders simply do not possess at this point in time. With an abundance of talented position players biding their time at PSL Newark, perhaps the intention is to trade their way to possessing one. If so, they’d need to be sharpish about it, before the season gets away from them.

Look, it will most likely take a perfect storm for the Highlanders to see playoff action this year. But then again, stranger things have happened. I like the look of this ball club, but maybe next year. Ow! A splinter! Right in me keester!!

PLAYERS TO WATCH: OF John Wilson, 3B Eric Soderholm, SP Jeremy Bonderman

Opening Day squad.

09-03-2020, 08:33 PM	#195
luckymann Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2019 Posts: 13,742	1903 New York Highlanders LAST YEAR: 62-78 23 GB, 6th / .318 / 4.76 BNN PREDICTION: 74-66 8 GB, 3rd / .265 / 2.87 FARM SYSTEM: 8th PAYROLL: 15th, $19,565 HIGHEST PAID PLAYER: SS Angel Salazar, $1,400 CASH BALANCE: $111,776 Well the league’s “NKOTB” have wasted no time in showing the rest of the league that the shift in ownership and location has brought with it a shift in attitude, with the club heavily involved in the trade market over the offseason. As the Orioles, this franchise was occasionally competitive but generally underwhelming. That said, they already had the makings of a good squad with a balanced mix of veterans and younger players. With some of the moves they have made, clubs such as Washington, Detroit, Philadelphia and Chicago will now be able to see them – albeit at a safe distance for now – in their rear-vision mirror. And, one would think, feel a bit uncomfortable about it. Especially with those types of mirrors making objects seem closer than they really are. Danny O’Connell had a great rookie year and should be amongst it again this time around. John Wilson is a fantastic player who should feature heavily in MVP talks. At 29, Eric Soderholm has plenty of good years left in him. 2B Bump Wills seems too good a player to come off the bench so they’ll need to find a way to fit him into the everyday lineup. Rookie Mike Vail is a real smoky who could threaten for the batting title. Offseason acquisition JaCoby Jones is no superstar but should still be a solid contributor in CF. A solid bench will help keep things on a more even and consistent keel than previous seasons. On the whole things look good in this area. But none of this will amount to a hill of beans if their pitching doesn’t hold up. Theirs isn’t a bad rotation by any means. But neither is it a great one. Juan Nieves and Jeremy Bonderman are a decent enough 1-2 pairing. But Mike McCormick and Ben McDonald – the self-styled “Mac Attack” – are both real question marks. Question marks that need a decent bullpen to get them the last 9 to 12 outs in tight games. A bullpen that, apart from Mike Paul and the injured Bob Sebra (he’ll be back mid-season at the earliest), the Highlanders simply do not possess at this point in time. With an abundance of talented position players biding their time at PSL Newark, perhaps the intention is to trade their way to possessing one. If so, they’d need to be sharpish about it, before the season gets away from them. Look, it will most likely take a perfect storm for the Highlanders to see playoff action this year. But then again, stranger things have happened. I like the look of this ball club, but maybe next year. Ow! A splinter! Right in me keester!! *PLAYERS TO WATCH: OF John Wilson, 3B Eric Soderholm, SP Jeremy Bonderman* Opening Day squad. Attached Images Last edited by luckymann; 09-06-2020 at 07:55 PM.