[Westheim]

2060 PORTLAND RACCOONS – Opening Day Roster (first set in parenthesis shows 2059 stats, second set career stats; players with an * are off season acquisitions;

SP Bobby Herrera, 29, B:R, T:R (12-12, 3.08 ERA | 24-23, 3.15 ERA) – the strikeouts went up in his second season over from Cuba with that changeup and slider combo gaining some teeth up to almost 200 strikeouts in 227 innings. Tipsy Bobby continued to get no run support, though, and will keep looking for a 13th win to a season.
SP Zach Stewart, 32, B:L, T:L (1-3, 3.55 ERA | 48-57, 3.81 ERA, 3 SV) – missed most of his second season as a Raccoon after suffering a torn rotator cuff in May, when he looked like he might repeat his nice 2.89 ERA from ’58. Didn’t get back to pitching until deep into the winter, and the Raccoons will have to hope that all the stitches hold together.
SP Tyler Riddle *, 28, B:L, T:L (no stats (injured) | 53-38, 2.99 ERA, 2 SV) – signed as free agent from the Loggers after missing half of ’58 and all of ’59, and it looked bad enough for him at times that he could not get more than a 1-year contract, either. In the six (partially partial) seasons he did pitch for Milwaukee, he got some nice results with a top level changeup.
SP Chance Fox, 25, B:L, T:L (14-5, 3.86 ERA | 20-13, 4.13 ERA) – former #3 pick and groundballer with iffy control, Fox was promoted from St. Pete in the middle of the 2058 season and got roughed up regularly, but pitched a few nice games as well. Also throws 96 with a nice slider and changeup. Led the team in W’s in 2059, but we’d hope for better still than 4.1 BB/9 and 6.1 K/9.
SP Justin DeRose, 26, B:S, T:R (8-13, 3.78 ERA | 13-21, 4.18 ERA) – one of two Texan rookies acquired from the Crusaders for 2057 Opening Day man Kennedy Adkins and Oscar Caballero at the deadline in 2057, him and Sensabaugh were thrown right into the deep end and … it was much horror with both of them ever since. DeRose feigned enough occasional competence to hang on to a roster spot for all of ’59, though, and kept his into the new season mostly because we didn’t have the budget space to acquire a big free agent hurler.

MR Alex Rios, 26, B:R, T:R (3-0, 2.21 ERA | 4-0, 2.81 ERA) – after four years of up and down, Rios finally made the Opening Day roster after already making 46 appearances last season. Best described as solid, with a very good fastball/slider combo and the heat topping out at 95, but not so great control and low stamina, so he wasn’t a long relief option even though he was perhaps the least cherished reliever in the fold to start the season.
MR Elijah LaBat, 26, B:L, T:L (0-1, 2.16 ERA | 0-1, 2.16 ERA) – cutter/curve left-hander that was taken in the supplemental round in ’56 and reached the majors for the first time last season, where we expected more than 4.9 K/9, but have yet to get it.
MR Reynaldo Bravo, 28, B:R, T:R (6-7, 3.38 ERA, 2 SV | 10-13, 3.27 ERA, 2 SV) – good fastball/curveball, not such a great rotator cuff. But he’s been healthy for the last couple of seasons, and struck out 10.0/9 in 2059 to assume primary right-handed duties after Takenori Tanizaki was divested of. The veteran additions to the pen will not keep him in a setup role, although his skill set allows us a great deal of mix-and-match with the bullpen.
MR Ruben Mendez *, 33, B:R, T:R (1-2, 3.00 ERA, 1 SV | 47-50, 3.50 ERA, 174 SV) – signed as free agent after a mostly injured season with the Wolves, although he won the CL saves title with the Knights in ’58, so he can definitely pitch; 2-year deal for this free agent.
SU Ricky Herrera, 28, B:L, T:L (11-4, 2.62 ERA, 1 SV | 16-7, 2.65 ERA, 1 SV) – former second-rounder with a fastball/slider combo that pitched very nicely in limited action in 2056 but his first full season was more of a struggle, with his K/BB getting somewhat unhinged, although he had his strong moments, too. After two years of solid duty and five wins in relief he then broke out to set a new franchise record for a reliever, winning 11 games out of the pen, and almost tying Tipsy Bobby for winningest Herrera on the roster. The primary lefty option in the pen with Eloy Sencion no more (besides Matt Walters of course).
SU Ryan Sullivan *, 30, B:L, T:R (8-6, 3.26 ERA | 50-50, 3.26 ERA, 141 SV) – two stints as a Crusaders closer, two years in L.A., and now a 3-year deal with the Raccoons as free agent; also a devious curveball in addition to the 94mph fastball.
CL Matt Walters, 29, B:L, T:L (1-1, 2.09 ERA, 42 SV | 11-12, 1.76 ERA, 159 SV) – the two-time … (gets eraser and goes to work) … the three-time CL Reliever of the Year and two-time CL saves champion pitched for a very steady season with few complaints and got the K/9 back up to 12.1/9 after a dip in the prior season when he missed two months and started slow after his return from a knee injury. Good boy. Loves snacks.

C Angel Perez, 24, B:R, T:R (.301, 3 HR, 29 RBI | .306, 3 HR, 31 RBI) – acquired with Jack Kozak from the Pacifics for mostly Jesus Martinez last July, Perez immediately made a bit of a splash, not necessarily in the power department, but with good work behind the plate and a steady supply of base hits and keeping the line moving. Runs like a catcher though, so we’ll probably have him hit behind all the other big guys that actually got legs.
C Chris Maresh *, 30, B:R, T:R (.217, 15 HR, 80 RBI | .236, 54 HR, 294 RBI) – Loggers’ primary catcher last year, so adjust your expectations, and now in as the backup catcher to Angel Perez. He is run of the mill for many categories, except that he has a bunch of pop.

1B Joel Starr, 27, B:L, T:L (.293, 19 HR, 86 RBI | .299, 26 HR, 113 RBI) – while he’s already a bit older than prime prospect porn, he still won a Platinum Stick in his first full season in the majors at age 26. Good steady bat with power, normal defense at first base, and then has not a lot of raw speed, but he somehow had timing the pitcher down and could steal a couple of bases here and there.
SS/2B/3B Nick Nye *, 29, B:R, T:R (.339, 35 HR, 96 RBI | .315, 132 HR, 586 RBI) – THE Addition of the offseason! Nick Nye was a former FL Player of the Year and had won a sack full of titles and awards with the Blue Sox in the last few years, including bagging the FL homer crown in 2059. While he would have to get used to playing second base, because even Players of the Year have to pay homage to King Lonzo, Nye is totally gonna be the first star position player in 50 years not to tank 50 points off his batting average and half his power within three minutes of arriving in Portland. Totally!
SS Lorenzo Lavorano, 32, B:R, T:R (.341, 1 HR, 8 RBI | .280, 35 HR, 506 RBI) – Everybody loves Lonzo! If you don’t love Lonzo, you can’t be my friend…! Has won seven stolen base titles in eight full (as in: not-injured) seasons, a Gold Glove at least once… and he keeps being a delight in the field and on the career steals list, where he crept into sixth place last year with 577 career thefts in 800 attempts – keep running, boy! Of course, running was not the issue last year – his shoulder came apart, and his season ended in April. That sucked.
3B/SS Tony Benitez, 27, B:S, T:R (.262, 0 HR, 13 RBI | .237, 0 HR, 17 RBI) – the Raccoons have a third base platoon between two switch-hitters, because why not fined new ways to be quirky? Benitez brings a stick better against right-handers, good defense at third base, and has been struggling to hit for a good while now and in several call-ups over multiple years.
2B/3B/SS David Gonzales, 27, B:S, T:R (.262, 0 HR, 12 RBI | .244, 2 HR, 22 RBI) – other half to the third base platoon; Gonzales was a Rule 5 pick lasty year; good defense at three positions, but can’t do anything but poke the odd single with the stick, and doesn’t really believe in the concept of ball four.
SS/2B Nick Fowler *, 29, B:L, T:R (.285, 5 HR, 47 RBI | .282, 21 HR, 193 RBI) – acquired from the Crusaders in a convenient deal that was their idea entirely, Fowler is an opposite-handed capable backup to Lonzo, who should get more days off to keep him in one piece now.
1B/CF/LF Jack Kozak, 25, B:R, T:R (.261, 0 HR, 4 RBI | .236, 0 HR, 6 RBI) – the other half of the July Pacifics trade last year, and he didn’t hit for a lot actually, but there is quite a bit of promise, if we can actually find a spot to play for him; right now he’s a right-handed batter without much of a position and will probably at one point be seen erring around a dark Raccoons Ballpark and misfiling a game-losing double in the outfield.

LF/RF/1B Trent Brassfield, 27, B:R, T:R (.289, 19 HR, 85 RBI | .280, 58 HR, 294 RBI) – sketchy defender that made a name with his stick as a 21-year-old before flaying a shoulder, and he’s chased that 151 OPS+ in 48 games ever since without getting remotely close. 2059 was a clear step in the right direction, though, his second 124+ OPS+ in three years, and solid, reliable, honest work.
CF/1B/LF/RF Noah Caswell, 30, B:L, T:L (.287, 21 HR, 107 RBI | .292, 74 HR, 463 RBI) – exceptional defender and well-above-average hitter that was signed on a huge $36M contract as a free agent from the Wolves. Four consecutive CF Gold Gloves in the Federal League leave no question about who will play that position on this roster! Okay he has yet to win one of those with the Raccoons, but we’re confident that he’ll catch some attention even on the wrong side of 30. Offensively, was a consistent force last year and piled up 56 extra-base hits mostly out of the #3 hole.
RF/LF/CF/1B Joey Christopher, 24, B:L, T:L (.219, 2 HR, 18 RBI | .237, 2 HR, 24 RBI) – yes, that’s our starting rightfielder, stop snickering. Joe-Chris has a .367 BABIP in the majors in three partial seasons, and most of that out of the leadoff spot. He’s not bringing the power, he’s giving the guys with the power something to drive home!
LF/RF/CF Oscar Caballero *, 36, B:S, T:R (.246, 4 HR, 35 RBI | .269, 79 HR, 675 RBI) – returns to Portland as free agent 2 1/2 years after leaving in the deal that brought in DeRose et al.; still a capable outfielder with wide range, and his bat, when not completely having his pants pulled down by BABIP, is still good enough for a close to .300 batting average with some extra-base power. Also a good presence on the roster.

On disabled list: Nobody.

Otherwise unavailable: Nobody.

Other roster movement:
SP/MR Colby Bowen, 31, B:R, T:R (0-0, 5.23 ERA | 0-2, 5.42 ERA) – waived and DFA’ed; nice young man that fell into the Coons’ lap eight years ago in a trade with the Warriors. Good character, just not a pitcher. 54 garbage time outings and two white flag spot starts in his career, for 79.2 innings over five seasons.
SP/MR Duarte Damasceno, 28, B:R, T:R (6-8, 3.90 ERA | 12-8, 3.70 ERA) – waived and DFA’ed; acquired from the Bayhawks in a rather dead trade, Damasceno, who was a Coons farmpaw as a teenager, has always struggled with control and spent much of the prior season in the minors. Replaced Stewart after the lefty’s injury, but was mostly annoying in the rotation, barely putting together more strikeouts than walks, and being quite hittable on top of that.
SP/MR J.J. Sensabaugh, 27, B:R, T:R (3-1, 4.67 ERA | 8-9, 4.86 ERA) – waived and DFA’ed; the other half next to DeRose that came back from New York for Kennedy Adkins three years ago, and he has yet to amount to more than garbage innings. Too many walks, too many homers.
MR Adam Harris, 25, B:R, T:L (0-0, 1.17 ERA | 0-0, 3.89 ERA) – waived and DFA’ed; beset with control issues, he had a few nice outings in his annual pair of call-ups, but drew the short end of the stick against Elijah LaBat for the final roster spot.
MR Brad Loveless, 24, B:L, T:L (3-0, 1.88 ERA | 3-0, 1.88 ERA) – optioned to AAA; former Nick Brown Memorial Pick that was called up first in a dire spot and then permanently by the Raccoons last year, and made 33 appearances without drawing permanent ire. Walks were too high to persist against a former supplemental-rounder, but not too high for having been a #279 pick. Will probably be back at some point!
C Cortez Chavez, 26, B:R, T:R (.250, 0 HR, 0 RBI | .182, 0 HR, 13 RBI) – optioned to AAA; indifferent behind the dish, and couldn’t hit a lick during a long stint as backup in ’58, but only got into six games last year.
2B/LF Bernie Ortega, 23, B:R, T:R (.265, 1 HR, 15 RBI | .265, 1 HR, 15 RBI) – optioned to AAA; hit very well for two weeks after first getting promoted into our general middle infield mess last year, but eventually petered out to hitting at replacement level.
2B/SS/LF/3B Jon Bean, 25, B:L, T:R (.254, 1 HR, 19 RBI | .254, 1 HR, 19 RBI) – optioned to AAA; after getting a half-season’s worth of at-bats of being Lonzo’s injury replacement and living up to it by hitting at replacement level.
CF/LF Ben Morris, 22, B:L, T:L (.222, 0 HR, 2 RBI | .194, 0 HR, 2 RBI) – optioned to AAA; alternate version of Joey Christopher, except that he doesn’t have the arm to play rightfield and needs a lot more ripening.

Everybody not mentioned by now has already been waived, reassigned, or disappeared through a woodchipper during the offseason.

OPENING DAY LINEUP:

Vs. RHP: RF Christopher – SS Lavorano (Fowler) – CF Caswell – 2B Nye – 1B Starr – LF Brassfield – C Perez – 3B Benitez – P
Vs. LHP: RF Christopher (Caballero) – SS Lavorano – 2B Nye – CF Caswell (Caballero) – 1B Brassfield – C Perez – LF Kozak – 3B Gonzales – P

That’s a very dense lineup! …if Lonzo can stay productive, and if you mentally ignore the #8 spot.

OFF SEASON CHANGES:

The Raccoons won the offseason according to BNN, putting on 12.5 WAR, of which more than half came from the Nick Nye trade with Nashville. The other Nick (Fowler) added almost 3 WAR, and the free agents filled it out for another almost 3 WAR. Note that Tyler Riddle didn’t add anything in there because he didn’t pitch at all in 2059.

Top 5: Raccoons (+12.5), Gold Sox (+7.6), Capitals (+6.2), Wolves (+5.1), Crusaders, Canadiens (+4.4 / tie)
Bottom 5: Aces (-6.2), Knights (-6.3), Loggers (-7.2), Bayhawks (-7.6), Blue Sox (-13.0)

The Indians remained indifferent with a +0.8 WAR, 9th among all teams, while the Titans lost -4.9 WAR, 19th in the league.

PREDICTION TIME:

I wasn’t a big believer in winning ways before last season, picking the team to win just 76 games but they took home 87. That was on the back of an underwhelming offseason where we missed out on our main target(s), and then had to settle for rentals.

Not such a problem this year. While the rotation still has question marks, all other areas of the roster have been overhauled and improved in the last ten months or so, and the team should challenge the Crusaders for the division. Whether we can actually get there…? No idea. But it’s not gonna be 15 games back at the All Star Game. Hopefully.

I’d say 92-70.

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT:

The Raccoons were 22nd in the farm rankings even entering the previous season, and then we lost half our ranked prospects: #115 Elijah LaBat and #137 Ben Morris exceeded rookie limits, and #60 Isaiah Birth, our top-ranked prospect, had to be sacrificed to the Blue Sox for Nick Nye in the winter. And that was before #164 John Bollinger dropped out of the ranks entirely in the new edition of the rankings, leaving us with just two outfielders.

The result? The Raccoons shot from 22nd to 7th in the new prospect rankings. What? Instead of six ranked prospects (three in the top 100), the Raccoons now had nine ranked prospects (but still three in the top 100), including a lofty #4 prospect that had been a $350k signing in the 2057 July IFA period.

4th (+71) – A RF/LF Jose Corral, 19 – 2057 international free agent signed by Raccoons
26th (new) – A 1B Jon Herbert, 18 – 2059 first-round pick by Raccoons
60th (new) – AAA SP Angel Alba, 23 – 2053 scouting discovery by Raccoons

120th (new) – A SP Victor Herrera, 19 – 2057 international free agent signed by Raccoons
127th (new) – A INF/RF/LF Victor Morales, 18 – 2059 international free agent signed by Raccoons
169th (new) – AAA 1B Joe Agee, 25 – 2056 first-round pick by Raccoons
182nd (new) – AA SP Daniel Benitez, 21 – 2057 international free agent signed by Raccoons
183rd (-99) – AA 2B/OF Jose Ulloa, 21 – 2055 international free agent signed by Raccoons
185th (new) – AA 1B Alex Vargas, 19 – 2058 second-round pick by Raccoons

The top 10 for the team are completed by AAA 1B Forbes Tomlin, our 2054 first-round pick.

Finally, the top 10 overall prospects this year are:

1st (0) – BOS ML OF Eddie Marcotte, 22
2nd (new) – IND A SP Matt Martin, 19
3rd (+2) – LVA AA OF Jake Evans, 22
4th (+71) – POR A RF/LF Jose Corral, 19
5th (+23) – NYC AAA RF/LF Javier Acuna, 24

6th (+11) – MIL AA RF Dave Wright, 20
7th (+55) – VAN AA SP Ken Nielsen, 21
8th (-6) – BOS AA SP Bryce Wallace, 20
9th (+4) – NAS ML C Nick Dingman, 24
10th (+1) – DAL AA SP Ian Peters, 20

Marcotte was the #1 prospect for the third straight year, and he was on the Opening Day roster after a September debut last year, hitting .279 in 20 games, with two homers and four stolen bases.

Matt Martin was the #2 pick in the most recent amateur draft in 2059. He was the only new draftee in the top 10, with the other six new entrants in the top 10 all having been taken in 2058 or earlier. That still left seven players that had been in the top 10 last year and now were not anymore.

Former #4 prospect C Nate Danis spent the entire season on the Scorpions roster and hit .225 with nine homers.

Ahead of him was Indians left-hander Mike DeWitt, but he appeared in only five games with the big league team for a 3.38 ERA, exceeded rookie limits along the way, and was now back in AAA Chandler anyway. Also exceeding rookie limits in 2059 was Chad Cardwell, Condors outfielder, batting .247 with two homers in 61 games for Tijuana, but the 23-year-old was now back to AAA Los Reyes.

Condors left-hander Ben Caldwell slid from #6 to #19 without getting out of AA Nogales. Indians right-hander Kelly Whitney had a strong season in single-A and was up to double-A at age 20, but was demoted from #7 to #12. The old #9 Ryan Davis, another Condors prospect pitcher (righty, though), dropped to #34 after not getting out of single-A ball. And former #10 prospect Tony Garcia, a Pacifics outfielder that spent all year in AAA, hitting a respectable .317 with five homers in 111 games, imploded all the way to #124, 114 positions in freefall.

Next: first pitch.