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To start the season, we are going with just 2 starters from game 1 last year, but 5 starters from the end of the season:
1-LF Daniel Varnell. Ever since he won the MVP in the World Series as a rookie, I've wanted to try to get him but was unable until a few weeks ago. While he forces a good LF over to play RF and hurting our defense, I think he will hit .300 for me.
2-SS Tony Fernandez. Not a great hitter, but had his best season as a 30 year old last year and if he can repeat that, I will take it.
3-1B Jeff King. Our best hitter last year and he re-signed for this year. Won't walk much, but will get 20-30 HR and 70-90 RBI, hopefully.
4-3B Jeff Barry. The 24-year old hit .286 with 13 HR's in half a season last year and had a good spring as well. If he's legit, our offense could be....average.
5-CF Kevin Reimer. Hit .278 with 11 HR in 400 AB's last year, being hampered by a sprained finger for 3 months.
6-RF Wes Chamberlain. A much better LF, he will move to right to make room for Varnell. The best find in the expansion draft, he hit .294 with 33 doubles, 9 triples and 12 homers last year.
7-C Tony Barron. Our 2nd best find last year, he hit .273 with 11 HR in 450 AB's last year and added 12 steals as well.
8-2b Tony Tarasco. Acquired late in the season last year, he has some pop, some wheels and can play 4 positions well. He may not play 140 games at 2b, but his versatility will be big for us.
Rick Wilkens returns as the back up catcher but Luis Gonzalez beat out Paul Sorrento for the back up 1b/of position with a huge spring. We unfortunately lost Sorrento to a waiver claim.
F.P. Santangelo hit well for us last year as short, but doesn't have the glove Fernandez has. Like Tarasco, he plays 4 positions and will likely get into a ton of games.
We lost Al Martin to a waiver claim when Matt Mieske and Chris Cron beat him out for the last OF position. (Why are teams claiming my players who I send to AAA? We stink!)
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