General Category => General WBA Discussion => WBA Times => Topic started by: Huckleberry on September 24, 2017, 05:49:08 PM
Title: ABL 2109-2110 Hot Stove Preview
Post by: Huckleberry on September 24, 2017, 05:49:08 PM
Monday, November 25, 2109 Santo Domingo by Odin Locks
As is the norm, we are publishing our offseason preview for the Americas Baseball League, but this year we have been beaten to the punch as several major trades took place before the offseason began. Several clubs raised concerns over the implications of this activity and we have learned from multiple sources that future years will not see such early activity as the WBA office will not allow player trade movement until the WBA Championship Series is over.
The major trades have been covered as the Santo Domingo Palmchats began their rebuilding process and shipped several major names around the globe. So we will focus in this preview edition on available names on the free agent market.
The major names are starting pitchers as the position player depth is fairly weak this offseason. The two major names are Kipchoge Kemboi and Andy Stone, Stone having been the center of late season drama between Melbourne, Mumbai, and Stone's agent Scott Boras V. Several sources confirm that Stone indicated he would be willing to negotiate if traded but as soon as the trade was finalized his story changed. Of relievers, the ageless Falco Venema appears to be the top prize this hot stove season.
On the other side of the field Toshikuni Hashimoto is the pick of the litter but there are rumors that he may be in a personal state of upheaval after his agent declined a $38M over 2 years extension offer that blocked a trade just before the offseason began. After him it's a little thin but there are definite starting caliber players available as a final piece toward a 2110 playoff run.
2110 Predicted Standings (as of 11/25/2109):
NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION
Team
W
L
PCT
GB
Northwest Emeralds
87
69
0.558
-
Mexico City Aztecs
83
73
0.532
4
Los Angeles Stars
82
74
0.526
5
Carolina Flight
67
89
0.429
20
Ottawa Whiskey Jacks
54
102
0.346
33
LATIN AMERICAN DIVISION
Team
W
L
PCT
GB
Sao Paulo Toucans
98
58
0.628
-
Buenos Aires Dolphins
93
63
0.596
5
Rio de Janeiro Jaguars
86
70
0.551
12
Puerto Rico Coqui
70
86
0.449
28
Santo Domingo Palmchats
60
96
0.385
38
Title: Re: ABL 2109-2110 Hot Stove Preview
Post by: Bob_Meteors on September 24, 2017, 05:55:28 PM
Interesting article!! Hard to believe BA loses the division by 5... but I guess Zam really helps.
player depth is fairly week this offseason. The two major names are Kipchoge Kemboi and Andy Stone, Stone having been the center of late season drama between
*weak*
Title: Re: ABL 2109-2110 Hot Stove Preview
Post by: philip-whiskeyjacks on September 24, 2017, 06:16:20 PM
Fifty-four games for the Whiskey Jacks. We think not.
- Pierre Gastineau and Philip Hubbard, owner and GM
Huck, thanks for the article.
Title: Re: ABL 2109-2110 Hot Stove Preview
Post by: CaseyBlakeDeWitt on September 24, 2017, 11:36:37 PM
Holy moly. I definitely felt better than last year, but 98 wins sounds high to me. Guess full seasons of Romano/Bailey/Luo/Masyagin, plus the addition of Zamorov will all help pretty significantly though