IBL Asian Division Review (updated 1/10)

[Karachi_GM]

Reviewing the IBL Asian Division

by Hasan Khan, Sports Editor (Karachi Dawn)
December 15, 2106
Updated January 10, 2107 – updates in blue italics below (Seoul)

Just three wins separated the top four teams in the Asian Division of the International Baseball League last year.  Are we in for another barnburner type season or will someone step up and outclass the rest of the division?

Brisbane Bandits
The former Tokyo Samurai begin their third season down under after having won the division for two straight years.  After 103 wins and an 11-game wipeout in 2105, the Bandits regressed to 84 wins last seasons to squeak out the divisional crown by one game and eventually win the IBL title before falling to Santo Domingo in the WBA World Series.  The Bandits begin 2107 without closer Jose Hernandez, catcher Xie-li Kang and first baseman Jose Aguila who respectively posted WARs of 1.7, 2.7, and 4.5.  To date the Bandits have not signed any free agents to replace these key guys.  That’s a lot of WAR to do without.  Without Aguila at 1B, the right side of the infield is in question, especially since 35-year-old Prospero Calaa will be out of action until mid-June.  Can he rebound at his age from a torn cruciate ligament?  Bright young stars like Yu-zhang Chiang, Tamirat Sifiye, Gong Jiang, and Stephane Salomon litter the lineup, and Reomel Sapo is a capable catcher.  The bullpen is world class even without closer Hernandez, but there are serious questions about the rotation.  Reliever Imazighen Kitur should make the jump from AAA to bullpen stardom in Brisbane.

Mumbai Cobras
The Cobras finished two games back before a playoff game for second place (which they won).  They have lost closer Rubem Chaby and reliever Juan Varela (combined WAR of 1.6) to free agency as well as pitcher Manny Mendoza (who won’t be missed).  Andy Stone, Jose Ramirez, Da’ud bin Abbas, and Chua Chay Chan lead a strong starting rotation and Amoghadasana Ullas is a capable closer (who hopefully won’t blow eight saves like he did last year).  The rest of the bullpen save for Galip Orga is decidedly ordinary.  Catcher Kitana Nibo, first baseman Ahvana Subbarayud, and outfielders Victor Ledesma and Lyonya Darchiev combined for an amazing 165 home runs and 424 runs batted in last season.  If young shortstop Yi-mou Fen and outfielder Tiago Celstino can overcome disappointing rookie seasons at the plate, the lineup will be formidable.  Mumbai has been silent so far in the free agent market, but the team has the makings for a run at the divisional crown.

Karachi Falcons
The Falcons also finished two games behind Brisbane after leading the division by up to four games for awhile.  Karachi lost even more WAR to free agency that Brisbane: gone are first baseman Konosuke Sanu, catcher  Trigana Chioke, and right fielder Luis Rivera.  Each had a WAR of 3.0 to 3.3.  And there have been no free agent signings.  Still. the Falcons have two capable catchers, and Tsadik Shukrani will produce a lot more hits albeit with less home runs.  Rookie Vasantha Yudhajit takes over in right field and Cheng-en Jiang came over in a trade for prospects to take over first base.  Don’t be mislead by Jiang’s negative WAR last season – he was seriously out of position as London tried to make him an outfielder.  Third baseman Toshikuni Hashimoto had the highest WAR (8.0) in the IBL last season and provides great power and solid defense.  Erwin Beza is a budding star in left, and if Xian-yao Nan can improve on his rookie .240 season, the outfield will be OK.  The rotation’s success will probably depend on how high-profile rookies Bhuvanesh Chandak and  El-Fatih Mwendapole fare.  Kipchoge Kemboi vaulted to stardom last year – his 2.34 ERA and 1.0 WHIP were best in the league, and veteran Fernando Cuevas has won 29 games over two years.  Myeong-hwan Lee and  Kumanosuke Sato anchor a strong bullpen.

Singapore Merlions
Just one game behind Mumbai and Karachi last year, Singapore lost three negative WAR players to free agency but also quality third baseman  Eligio Sciama with a solid 4.0 WAR.  Inactive to date in free agency, the Merlions have some holes to plug.  Casian Bejan and Gadiel bin Salman are quality young starters at the top of a rotation whose success will depend heavily on rookie Abdeljilill Abedi for overall success.  Richello Montebon and Samant Tasneen round out a strong rotation.  They don’t come any better as a closer than Lyonechka Emyashev but the rest of the pen except for Charles Guillot is suspect.  Offensively, Singapore most reliable hitters last season were catcher  Jack Playne, third baseman  Hafiz Yusaf Khel, and 35-year-old outfielder  Hicham Nassor.  Has Nassor got anything left in the tank.  For success Singapore needs Ninfa Sator to step it up from his .213 average and rookie Pin-zhen Chan to succeed in the bigs.

Seoul Crushers
It has been five years since the Crushers managed a .500+ season, and they would have to improve a ton to improve on a 56-win season last year.  Seoul lost four decent players to free agency headed by quality right fielder Yasser Chaga whose quality bat will be missed.  His output will be more than made up for by slugging first baseman Juan Hernandez, a free agent signee.  With 180 career home runs and a lifetime BA of .302, Hernandez is a bona fide future hall of famer and will be a major force in 2107.  But he will be 37 years old on opening day and a five-year deal worth $44 million with no team options seems a like a potential budget drain in the future.  Hernandez will join an offense that is anchored by catcher Shinsui Kato (33 HRs), shortstop Xiao-yan Song, and young outfielders Roger Duquesne and Vasantha Saswata.  Duquesne and Saswata need to improve on mid-.230 batting averages for Seoul to improve its offense.  The other free agent signee, closer Jose Hernandez will give the Crushers a solid finisher to join Hamzah Walliyullah and Vasantha Saswata in the pen.  The rotation, however, may be headed by Cirayu Rasiah who was 0-4 as a rookie in 2106.  That’s not a healthy omen for a successful starting staff.  The bullpen will be plenty busy, and a follow-up last place finish is the most likely outcome for Seoul.
On January 4th the Seoul Crushers made their third major signing of the off-season.  No one in the Asian Division of the IBL has been more active.  Joining closer Jose Hernandez and first baseman Juan Hernandez as member of the Crushers (both discussed above) will be 28-year old ace starting pitcher Roberto Morales.  Morales has been one of the top starters in baseball for seven years and over the past three seasons has posted 53 wins against just 19 losses.  He will be clearly the outstanding ace of a decidedly talent challenged staff.

[Huckleberry]

Nice writeup, sir.

[Karachi_GM]

Premature team reviews were updated on 1/10  after the only significant roster change free agency signed in the division.