Karachi Position Player Review - 2105

[Karachi_GM]

Karachi Positional Player Outlook

by Hasan Khan, Sports Editor (Karachi Dawn)
17 February 2105

Let’s take a look at the positional player possibilities for the Falcons this year:

[1B] Konosuke Sanu comes off a fine year (.261, 37 HRs. 95 RBIs, 5.9 WAR).  Strong defensively (+10.8 ZR] despite limited range and a weak arm.

Konosuke Sanu

[2B] Luo-lang Wang is highly regarded but must finally deliver offensively and defensively after a disappointing .201 year in which he missed four months with torn ankle ligaments.
[3B] Toshikuni Hashimoto improves the infield and should hit 35+ HRs and knock in 100.  +12 ZR and 5.9 WAR last season with Paris.
[SS] Teh-huai Guo is a solid player offensively and defensively.  Led league in hits last season and had +12 ZR.  Good range, good arm, slow.
[LF] Russian Antinko Habibulaev manned 3B last season and will struggle at his new position, but he brings 20 HRs to the lineup.
[CF] Luis Rivera is +19 ZR in CF and he solidifies the outfield defense.  Last year he stepped up his game and hit 32 HRs and knocked in 95 while leading the league in plate appearances.  Speedy, smart base runner stole team-best 17 bases in 22 attempts.  7.6 WAR led the team.
[RF] Sami Tumaini is a weak link defensively, but he gets on base a lot.  Led the league in walks last season and sported a 2.9 WAR.
[C] Trigana Chioke is strong offensively, adequate at best defensively.  5.9 WAR last year with 27 HRs and a .271 BA.
[Reserves]
[IF] With Moritz Segaar traded, backing up at 1B may be an issue.  Resit Gurânî is an ideal defensive utility man as he plays every IF position (including 1B) with aplomb, but he brings little to the plate offensively.  If he can match his .254 BA from last year, everyone will be delighted.  Asad bin Jafar has yet to deliver on his potential and is below average defensively.
[OF] Atindra Kaisch is the best defensive option at any spot, and he is an excellent base runner and stealer who hit .274 last year.  Octavian Gheara defied the experts by hitting .351 as a rookie, but that level seems very unsustainable.  He is adequate defensively.  Sun Gai is still around with his $7.5 million salary, but he easily cleared waivers and is unlikely to be on the roster.  Although easily capable of 35 HRs, his BA the last two years was .209 and .202, and he’s a defensive liability.  Be assured he will not make 530 plate appearances as that would extend his salary for another season.
[C] Zelalem Luzige could start for many teams and will be a primary pinch hitter.  His defense is adequate.  Tsadik Shukrani will be sitting at Faisalabad ready to help out, but he may be playing there mostly at 1B in an attempt to improve his versatility.