Karachi Team Looks Similar to Last Year

[Karachi_GM]

New Year in Karachi

by Hasan Khan, Sports Editor (Karachi Dawn)
April 19, 2106

Roster-wise, 2105 was a tumultuous year for the Karachi Falcons.  New management took over and had to install a revolving door on the clubhouse to facilitate players coming and going.  But by year-end there was a general level of satisfaction amongst management that the basic elements for a new era were in place.  The team finished out the year with a n 82-74 mark before unfortunately losing a playoff game for the last wildcard playoff berth. 

The Karachi front office, patient and confident to wait for the development of its farm system, was very quiet in the free agent market.  Only one player was targeted for acquisition, and Karachi was successful in landing relief pitcher Kumanosuke Sato to bolster the bullpen for 2106.  Age 34, Sato has been around the IBL since 2100 when he debuted with London after being acquired in the 55th round of the league’s inaugural draft. He became a free agent after that season and promptly signed a five year deal worth $28 million with Seoul.  He declined his player option for the final year and then signed a one-year deal for $5.34 million with Rome.  Rome failed to extend his contract after last season.  Save for one bad year in 2103, Sato has been a solid reliever although arguably not worth in excess of $5 million per year.  Karachi offered, and he accepted a much more reasonable deal (from the front office perspective) of $2.1 million per year for three years with no options or bonuses included.

The 2106 season is underway and the Falcons have started pretty well with a 7-4 mark to date.  Only time will tell how improved the team might be.

Here’s how the roster shapes up for the year:

Infield
1B: Konosuke Sanu – comes off career year in which he led the IBL in runs (103), HRs (45), and RBIs (104).  4.3 WAR.
2B: Luo-lang Wang – came of age, led IBL in PAs (701), ABs (640), and triples (15).  Hit very respectable .277 in a pitching dominant league.  5.5 WAR.
3B: Toshikuni Hashimoto – high priced FA did not disappoint with 37 HRs and .506 slugging percentage.  6.4 WAR
SS: Teh-huai Guo – output dropped slightly but still had respectable offensive numbers, won Gold Glove at SS for 3rd straight year.  4.8 WAR
Utility: Resit Gurânî – no offensive threat but plays superb defense at all four infield spots.  Saw action in over 100 games for late inning defense.
Utility: Asad bin Jafar – unexpectedly hit .319 while substituting in both IF and OF. 
1B Backup: Antinko Habibulaev – starting in RF for most of last year to get his power bat in lineup.  Hit 24 HRs.  Starts year in AAA but could get call-up.

Outfield
LF: Erwin Beza – mid year call-up last year earned stripes and will start in left.  Still has uindiscovered power potential at age 22.  1.6 WAR.
CF: Xian-yao Nan – highly touted but failed to hit in 13 game trial last year.  Must deliver for team to make a playoff run.
RF: Luis Rivera – hit 32 home runs in 2104 but tailed off dramatically last season when hampered with injuries.  7.6 WAR dropped to 2.7.
OF: Da-xia Yang – stunning speed but failed to crack .200 last season in first full year.  Must do better to stick with team.
OF: Atindra Kaisch – lightly regarded by scouts but hit exceptional .280 last year in reserve role.  Like Yang, has great speed.
Lurking: Vasantha Yudhajit – starts year in AAA but likely to be in starting lineup sooner rather than later.  Jumped from rookie ball to AAA last year.

Catching
C: Trigana Chioke – dropped from .271 to .190 last year but still recorded a 2.4 WAR.  Good power.  Big rebound anticipated.
C: Tsadik Shukrani – hit .250 in 58 games, will take over if Chioke fails to deliver offensively.
C: Zelalem Luzige – another disappointment at the plate last year (.200), he starts this year at Faisalabad (AAA).

Rotation
#1: Fernando Cuevas – FA acquired last year, delivered the goods, 15-4, 3.39.  Tops the rotation for now
#2: Kipchoge Kemboi – 13-10, 3.91 as rookie.  Still improving.  Questionable stamina for starter but seems to get the job done.  Has 95 pitch limit.
#3: El-Fatih Mwendapole – Number one draft pick last year saw action at three levels and excelled in AAA (7-0, 1.17 in seven starts)
#4: Shuncho Kan – has won at least 10 games for Falcons for six straight seasons.  Very comfortable at number four spot rather than number two
#5: Kuan Kuo – Only 22 and still needs to work on his repertoire.  Gets his shot now.
Lurking: Bhuvanesh Chandak - #2 pick last year, moved up from rookie ball, A, and AA to Faisalabad.  14-5 overall.  Expect to see him soon.

Bullpen
CL: Myeong-hwan Lee – veteran had career high 45 saves but ERA went from three years below 2.00 to 3.41.  Solid perfomer.
Setup: Kumanosuke Sato – newcomer FA brings solid credentials as key setup man for Lee. 
Setup: Jin-suk Kim – acquired in trade last year, rebounded from horrific start to post solid numbers. 
Middle: Dermott Baldwin – 11-9, 3.12 as starter last year, but much more comfortable in the bullpen.  Improves the middle relief prospects dramatically.
Middle: Rick Etheridge – Had decent enough season last year after coming over as a FA from the ABL.
Middle: Wiyoto Susanti – good enough to be setup guy last year, should be more comfortable in middle relief.
Long: Sixto Colón – will probably be confined to long relief and low leverage situations.