2010 Rebels Projection
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:21 pm
Weekend Starters:
Matt Snyder (DH) - Fr.; Returning
Kyle Henson (C) - Sr.; Graduating/Draft
Brett Basham (C) - Sr.; Graduating/Draft
Matt Smith (1B) - RSo.; Returning
Evan Button (2B) - RJr.; Probably Returning
Tim Ferguson (2B) - So.; Returning
Kevin Mort (SS) - Jr. (JUCO); Possibly Returning, Possibly Draft
Zach Miller (3B) - Jr.; Possibly Returning, Possibly Draft
Logan Power (OF) - Sr.; Graduating/Draft
Michael Hubbard (OF) - Sr. (JUCO); Graduating/Draft
Jeremy Travis (OF) - Sr. (JUCO); Graduating/Draft
David Philips (OF) - Jr.; Probably Returning
Jordan Henry (OF) - Jr.; Probably Drafted
Drew Pomaranz (P) - So.; Returning
Philip Irwin (P) - Jr.; Probably Returning
Scott Bittle (P) - Sr.; Graduating
Brett Bukvich (P) - Sr.; Graduating/Draft
Rest:
Freshmen (Definitely returning)
Kyle Barbeck
Taylor Hightower
Brett Huber
Mike Snyder
Kyle Thornton
Blair Wright
David Goforth (RFr.)
Michael Park (RFr.)
Cliff Vaughn (RFr.)
Sophomores (Definitely returning)
Matt Tracy
Logan Williams
Jake Morgan (RSo.)
Zack Rutland (RSo.)
Juniors (Probably returning, but draft eligible)
Nathan Baker
Aaron Barrett
Taylor Hashman
Cullan Kight
Rory McKean
Wade Broyles (RJr.)
There are some Jrs that I'm just not sure of. Mort, Miller, Irwin, and Henry are question marks. I'm sure some of them will be drafted, and I'm sure some of them won't--or will go so low that they decide to return next season. Right now I'm thinking there's a 70% chance that Mort and Henry are gone. I'll give Irwin and Miller a 50-50 chance. I think both will stay.
So if I'm right (and I'm usually not when it comes to the draft...) we'll need to fill C, SS, at least 2 OF, and at least 1 weekend starter on the mound. Worst case is that we lose 2 weekend starters, our entire outfield, and 3rd baseman.
I feel okay about catcher with Taylor Hightower on the roster, although we saw how long it took Henson to get adjusted to the everyday role and he never did develop the arm that Basham has.
Tim stepped up this year and did better than last season at 2nd. We were on him pretty bad at SS last season, but what most folks didn't realize is that he was playing hurt some last season too. He did okay this season and should be better next season.
I'd hate to see Mort leave after bring stability to the SS position this year. Same for Miller who did an outstanding job at being thrown into the 3B position and did a great job making that his home. But if they go, you have maybe Matt or Mike Snyder who could fall in there. I don't recall what all they each played in HS...so I'm not positive. I think SS is a position that Bianco would probably recruit a JUCO for. Maybe 3rd as well. It will depend on who comes back and who leaves. Hopefully both will stay.
OF is an issue. Taylor Hashman has gotten some PT. David Philips, of course. We'll see either a true freshman or a JUCO come in and play at least one of the 3 OF positions next year unless someone is converted.
Pitching will be a big strength of next season's team. Pom will anchor the rotation with Irwin (probably) still in the #2 spot. I think Barrett will get another shot in the 3rd spot and might do better as he show definite improvement as the season went on this year. It could also be Goforth or McKean competing for the other spot if they can prove they can go 110 or 120 pitches with good control. Possibly even Park, but I look for him to be a mid-week starter. Then again when it comes to pitchers, you never know when you might get a JUCO coming in to take a weekend spot. We keep Morgan and you know his stuff will be even nastier (is that a word?) next season. We all know he'll be the closer going in. Could he pull a Bittle and move into the Sunday starter spot? He doesn't really have the stamina though IMO. I think he could go 6 or 7 innings once or twice, but not every week. I think it will be like this season where we try several options to start and end up changing it a few times. Regardless, it's going to be an experienced, very SOLID pitching staff out there on the mound. Probably the best in the conference.
Offensively it's going to be the Matts (Snyder and Smith) being the work-horses again next season. I think we'll have a high team BA next season. I don't think we're going to have a pure HR hitter next year either, but personally I think a high BA hitter is better than a high HR hitter any day. Very, very few power hitters hit for average as well. High BA hitters are of course more likely to raise your RISP average which is what you must have.
Overall it's hard to say if we should expect a better or worse team next season. We'll have some key positions with experience like pitcher and 1B, but we'll have to break in some guys in the OF. There'll be some surprises in the offense cause there always is. Someone will have a breakout season and someone will fall apart at the plate. It just happens that way it seems.
We'll know more after this week's MLB Draft. What do you think? Better or worse next year? Who do you think we'll need to replace? Who looks to be up and coming stars? Who do you think will decline next season? Who could be a surprise hero?
Matt Snyder (DH) - Fr.; Returning
Kyle Henson (C) - Sr.; Graduating/Draft
Brett Basham (C) - Sr.; Graduating/Draft
Matt Smith (1B) - RSo.; Returning
Evan Button (2B) - RJr.; Probably Returning
Tim Ferguson (2B) - So.; Returning
Kevin Mort (SS) - Jr. (JUCO); Possibly Returning, Possibly Draft
Zach Miller (3B) - Jr.; Possibly Returning, Possibly Draft
Logan Power (OF) - Sr.; Graduating/Draft
Michael Hubbard (OF) - Sr. (JUCO); Graduating/Draft
Jeremy Travis (OF) - Sr. (JUCO); Graduating/Draft
David Philips (OF) - Jr.; Probably Returning
Jordan Henry (OF) - Jr.; Probably Drafted
Drew Pomaranz (P) - So.; Returning
Philip Irwin (P) - Jr.; Probably Returning
Scott Bittle (P) - Sr.; Graduating
Brett Bukvich (P) - Sr.; Graduating/Draft
Rest:
Freshmen (Definitely returning)
Kyle Barbeck
Taylor Hightower
Brett Huber
Mike Snyder
Kyle Thornton
Blair Wright
David Goforth (RFr.)
Michael Park (RFr.)
Cliff Vaughn (RFr.)
Sophomores (Definitely returning)
Matt Tracy
Logan Williams
Jake Morgan (RSo.)
Zack Rutland (RSo.)
Juniors (Probably returning, but draft eligible)
Nathan Baker
Aaron Barrett
Taylor Hashman
Cullan Kight
Rory McKean
Wade Broyles (RJr.)
There are some Jrs that I'm just not sure of. Mort, Miller, Irwin, and Henry are question marks. I'm sure some of them will be drafted, and I'm sure some of them won't--or will go so low that they decide to return next season. Right now I'm thinking there's a 70% chance that Mort and Henry are gone. I'll give Irwin and Miller a 50-50 chance. I think both will stay.
So if I'm right (and I'm usually not when it comes to the draft...) we'll need to fill C, SS, at least 2 OF, and at least 1 weekend starter on the mound. Worst case is that we lose 2 weekend starters, our entire outfield, and 3rd baseman.
I feel okay about catcher with Taylor Hightower on the roster, although we saw how long it took Henson to get adjusted to the everyday role and he never did develop the arm that Basham has.
Tim stepped up this year and did better than last season at 2nd. We were on him pretty bad at SS last season, but what most folks didn't realize is that he was playing hurt some last season too. He did okay this season and should be better next season.
I'd hate to see Mort leave after bring stability to the SS position this year. Same for Miller who did an outstanding job at being thrown into the 3B position and did a great job making that his home. But if they go, you have maybe Matt or Mike Snyder who could fall in there. I don't recall what all they each played in HS...so I'm not positive. I think SS is a position that Bianco would probably recruit a JUCO for. Maybe 3rd as well. It will depend on who comes back and who leaves. Hopefully both will stay.
OF is an issue. Taylor Hashman has gotten some PT. David Philips, of course. We'll see either a true freshman or a JUCO come in and play at least one of the 3 OF positions next year unless someone is converted.
Pitching will be a big strength of next season's team. Pom will anchor the rotation with Irwin (probably) still in the #2 spot. I think Barrett will get another shot in the 3rd spot and might do better as he show definite improvement as the season went on this year. It could also be Goforth or McKean competing for the other spot if they can prove they can go 110 or 120 pitches with good control. Possibly even Park, but I look for him to be a mid-week starter. Then again when it comes to pitchers, you never know when you might get a JUCO coming in to take a weekend spot. We keep Morgan and you know his stuff will be even nastier (is that a word?) next season. We all know he'll be the closer going in. Could he pull a Bittle and move into the Sunday starter spot? He doesn't really have the stamina though IMO. I think he could go 6 or 7 innings once or twice, but not every week. I think it will be like this season where we try several options to start and end up changing it a few times. Regardless, it's going to be an experienced, very SOLID pitching staff out there on the mound. Probably the best in the conference.
Offensively it's going to be the Matts (Snyder and Smith) being the work-horses again next season. I think we'll have a high team BA next season. I don't think we're going to have a pure HR hitter next year either, but personally I think a high BA hitter is better than a high HR hitter any day. Very, very few power hitters hit for average as well. High BA hitters are of course more likely to raise your RISP average which is what you must have.
Overall it's hard to say if we should expect a better or worse team next season. We'll have some key positions with experience like pitcher and 1B, but we'll have to break in some guys in the OF. There'll be some surprises in the offense cause there always is. Someone will have a breakout season and someone will fall apart at the plate. It just happens that way it seems.
We'll know more after this week's MLB Draft. What do you think? Better or worse next year? Who do you think we'll need to replace? Who looks to be up and coming stars? Who do you think will decline next season? Who could be a surprise hero?