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1990 Recap
93-69; lost in first round
3.90 ERA
.281 average
Optimal Lineup
1. SS Roger Willis - R
2. LF Teagan Cannell - L
3. C Clint Underwood - L
4. 3B Hector Carbajal - S
5. DH Dani Rodriguez - L
6. CF Stu McGee - L
7. 1B Dave Wyatt - R
8. RF Greg Josey - L
9. 2B Frank Rancourt - L
At the top you find defensive stud, Roger Willis. Why would you ever want a career .234 hitter in the leadoff spot? When he can get 100 walks in a year. Willis had a .364 (and .373 in ’89) OBP. If he gets on base, with no outs, you’re in trouble. In the two-hole, Teagan Cannell will try and survive in LF. At the plate, he is capable of hitting .350. Next is Clint Underwood, who is rumored to be on the trade block. He is a career .328 hitter. Fourth is “Rock and Roll” himself. His ’90 campaign was a little disheartening after his monstrous (1.029 OPS, 44 HR, 47 double, 136 RBI) season in ’89. Next is Dani Rodriguez, who had a very impressive 118 games, totaling 16 HR, 74 RBI, .890 OPS, and he walked (52) more than he struck out (46). Jeez, who didn’t have a good year for this team? Stu McGee (yeah, I had never heard of him either) hit .311 last season. Wyatt and Josey will probably have an OPS in the mid .700s. Rancourt…might be in danger of losing his job. However, top to bottom, a very, very impressive group.
Projected Rotation
1. Joe Aurillo - L
2. Brian Hanrahan - R
3. Don Stevens - R
4. Charlie O’Rogan - R
5. Alex Rivas - R
“Bluto” has now gone 30-15 in his two seasons with the Slammers. Last season he set a career high with four complete games, two for shutouts. No, at 30-years-old, he isn’t going to strike out 280 again (’84). No, he isn’t going to go 22-1 again (’83). But the guy is a legit ace and clearly leads this group. Behind him, another former Porter import, “Giant Killer.” In his first full season as a starter, the 35-year-old (now 36), pitched 205 innings, with a 3.02 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. Does he have another season like that in him? We shall see. Stevens is a former #1 pick, projected ace, turned middle reliever and now looks like he will be back in the rotation. Hard to believe the guy is only 25-years-old after debuting with the Storm back in ’83 at 17 years old. O’Rogan is an innings eater who gives your team a chance every five days. He has pitched at least 171 innings a season for the past seven seasons, including a career high 201 last year. Filling out the final spot is last season’s closer Rivas. That’s kind of a theme with the Slammers. They love playing former starters in the pen and former bullpen arms in the rotation. I know. It’s weird.
Spring Training Position Battle
2B: Frank Rancourt vs. Cristobal Sandoval
Rancourt hit .341 as recently as ’88. Even in ’89, he had a very solid season. However, his ’90 was the worst of his BLB career, where he slumped to a .236 average. A career .299 hitter, Rancourt, who turns 33 in April, might lose his job to a youngster. Sandoval was once considered one of the top 100 prospects in the game. However, he has yet to reach that once very high potential, but he still might have the skills (defensively, on the base paths) to push Rancourt to the bench.
Prospect Watch
SP Jerry Wilson
Currently the 72nd overall prospect in the BLB, Wilson will likely star the year in Triple-A New York. Last year, his first at that level, he went 6-6 with a 3.80 ERA. Clearly, he still needs to refine his pitching, but don’t be surprised to see him crack the rotation sometime this summer.
Season Projection
This has been Syracuse thrown for the past two seaons. 100 wins in ’89. 93 wins in ’90. The offense is stacked. The pitching staff is very deep and flexible (that’s what he said.) Although the division is very tough, it’s the Slammer’s to lose.
1990 Recap
93-69; lost in first round
3.90 ERA
.281 average
Optimal Lineup
1. SS Roger Willis - R
2. LF Teagan Cannell - L
3. C Clint Underwood - L
4. 3B Hector Carbajal - S
5. DH Dani Rodriguez - L
6. CF Stu McGee - L
7. 1B Dave Wyatt - R
8. RF Greg Josey - L
9. 2B Frank Rancourt - L
At the top you find defensive stud, Roger Willis. Why would you ever want a career .234 hitter in the leadoff spot? When he can get 100 walks in a year. Willis had a .364 (and .373 in ’89) OBP. If he gets on base, with no outs, you’re in trouble. In the two-hole, Teagan Cannell will try and survive in LF. At the plate, he is capable of hitting .350. Next is Clint Underwood, who is rumored to be on the trade block. He is a career .328 hitter. Fourth is “Rock and Roll” himself. His ’90 campaign was a little disheartening after his monstrous (1.029 OPS, 44 HR, 47 double, 136 RBI) season in ’89. Next is Dani Rodriguez, who had a very impressive 118 games, totaling 16 HR, 74 RBI, .890 OPS, and he walked (52) more than he struck out (46). Jeez, who didn’t have a good year for this team? Stu McGee (yeah, I had never heard of him either) hit .311 last season. Wyatt and Josey will probably have an OPS in the mid .700s. Rancourt…might be in danger of losing his job. However, top to bottom, a very, very impressive group.
Projected Rotation
1. Joe Aurillo - L
2. Brian Hanrahan - R
3. Don Stevens - R
4. Charlie O’Rogan - R
5. Alex Rivas - R
“Bluto” has now gone 30-15 in his two seasons with the Slammers. Last season he set a career high with four complete games, two for shutouts. No, at 30-years-old, he isn’t going to strike out 280 again (’84). No, he isn’t going to go 22-1 again (’83). But the guy is a legit ace and clearly leads this group. Behind him, another former Porter import, “Giant Killer.” In his first full season as a starter, the 35-year-old (now 36), pitched 205 innings, with a 3.02 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. Does he have another season like that in him? We shall see. Stevens is a former #1 pick, projected ace, turned middle reliever and now looks like he will be back in the rotation. Hard to believe the guy is only 25-years-old after debuting with the Storm back in ’83 at 17 years old. O’Rogan is an innings eater who gives your team a chance every five days. He has pitched at least 171 innings a season for the past seven seasons, including a career high 201 last year. Filling out the final spot is last season’s closer Rivas. That’s kind of a theme with the Slammers. They love playing former starters in the pen and former bullpen arms in the rotation. I know. It’s weird.
Spring Training Position Battle
2B: Frank Rancourt vs. Cristobal Sandoval
Rancourt hit .341 as recently as ’88. Even in ’89, he had a very solid season. However, his ’90 was the worst of his BLB career, where he slumped to a .236 average. A career .299 hitter, Rancourt, who turns 33 in April, might lose his job to a youngster. Sandoval was once considered one of the top 100 prospects in the game. However, he has yet to reach that once very high potential, but he still might have the skills (defensively, on the base paths) to push Rancourt to the bench.
Prospect Watch
SP Jerry Wilson
Currently the 72nd overall prospect in the BLB, Wilson will likely star the year in Triple-A New York. Last year, his first at that level, he went 6-6 with a 3.80 ERA. Clearly, he still needs to refine his pitching, but don’t be surprised to see him crack the rotation sometime this summer.
Season Projection
This has been Syracuse thrown for the past two seaons. 100 wins in ’89. 93 wins in ’90. The offense is stacked. The pitching staff is very deep and flexible (that’s what he said.) Although the division is very tough, it’s the Slammer’s to lose.
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