Post by Commissioner Erick on Sept 15, 2023 18:49:43 GMT -5
A previously brutal division and has been winnowed down to a pair of clubs at the top. Last year’s World Series champions, the Kansas City Royals, look to repeat with the same band that took the 2030 title, while the Cleveland Indians have the talent to wrestle the division back to Ohio. The Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox are undergoing rebuilds, while the Minnesota Twins don’t quite have the talent to contend with the teams at the top.
1) Kansas City Royals
2030: 102-61, AL Central champions. Defeated Cleveland 4-1 in ALDS, Defeated Texas 4-1 in ALCS, defeated Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 in World Series
Who They Were: Kansas City was 11th in average and first in on-base-percentage, which tells you how much they walked last year, and 36 home runs from Roderick Dalton and 45 from Jorge Vargas brought those runners home. Kansas City’s staff led the league in fewest walks and fewest homers allowed, on the way to the best ERA in the league. It took a 163rd game and a Grand Slam from Roderick Dalton to win the division, but Kansas City cruised in the playoffs on the way to a title.
Offseason Review: The Royals lost some key pieces. T.J. Zeuch is gone from the staff, and Jaquan Chassagne is gone from the rotation. Quadir Murriel and Xavier Edwards are no longer with the club, nor is Jesus B. Sanchez. Luis Garcia and Doug Rothenberg are on to replace the middle infield combination, with Eduardo Rodriguez and Marcus Thomas replacing Zeuch and Chassange., and giving Kansas City’s staff a heavy left-handed tilt.
On The Farm: Despite Kansas City’s success, the team has an elite farm. Michel Laffont is about a year away from being a 21-year-old frontline pitcher, while Caleb MacClellan and Eliott Overton are in their mid-20s and look like effective back end starters. LA Maquina, Carlos Torres, and Wild West Alex Munoz look like a pair of elite teenage prospects and who be used to grease a trade or to form the core of the next great Royals team.
Best Case Scenario: Kansas City wins the division in 162 games and goes 12-2 again in the playoffs.
Worst Case Scenario: The AL East winner survives the ALDS
Key Questions: Eduardo Rodriguez hasn’t looked dynamic his last few years with the Dodgers. What are you expecting from the veteran?
Jesus B. Sanchez was very solid last season. Do you feel you can adequately replace him?
2) Cleveland Indians
2030: 101-62, 2nd Place AL Central. Defeated Baltimore in AL Wild Card Game. Lost to Kansas City 4-1 in ALDS.
Who They Were: Cleveland won 101 games, but they couldn’t beat Kansas City in Game 163 to win the division, and couldn’t beat them in the ALDS to advance to baseball’s final four. The team was a fantastic run prevention team, allowing the second fewest runs in the league with 620, but it was still almost 8% more than Kansas City’s unit. Even with some big names, Cleveland’s offense underperformed, costing them in the playoffs.
Offseason Review: Nonnie Williams and Franklin Barreto left in free agency, and Bryce Harper retired. Cleveland will look to fill internally, with Federico Anziani taking over Second Base, and Brayan Hernandez poised to be the full time Left Fielder.
On The Farm: What was once a great farm as dried up, with only one Top 100 prospect, Justin Oberlander, ranked in the 90s. There’s actually a robust amount of replacement level depth in the upper minors with prospects who can develop into gap fillers when they fill out. That will help as Cleveland begins to become an expensive team. However, there isn’t the next star to supplement the current cast if someone has to move on.
Best Case Scenario: Cleveland is bringing back the same team that won 101 games, they can surely get 102.
Worst Case Scenario: Cleveland appears to be a clear class below Kansas City. They can pitch their way to the Wild Card Game, but they may not be able to hit their way past it.
Key Questions: Your offense wasn’t fantastic last year, and lost some pieces over the offseason. Why didn’t you make a move to add more juice to your offense?
Do you feel Jonathan Alba is good enough to be your fourth outfielder this season?
3) Minnesota Twins
2030: 82-80, 3rd Place AL Central
Who They Were: The Twins were a bit better than you remember, with a good starting staff and the fifth most runs scored in the American League. Gabe Bonilla bounced back from a somewhat down 2029, to post a 43-homer season that amounted to a league-leading 131 RBIs and 5.3 WAR. Orlando Arcia and Jim Sattler had stellar seasons, making up for the fact that the club’s nominal First Baseman and DH, Phil Plechaty and Frazer McWhir, each had an OPS+ under 100. The rotation was solid and consistent if wholly unspectacular, but the long and middle relief were sub-standard.
Offseason Review: The Twins lost Orlando Arcia and made few other key changes. McWhir will take over First Base from Plechaty who retired, and rookie Joe Jennings will likely take over DH. 2029 First Rounder Kaden Holton will take over at Third Base. The rest of the team will remain largely the same.
On The Farm: It’s a solid farm. Teenager Tanner Woolfrey will likely be relegated to being a DH, but he has an impact bat that’s already reaching minor league walls. Those pitches will go over the fence as he adds muscle. Oliver Gomez joins him in the low minors, but with a different approach as an aggressive, contact-happy Second Baseman. Vic Dethridge is a little older, 22, and could slot in as a second division starting outfielder when he puts it all together. The pitching crop is deep with mid-rotation prospects largely working through the mid-minors. Minnesota should have no problems filling out a rotation moving forward, though they may need to look elsewhere for a number two arm behind Jose Guerra.
Best Case Scenario: It doesn’t matter, the team has won between 78-82 games for four straight years and made no major changes, so they’re destined to finish .500 or so again.
Worst Case Scenario: It doesn’t matter, the team has won between 78-82 games for four straight years and made no major changes, so they’re destined to finish .500 or so again.
Deciding Questions: Your offense worked last year, but losing Arcia will hurt its ability to point runs on the board. Are you worried the club will take a step back offensively?
Is Joe Jennings good enough to be a starting DH, or are you still trying to upgrade the position from outside the organization?
4) Detroit Tigers
2030: 78-84, 4th Place AL Central
Who They Were: The Tigers played good defense to back up a solid staff, and Basket Case Benoit hit .330 with 30 homers and 39 doubles. The team still finished last in homers though, and lacked the high end talent to contend for more than a .500 record. Gilberto Celestino was shockingly terrible with a .600 OPS, and Ivan Johnson’s solid al-around play couldn’t make up for the loss of offensive superstar Roderick Dalton.
Offseason Review: Detroit is embracing the rebuild. Benoit and Johnson were traded away, as was Catcher Joe Swetz and reliever Mark Warf. Amari Maggette is currently a Free Agent. Orlando Arcia was signed to a reasonable contract to make sure the team was respectable, and reasonable veterans were acquired in trades, claimed off waivers, or signed to cheap deals to fill in. The roster has no power though and is just a stopgap as prospects begin to populate the system.
On The Farm: It’s a good farm, but not a great one as most of the better prospects are mid-rotation arms and serviceable players, rather than future all-stars. Sparky Ferrera is an exception though. An outfielder with an easy swing expected to get more powerful with age, he’s a future all-star. Detroit interestingly traded away a young phenom close to the majors in Josh Weaver to acquire Ferrera and a first round pick. Detroit is clearly working towards a longer timeline. Carlos Adame was the return for Ivan Johnson, and he’s the other big bat. He has big power and a steady swing, but may have to move off of Catcher. Mid-rotation arms pepper the mid-minors, while Second Basemen Abda bin Ayyub and Mark Dixon could probably slot in at Second Base this year.
Best Case Scenario: The team wins 70 games in a respectable campaign
Worst Case Scenario: The lack of power drags the offense down to a horrid level and Detroit loses 100.
Key Questions: This will likely be longtime Tiger Brice Turang’s last year on the team. What will his role be?
Marty Parham has had rough stints in the PBA the past two years. If this is a third year with negative WAR, will you begin to write him off, or is he still so young that he has a long leash?
5) Chicago White Sox
2030: 62-100, Last Place AL Central
Who They Were: Chicago’s pitching staff was respectable, but the offense was Angelian in the club’s first full year into their rebuild. Only three players played 100 games, and only Danny Villareal played more than 108. With 57 players cycling through Chicago, there was no way the club would gain the cohesion to do anything aside from lost 100 games.
Offseason Review: Virtually every third round pick in the league has cycled through Chicago, but the club won’t be trying to win too much in 2031. Dakota Hudson is the big free agent signing; he should be a stable force in the rotation. Ismael Morel was brought in from San Francisco. He was a good reliever for them in 2030. Most of the club will be some version of low-level prospect trying to earn a shot or underwhelming veteran whose main positive attribute is a low salary.
On The Farm: It’s an improving system with the best talent in the mid-minors. Andres Perez has developed very slowly, but he should be a big power hitter if he develops properly. Rich Vilchsis is a Center Fielder who runs, defends, walks, and makes contact. He should be a valuable major leaguer, though he’s still just 18. Tugboat Telmo Aldeagas should be a First Baseman who tugs a few hanging breaking balls beyond the left field fence. Ryan Hessler looks like an excellent defender, who may hit enough to warrant a starting spot at Second or Third Base, and may field enough to warrant a starting job at Shortstop. There are a billion Quad-A players that may make the Charlotte team better than Chicago’s.
Best Case Scenario: The team merely loses 100 games.
Worst Case Scenario: The club loses 115.
Key Questions: You have 10 Rule V guys on your team. Why do you plan on carrying all 10 of them?
Why did you acquire Dakota Hudson to add to a team of players in their 20s?
1) Kansas City Royals
2030: 102-61, AL Central champions. Defeated Cleveland 4-1 in ALDS, Defeated Texas 4-1 in ALCS, defeated Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 in World Series
Who They Were: Kansas City was 11th in average and first in on-base-percentage, which tells you how much they walked last year, and 36 home runs from Roderick Dalton and 45 from Jorge Vargas brought those runners home. Kansas City’s staff led the league in fewest walks and fewest homers allowed, on the way to the best ERA in the league. It took a 163rd game and a Grand Slam from Roderick Dalton to win the division, but Kansas City cruised in the playoffs on the way to a title.
Offseason Review: The Royals lost some key pieces. T.J. Zeuch is gone from the staff, and Jaquan Chassagne is gone from the rotation. Quadir Murriel and Xavier Edwards are no longer with the club, nor is Jesus B. Sanchez. Luis Garcia and Doug Rothenberg are on to replace the middle infield combination, with Eduardo Rodriguez and Marcus Thomas replacing Zeuch and Chassange., and giving Kansas City’s staff a heavy left-handed tilt.
On The Farm: Despite Kansas City’s success, the team has an elite farm. Michel Laffont is about a year away from being a 21-year-old frontline pitcher, while Caleb MacClellan and Eliott Overton are in their mid-20s and look like effective back end starters. LA Maquina, Carlos Torres, and Wild West Alex Munoz look like a pair of elite teenage prospects and who be used to grease a trade or to form the core of the next great Royals team.
Best Case Scenario: Kansas City wins the division in 162 games and goes 12-2 again in the playoffs.
Worst Case Scenario: The AL East winner survives the ALDS
Key Questions: Eduardo Rodriguez hasn’t looked dynamic his last few years with the Dodgers. What are you expecting from the veteran?
Jesus B. Sanchez was very solid last season. Do you feel you can adequately replace him?
2) Cleveland Indians
2030: 101-62, 2nd Place AL Central. Defeated Baltimore in AL Wild Card Game. Lost to Kansas City 4-1 in ALDS.
Who They Were: Cleveland won 101 games, but they couldn’t beat Kansas City in Game 163 to win the division, and couldn’t beat them in the ALDS to advance to baseball’s final four. The team was a fantastic run prevention team, allowing the second fewest runs in the league with 620, but it was still almost 8% more than Kansas City’s unit. Even with some big names, Cleveland’s offense underperformed, costing them in the playoffs.
Offseason Review: Nonnie Williams and Franklin Barreto left in free agency, and Bryce Harper retired. Cleveland will look to fill internally, with Federico Anziani taking over Second Base, and Brayan Hernandez poised to be the full time Left Fielder.
On The Farm: What was once a great farm as dried up, with only one Top 100 prospect, Justin Oberlander, ranked in the 90s. There’s actually a robust amount of replacement level depth in the upper minors with prospects who can develop into gap fillers when they fill out. That will help as Cleveland begins to become an expensive team. However, there isn’t the next star to supplement the current cast if someone has to move on.
Best Case Scenario: Cleveland is bringing back the same team that won 101 games, they can surely get 102.
Worst Case Scenario: Cleveland appears to be a clear class below Kansas City. They can pitch their way to the Wild Card Game, but they may not be able to hit their way past it.
Key Questions: Your offense wasn’t fantastic last year, and lost some pieces over the offseason. Why didn’t you make a move to add more juice to your offense?
Do you feel Jonathan Alba is good enough to be your fourth outfielder this season?
3) Minnesota Twins
2030: 82-80, 3rd Place AL Central
Who They Were: The Twins were a bit better than you remember, with a good starting staff and the fifth most runs scored in the American League. Gabe Bonilla bounced back from a somewhat down 2029, to post a 43-homer season that amounted to a league-leading 131 RBIs and 5.3 WAR. Orlando Arcia and Jim Sattler had stellar seasons, making up for the fact that the club’s nominal First Baseman and DH, Phil Plechaty and Frazer McWhir, each had an OPS+ under 100. The rotation was solid and consistent if wholly unspectacular, but the long and middle relief were sub-standard.
Offseason Review: The Twins lost Orlando Arcia and made few other key changes. McWhir will take over First Base from Plechaty who retired, and rookie Joe Jennings will likely take over DH. 2029 First Rounder Kaden Holton will take over at Third Base. The rest of the team will remain largely the same.
On The Farm: It’s a solid farm. Teenager Tanner Woolfrey will likely be relegated to being a DH, but he has an impact bat that’s already reaching minor league walls. Those pitches will go over the fence as he adds muscle. Oliver Gomez joins him in the low minors, but with a different approach as an aggressive, contact-happy Second Baseman. Vic Dethridge is a little older, 22, and could slot in as a second division starting outfielder when he puts it all together. The pitching crop is deep with mid-rotation prospects largely working through the mid-minors. Minnesota should have no problems filling out a rotation moving forward, though they may need to look elsewhere for a number two arm behind Jose Guerra.
Best Case Scenario: It doesn’t matter, the team has won between 78-82 games for four straight years and made no major changes, so they’re destined to finish .500 or so again.
Worst Case Scenario: It doesn’t matter, the team has won between 78-82 games for four straight years and made no major changes, so they’re destined to finish .500 or so again.
Deciding Questions: Your offense worked last year, but losing Arcia will hurt its ability to point runs on the board. Are you worried the club will take a step back offensively?
Is Joe Jennings good enough to be a starting DH, or are you still trying to upgrade the position from outside the organization?
4) Detroit Tigers
2030: 78-84, 4th Place AL Central
Who They Were: The Tigers played good defense to back up a solid staff, and Basket Case Benoit hit .330 with 30 homers and 39 doubles. The team still finished last in homers though, and lacked the high end talent to contend for more than a .500 record. Gilberto Celestino was shockingly terrible with a .600 OPS, and Ivan Johnson’s solid al-around play couldn’t make up for the loss of offensive superstar Roderick Dalton.
Offseason Review: Detroit is embracing the rebuild. Benoit and Johnson were traded away, as was Catcher Joe Swetz and reliever Mark Warf. Amari Maggette is currently a Free Agent. Orlando Arcia was signed to a reasonable contract to make sure the team was respectable, and reasonable veterans were acquired in trades, claimed off waivers, or signed to cheap deals to fill in. The roster has no power though and is just a stopgap as prospects begin to populate the system.
On The Farm: It’s a good farm, but not a great one as most of the better prospects are mid-rotation arms and serviceable players, rather than future all-stars. Sparky Ferrera is an exception though. An outfielder with an easy swing expected to get more powerful with age, he’s a future all-star. Detroit interestingly traded away a young phenom close to the majors in Josh Weaver to acquire Ferrera and a first round pick. Detroit is clearly working towards a longer timeline. Carlos Adame was the return for Ivan Johnson, and he’s the other big bat. He has big power and a steady swing, but may have to move off of Catcher. Mid-rotation arms pepper the mid-minors, while Second Basemen Abda bin Ayyub and Mark Dixon could probably slot in at Second Base this year.
Best Case Scenario: The team wins 70 games in a respectable campaign
Worst Case Scenario: The lack of power drags the offense down to a horrid level and Detroit loses 100.
Key Questions: This will likely be longtime Tiger Brice Turang’s last year on the team. What will his role be?
Marty Parham has had rough stints in the PBA the past two years. If this is a third year with negative WAR, will you begin to write him off, or is he still so young that he has a long leash?
5) Chicago White Sox
2030: 62-100, Last Place AL Central
Who They Were: Chicago’s pitching staff was respectable, but the offense was Angelian in the club’s first full year into their rebuild. Only three players played 100 games, and only Danny Villareal played more than 108. With 57 players cycling through Chicago, there was no way the club would gain the cohesion to do anything aside from lost 100 games.
Offseason Review: Virtually every third round pick in the league has cycled through Chicago, but the club won’t be trying to win too much in 2031. Dakota Hudson is the big free agent signing; he should be a stable force in the rotation. Ismael Morel was brought in from San Francisco. He was a good reliever for them in 2030. Most of the club will be some version of low-level prospect trying to earn a shot or underwhelming veteran whose main positive attribute is a low salary.
On The Farm: It’s an improving system with the best talent in the mid-minors. Andres Perez has developed very slowly, but he should be a big power hitter if he develops properly. Rich Vilchsis is a Center Fielder who runs, defends, walks, and makes contact. He should be a valuable major leaguer, though he’s still just 18. Tugboat Telmo Aldeagas should be a First Baseman who tugs a few hanging breaking balls beyond the left field fence. Ryan Hessler looks like an excellent defender, who may hit enough to warrant a starting spot at Second or Third Base, and may field enough to warrant a starting job at Shortstop. There are a billion Quad-A players that may make the Charlotte team better than Chicago’s.
Best Case Scenario: The team merely loses 100 games.
Worst Case Scenario: The club loses 115.
Key Questions: You have 10 Rule V guys on your team. Why do you plan on carrying all 10 of them?
Why did you acquire Dakota Hudson to add to a team of players in their 20s?
