[IBL] 2014 Outlook: Baltimore Sand Crabs

[Doug Palmer]

Baltimore Sand Crabs

Preseason analysis:

With the FA draft over for the Crabs, it's time to put on the rose tinted
goggles and peer into the murky crystal ball.  Year #5 of Baltimore Sand
Crab baseball hopes to build upon the legacy of consistency that they've
seen in years 1 though 4.  In the four years of existence, the Sand Crabs
have won 36, 45, 46 and 46 games.  These win totals would have qualified
the Crabs for the playoffs, had the season only been 50 games long.
Unfortunately,
the season is 162 games and the Crab faithful have seen 4 very long seasons
where they been mathematically eliminated in April.  The 2014 season hopes
to build upon that long, 4 year tradition.  Here's a preview of what the
Sand Crab faithful (known affectingly as the Crabbie Bunch or Crabbie
Fatties) can expect to see this year.

Catchers

*Age*

*Bats*

*AB*

*HR*

*SB*

*BA*

*SLG*

*OPS*

LAA

Conger

Hank Conger

26

B

233

7

0

.249

.403

.713

NYA

Stewart

Chris Stewart

32

R

294

4

4

.211

.272

.565

OAK

Suzuki

Kurt Suzuki

30

R

285

5

2

.232

.337

.627



The offseason acquisition of Hank Conger provides the aging catching corp
with some much needed youth and a bat that won't need to be hidden as was
the case in previous years when the likes of George Kottaras and Sal Butera
were trotted out to play backstop.  The defense of Chris Stewart will come
in handy late in games and Kurt Suzuki is essentially a Crab for life at
this point (sorry Kurt).



Infielders

*Age*

*Bats*

*AB*

*HR*

*SB*

*BA*

*SLG*

*OPS*

BAL

Machado

Manny Machado

21

R

667

14

6

.283

.432

.746

CHN

Castro

Starlin Castro

24

R

666

10

9

.245

.347

.637

KC

Hosmer

Eric Hosmer

24

L

623

17

11

.302

.448

.801

COL

LeMahieu

D.J. LeMahieu

25

R

404

2

18

.280

.361

.672

COL

Rutledge

Josh Rutledge

25

R

285

7

12

.235

.337

.631

CHN

Valbuena

Luis Valbuena

28

L

331

12

1

.218

.378

.709

BAL

Valencia

Danny Valencia

29

R

161

8

0

.304

.553

.888

HOU

Villar

Jonathan Villar

23

S

210

1

18

.242

.319

.640

CHN

Barney

Darwin Barney

28

R

501

7

4

.208

.303

.569



Youth continues to be the buzzword for the Crabs as the starting day lineup
will have a 21 year old at 3rd, 24 at short, 25 at 2nd and a 24 year old
first basemen.  Early draft picks have produced the likes of Machado,
Castro and Hosmer and hopefully their progress will continue to shine.  Darwin
Barney returns to the Crabs after a year experiencing prosperity.  His late
inning defense will be a nice addition.  And, a rarity for the Crabs, there
will be speed on the basepaths in the form of Hosmer, Villar, LeMahieu and
Rutledge.  If nothing else, the Rollbot will be busy with jump and stolen
base attempts



Outfielders

*Age*

*Bats*

*AB*

*HR*

*SB*

*BA*

*SLG*

*OPS*

ATL

Schafer

Jordan Schafer

27

L

231

3

22

.247

.346

.677

KC

Lough

David Lough

28

L

315

5

5

.286

.413

.724

BAL

Markakis

Nick Markakis

30

L

634

10

1

.271

.356

.685

BOS

Nava

Daniel Nava

31

B

458

12

0

.303

.445

.830

PHI

Hernandez

C. Hernandez

24

S

121

0

0

.289

.331

.675

NYN

Lagares

Juan Lagares

25

R

392

4

6

.242

.352

.633



By far the weakest part of the Crabs upcoming season is the outfield corp.
3rd round pick Juan Lagares is going to be set upon to put in serious
innings and exceptional defense patrolling the expanse of center field in
Sand Crab Stadium.  Right field will be manned by the stone hands of Nick
Markakis, hoping to improve on what was a decent, if not spectacular season.
Left will be a platoon of Nava, Lough and Schafer unless a more permanent
solution can be found.  The theme of "speed on the basepaths" will be
carried on with Jordan Schafer (he of the 5 jump and 9 SB rating).

Starting Pitching:

*Age*

*Arm*

*IP*

*AB*

*H*

*BA*

CHN

Arrieta

Jake Arrieta

28

R

75 1/3

273

59

.216

DET

Porcello

Rick Porcello

25

R

177

684

185

.270

DET

Sanchez

Anibal Sanchez

30

R

182

682

156

.229

HOU

Keuchel

Dallas Keuchel

26

L

153 2/3

620

184

.297

STL

Kelly

Joe Kelly

26

R

124

479

124

.259

PIT

Cole

Gerrit Cole

23

R

117 1/3

431

109

.253

SD

Ross

Tyson Ross

27

R

125

445

100

.225



More youth, more potential.  Sanchez and Porcello will be relied on to
provide the bulk of the innings with newcomer Cole getting more than just a
chance at securing status as team Ace.  Tyson Ross, a 6th round pick last
year, was a pleasant surprise and has secured his place as the #4 starter
in the rotaion.  Kelly, Keuchel and Arrieta will fight it out for the #5
slot with the losers being long relief (and we all know that they will be
needed for that!).

Relievers:

*Age*

*Arm*

*IP*

*AB*

*H*

*BA*

BAL

Britton

Zach Britton

26

L

40

162

52

.321

BAL

Gausman

Kevin Gausman

23

R

47 2/3

185

51

.276

CHA

Lindstrom

Matt Lindstrom

34

R

60 2/3

231

64

.277

CHN

Gregg

Kevin Gregg

36

R

62

230

53

.230

COL

Pomeranz

Drew Pomeranz

25

L

21 2/3

83

25

.301

KC

Hochevar

Luke Hochevar

30

R

70 1/3

242

41

.169

NYA

Robertson

D. Robertson

29

R

66 1/3

239

51

.213

NYA

Kelley

Shawn Kelley

27

R

53 1/3

202

47

.233

SEA

Capps

Carter Capps

23

R

59

242

73

.302

BAL

McFarland

T.J. McFarland

25

L

74 2/3

300

83

.277



Arms, arms and more arms.  Unfortunately, not enough GOOD arms.  Robertson
will be the 9th inning man once again for the Crabs.  He's the Mariano
Rivera of the Crabs without any of Mariano's success, or arsenal.  The
setup role will be Gregg, Linstrom and McFarlands for the taking.  For a
change, there's more than one left handed arm in the pen, which will at
least give the coaches the opportunity to match up late in games.  Gausman
is the wildcard in the bunch, as it's expected that he will be in the
rotation next year.



Outlook:

Is 50 wins too much to ask for?  Perhaps.  But at least this season of Sand
Crab baseball will be different than in previous seasons.  As mentioned
previously, this team has more team speed than they ever had before (no
offense to career SB leader BJ Upton).  No longer will opponents be able to
ignore the runners on the basepaths or not be concerned for their arms in
the outfield because Sand Crabs never get the "advance" sign from the third
base coach (Gene Lamont).  IF the starting pitching produces and IF the
relievers don't continue the tradition of pouring gasoline on fires, the
Crabs MIGHT see 50 wins this year.  Not enough to get out of the AC West
cellar (our home away from home), but at least movement in the right
direction.
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