[IBL] 2015 Baltimore Sand Crabs Preview

[Doug Palmer]

Baltimore Sand Crab 2015 Preview

2014 record: 53-109 (last in the AC West)

2014 team AVG: .247 (23rd in the league)

2014 team ERA: 4.38 (17th in the league)



Key losses: Dallas Keuchel, Carter Capps, Chris Parmelee

Key additions: Jose Altuve, Ken Giles, Kristopher Negron, Curtis
Joseph, Darren O’Day



The 2015 Baltimore Sand Crabs come into spring training in an unusual
position.  A position of expectation and promise.  Two words that have
NEVER been synonymous with Sand Crab baseball.  But there’s good
reason for hope among the Sand Crab faithful.  For the first time in
their five LONG years of existence, the youngsters are finally
starting to produce and there’s a sense that the light at the end of
the tunnel isn’t the 5:15 out of Hagerstown, coming to plow them down.
Here then is your preview for the 2015 Baltimore Sand Crabs.



Projected Infield:

C: Kurt Suzuki (MIN) .727 OPS

1B: Eric Hosmer (KC) .716 OPS

2B: Jose Altuve (HOU) .830 OPS

SS: Starlin Castro (CHN) .777 OPS

3B: Manny Machado (BAL) .755 OPS

Reserves: Flaherty (BAL), Paredes (BAL), Conger (LAA), Joseph (BAL),
LeMahieu (COL), Negron (CIN)



The kids are alright.  The average age of the starters is 28 but
that’s skewed due to Suzuki being 31.  The rest are all 25 or under.
And, for a change, the defense won’t be a total liability with the
exception of Castro at SS.  With the expectation that Machado will see
some time on the DL, Negron and Flaherty will see time at the hot
corner.  A lack of depth at 1st base may come back to haunt the Crabs
as Daniel Nava is the only other Sand Crab with any appreciable time
at 1st.  Basehits shouldn’t be a problem with these 5 and the fact
that Hosmer, Altuve and Castro can all steal a base, the action on the
basepaths should be fast and furious in 2015.  And as a defensive
replacement, Joseph’s -3 arm should deter any would be base stealers.



Projected Outfield:

LF: Rajai Davis (DET) .721 OPS, 0 arm

CF: Juan Lagares (NYN) .703 OPS, -3 arm

RF: Nick Markakis (BAL) .729 OPS, 0 arm

Key Reserves: Rasmus (TOR), Nava (BOS), Lough (BAL), Schafer (MIN), Tabata (PIT)



It’s looking like the same old, same old in the outfield for the Sand
Crabs in 2015.  Regarded as one of the premier defensive
centerfielders, Juan Lagares tracks down balls with the best of them
and has an arm to go along with it.  While the corner outfielders
aren’t defensive wizards like Lagares, Davis and Markakis make up for
any defensive lapses with their bats.  Expect lots of late inning
action with David Lough (BAL) and his phenomenal defense in left,
while Rasmus and Tabata will provide some power off the bench.



Starting Pitchers:

P1: Anibal Sanchez (DET) 1.08 WHIP

P2: Gerrit Cole (PIT) 1.21 WHIP

P3: Rick Porcello (DET) 1.23 WHIP

P4: Kevin Gausmann (BAL) 1.31 WHIP

P5: Jake Arrieta (CHN) 0.98 WHIP

P6: Tyson Ross (SD) 1.21 WHIP

P7: Joe Kelly (BOS) 1.35 WHIP



7 guys who can start a game for the Sand Crabs, all with impressive
numbers from last year.  Only Porcello and Ross threw more than 175
innings last year, so all of the guys listed should expect to start a
game or three during the season.  Kelly and Ross are probably long
guys out of the pen, but with Sanchez probably seeing time on the DL,
they’ll most certainly be pressed into service to start once in a
while.  The stud of the staff might end up being Jake Arrieta who is
really finding his groove in the majors.  About freaking time if you
ask me.  Why couldn’t he of found his control when he was an Oriole?



Bullpen:

Mopup: Shawn Kelley (NYA), TJ McFarland (BAL)

R: Brad Brach (BAL) .640 OPS

R: Darren O’Day (BAL) .550 OPS

R: Drew Pomeranz (OAK) .586 OPS

R: Matt Lindstrom (CHA) .893 OPS

R: Ken Giles (PHI) .450 OPS

CL: David Robertson (NYA) .588 OPS

CL: Zach Britton (BAL) .500 OPS



This crew marks the greatest departure from previous Sand Crab teams.
A bullpen that can actually close out games.  If the starters can get
to the 7th inning without too much harm done, the rest of the way
should be fairly smooth with O’Day and/or Giles handling the setup
duties while the lefty/righty combo of Britton and Robertson should be
able to close the door in the 9th.



Prediction:

There’s no reason why this team can’t win 80 games and be a .500 team.
Sure the hope would be for more and a possible playoff push, but for a
team that’s been mired at 50 wins for so long, a chance to be a .500
team will make the Sand Crabs faithful very happy (and less likely to
take their own lives)


 And if you made it this far, you deserve a medal (but won't get
one....life's like that you know).  I do have some pieces available if
you're a bit low on starts for a 2nd baseman (LeMahieu? Flaherty?) or
3rd base (Flaherty? Paredes?).  I wouldn't mind getting some depth at
1st base, just in case Hosmer falls into a dugout again (he does that
alot for me, don't know why).

With spring training games starting, can the IBL season be far behind??