[IBL] Baltimore Sand Crab Season Preview

[Doug Palmer]

According to the Chinese calendar, 2016 is supposed to be the year of the
monkey.  But we here in Baltimore gracefully disagree.  We believe that
2016 is…



*THE YEAR OF THE CRAB!!!!!!*

Yes, after 6 long years of toil, the Baltimore Sand Crabs believe that 2016
could finally result in a season where the Crabs not only finish above
.500, but may actually……shhh……..make a playoff appearance!  Yes people,
there is a chance that postseason baseball will displace the annual Cow
Tipping Championships that normally occupy Sand Crab Memorial Stadium and
Fish Mart come September!  And while this may cause some concern in the
bovine community, Sand Crab fans are elated at the potential of seriously
Bonus Baseball!

Why the optimism?  The Ouija board and planetary rotations have finally
aligned to provide the Sand Crabs with talent in important positions (and
not just the commissary for a change).  Let’s take a look at why they’re so
excited in Sand Crab Land

*The catchers*: BAL Joseph and MIN Suzuki will be joined by first round
pick CHA Schwarber this year.  And while Schwarber isn’t a full time
catcher, the fact that he can be penciled in behind the plate in an
emergency is a nice bonus.  Joseph will get the majority of the playing
time and while he doesn’t have the great arm this year (so long -3 arm),
his 6/F/0/Av/2 isn’t all that bad.  Suzuki is around for emergency and his
card isn’t problematic.

*The infield*: Youth is finally served and should be coming into their own.
BAL Machado, NYN Tejada, HOU Altuve and KC Hosmer make up the everyday
lineup with perennial Sand Crab CHN Castro hanging around to spell Ruben
and Jose up the middle.  After an injury riddled season, Manny Machado has
a great card (although….a C range?  Manny?  Seriously?).  The Crabs offer
up one of the better IBL infields with these 4 without sacrificing defense.
The bench isn’t deep with regards to infielders, but with this crew, it
shouldn’t be needed.

*The outfield*: The one weakness for the Crabs this year will be a lack of
a big bat in the outfield.  The only “constant” if you can even call it
that is ATL Markakis who will again patrol right field for the Crabs.  A
year without Nick in right is like a year without highly inappropriate
bobbleheads.  New acquisition SEA Trumbo will get time in the outfield
(although will be primarily DH) but was really picked up for his
(hopefully) rejuvenated bat.  The rest of the outfield will be made up of
DET Davis, HOU Rasmus, HOU Tucker and NYN Lagares.  One can only hope that
Lagares finds a bat to go along with his great glove.

*The Pitchers*:  Here’s the crown jewel of the Crabs this year, and their
ultimate success will be a direct result of these guys and their arms.  The
rotation of CHN Arrieta, PIT Cole, DET Sanchez, BOS Porcello, SD Ross, BAL
Gausman will be able to eat up the innings and should keep the ball in the
park (Arrieta’s card is SWEET!!, but I digress).  And the starters aren’t
going to have to go deep as the bullpen is solid.  CLE Anderson, BOS Kelly,
BAL Brach, BAL O’Day are the long men as the bridge to get to the setup and
closers.  BAL Givens, PHI Giles, CHA Robertson, TOR Tepera and SD Kelley
set the table for BAL Britton to come in and shut them down in the 9th.  At
least, that’s how it’s looking on paper.  But games aren’t played on
paper…except when they are….in the IBL.

So is all of that enough to get the Crabs over .500?  Will they get to the
last week of the season before being mathematically eliminated?  Will they
be playing ball after week 27?  Only time and a generous Dice God know for
certain.  But one thing for sure, at least Sand Crab fans will have more
than Jack Cust Bobblehead and Nacho Night to be excited about this year!
(not that Jack Cust Bobblehead and Nacho Night won’t be exciting in an of
itself…..I mean, a Jack CUST bobblehead!!!...we might finally get rid of
them all and finally get to break into the Tyler Colvin Bobbleheads that we
bought 3 years ago!).

2016….Sand Crab Baseball……*Let’s Get CRABBBBIE!!!!!!*
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