[IBL] Baltimore Sand Crab Season Preview

Sat Mar 24 18:34:35 EDT 2018

*2018 Baltimore Crabs Preview*

Picture of the revamped Sand Crab Memorial Stadium and Massage Parlor

Sure as it’s gonna snow in Michigan in April, it’s time again to look
forward to what the season will hold for the Baltimore Sand Crabs.  Having
made an improbable run to the playoffs in 2016, the Crabs reverted to their
old ways in 2017 and once again were a sub-par baseball team, finishing
68-94.  Following that disappointing result, changes had to be made, and
changes came.  No longer will players be allowed to listen to Calypso music
in the locker room and more importantly, players will have to wash their
own jerseys.  Lastly, the meal per diem has been reduced from $25/day to
$5/day although a new marketing alliance with Del Taco should make that $5
go a lot further.  "Del Taco; now with 50% more grease!!"

So without further adieu…YOUR 2018 Baltimore Sand Crabs:

*Catchers*

Wellington noting the new "$5 per Diem" is alright by him

Wellington “BEEF” Castillo (146/159/227 vs lefties  )

James McCann (109/158/189 vs lhp )

A nice duo behind the plate for a change for the Crabs.  Better yet,
Castillo offers up a -3 arm to warn anyone in the IBL who wants to run on
the Crabs, watch out.  There’s a cannon behind the plate (it’s right behind
Wellington, and old relic from the Civil War we’re told and the owner of
the land said we can’t move it).

*Infield*

Taken shortly after he was told that he might be traded from the Crabs.
Turned out to be a hoax.  A cruel, cruel hoax.

1B: Eric Hosmer (155/214/221 vs righties and a 9/G rating)

2B: Jose Altuve (181/230/272 vs lefties and 179/235/262 vs righties)

SS: Elvis Andrus (nearly identical lines vs both 140/154/211 and his
defense got BETTER! And a 4/9/3 run/steal/jump)

3B: Manny Machado (108/136/215 vs lefties and a 9 stealing rating)

I’ll put that infield’s offensive numbers up against anyone’s in the
IBL.  Machado’s
card is the weakest among the group, especially vs righties, but he’s still
sporting a 7/D fielding grade.

Infield Bench

Whit Merrifield (check out THIS card… 136/149/215 vs righties and 3/10/3 on
the bases!).

Dixon Machado

Danny Valencia (102/165/172 vs lefties and a respectable 5/D at 1st)

Whit Merrifield would be starting on most IBL teams but on the Crabs, he’s
stuck behind perhaps the best all around player in the game in Jose Altuve.
So Merrifield will get to see the outfield and probably a lot of DH for the
Crabs.  Late acquisition Danny Valencia gives the Crabs something that
Kendrys Morales couldn’t, and that’s versatility.  Dixon Machado is on the
team because we accidentally thought he as a Manny Machado clone and we
wanted a spare in case he gets hurt.  Turns out it’s DIXON Machado and he’s
not quite as good as Manny.  Hell, they’re not even related.

*Outfielders*

Trey stares up at another mammoth foul ball.

Trey Mancini (139/168/229 vs RHP and Vg power)

Ben Gamel (nearly identical vs both lefties and righties 139/160/200)

Rajai Davis (3/10/5 baserunning.  One of the few 5 jump guys)

Mark Trumbo (Ex power…and um……has Ex power!)

Joey Rickard (youth, vitality, makes a mean burrito)

Kyle Schwarber (not bad in the field 4/G/-1 and a former 1st round pick)

The outfielders are solid but not spectacular.  Lots of platooning here
probably although Mancini should be the full time left fielder (when he’s
not playing 1st).  A walk or single to Davis is basically a double thanks
to the speed.  New comer Gamel and Schwarber hope to be Crabs for a while.

*Pitching*

Jake Arrieta (yelling with delight in the picture because he LOVES Del Taco)

Angel Miranda

Kevin Gausman

Brian Johnson

Kyle Freeland

Trevor Williams

This six-pack of starters will need to over perform if the Crabs have ANY
chance at the post season.  What was once a fairly strong set, is now
Arrieta and a lot of youth.  Arrieta and Williams have the best cards and
they’re not that great.  The others…wow.  But they’re young and who
knows?  Anything
is possible.

*Relievers*

Archie Bradley (I think that's what Archie Bradley looks like.  I did a
google search and this guy was really popular so I figured it was him)

Brad Brach

Michal Givens

Daniel Robertson

Ryan Tepera

Not a bad bunch to call on in the late innings.  Bradley is probably the
setup man with Robertson in the 9th.  Bradley, Brach and Givens will eat up
innings.  Tepera wasn’t carded last year, but it was worth hanging onto him
as he put up really nice numbers for the Jays.  But the starters…yuck.

*Overview*

The potential is there but that’s the case every year.  Long gone are the
years of praying that Jack Cust has a breakout season and that Jon Garland
can pitch 200 innings.  Now, the offense is there to put a scare into any
team.  From top to bottom, a very strong offensive team with average
defense and lots of speed on the bases.  The pitchers….get to the 6th
inning and we’ll talk.  But all in all, I see a lot of 8-6 and 10-5
ballgames in the Crabs future this year.  Let’s just say I highly doubt
that the Crabs will lead the league in ERA this year.

    Sand Crab Baseball……

Let’s get CRABBY!!!!!!!

now brought to you by
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