[IBL] IBL 2020 NC Central Preview

Sun Dec 22 12:25:26 EST 2019

You may have read my NC West 2020 preview a couple weeks ago.  Perhaps it’s
currently lining your favorite pets litter box?  Who knows.  Either way, I
was asked by a fellow owner if I could do a similar write up for the NC
Central.  And as I may be in need of a trade partner next year, I said
“sure thing!”.

In 2019, the NC Central was dominated by the New York Knights.  A team that
went on to win a whopping 112 games, was the #1 seed in the NC and will
represent the NC in the IBL World series.  I didn’t look into them further,
but I wouldn’t be surprised if NYK also was responsible for the rise in the
Dow, a decrease in unemployment and the added flavor packets in Lipton Cup
o Soup.  NYK is simply that good.

The scary thing upon performing this writeup….NYK is loaded for 2020 as
well.  I wonder if we might just do ourselves all (in the NC) a favor and
simply give NYK the crown now.  I mean, it’s silly.  But why spoil the
plot, let’s look for ourselves.

Again, this is NOT scientific.  I simply took the rosters as they sit now
and looked at what they would wheel out onto the field if the season were
to begin today.

*New York Knights*

[image: image.png][image: image.png]

So NYK might need a first baseman.  So what?!  LOOK at that lineup from top
to bottom.  Show me a weakness aside from MAYBE Wendle in RF.  So they’ll
continue to mash so perhaps there’s some hope in their pitching.  WHAT????
Not only are the starters all studs, but the pen is shut-down good.  Unless
the rollbot blows a fuse or there are serious injury bugs…NYK ain’t going
anywhere.  Oh, and as for the draft, because NYK needs it so bad, they get
the 12th overall pick in the 1st round.  Yup.  And a pick in the 2nd and 3rd
as well.  Because, you know, you can never have TOO much of a good thing.
Sheesh.

*Canberra Redbacks*

[image: image.png][image: image.png]

And back to reality with a very good team that could make some noise and be
a playoff contender next year.  I give you your Canberra Redbacks.  Solid
lineup with Freeman, Adames, Arenado and Springer.  Needs a full time
center fielder, but that’s not too bad.  All their draft picks in rounds
1-3.  A bit weak in the infield (Cano ain’t what he used to be).  As for
pitching, a very nice and tight starting trio  Flaherty, Sale and Ray make
up a nice 1-2-3 punch.  Vazquez a good closer and Gonzalez can give you
enough spot starts.  Certainly will need to fill in the pitching a bit, but
the bats should keep them in plenty of games.

*Sparkle City Sluggers*

[image: image.png][image: image.png]

This is your typical IBL team (and that’s not a knock!).  A very good team
with plenty of holes.  Olson, Lindor and Sanchez give the lineup some pop,
but without an outfield, there’s potential for OFR hits a plenty.  Calhoun
had a nice 2019 but is showing his age.  Naquin and Mondesi are fillers
really.  As for pitching, Bieber is the ace with Bassitt close behind.
Nice being able to throw Bauer as your #3 and the lefty Miley as your 4.
The pen isn’t as strong as recent years.  That incredible card of Leclerc’s
from 2018 will be missed as he came back to earth with a 1.32 WHIP.  But
between Smith and Ottavino, they’ll close out many games.  It will be
interesting to see the direction SCS goes with the #5 pick in the draft.
Pitching or an outfielder?  SCS may not challenge for a wildcard in 2020
but they’re set up for success in upcoming years and could get that 2nd WC
in the tight NC.

*Santa Fe Prarie Dogs*

[image: image.png][image: image.png]

Every division has it’s dog and here, the name fits.  It’s not that SFP
doesn’t have talent (they do!), it’s just that there isn’t enough compared
to the others in the NC Central.  Perez, Kingery and Bryant make up a nice
middle of the order, but from there, not a lot of meat on the bone (gonna
run this dog imagery to the ground folks!).  As for pitching, Soroka and
Montes are the top, but Montes doesn’t have many innings.  DeScalafini is a
nice pitcher who will be asked to eat 200 innings.  For the pen, aside from
Kela, there’s not much.  But, there IS a silver lining here for the Pound
Puppies.  TWO picks in the first 21 of the draft along with all of their
picks in rounds 2 and 3.  SFP will be able to snag some nice young talent
and with some luck, and help from a nice rollbot, could be around a .500
team by the end of things.  With some aging talent here, SFP is also set to
be a player in the trade market for teams looking to go from a 2nd tier to
playoff contender.

So that's the NC Central.  I'm currently (in my spare time) looking at an
interesting comparison of reality vs rollbot (how badly did the rollbot
screw you over in 2019).  It's actually a very eye opening look at how this
game/simulation does and doesn't mirror the real major leagues.  I'm also
looking at it versus the other popular baseball games like Strat-o-matic,
Dynasty and APBA.  It ain't gonna make the Sand Crabs any better of a team,
but will hopefully give me a better idea as to the effects the rollbot has
on my day to day hell :).

To all of my IBL brethren and your families, I hope that this holiday
season finds you all happy and healthy and full of smiles.  And that 2020
finds you in the best of spirits.  Happy Holidays and Happy New Year

D.Palmer

Baltimore Sand Crabs

The Thorn that sits upon the rose that is the IBL
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