31 Mar 2055
Buenos Aires, Argentina
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by Fish McWilliams
Spring training was quite a ride in Buenos Aires this year between unexpected performances and, most notably, injury woes. The latter probably impacted the rotation more than anything and, indeed, the Brisas will be without a key arm they were counting on to contribute. There's also a dearth of left-handed pitchers partly due to talent and partly due to Estadio Rico's reputation as a launching pad for righties. The pressure will be on to improve from last season as the Brisas offense will look largely the same.
YOUR 2056 BRISAS ROTATION
29yo SP António Ramírez (12/10/6; FB, SL, CH)
2055: 32 G, 32 GS, 14-8, 187.2 IP, 4.32 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, +2.4 WAR
Welcome to the spotlight, Mr. Ramírez, who will be the Opening Day starter for the first time in his career in addition to making his first start as a Brisas. He was excellent at producing results at Cairo last season evidenced by his +2.4 WAR. If he can add that much production this season, he alone can boost the lackluster starting pitching from last year in Buenos Aires. Ramírez has a great arsenal starting with a fastball that touches 101 mph, then two filthy breaking balls. He has a tendency to get a bit wild at times but he has a high strikeout rate and coaxes mostly groundballs from opponents' bats.
31yo SP Marvin Winston (9/10/7; FB, CB, CH, FK)
2055: 55 G, 9 GS, 7-8, 2 SV, 116.1 IP, 4.49 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, +1.8 WAR
Marvin Winston is nothing if not well-traveled having had stops at Jerusalem, Athens, Tokyo, and now Buenos Aires. That's after spending 8 straight seasons with Sacramento in the BBA. Though he only started two games last season in Japan, Winston is accustomed to the role of starting pitcher. He can also tilt the gun to 101 mph but relies more on that than Ramírez does, though he has 3 effective breaking balls.
29yo SP Bani Marita (9/8/7; FB, CB, CH)
2055: 34 G, 26 GS, 11-8, 161.0 IP, 3.69 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, +3.8 WAR
Winston is bringing along a rotation mate in Bani Marita as both dealt in Tokyo in 2055. Marita spent 5 years with Cairo before the last two years. He's the third Brisas starter to hit 101 mph, but Marita deals it more precisely as he also does a curveball and changeup.
30yo SP Deron Alexander (9/8/5; FB, SL, SP)
2055: 32 G, 32 GS, 12-8, 181.1 IP, 4.57 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, +4.1 WAR
Hey, how about another flamethrower? Alexander comes to Argentina from Athens where he spent one season after a stop in Cairo. This following a 6-year career with the Des Moines Kernels of the BBA. He deals 101 mph and pairs it with wicked sliders and splitters. He can struggle with control as he has during most of his career, but he can also sit an opponent down with heat when necessary.
30yo SP Namik 'Monster' Vedat
2055: 14 G, 14 GS, 4-8, 77 IP, 4.68 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, +1.1 WAR
Since a 4-year turn with Baghdad, ending in 2049, Vedat has been a AAA pitcher. Even as he starts this season in the five that's not a permanent spot - the 5 spot should never be. Vedat, again, hits 101 mph but he has a pedestrian arsenal of curveball, changeup, and forkball so the heat is on him to find a way. And he does else the Brisas wouldn't have brought him back. He's a guy who shouldn't have the numbers he does, but he does.
Backups
Following the five above are a couple of arms guaranteed to start some contests. Righty 23yo P Ostoja Omeragic pitched for nearly the entire season at AAA Ndali in 2055 but the plan is for him to stay in the big leagues now, and 30yo P Jeremy Donahue was with London in the first half of 2055 before being traded to the Brisas.
Injured
27yo SP Richard Balgera
This one really hurts as Balgera was expected to duel Ramírez for the Ace slot, but elbow tendinitis shut down his spring and he'll begin 2056 with a rehab assignment. When he returns he is guaranteed to be back in the rotation.