31 Mar 2055
Buenos Aires, Argentina
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by Fish McWilliams
Buenos Aires offense is atrocious. We think it is slightly improved this year, but still atrocious. GM Ben Teague made the conscious decision to shore up pitching first this offseason. That worked well enough but it has put the offense in the position of avoiding being last in the league in every major batting stat.
YOUR 2056 BRISAS LINEUP
Injuries
Man we hate to do this. I mean really hate. Injuries are never an excuse and they aren't now. However, any discussion of the Brisas offense so far this year starts with who's not available (and should be).
32yo 1B Talbot Purcell (fractured finger, 3/11, 2-3 mos)
2055 (AAA): 142 G, 142 AB, 25 2B, 4 3B, 28 HR, 81 RBI, .281/.358/.501, +3.8 WAR
Purcell signed with Buenos Aires in January then proceeded to suffer a fractured finger in March and is on the shelf until at least the middle of May. This is a huge loss for the team as Purcell was going to be one of the corner blocks to restart the Brisas cold engine.
24yo LF Bartolomej Lorinc (hip strain, 3/3, 4 wks)
2055 (AAA): 49 G, 172 AB, 8 2B, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 1 SB, .279/.328/.378, +0.9 WAR
The offense had plenty of power last year so Teague wanted to get more contact in the mix. Lorinc had been counted on being part of that change. He should be off the IL at the end of Spring Training and headed to a rehab start since he missed ST.
34yo CF Gary Burr (torn meniscus, 2/26, 4-5 mos)
2055 (AAA): 34 G, 89 AB, 1 2B, 5 RBI, 4 SB, .247/.340/.258, +0.0
Burr is a grizzled vet and an absolute wiz at CF. The centerfielder part is most important now as there is not a player in the organization that has the versatility and reliability of a Burr-type. He locks down an outfield and gets on base.
Lineup
C - Barring a trade, the Brisas were going to have 2 catchers with essentially the same playing time in 2056. 32yo Miguel Hernández is less offense but 9-ranked fielding across the outfield, whereas 30yo Ramelan Sartika is more of a liability on defense but gets on base at a higher clip.
1B
35yo César Torres
(AAA) 35 G, 140 AB, 11 2B, 13 HR, 29 RBI, .329/.347/.686, +1.5
With Talbot Purcell going down for essentially half the season, Buenos Aires will move Torres from DH back to 1B and hope he can deliver as he did in AAA last season. At Ndali he slashed .329/.347/.686 with 11 doubles, 13 HR, and 29 RBI in only 35 games. Sliding to backup at first base is 31yo 1B Barry O'Quinn but he will still get his looks across the board.
2B
33yo 2B Reilly Eddy
2055: 101 G, 243 AB, 21 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 29 RBI, 5 SB, .329/.365/.461, +1.5 WAR
GM Ben Teague has said he wants more contact and more runners on base for the sluggers. Eddy should provide both. He also has the speed and skill to swipe a base in any situation.
3B
31yo 3B Bert Cleaver
2055: 158 G, 595 AB, 37 2B, 25 HR, 91 RBI, .250/.279/.439, +1.7 WAR
Teague was not able to retain the services of a decent third baseman but Cleaver couldn't find a taker in FA. So each party looks this bad. Who looks good, though, is 32yo 3B Gerald Hough. Except for the fact that Teague chased Cleaver and that keeps Hough down in the depth chart.
SS
31yo SS Benjamin Chapman
2055: 18 G, 55 AB, 3 2B, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 1 SB, .273/.375/.327, +0.3 WAR
Chapman is a very nice utility player who shores up the infield for the Brisas. Buenos Aires has a few players with Chapman's profile so versatility is prized with Teague.
LF
30yo LF Roberto Torres
2055: 154 G, 574 AB, 35 2B, 4 3B, 21 HR, 67 RBI, 30 SB, .244/.321/.429, +0.9 WAR
Torres is a pesky hitter who annoys any pitcher he faces. He is extremely versatile and, more importantly, deadly on the basepaths.
CF
29yo CF Bobby Manc
2055: 25 G, 91 AB, 1 2B, 2 RBI, .198/.270/.209, -0.1 WAR
Manc was injured last season and missed his extended dinner with the big leagues. We'll try it again this year. Again, this is the place to miss Burr but that horse has been beaten.
RF
21yo RF Isacco Aglietti
2055: 63 G, 220 AB, 11 2B, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 3 SB, .295/.330/.373, +0.2
Another contact and OBP guy setting up the power bats.
DH
There is no shortage of candidates for DH anytime, but with injuries that becomes especially true. Starting out at DH will be DH Hisanobu Takahashi with O'Quinn getting plenty of time in the slot as the season progresses. Teague does want an upgrade here, but again the injuries have to run their course. For now.