F.I.B.L. Spring Training Previews |
|
North DivisionLebanon RedbirdsCentral DivisionGulf Coast Hurricanes Tombstone Bandits Venice Black Sox |
Warriors Hope for Repeat Performance in 2000 ALVA, Fla. - February 27th -- Over the last 27 games of the 1999 season, the Orlando Warriors went 22-5, storming into a first-place tie with the Virginia Ponys, then winning the playoff game against the Ponys, 7-5, to advance to the postseason as the Central Division champions. The Warriors ran into trouble in the playoffs against the Alaska Rowdies, however. Still, it was a successful season for a team that had not been to the playoffs for a few years. The Warriors may have difficulty matching last season's record. They have some spots on their 2000 roster that look to be less effective than the 1999 version, and it takes a lot of luck to run off the kind of streak that the Warriors did over the last third of the the season. That said, this is still a dangerous team, and should be one of the contenders in what looks to be a wide-open Central Division race. The Warriors have some of the best talent in the league up the middle, both on offense and defense. The corners may be a bit weaker, especially at thirdbase. The pitching looks like a mixed bag, with some pitchers primed for quality seasons while others try to recover from time lost to injuries. The team should fare well in the draft, since they have a pick in each round, mostly their own, and an additional pick in the seventh round. The Warriors first round history has been spotty of late; while 1999 pick Rick Ankiel put up a stellar rookie year in 2000, 1998 pick Michael Barrett and 1997 pick Eli Marrero have been less than stellar so far for the Warriors. Here's a position-by-position breakdown on the Warriors: Catcher: Things haven't gone as planned here. Joe Girardi looks like the main starter here, with Tom Lampkin and Eli Marrero sharing time. The best defensive catcher on the team is Wiki Gonzalez, but he hit a lot less than the others. The hapless Michael Barrett can play here, but his at bats may be needed at thirdbase. Marrero, Gonzalez and Barrett all have potential upsides but haven't impressed so far. Firstbase: This spot will belong to Paul Konerko, who is adequate defensively and hits the ball with authority. Dave Martinez will back up here and be the fourth outfielder, since he can play all three outfield positions. Secondbase: The Warriors have an embarassment of riches at secondbase. Starter Edgardo Alfonzo is as good as any secondbaseman in the league, with Gold Glove-caliber defense, a keen batting eye and excellent pop for a middle infielder. Luis Castillo would start for almost every other team in the league, but here he is trapped behind Alfonzo. Both hit righties better than lefties, so there is little likelihood of a platoon. Castillo would benefit from a change of scenery. Thirdbase: Uh-oh. Michael Barrett was supposed to be the team's thirdbaseman of the future, but the future came and went very quickly, since Barrett had a terrible year in 2000. The Expos have thrown a monkeywrench into the Warriors' plans by moving Barrett back behind the plate full-time for 2001. Look for Tony Graffanino to split time with Barrett, and for the Warriors to explore other options via the draft or trade. Konerko can play the position, badly. Shortstop: Neifi Perez played stellar defense in 2000, and gives the Warriors a pair of 1s at both shortstop and secondbase. That will help offset the mediocre or worse defense at the infield corners. Perez is overrated offensively, especially for a player who plays half his games at Coors Field. The defense will more than make up for it. Leftfield: The previously brittle Jay Payton finally managed to play a full year without a major injury, and put up some decent if not spectacular numbers. He's better against lefties than righties. Another power option would be Henry Rodriguez, a DH masquerading as an outfielder. Dave Martinez could play some against righthanders. Peter Bergeron is another possible option. Centerfield: Another position of strength. Andruw Jones is the best defensive centerfielder in baseball and has continued to make strides at the plate and on the bases. Kenny Lofton would play here if Jones is unavailable, but is likely to spend more time starting in rightfield. Payton, Martinez and Bergeron also can all play here. Rightfield: Lofton had an off year, recovering from an injury, but still looks like the best candidate for this position. Martinez and Rodriguez both could play here as well. Rotation: Rookie Rick Ankiel had a breakthrough season until his unbelievably wild outings in the postseason. The Warriors have to hope that he can put it all behind him. Javier Vazquez had another season of improvement and is primed for stardom. Paul Wilson showed signs of putting it all together after he was traded by the Mets to Tampa Bay. He doesn't have many innings for 2000, though. Dustin Hermanson did not have the kind of year that the Warriors had hoped for, and starters Shane Reynolds, Jason Schmidt, Omar Olivares and David Cone suffered through seasons wracked by injury, ineffectiveness or both. Bullpen: Keith Foulke is the best of this group. Wilson can relieve as well as start; it is uncertain which role he will fill this season. Mike Remlinger, Rheal Cormier and Onan Masaoka will provide some quality innings, with Felix Heredia and Marc Wilkins rounding out the bullpen. Pre-Draft Cuts: Bobby Ayala, Brent Billingsley, Rafael Bournigal, Karim Garcia, Tony Graffanino, Thomas Howard, Darrin Jackson, John Johnstone, Jay Powell, Derek Wallace, Marc Wilkins 2000 Outlook: The Warriors may be able to improve themselves via trades and the draft. They have some excess talent at secondbase and centerfield that they might be able to parlay into help at thirdbase or on the pitching staff. If they can do this, they increase their chances of holding onto their division crown in 2000. If not, they still may win, but probably won't look as impressive doing it as they did last year. |