H'ville, Tn (AP) - After a long, long, long........long off-season the day that every owner has been waiting for is finally here, Opening Day! The 2014 season kicks off (sue me I'm late) this week in what could be the most inticipated opening weekend in BSA history.
The Hitmen enter the 2014 returning most of the starters from the World Series Championship team of last season, but still lost several key pieces. In the most active trade off-season in league history H'ville only completed two, trading away 5 starters and bringing in 3 new ones, including two former MVPs Luke Pittman and Sam Sagar.
Key Losses:
SP Scott Hill (Injured, 3-4 months with rehab)
LF Gregg Burkholder (Trade to L.A.)
MR Ghidewon Hassan (Trade to L.A.)
SP Art Ellis (Traded to Madison)
RF John Prowse (Trade to Madison)
CF Luis Rodríguez (Trade to Madison)
LF Tony Owens (Free Agent)
The big losses are Scott Hill and Art Ellis who have anchored the Hitmen rotation for the past 4 years. Hill is still recovering from Tommy John surgery and has 2-3 months left barring no set backs and looks to be back for rehab assignment in early to mid July. Ellis was the key piece in the trade with the Madison Bombers that brought over 2011 MVP Luke Pittman. While another long time and fan favorite Hitmen LF Gregg Burkholder was sent to L.A. for Mr. Sam Sagar the 2007 Rookie of the Year and 2008 MVP.
Key Additions:
LF Sam Sagar (Trade from L.A.)
CF Luke Pittman (Trade from Madison)
CF Domingo Martínez (Trade from Madison)
CL Mike Henley (Trade from Madison)
SP Raúl Camacho (Free Agent)
2B Artie Kelley (Free Agent)
The big names that immediately stand out are Sagar and Pittman, both former MVPs and still in their prime. Pittman is the Gold Glove rangy defensive CF that the Hitmen have always coveted but never truely had. If healthy he could be an MVP, but a more realistic view is 120 games. The front office expects injuries from Pittman, but they just hope he's healthy for the playoffs.
Sagar saw his elite power numbers dip in L.A. last year, but he still showed his dominace with almost a .300 avg in L.A.'s massive park. Viewed by many GM's as still elite and capable of putting up MVP stats Sagar hopes to rebound to his normal self surrounded by great hitters.
MR Mike Henley and CF Domingo Martínez came over in the Ellis/Prowse to Madison trade and look to have immediate impacts. Henley has amazing ability but has yet to put it all together. This is his 5th team in 5 years. He hopes by joining BSA's best bullpen to learn some new tricks. He is slotted to be the #2 MR. Martinez is a talented young OF who is still learning how to play the game. He will be the key guy filling in for Pittman to give him the much needed days off.
While Pittman and Sagar are the big name additions it might be the other names on the addition list that turn out to be the key to a successful season. Camacho was a late FA signing that beat out MR/SP Tommy Connare for the #5 SP spot in spring training and could be the steal of the FA class. Artie Kelley was another late FA signing and will be the teams main offensive utility player and #1 pinch hitter while SS Joe Richardson is the defensive utility guy.
2014 Pitching Staff
Starters
1. Walter "The Claw" Bamber
2. Jerry Burgess
3. Mike Haward
4. Carlos Arevalo
5. Raul Camacho
CL Tommy "Flash" Smith
SU Alfredo "Last Resort" Gonzalez
SU Mike Henley
MR Oliver "Muscles" Donahue
MR Mike Henley
MR Kolfe "The Werewolf" Were
MR António "Sinner" López
2014 Lineup (not batting order)
C - Jesús 'Dirty' Hernández
1B - José Álvarez
2B - Bill Davis
3B - Masanobu Hasegawa
SS - Alonso Pérez
LF - Sam Sagar
CF - Luke Pittman
RF - Luis Padilla
DH - Manny "The Cobra" Copriviza
Bench
RF Domingo Martínez
LF Damien Balmforth
2B Artie Kelley
SS Joe Richardson
C Anastasio López
2014 Expectation:
The OSA has really hyped up the defending champs with a gaudy 120 win prediction. While Mr. Hays doesn't see 120 wins as a realistic number he do believe this team is capable of nearing and possibly surpassing the 100 win mark. While "THE" league's Southern Division isn't expected to be the best
divisional race in the league it is improving and if any of the 3 teams
can get some good production out of their SP then this race could be the
surprise race of the year. Don't be shocked if H'ville has to battle
to the end to win their 5th straight Divisional title. From their it's a crap shoot. The "owner" expects another title this year and honestly anything short of that will be a failed season by Hays and the front office.
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