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Welcome to the Season 17 of the USMLB.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Houston Hitmen



Houston Hitmen

Who's going to stop me

The Hitmen saw there second trip to the World Series last season but with a very different result then there first trip. The Hitmen have to be the favorite in the American League to once again go to the World Series and maybe get some revenge against the Stars. Without further ado, let’s introduce you to your Season 9 Houston Hitmen:

Offense

1. CF Edgar Tejada (26 years old) - Tejada played in his first All-Star game last season and he really seemed to get better as the season went along. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Hitmen really let this speedster run all over the place this season. Tejada last season hit .339/.378/.387.

2. 2B Sean Foster (28 years old) - The man from Malad City Sean Foster is probably the most underrated player on the Hitmen's roster. Any team in the league would love to have a number two hitter that has an average around .300, 20 homeruns and over 100 runs scored year after year but on the Hitmen it's the soft spot in the lineup. Foster numbers from last season where .287/.350/.455.

3. DH Weldon Erving (35 years old)/ Tomas Roque (29 years old) - Erving will mostly be in the lineup against right-handers. Erving doesn't have the biggest power on the team but he just seems bring the runners in. Erving last season hit .337/.406/.545. Roque will mostly be in the lineup against left-handers and the main backup catcher. Roque struggled so much last season that he lost his starting spot and now will ride the pine on most days, not really what the team thought would happen when they signed him to a long term extension last season. Last year Roque went .255/.333/.454.

4. LF Geraldo Rodriguez (29 years old) - Rodriguez last season won his most MVP award. With 61 homeruns, 157 RBI's and 200 hits there wasn't really a big question that he really deserved the award. Rodriguez hit .321/.407/.685.

5. 3B Alex Lee (30 years old) - If it wasn't for his own teammate Lee would have won the MVP last season. Lee hit the most homeruns in the American League with 70 homeruns while adding in 166 RBI. Last year Lee hit .296/.368/.708.

6. RF Art Roskos (28 years old) - It's simple amazing that Roskos last season was able to get over 100 RBI's with Rodriguez and Lee who combined for 223 RBI's in front of him. Roskos hit .290/.363/.606.

7. 1B Todd Kirk (26 years old) - Kirk is another future MVP that is in this lineup. Kirk last really lived up to nickname of Captain Kirk last season hitting over 50 homeruns for the third straight year. Kirk hit .287/.350/.606.

8. C Carlos James (26 years old)- James played in only 21 games last season but with his defensive ability he will be given the shot at the starting catching position for that reason only. James could be the one wink link in the lineup but he could surprise some people with some big hits this season.

9. SS Rocky Meadows (26 years old) - It's really scary that this lineup will feature a number nine hitter who hits over 30 homeruns and will be around 80 RBI's. Meadows is still growing into his position and you should see his hitting improve even more this season. Meadows last season hit .263/.342/.527.

Players coming off the bench will be defensive sub, pinch hitter Todd Howry (30 years old) who is still looking for his first major league homerun after four major league seasons and super sub Pablo Manuel (26 years old) who hit 10 homeruns in is 150 at bats last season.

Pitching

SP1- Cliff Sheets (30 years old) - The all time leader in victories in the league is going for this fifth straight season with more then 20 victories. It would surprise no one in the league if Sheets gets 20 or more victories this season but look for him to really try to improve his numbers as he gave up a career high in homeruns.

SP2- Garland Haney (27 years old) - I believe that Haney took a really big step heading into prime years on a roll. Haney got his second straight year with 20 victories but dropped his ERA by 50 points and that had to be why the Hitmen offered hima 5 year contract extension at the beginning of the season.

SP3- Alberto Sanchez (25 years old) - Sanchez became the third Hitmen pitcher last season with 20 victories and also seemed to be the workhorse of the staff with 245 innings pitched. You can probably expect Sanchez to come close to 20 victories once again this year.

SP4- Mac Nakamura (27 years old) - Nakamura is the type of pitcher that really has to rely on his bullpen if he's going to pile alot of victories every year as Nakamura very rarely goes beyound the sixth inning. Those first six innings though there are very few pitchers that are better then Nakamura.

SP5- Andrew Peterson (23 years old) - Peterson made 11 starts last with mixed results. He had 52 strikeouts in his 53 innings pitched but his 1.76 WHIP had to be a concern for the team. With this offensive though he could probably have an ERA around 6 and still probably get 10 wins.

Closer- Lonnie Rizzo (29 years old) - Rizzo seems like he can be one of the greatest closers in the game but somehow gets around 6 blow saves every season. Can Rizzo final live up as one of the great closers in the game this season or will he find away to once again be in the middle of the pack?

Dover Souls



Dover Souls

The Time is Now

The Dover Souls finished with a winning record for the first time since season three but when you played in the toughest division last year that only good enough for a 4th place finish. Things don't look any different as it's going to be tough for the Souls to get out of the basement. Without further ado, let’s introduce you to your Season 9 Dover Souls:

Offense

C Endy Hemingway (36 years old)/ Tanyon Strong (33 years old) - Hemingway will see action against the right handers while Strong will start against left handers. Strong is a better hitter but lacks the defense capablities that Hemingway can provide.

1B Matt Darr (27 years old) - Darr is the big power bat in the lineup. He hit a homerun every 10.4 at bats last season but then comes the other side as he strokeout every 4.9 which was better then his career average of 4.1 strikeouts per at bat. Darr numbers from last season where .244/.317/.566.

2B Robert Seanez (22 years old) - Seanez had himself a very stellar season and was in the running for rookie of the year as well. Seanez fell three stolen bases short of having himself a 30/30 which he might just get there this season. Last year he went .292/.346/.507.

SS Johnny Grey (29 years old)/ Shawn Durbin (25 years old)- Grey will mostly in the lineup against right-handers and after being demoted to AAA last season he's very eager to prove he's a major league shortstop. Durgin will mostly see time against the left-handers and his also the better defensive player of the two. Durbin hit .289/.341/.419.

3B Tommy Crede (33 years old) - Last season Crede had the worst year in his career hitting less then 100 hits and less then 20 homeruns for the first time in his career. The time has got to hope Crede can find his old form this season or the team could be in trouble. Last year Crede hit .236/.302/.422.

CF Claude Marshall (30 years old)/ Cory Skinner(28 years old) - Marshall is mostly going to be in the lineup against the right-handers and his knee surgrey from last season doesn't seem like it will effect his speed. Marshall hit .295/.362/.444. Skinner should be in lineup mostly against the left-handers and is one of the fastest runners in the league. Skinner hit .281/.321/.340.

LF Milt Kroeger (28 years old) - Kroeger was probably the best player on the field for the Dover's last season. You know every season that Kroeger will give you just over 30 homeruns and around the 100 RBI mark which is really want this team needs season after season. Melfi hit .284/.350/.481. Update: Ligament tear in the knee has put Kroeger on the 60 day DL.

RF Timmothy Hennessey (23 years old)- It rare these days to see a team given a rule-5 draft pick a chance in the starting lineup. Hennessey's solid ability, sometimes you have to take a chance if you want to make the playoffs.

DH Brad Villone (30 years old) - With third base blocked by Crede the team needs a another solid bat in the lineup and Villone can fill that void. Don't be surprised if you see Villone finishing the year starting at thrid base. Villone last season hit .245/.296/.438.

Pitching

SP1- Gene Brooks (24 years old) - After a solid rookie season Brooks took a small step back last season, losing 16 games in the process and having an ERA close to 5. It wassn't all bad news though as his control improved and people are still having trouble catching up to his fastball. I think you should bouce back a little and have another solid year.

SP2- Tito Holt (29 years old) - Holt really does seem to be running out of options for someone only 29 years old but the reason for his lack of success at the major league level is his control issues. For his career Holt has walked 274 against 325 strikeouts.

SP3- Pablo Moreno (26 years old) - Moreno really had himself a great season last year setting career highs in every major catergory evening keeping his ERA around the 3 mark for most of the year. The team is really looking forward to what he can bring this season.

SP4- Albert York (33 years old) - This to me was really one of the few moves this off-season that had me wondering why. Why would the Dovers want to take on York's contract of 7.5 million dollars for a player that was banished to rookie league during the end of last season. Career 5.51 has to be another concern for a team in the American League.

SP5- Delino Maduro (30 years old) - Coming over from Los Angeles during the middle of last season really seemed to wake Maduro up. He went 8-6 with a 3.91 ERA during the 21 start for the Dovers. Maduro really needs to do something this season as he got a 2 year 10 million dollar extension from the team during the off-season.

Closer- Justin Lewis (26 years old) - After getting 5 saves in 10 games he pitched after september call ups as the team excited that they have a good closer this season. Lets see if Lewis can take advantage of this great chance the team is giving him this season.