Tag: Connie Ryan

TWIWBL 24.17: Mid-Season Reviews – Portland Sea Dogs

On May 2, 2022

Summary

It’s been an excellent year for the Sea Dogs, who look primed for a post-season run.

What’s Gone Right

Hrbek & Murcer. Kent Hrbek and Bobby Murcer have combined for 34 homeruns and 102 RBIs, anchoring a strong lineup.

Excess of Catchers. Joe Mauer and Iván Rodríguez are both putting up spectacular numbers from behind the plate. Mauer’s are slightly better (and he has played far more), but Rodríguez still has an OPS over .900. Mauer is 22, Rodríguez 20, and at some point you would think a blockbuster trade might happen around one of them.

That Staff. This maybe the strongest pitching staff, end-to-end, in the league, from starters Walter Johnson, Bert Blyleven, and the surprising Wade Miller to Elmer Brown and Johan Santana at the back of the bullpen to the amazing emergence of Joseíto Muñoz.

What’s Gone Wrong

2B, or not. Fred Dunlap is heading towards Greg Litton like numbers, and given those two are the options at 2 for the Sea Dogs, it’s not pretty. Litton’s versatility maintains his roster spot, but something must be done here.

The Allure of Power. Both Gil Hodges and Jeff Burroughs have power. Hodges is second on the team with 17 homeruns, Burroughs has 10. But neither can get their OPS over .700, which make them a bit one dimensional for a championship contender.

Putting the Train Back on Track. Nineteen-year old Walter Johnson started this year looking like the best arm in the WBL. Since then, he’s become merely good. If Portland can get the earlier version back, it would go a long way in the postseason.

Key Storylines

The pair of Murcer and Hrbek need to maintain their level of production and the Sea Dogs need another couple of players to step it up. Similarly, the rotation has the potential to be truly great–the closer they get to it, the further Portland will go.

Long term, there’s a need to figure out the C question–Rodríguez is just too good to be a backup for too much longer, especially given the dearth of catching talent elsewhere in the league.

Trading Outlook

BUYING!

A few upgrades, and this could be a championship team. The catching deal is always out there in the shadows, but aside from that, it looks more like minor league parts on the market, unless Mike Cuellar gets some interest.

AAA Shuttle

Adrián Beltré is demanding more playing time since his recall. Couple his performance with that of Muñoz, and it’s been quite a success.

Midseason Changes

Muñoz joins the rotation, forcing Smokey Joe Wood to the bullpen on his return from injury. Jim Kern and Pascual Pérez head to AAA.

Awards

All Stars: Buddy Bell (3B); Jim Fregosi (SS); Kent Hrbek (1B); Joe Mauer (C); Bobby Murcer (CF); Johan Santana (P).

Offensive MVP: Kent Hrbek (1B)
Pitching MVP: Walter Johnson (SP)

Down on the Farm

AAA: Seattle Rainiers

Next to the Show: RPs Jeremy Blevins & Brian Duensing, C Cliff Lee, 1B Rafael Palmeiro

Prospects: C Cliff Lee (22)

Projects: 1B Rafael Palmeiro (30), 1B Mickey Vernon (24), P Bob Porterfield (34).

Suspects: Ps Al Worthington (37), Charlie Hough (40), Colby Lewis (30), 2B Connie Ryan (27), OF George Browne (32), SS Elvis Andrus (23).

AA: Atlantic City Bacharach Giants

Prospects: P Rick Wise (18), C Frankie Hayes (19)

Projects: RPs Matt Guerrier and Nick Goody (both 26), OF Kenny Hogan (18), 1B Buck Jordan (26), P Lefty George (24).

Suspects: None?

Season Preview: Portland Sea Dogs

By mknn

On August 20, 2020

In Team News

The Sea Dogs look to have a strong pitching staff, led by Smokey Joe Wood and Dizzy Trout, but their success may have more to do with whether Walter Johnson can cash in on his immense promise sooner rather than later. The offense looks solid end-to-end, but lacks real star power unless someone (Gil Hodges? Bobby Murcer?) really has a breakout season.

Final Roster

SP: Smokey Joe Wood, Walter Johnson, Jerry Koosman, Dizzy Trout, Bert Blyleven.
RP: Wade Miller; Frank Williams & Mike Cuellar; Jim Kern & Elmer Brown; Johan Santana.

C: Joe Mauer & Ivan Rodriguez
1B: Kent Hrbek; Harmon Killebrew
2B: Fred Dunlap; Greg Litton
3B: Buddy Bell
SS: Jim Fregosi
LF: Harry Hooper & Kiki Cuyler
CF: Bobby Murcer; Gary Pettis
RF: Jeff Burroughs
DH: Gil Hodges

Notes

There was virtually nothing to distinguish between Bert Blyleven and Mike Cuellar, with Portland naming Blyleven the 5th starter … there’s a lot of talent being sent to AAA: Connie Ryan hit quite well at 2B and Rafael Palmiero is a legitimate WBL starter at 1B caught in a massive logjam of talent … the final cut ended up being P Ray Fontenot who performed adequately, but was caught in the numbers game … C ends up being a platoon between Joe Mauer and Ivan Rodriguez … at some point, we would expect Portland to go to 12 pitchers, as both Smokey Joe Wood and Walter Johnson can help in pinch-hitting duties.

Portland sports one of the younger rosters in the leauge, with 30 year old P Mike Cueller and 30 year old OF Kiki Cuyler the elders of the roster. Two of the starting rotation–Walter Johnson and Bert Blyleven–are 19 years old.

19 year old Joseito Munoz doesn’t look to stay at AAA for very long. A trio of teenagers at AA hold promise as well: C Frankie Hayes, LF Kenny Hogan, and P Rick Wise.

Spring Training Preview: Portland

By mknn

On June 19, 2020

In 2000 Spring Training, Team News

The final rotation spot should come down to Bert Blyleven, Atlee Hammaker, and Wade Miller.
- While Walter Johnson has struggled a bit, he, Dizzy Trout, and Smokey Joe Wood are still in the front of the rotation. Pascual Perez, however, may lose his spot, with Miller, Blyleven, Hammaker, and Jerry Koosman all in the mix.
  - Portland’s SP continues to be quite strong, with the biggest surprise being Johnson’s continued struggles. Right now, Koosman, Wood, Miller, and Mike Cuellar would join him in the rotation, but Miller and Cuellar are under pressure form Trout, Perez, and Blyleven and even Fontenot could make an argument. Hammaker’s ERA is nearly 8, but his secondary stats are good, so he’s still in the mix as well.
The most likely bullpen competition will be between Elmer Brown and Ray Fontenot.
- Randy Myers has struggled, but is still the leading candidate to close. Jim Kern, Brown, Johan Santana, and Frank Williams have all been excellent, while Fontenot has probably pitched himself out of contention.
  - Myers–assumed to be the closer–is on his way to AAA with Santana likely to take over. Kern and Brown will be the setup arms.
C is wide open, with 2 of Joe Mauer, Devin Mesoraco, and Ivan Rodriguez making the opening day roster.
- Rodriguez has had an excellent Spring, with Mauer close behind.
  - It’s still up in the air, with Mauer looking the likely starter at this point.
Buddy Bell has a shot at unseating Adrian Beltre at 3B, but it’s a longshot.
- Beltre has done very little, allowing not just Bell but also Harmon Killebrew to move into the mix. Greg Litton, who can fill in at 3B, SS, and 2B has been called up as well.
  - Litton is pounding the ball, which is unlikely to continue, but it does put Connie Ryan‘s roster spot in jeopardy.
  - Beltre has slipped behind both Bell and Killebrew, to the point where he has been moved to AAA to try to gain some clarity.
1 of Don Baylor, Marty Cordova, and Kiki Cuyler is likely to make the roster, with either Gary Pettis or Kirby Puckett potentially forcing their way into the conversation with a stellar Spring.
- Cordova has been great, Pettis has not, and there’s not much else to go on after 10 games.
  - Pettis, George Browne, and Baylor look likely to move to AAA unless they catch fire. Ruben Sierra has been recalled.
1B has become crowded. The favorite, Gil Hodges, has been fine, but Rafael Palmiero and Kent Hrbek have been outstanding. Similarly, Hughie Jennings has closed the gap with Jim Fregosi at SS.
- 1B is still a logjam. Hodges and Hrbek are pounding the ball, and Palmiero and Killebrew are just a hair behind them.
- Jennings has gone ice cold while Fregosi has been on fire, moving into the lead at SS.

	Near Definite	Likely	Possible	Long Shot
Starting Pitchers	Walter Johnson Smokey Joe Wood	Jerry Koosman Mike Cuellar Wade Miller	Dizzy Trout Bert Blyleven Atlee Hammaker Pascual Perez	Ray Fontenot
Middle Relievers			Frank Williams Bob Porterfield
Setup		Jim Kern Elmer Brown
Closer		Johan Santana
C		Joe Maurer	Ivan Rodriguez Devin Mesoraco
1B		Kent Hrbek Gil Hodges	Rafael Palmiero
2B		Fred Dunlap	Greg Litton	Connie Ryan
3B			Buddy Bell Harmon Killebrew
SS		Jim Fregosi	Hughie Jennings
OF	Bobby Murcer	Jeff Burroughs Harry Hooper Kirby Puckett	Marty Cordova Kiki Cuyler	George Browne Gary Pettis Ruben Sierra Don Baylor