Expectations
This team was so lost last season, that anything could feel like progress. But a .500 finish would be a start.
Best Case
Bob Gibson explodes onto the scene and additional quality arms are found somewhere while the offense continues to build around the core of Stan Musial, Albert Pujols, Willie McGee, and Boog Powell.
Worst Case
This turns into the worst pitching staff in the league and the offense just can’t compensate enough, especially if Pujols doesn’t make a step forward.
Key Questions
- Who is going to fill out the rotation and the bullpen?
- 3B looks unsettled.
- How does the competition between Ducky Medwick and Steve Evans pan out?
Trade Bait
Not enough talent to really be active.
Roster Evaluation
| POS | Elite | Strong | Solid | Meh | Weak | Unknown |
| C | Simmons | Ruel | ||||
| 1B | Powell | Murphy | ||||
| 2B | Canó | Frisch | ||||
| 3B | Pujols | |||||
| SS | Smith | |||||
| LF/ RF | Musial | Brock Evans Medwick | ||||
| CF | McGee | |||||
| SP | Hamlin | Castillo | Rijo Wood | Gibson | ||
| End | Kimbrel | Pfeffer | DiPino | |||
| RP | A.R. Foster Guardado Hermanson Shawkey |
It’s all pretty much apparent there: the offense, especially Albert Pujols, needs to shift left and the need for something positive to happen on the mound for the Monarchs to take a step forward. Gibson and A. Rube Foster becoming at least solid would be a huge boon.
Talent Ratings
| WBL | Minors | |
| Raw Power | U Dale Murphy | 1B Andre Thornton |
| Batting Eye | C Muddy Ruel | OF Fielder Jones |
| Contact | OF Stan Musial | IF Dave Cash |
| Running Speed | OF Lou Brock CF Willie McGee | OF Cool Papa Bell OF Jarrod Dyson U Rex Hudler CF Omar Moreno |
| Base Stealing | OF Lou Brock | OF Jarrod Dyson |
| IF Defense | IF Albert Pujols | IF Sam Mongin |
| OF Defense | OF Stan Musial | OF Fielder Jones |
| Stuff | P Smokey Joe Wood | P Larry French |
| Control | SP Luke Hamlin | P Jimmy Key |
| Velocity | RP Craig Kimbrel | P Giovanny Gallegos P Darren O’Day P Trevor Rosenthal |
Best In The Minors
| Rank | Age | POS | Name |
| 1 (1) | 21 | OF | Wade Johnston |
| 2 (6) | 23 | P | A. Rube Foster |
| 3 (7) | 20 | OF | Cool Papa Bell |
| 4 (11) | 25 | P | Jock Menefee |
| 5 (35) | 18 | IF | Carlos Baerga |
| 6 (41) | 21 | P | Matt Morris |
| 7 (83) | 22 | IF | Sam Mongin |
| 8 (97) | 22 | IF | Dink Mothel |
| 9 (100) | 25 | OF | Merv Rettenmund |
| 10 (116) | 18 | C | Johnny Bassler |
Clearly one of the deeper systems in the league, but one that has some complications: Bell and Johnston are blocked, Morris is injured, and only Foster will start the season with the Monarchs. But the scouts are drooling over all these guys, and 9 in the top 100 is pretty incredible–and that doesn’t even include top draft pick Hilton Smith.
| Most | Least | |
| Age | IF Jim Davenport, 37 | C Johnny Bassler, 18 IF Carlos Baerga, 18 |
| Height | P Adam Russell, 6’8″ | OF Heliodoro Hidalgo, 5’6″ |
| OPS | OF Stan Musial, .972 (WBL) | C Salvador Pérez, .572 (WBL) |
| HR | OF Merv Rettenmund, 28 (WBL/AAA) | C Muddy Ruel, 0 (—) |
| SB | OF Lou Brock, 49 (WBL) | Many with 0 |
| WAR | OF Merv Rettenmund, 5.4 (WBL/AAA) | IF Ivy Olson, -1.4 (—) |
| W | Sheriff Blake, 16 (—) | AJ Schugel, 1 (—) Félix Hernández, 1 (WBL/AAA/AA) |
| SV | Adam Russell, 25 (WBL/AAA) | |
| ERA | Sheriff Blake, 2.27 (—) | Dustin Hermanson, 15.35 (—) |
| WAR | Sheriff Blake, 5.2 (—) | AJ Schugel, -3.9 (—) |