2007 Team by Team Preview - Oilers

The Oilers

Starting Pitching:
Haren, Myers, Capuano, Ohka - Haren is the best of this group, but all of them are good; Ohka only has 97 innings

Relief Pitching:
Hoffman, Carrasco, Downs, Qualls, and Capellan - Hoffman will have an excellent closer card.

Catcher:
Estrada - doesn't walk much but has a good batting average and is balanced
Varitek - had an off year but still makes the team

Infield:
Broussard (1b-4) - very good vs rhp; will probably need a platoon partner
Hillenbrand (1b/3b-4) - good vs lhp; might be Broussard's buddy; plays for himself
Sanchez (2b/3b-2, ss-3) - batting champ; he hit .442 vs lhp; will probably play 2b most of the time
J.Castillo (2b-3) - might make the team and get some playing time at 2b if Sanchez plays some 3b vs lhp
Rollins (ss-2) - if the Oilers get some offense going, he could get 750 at bats; good power and speed; perfectly balanced card; will lose about 100 point off his average in the clutch
Chavez (3b-1) - great defense; okay vs rhp

Outfield:
Re.Johnson (lf/rf-2, cf-3) - very good on both sides of the card; not much power; made only 1 error
Edmonds (cf-2, 1b-4) - typical Edmonds vs rhp; can't hit lefties
Hunter (cf-1) - excellent vs lhp; has Edmonds ever had a defensive replacement?
Winn (lf/rf-2, cf-3) - just average vs rhp; didn't hit lefties
J.Encarnacion (lf/cf-3, rf-2) - good vs lhp; will gain points in the clutch
B.Clark (lf/rf-3, cf-4) - no power or speed, but balanced
E.Brown (lf-4, rf-5) - very good hitter vs rhp

Designated Hitter:
Probably Emil Brown vs rhp; not sure vs lhp

Uncarded Guys:
Kendry Morales isn't uncarded, but qualifies as a possible prospect.

Draft Status:
Picks 5th - owns an extra 1st round pick.

Outlook:
Lots of platoon situations might cause some problems. Sanchez, Johnson, Rollins, and Estrada are the only ones who excel on both sides of the card. Starting pitching is good, and Hoffman will save some games. Getting that extra 1st round pick helps, because a stellar draft is a must for this team to advance to the post season.

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