2007 Team by Team Preview - Wahoos

Wahoos

Starting Pitching:
Wang, F.Hernandez, L.Hernandez, Buehrle - some talent here, but mostly hittable cards for this year; Batista, Baker, and D.Cabrera are all on the team, but doubtful to survive the cut (although Cabrera might be kept on the taxi)

Bullpen:
Rodney, Rauch, Speier, Wuertz - Rodney is the best of the group; the others are a bit lopsided, but can be effective.

Catcher:
R.Hernandez - excellent vs lhp; playable on the right side; good arm

Infield:
Morneau (1b-3) - AL MVP is outstanding and balanced; the best hitter on this team
LaRoche (1b-3) - great OB and SLG vs rhp; doesn't hit lefties; e-rating will be similar to Morneau, so he will probably be the DH
D.Lee (1b-2) - Lee has been the nucleus of this team for a few years but now finds himself as its third best firstbaseman; only 175 AB, but still a very decent card
Kennedy (2b-2) - 291/351 BA and OB vs rhp; can't hit lefties
Kinsler (2b-3) - better BA and OB vs rhp, but OPS is balanced
Belliard (2b-3, 3b-4) - another 2b candidate who can't hit lefties; might be a cut
Betemit (3b-3, 2b/ss-4) - following a trend here, he can hit rhp a little bit but not lefties at all
Mueller (3b-2) - only 100 AB; walks some but probably a cut
Renteria (ss-3) - excellent vs lhp; not terrible vs rhp; will have a decent e-rating this year
Betancourt (ss-2) - hit over .300 vs rhp but doesn't walk; no help vs lhp
Peralta (ss-4) - might be kept on the taxi

Outfield:
Dellucci (lf/rf-4) - nice platoon guy (.904 OPS vs rhp); went 1-for-29 in the clutch
Damon (cf-2) - will have a good card; better vs lhp again this year; throws better than Juan Pierre, Mike Piazza, Victor Martinez, and Rex Grossman... but nobody else
Bradley (rf-2) - not much power or speed, but a nice balanced card
Quentin (lf/rf-3) - top prospect; had a hot July after his call-up, but faded after that; will gain in the clutch so he should be a good pinch-hitter vs rhp
Podsednik (lf-4) - wow, a 4? Remember when he was good? Nah, me neither - a likely cut.

Designated Hitter:
Probably LaRoche most of the time.

Uncarded Guys:
Pavano might be kept, but he's the only one.

Draft Status:
Picks 3rd. Has all of his own early picks plus extras in the 1st, 2nd, and 5th.

Outlook:
Morneau will have to carry the offense, although there are some useable parts around him. The starting pitching is fair at best, but the bullpen isn't bad. The best asset for the Wahoos will be the 8 picks they own in the first 67 selections of the Draft. The selections made with those picks will make or break the Wahoos for 2007. The team has some good to great young talent (King Felix, Morneau, Kinsler, Betemit, Quentin, Betancourt, LaRoche, Wang... so this team will continue to get better.

Up next, the Zaps. The Mavs are on deck with the Drillers to follow.