2016 NASBL Preview - Troy Haymakers: The Future Begins Now
 |
| Up Up and Away |
Troy Haymakers
Average Record Last 3 Years: 76-86
Notable Draft Picks: 1st Rd, #2 overall, 3B Kris Bryant, a player with the ability to carry a franchise for the next decade, Bryant is front and center in Troy's rebuilding plans. 2nd Rd, Jung Ho Kang, 3B, one can never have too many HR smashing 3B, and if you're Troy and looking toward the future, grabbing the BPA is the quickest way to get there. Kang is just about Bryant's equal with the stick and glove and provides for great flexibility as a DH, 3B or even trade bait.
Best Player: Yoenis Céspedes. You could make a case for Bryant, or heck, even A.J. Pollock, but neither of them can change the game with one swing every time up like Cespedes. He hits for power, runs down every fly ball, has an arm that was memorialized into a gif meme many times over.
One of GM Ken Anderson's strongest scouting traits has been his ability to find a glove. Troy will make its mark thanks in large part to their ability to play five 1-rated fielders at the same time, including the all important positions up the middle in the infield and outfield.
However, Troy faces the daunting task of unseating NASBL World Series Champion DFW in their own division and their win total has declined in each of the last three years from 98 to 67 to 62. Anderson's boys appear ready and eager to buck that trend, but how will they do it?
Here's how.
The Lineup
As we'll note with pretty much every team, this is just a rough outline of what could be the best lineup at the disposal of the manager.
1. D.J. LeMahieu, 2B
2. A.J. Pollock, CF
 |
| Troy fans should get used to this sight |
4. Yoenis Cespedes, LF
5. Eric Hosmer, 1B
6. George Springer, RF
7. Jung Ho Kang, DH
8. Dide Gregorius, SS
9. Wilson Ramos, C
You have to go all the way to the 9 spot to sniff a weakness in this lineup. This team will flat out wear opposing pitchers down. This lineup has speed, power, OBP coming out their arse. The one thing it lacks, if I may pick nits for a moment, is extra left hand sticks. There are only three lefties on the roster, to go with two switch hitters (one of which is gasp, Panda) and they will be susceptible to hard throwing RHP.
The bench is not as deep as a playoff contending team would like, but it's early and bench help is relatively easy to acquire as the season progresses.
As mentioned, the defense will be among the league's best. So in addition to scoring a lot of runs, defensive run prevention will be a specaility of this year's Troy squad, which is a good thing for Anderson because ...
The Rotation
1. Madison Bumgarner, LHP
2. Colby Lewis, RHP
3. Edinson Volquez, RHP
4. Dan Haren, RHP
5. Kevin Gausman, RHP
Bumgarner will, and MUST, get his share of wins. For Troy to really contend they'll need to take full advantage of all 32 of Bum's starts and hope for a 20 win season from their ace. Because if not, things get really ugly in a hurry if the Volquez-Haren-Gausman trio is asked to do much.
Colby Lewis is a vital piece of the 'Maker puzzle this year. If he can be ~+5 in the W/L column, that would be welcomed production.
Rookie Raisel Iglesias and Aaron Sanchez have the potential to be valuable pieces, both as swing starters and long relievers when Haren gets run out of the game in the 4th. To make it even better, both are high upside players who are likely to have larger roles in future years for Troy.
The Bullpen
CL Andrew Miller
Setup vs R A.J. Ramos
Setup vs L *Spring training battle
Swing Starters/Inning Eaters Iglesias & Sanchez
Miller is a top 5 closer, so if Troy can simply get him the ball 40+ saves are not out of the questions. Ramos and Shawn Tolleson provide closer depth. Iglesias' 9.9Ks/9IP should be able to help Troy get out of any late inning jams.
The only real missing piece is someone to get those tough outs vs. lefty batters.
The Outlook
Did the Haymakers improve on the team that won 62 games last season? Certainly. Did they improve enough to get to the mid- to upper-80 win total needed for a playoff run? That's the real question.
Starting pitching depth is a big problem although it's a potentially solvable one with the hopes of Iglesias and Sanchez cracking the rotation and providing 20+ quality starts.
Back to the high points, the potent offense is the team's co-strength, along with defense.
In all, the Haymakers have the pieces to make another postseason run like in 2013, but they would need to add some minor pieces to do so. Those pieces are a middle of the rotation starter, a lefty pinch hitter and a LHP who can shut down LHBs.
The most likely outcome appears watching Red Robbins hang another Less Filling West Banner and fighting it out with the likes of Vermont and Shawnee for a wildcard spot.
