Hornets Ready for Opening Day

[chicago_gm]

Let’s Play Ball!
Chicago Hornet Lineup Analysis

By Caitlen Sullivan
Chicago Sun Times Sports
March 20, 1843

Spring Training in the books and the Chicago Hornets, who finished the spring slate with a record of 13-11, have honed their roster down to 25 for Opening Day tonight in Milwaukee in the first game of a three game set. Then the club returns to Unified Stadium for the home opener in a series against Brooklyn.

In late breaking free agent news, the Hornets signed infielder Joe Johnson immediately after he was released by the New York Americans. Johnson signed a three year deal with Chicago. The club also signed infielder Archie Griffin but he is likely to end up at Lusk (AAA).

Here’s how the line-up shapes up as of Opening Day:

First Base:
Last year’s number one draft pick, Steve Chowen, is a catcher by trade but has Gold Glove potential at first base as well. He hit only .222 in 32 games (and 27 at bats) at Lubbock, but he projects to be a major league star and will get his chance this year. He will start at 1B against left handers. Against right handers he will be behind the plate. 1841’s number one draft pick, Jim Nicholson, is only 18 years old. He spent last season in Short-A ball at Lubbock where he hit a respectable .283 in 73 games. He’s adequate defensively and has great potential as a hitter, albeit without much power. He would probably develop more quickly if given another minor league season in AAA, but the lack of infield talent in Chicago is giving him a chance to play this year. He will start against southpaws.

Second Base:
Veljko Svabic is an accomplished SLOP veteran. He is slotted as the second baseman although he could end up at 1B if the youngsters there need more development time. The free agent is coming off a career year at Phoenix when he fit .356 after three years around .290. Power is not his strong point either. He’s better than average defensively and turns the double play extremely well.

Third Base:
Late signee Joe Johnson will start at the hot corner and give the infield some needed experience. He should hit around .270 and has enough power to hit 20 odd home runs. He’s solid defensively at third (or anywhere else in the infield).

Shortstop:
Age 20, Corey Hunt has hit the ball with authority in the minors in A (.353) and then AA ball (.372). No power here either, but he looks like he can hit for a decent average and steal some bases. If he can indeed hit big league pitching, he is an ideal candidate for the lead-off spot. His major problem is defense and range at a position where you like a good fielder with great range.

Infield Reserves:
Pancho Rodriguez signed a one-year deal with the Hornets as a free agent from Venezuela. He prefers first base or second base but can handle all the infield positions. He’s another guy with no power and it’s unclear if he can hit better than his weight (195) in big league ball. He managed .205 during the spring. Dewitt Peterson, a free agent, is a viable backup at 1B or 2B. He can field and run but has almost no power – a home run off his bat would be a total surprise. Veterans Warren Moore and Arturo Ojeda from last year’s roster have both been released.

Left Field:
Journeyman free agent Bill Bailey (ex-Los Angeles and Philadelphia) will get the initial nod here. Average in most every category offensively and defensively, he’s the best available right now.

Center Field:
Free agent Phil Batstone is an outstanding defender, but he hits .265-ish in his good years and around .220 in a bad one. He may be able to contribute 20 or so home runs.

Right Field:
Mark Powell certainly won’t be in there for his defense, but he hit .344 and .382 the last two years at Lusk (AAA) in Chicago’s system. He is an excellent base stealer. If SS Hunt fails, he is the next best candidate for the lead off spot in the lineup.

Outfield Reserves
38-year-old Gerry Meeks is back in Chicago again to help out after a couple of years at Memphis and Phoenix. Dirk Treitz is a holdover from last year. His strong points are defense and speed on the bases. Last year he contributed 24 home runs as well. Ewan Evans played here last year but his .168 average was the major impetus behind his release.

Catcher
Steven Chowen, mentioned above under first basemen, was the number one pick by the Hornets last year in the amateur draft. But he will spend part of his time at 1B. Last year Robin Whitmere hit .247 in a half season with Chicago. He’s no match for Chowen offensively or defensively but will start against left handers when Chowen is defending at first base.

Designated Hitter
During inter-league play when a designated hitter is required, Dewitt Peterson will get first crack against lefties while Gerry Meeks will get the call vs. righties.

Rotation:
Great things are expected from Bobby Foster, the club’s new franchise-designated pitcher from Ottawa, Canada. With four great pitches, excellent movement, and excellent control, he’ll clearly be the team’s number one man. He can pitch all day, throws at 96 mph plus, and gets over 75% ground balls. Get ready, infielders!
Rich Malone alternated between the rotation and the pen last year and posted a nice 13-7 mark and an ERA of 3.55. At age 22, he is still improving. He’ll be a rotation regular this year.
Angel Bautista comes to Chicago from Puerto Rico and not a lot is known about him. He has four decent pitches and will get a solid shot at a rotation spot.
Emilio Contreras won 16 games in both of the last two years at Milwaukee and now brings his limited repertoire to Chicago. His pitches are mediocre at best, but he makes up for that with very good movement and excellent control.
Bill Hicks came up through the organization and joined the Hornets in mid-1842, posting a 6-4 mark and a 4.13 ERA in 16 starts. He’ll be the fifth starter.
Jose Gonzales was 13-11 two years back with Chicago but fell off to 10-22 last season. He’s got three good pitches and the ability to be a starter if one of the above fail to come through.

Bullpen
Free agent Colby Wade is only 23 years old but already has five major league seasons behind him in Los Angeles where he showed the ability to close. With the Hornets he’ll clearly be the closer unless he falls apart. Remarkably, he had eleven saves in as many tries during Spring Training.
33-year-old Walt Brown will be the set-up man for Wade, a role he will have adjust to after saving 185 games for Los Angeles over the past five years (including 54 last season). He’s second in the SLOP in career saves.
Mike Dryden comes over as a free agent from Phoenix where he has a 3.28 lifetime ERA as a reliever. He’ll probably be the first man out of the pen in key situations.
Al Denton has been the closer for Chicago for the last two years when he posted 27 and 34 saves respectively. He’ll have to adjust to middle relief in the Chicago plan.
Richard Koch and Robert Pittman are both capable relievers who will round out a strong pen.

The pitching looks pretty solid with an especially strong bullpen. But bullpens don't usually get you to the post season. The hitting looks spotty at best and definitely lacks power. This team could lose a lot of low scoring games. Defense is also spotty - strong at 1B and C when Chowen is there, solid at 2B and 3B, weak at SS, sub par at the corner outfield spots, and solid in CF. Coming off the worst record in SLOP last year, the Hornets are hoping to improve to .500.