Canes Front Office Active
A flurry of free agent signings and preseason deals by new GM Harry Connick III has changed the aspect of Biloxi's entire franchise. What was a team with a below average offense, a slightly above average starting staff with no dependable closer, and a strong top end farm systems has been transformed into:
- a slightly above average set of bats (and some nice gloves),
- an outrageously good, but partly elderly starting staff
- a closer with a nice shot at 35 plus saves
- a farm system with some talent still ready to feed players for a year or two - but in need for a rebuild thereafter.
The deals and signings made by Connick have almost all added veteran players with single years left in contracts; a evident strategy of a single year run at a title. A spring injury to long time Cane 2B Taro Osaka forced a last second trade with hated rival Chessie to reform the middle infield.
Roster below shows bold for each player who was not in the majors with the 'Canes to start 1971:
1B: Shin Seo
2B: David Washington
SS: Richard Candler
3B: Tobias Yoder
C: Benji Vargas
LF: Joel Benitez
CF: Superman Maldonado
RF: Terry Warkentin
SP: Dan Curcio
SP: David Mcbeth
SP: Chad Nieman
SP: Manny Espinosa
SP: Doug Crossen
Closer: James Gaston
MR: Nathan Pinnock
MR: Adam Burr
MR: Marcus Kerley
MR: James McCormick
MR: Jerrell Ivy
Spot Starter: Dyu-ku Benkei
Bench: Placido Parra Arthur Bays Bill Henderson Yuichi Kajimoto
The first two weeks have been somewhat disappointing, as the starting pitching has been substandard, tiring out the not so terrific middle relief staff. The calvalcade of second base injuries continue into the season as well. Spring saw Taro Osaka lost for the season, and then injuries to Washington and Kajimoto required some scrambling in the 'Cane front office.
Good news: Maldonado's first fortnight in the majors have produced nice results, hitting .306 despite a recent 1 for 15 slump. Due to the lack of a better leadoff solution, Supes is likely being awarded that slot soon.