Regina Pirates
Division Last Season: 1st
Wins Last Season: 87
Batting
Malcolm Pooley retired after playing a supporting role to Kevin Biesch in 2022. Pooley had played 974 games in the CBL for an average of .237. It would be fair to say that batting is the strength of the Pirates although the combined average .256 wouldn’t suggest Farmers League champions material but that’s what happened in 2022. The batting will again be a strength and should improve to over .260 in 2023.
Pitching
Guy Gosling also retired after 2022 where he pitched 222 innings at a respectable 4.24. Gosling played a big part in the last six seasons for the Pirates where he won 78 games and the team that won the Farmers East five times. Pierre Hampton is called in to start at the beginning of 2023, something he’s done twice before, once in 2021, and once on 2022 … will this be a trifecta of single season starts? Strangely Jeffrey Butler remains in Thunder Bay and he must be wondering why he didn’t get the call-up given his performances when he's started in the past.
Overall
We really feel the pitching is going to struggle to keep Regina in the game during 2023 when we consider the quality of some of the opposition batting line-ups. The team era will continue to rise. Still, Regina are a surprising team and they only struggled in the Battle for the Beer after they lost starter Carey Tirabassi. Find a suitable replacement for Gosling and they could be back in business.
Transactions
Pooley, Malcolm, Catcher - Retired
Sekimoto, Matteya, Centre Field - Sent to AAA
Gosling, Guy, Starter - Retired
Russell, Heath, Bullpen - Sent to ACT
Hampton, Pierre, Bullpen - Sent to ACT
Prediction
Division Place: 3rd
Wins: 70
Grand Rapids Red Dogs
Division Last Season: 2nd
Wins Last Season: 76
Batting
Grand Rapids lost their reliable right fielder Kamau Schmiege during the off season. A veteran of 17 years and while he may not have started in some of the top teams he showed what can be done if given a chance. Amazingly Schmiege played 2564 games, hit 403 home runs, scored 1335 runs, stole 198 bases and hit an average of .275. Experienced players such as Sean Vanlier, Vern Rute and Buddy McClain look primed for improved seasons after their spring training results while Jamie Beletic looks better for a season under his belt. Beletic and new comer Price Garkey, the 16th overall pick in the 2020 draft, will pressure the opposition pitchers with their speed around the bases so we may see a more hits converted into runs in 2023.
Pitching
Kid Gleason retired after the 2022 season, he was a solid reliever although played out of Perkins for the last two seasons and his last real season in 2019 was disappointing. Jarrod Hauck was excellent in relief for the Red Dogs in 2022 and looked good whenever he took the mound over spring. We’re also looking forward to seeing Eric Broderick play a much bigger role this season as he looked very good in the 8 innings over 8 games he pitched in 2022.
Overall
With improvements in both the batting and especially the pitching in 2023, along with potential rotation issues in Regina, we think this season the Red Dogs have enough to claim the division title. They have good coverage and plenty of back up in the fielding positions so the team will hold their own there. As well as improved there is depth in the pitching with plenty of good arms in Perkins. This is the year of the Red Dogs … surely … isn’t it?
Transactions
Rute, Vern, Left Field - Sent to AAA
McClain, Buddy, Centre Field - Sent to AAA
Schmiege, Kamau, Right Field - Retired
Carter, Slick, 3rd Base - Sent to AAA
Buskminster, Marsh, 2nd Base - Sent to LOW
Tuttle, Masato, Centre Field - Sent to ACT
Stahoviak, Lariel, Middle Reliever - Sent to AAA
Lincoln, Rogers, Setup - Sent to AAA
Allen, Gabe, Long Reliever - Sent to AAA
Madlem, Yuri, Bullpen - Sent to AAA
Reed, Craig, Middle Reliever - Sent to LOW
Sidden, Scott, Bullpen - Sent to ACT
Twigg, Kewaun, Bullpen - Sent to ACT
Morgan, Joe, Bullpen - Sent to ACT
Gleason, Kid, Bullpen - Retired
Prediction
Division Place: 1st
Wins: 92
Moose Jaw Dragons
Division Last Season: 3rd
Wins Last Season: 69
Batting
Dragons stalwart Jose Smith retired after 17 years in Moose Jaw. Smith was an excellent centre fielder and had some of his best years with the bat in 2020 and 2021. Clint Sweeten is turning into one of the games best catchers but he has his work cut out for him trying to dislodge Blaine DeLeon who himself is a very good catcher. Short stop Jonathan Knowles is on the verge of being promoted with the only thing holding him back being his fielding work, but he's still young and another season in Bankend wouldn’t be a bad thing.
Pitching
Also retired was relieving pitcher Bill Mitterwald who found himself traded 3 times as well as being signed as a free agent a several times in between trades. Mitterwald eventually made a home for himself in Moose Jaw spending 9 seasons. Lefty Raphael Brown continues to refine his quality change up and looks to be the staff ace in 2023. Rookies Brad Wilson and Aaron Falconer are also pushing hard for bullpen spots
Overall
The Dragons continue to get younger and also continue to improve, however others are improving also so it'll be season much like 2022. The majority of improvement should come in the pitching where the team era should be heading below 4.50.
Transactions
Smith, Jose, Centre Field - Retired
Grilli, David, Right Field - Sent to AAA
Wallace, Reid, Centre Field - Sent to AAA
Johnson, Kid, 3rd Base - Sent to AAA
Robinson, Kinnis, Catcher - Sent to AAA
Tassinari, Dewayne, Short Stop - Sent to ACT
Kindell, Charbaseya, Bullpen - Sent to AAA
Burnham, Carl, Long Reliever - Sent to AAA
Green, Wilbur, Bullpen - Sent to AAA
Mitterwald, Bill, Bullpen - Retired
Konerko, Mandy, Bullpen - Sent to AAA
Cushilly, Mark, Bullpen - Sent to AAA
I'anson, Eric, Bullpen - Sent to AAA
Prediction
Division Place: 4th
Wins: 69 (yep, just like 2022)
Yellowknife Bluenotes
Division Last Season: 4th
Wins Last Season: 65
Batting
Yellowknife had the youngest team last season and it’s no surprise they had no one retiring after 2022. The Bluenotes had some impressive performers during spring including second year players Sarnat Dalton and Mariano Stant. Left field Dalton was the 3rd overall signing in the 2020 draft. He hit 10 home runs in a little under a third of a season, and with a full 2023 ahead of him he’s likely to push 40. Prescott Burns was the 3rd overall signing in the 2022 draft and looks to be a star in the making. At 23 years old his short stop skills are already well developed and his hitting in spring training showed improved selection and power. After his spring performances Burns couldn’t be left off the roster. It’s a very similar story for fellow 2022 draftee Todd Cook. Playing 3rd and selected 8th overall Cook also impressed in spring training.
Pitching
The pitching staff in Yellowknife is not one the younger ones around but they also didn’t suffer any retirements after 2022. Supporting the older pitchers are a whole host of promising young pitchers such as Brent Castleberry, the 8th overall pick in the 2017 draft, Kevin Clinkscales, the 5th overall pick in the 2020 draft, Chris Poretto, the 12th overall pick in the 2016 draft, Langston Becvar and the 15th overall pick in the 2018 draft, Jamie Matthews. the 31st overall pick in the 2022 draft.
Overall
There should be a big improvement over 2022’s batting performance but the still some way to go before the batting really does it’s part for the team. It’s very exciting times in the pitching area with so many new faces but their inexperience will count against them. The team will improve on 2022’s results but they'll still run hot and colds and we’ll only see glimpses of their potential.
Transactions
Jennings, Alex, Right Field - Sent to AAA
Belinsky, Earl, 2nd Base - Sent to AAA
Paul, Clinton, 2nd Base - Sent to AAA
Flagg, David, 3rd Base - Sent to AAA
Finlayson, Gary, Right Field - Sent to AAA
Dalton, Sarnat, Left Field - Sent to ACT
Thomas, Christian, Centre Field - Sent to ACT
Cook, Todd, 3rd Base - Sent to ACT
Burns, Prescott, Short Stop - Sent to ACT
Baumbeck, Iestyn, Left Field - Sent to ACT
Maciarello, Asa, Setup - Released
Barrich, Terry, Long Reliever - Sent to AAA
Brennan, Jud, Starter - Sent to AAA
Anteliz, Enrique, Starter - Sent to AAA
Ineguez, Nat, Starter - Sent to AAA
Clinkscales, Kevin, Bullpen - Sent to ACT
Porretto, Chris, Bullpen - Sent to ACT
Castleberry, Brent, Bullpen - Sent to ACT
Becvar, Langston, Bullpen - Sent to ACT
Matthews, Jamie, Bullpen - Sent to ACT
Neater, Winston, Bullpen - Sent to ACT
Prediction
Division Place: 2nd
Wins: 78
Sask Yellow Jackets
Division Last Season: Last
Wins Last Season: 48
Batting
Vic Baker and Eiland Masao both retired at the end of 2022 although neither had played a role with the Sask team for several seasons. Plain and simple, with Barron Cochrane, Avery Caig and Jory Bawen on your team you’re going to put runs on the board, even if it’s only their second season. These guys are good, really good, it’s scary. The saving grace for other teams is that after those three, and you can add Junior Zellmann to make four, the batting quality starts to go down. Another thing is that the Yellow Jackets will make a lot of mistakes so you’re always going to have a chance.
Pitching
There were also two retirements from the pitching camp as Oddibe Barfield and David Reeves called time on their careers. Of the two it was Barfield who played the bigger role. He pitched 110 innings of relief in 2022 for an era of 6.55. Sask will be expecting a better season from staff ace Chris Rikitson and with his high calibre slider and very good backup pitches he has the potential to do so. Another pitcher who disappointed in 2022 was Gary Holz, he has the ability and experience to bring his era closer to 2020 levels.
Overall
Sask had a terrible 2022 and they really shouldn’t be that bad in 2023. If they could manage to bring their team era back towards their 2020 levels they should improve considerably as their batting average will continue to climb. We’re definitely expecting a better pitching effort.
Transactions
Munro, Adam, 2nd Base - Sent to AAA
Baker, Vic, Catcher - Retired
Eiland, Masao, Catcher - Retired
Haines, Linc, 1st Base - Sent to ACT
Martin, Scott, Catcher - Sent to ACT
Barfield, Oddibe, Middle Reliever - Retired
Reaver, Russell, Long Reliever - Sent to AAA
Harty, Raphael, Bullpen - Sent to ACT
Reeves, David, Bullpen - Retired
Prediction
Division Place: Last
Wins: 66
|
