Victoria Islanders
Division Last Season: 1st
Wins Last Season: 109
Batting
The Islanders lost a lot of talent during the off season and in particular their outfield has suffered. Guillaume Popham was a great pickup for Victoria in the 2015 supp draft with the 1st overall pick. The left fielder was a key part of the outfield and went on to play 1100 games, batting in 418 runs with a career average of .262. Also retired is 3 time All Star and 1st overall pick of the 2006 draft, Chris Anderson. In 16 seasons Anderson played 2465 games hitting 503 home runs with a career average of .277. And the final player retired was finally Jeffry Simonea who was the 5th overall draft pick in 2007. Simonea fell agonisingly short of 2000 games when he finished on 1997, he did however hit 405 home runs and finished with a career average of .270. At 3rd and 1st the Islanders are set with replacements, however they'll find it difficult to replace Popham.
Pitching
Retiements from the pitching staff were even more critical than the batting. Danny Kowalik and Andrew Lazorko were both key members of the starting crew and pitched 518 innings for the Islanders in 2022. Kowalik, the 1st overall selection of the 2003 draft, was the Cy Young award winner in 2011 and a 6 time All Star. He won 304 games and had an ERA of 3.20 over his career. Lazorko was the 2nd overall selection of the 2009 draft and also a Cy Young winner in 2022, collecting the CBL Pitcher of the Year award in the process. During his career he played in 4 All Star games, won 186 times and had an ERA of 2.56. Expect to see Tory Schraff back in the starting rotation which is his preference while Al Huking could be asked to pitch a lot more. We should also see more of Neil Reep with his nasty curve ball in 2023.
Overall
Sadly for the Islanders it’s all about retirements although they still do have depth in their pitching and quality performers in their batting. Barring injuries the Islanders should still be a batting force in the division. But they’ll be asking a lot of the existing pitching staff to get 4 quality starters. On top of the retirements Victoria had a great 2022, 2023 will be tougher and they’ll be battling for first.
Transactions
Popham, Guillaume, Left Field - Retired
Simonea, Jeffry, 1st Base - Retired
Anderson, Chris, 3rd Base - Retired
Holmes, Alberto, Short Stop - Sent to AAA
Moyes, Shaun, 2nd Base - Sent to AAA
Brea, Trevor, Right Field - Sent to ACT
Bailes, Fernando, Catcher - Sent to ACT
Taumoepeau, Hickey, Right Field - Sent to ACT
Kowalik, Danny, Starter - Retired
Lazorko, Andrew, Starter - Retired
Reep, Neil, Bullpen - Sent to ACT
Moreland, Rajan, Bullpen - Sent to ACT
Magrane, Moose, Bullpen - Sent to ACT
Schraff, Tory, Bullpen - Sent to ACT
Prediction
Division Place: 2nd
Wins: 83
Kelowna Okanagans
Division Last Season: 2nd
Wins Last Season: 103
Batting
Almost the entire left field, Al Grantham, Tabara Lathan and Wattie Provis, hung up their cleats and decided to take up fishing for 2023. Grantham had become a very important player with the bat for Kelowna and his .313 in 140 games in 2022 was testament to his ability to deliver. Grantham played 2175 games and had a career average of .269. Lathan played 1672 games and had a career average of .254, he also played in the 2018 All Star game. Provis played 196 games in 4 seasons. Rookie David Queen’s good spring training showing comes at an opportune time for the Okanagans as they try to sure up their outfield.
Pitching
The day that Kelowna fans were dreading finally happened as the CBL’s other best pitcher ever retired. Simon Cockburn’s record and records say it all and the debate between Cockburn and Jovon Yakow for who was the greatest pitcher will be forever raged. For the record, Cockburn won 418 games with an ERA of 2.90, he won the Cy Young 6 times, was the CBL Pitcher of the Year twice, a 13 time All Star, and holds the career records for complete games and shutouts. Benj Burroughs and Andujar Adamson will be trying to secure a place in the rotation and pitch some of those 332 innings pitched by Cockburn in 2022. Ripper Chaberlin should be more consistent in 2022 while Dmarco Walker is promoted from Rochester on the back of some good spring training showings.
Overall
Much like Victoria the Okanagans have some serious retirements to get over. Kelowna has lost a lot of quality to retirement in the last few years and this season it'll finally tell. If Kelowna is to mount a serious challenge they'll need to add some quality and depth to their pitching staff.
Transactions
Grantham, Al, Left Field - Retired
Tabara, Lathan, Left Field - Retired
Mayer, Jim, 1st Base - Sent to AAA
Weiford, Mike, Left Field - Sent to AAA
Provis, Wattie, Left Field - Retired
Hogg, Grant, 1st Base - Sent to ACT
Todd, JT, 2nd Base - Sent to ACT
Riviere, Chuck, 1st Base - Sent to ACT
Cockburn, Simon, Starter - Retired
Burroughs, Benj, Bullpen - Sent to ACT
Adamson, Andujar, Bullpen - Sent to ACT
Walker, Dmarco, Bullpen - Sent to ACT
Prediction
Division Place: Last
Wins: 67
Creston Kokanee
Division Last Season: 3rd
Wins Last Season: 90
Batting
Gone from 2022 is the 11 year veteran of 1047 games, Buzz Frederick, who’s role was diminished. Even in the strange 2022 season where Frederick played out of Nanton only. Perhaps after some sort of superstitious belief that says you can't win the beer with the same team twice, the Kokanee are seeing the benefits of their rebuild. Quality rookies Ron Humphreys and Ted Burris have improved the outfield while Koetsu Iso gives depth at 2nd. There are however question marks at 1st and 3rd and no obvious replacements on the farm.
Pitching
Relieving pitcher Tom Assenmacher retired after 14 seasons in which he pitched 248 games recording 29 wins, 32 saves, 45 holds and an ERA of 5.47. Unlike the batting there was no rebuilding in 2022 and while there is some quality pitching with enduring arms the pitching staff is still thin. One of those enduring arms is Bob Warren’s and his 40 years are beginning to show.
Overall
Creston are another team that will be dreading injuries, especially with any of their pitchers. They have a good blend of experience and youth in their batting and good experince in their pitching so are capable of putting in consistent performances. If everyone can stay healthy though they’ll be the team to beat in the West.
Transactions
Wunderlich, Ted, Centre Field - Sent to AAA
Harper, Ken, Catcher - Sent to AAA
Arauz, Starley, 1st Base - Sent to AAA
Thon, Tony, Left Field - Sent to AAA
Maredous, Jerame, 1st Base - Sent to AAA
Humphreys, Ron, Right Field - Sent to ACT
Burris, Ted, Centre Field - Sent to ACT
Grayson, Rob, Left Field - Released to Free Agents
Frederick, Buzz, Short Stop - Retired
Iso, Koetsu, 2nd Base - Sent to ACT
Wooden, Akeer, Bullpen - Sent to ACT
Novosel, Sean, Bullpen - Released to Free Agents
Assenmacher, Tom, Bullpen - Retired
Simonis, Ezra, Bullpen - Released to Free Agents
Guillen, Joe, Bullpen - Released to Free Agents
Prediction
Division Place: 1st
Wins: 106
Vancouver Orcas
Division Last Season: Last
Wins Last Season: 65
Batting
The Orca’s batting lineup is developing into a solid and experienced unit that will trouble a lot of the pitching staffs in the league but they're lacking one or two players of real quality. 2022 All Star Dion Hesseldenz looks to have enjoyed a little too much Christmas ham and has lost a yard of pace. Ed Schnoover is a player of promise who showed some quality in his spring at bats and deserves a chance to play in Vancouver.
Pitching
Abraham Torcata retired after playing his entire 13 year career in Vancouver. Torcata was the 14th pick in the 2009 draft and won 61 games, made 112 holds, and saved another 85 games to end with a career ERA of 4.78. Young pitchers Andy Pereira and Dameon Miles continue to improve but the player to watch is rookie Felix Padron who was the 7the pick of the 2022 draft out of Waterloo. His fastball gave batters a lot of trouble over spring.
Overall
Vancouver’s pitching has really picked up and will help to make them more competitive in 2023. But like their batting they're still missing a real star who can pitch plenty of innings and keep them in games consistently. Still, Vancouver has a lot of young talent and the question is whether they’ll be developed or used to acquire a few of those quality players. Either way the Orca’s can expect an better 2023.
Transactions
Harrison, Anthony, 1st Base - Sent to ACT
Edwards, Harry, Left Field - Sent to ACT
Torcata, Abraham, Middle Reliever - Retired
Neufeld, Troy, Starter - Sent to AAA
Switala, Joakim, Setup - Sent to AAA
Bandy, Oliver, Bullpen - Sent to ACT
Padron, Felix, Bullpen - Sent to ACT
Prediction
Division Place: 3rd
Wins: 71
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