Deuce Droppers Season Preview

Key Additions: Pascual Cruz

Departures: Jacque Nixon

C: Pascual Cruz - Once again, the DD’s will look to a Rule 5 player to handle the catching duties. Cruz was claimed off waivers after being taken from the Pilots in the draft by the Multiple Spouses. He is out to show both those teams that they made a big mistake in letting him go. He is not the best defender or pitch caller, but has great potential at the plate.

1B: B.C. Bennett – In his first full season in the majors, B.C. hit 31 HR’s with 103 RBI’s and a .294 Avg. At just 23 years of age, he should be anchoring the middle of the DD’s lineup for years to come. Little known fact, Bennett was given his nickname by Dwight Johnson’s sister after she could not handle his large bat, B.C. = Big Cock.

2B: Jim Edmonds – The longtime CF for the DD’s, not the washed up OF playing for the Cubs, Edmonds was moved to 2B after the season ending injury to Jacque Nixon. He flourished in his new position and finished with 30 HR’s, 98 RBI’s, 117 Runs, 52 SB’s, and a .292 Avg. At 28 years of age and in a midst of a contract year, he may have his best year yet.

3B: Blake Mathews – After clearing waivers at the beginning of spring training last year, Mathews decided to make every team regret the decision not to pick him up. How did he do, how about 49 HR’s, 139 RBI’s, 104 Runs and a respectable .265 Avg. He effectively gave all 31 teams the finger for passing on him.

SS: Will Yeats – The great-grandson of the Irish poet William Butler Yeats, he is known as the black sheep of the family for choosing baseball over a literary career. Yeats was called up to the big leagues as a result of Jacque Nixon going down for the year. Everyone knew that Yeats could play a mean SS, but no one expected the offense that he contributed. He finished the year with 10 HR’s, 49 RBI’s, and a .289 Avg in 113 games.

LF: Jorel Atkins – As the illegitimate son of the creator of the Atkins diet, the only meat that Jorel will not eat is the rotten tuna between the legs of Dwight Johnson’s sister. Started the year as the #2 hitter in the lineup, but after a slow start was moved to the #9 spot. He flourished in his new spot and finished with 25 HR’s, 93 RBI’s, 126 Runs, 64 SB’s, and a .271 Avg.

CF: Jimmie Bergman – Bergman had been the DD’s SS all his career, but was a part of the defensive shift that resulted from Nixon’s injury. Bergman had 38 HR’s, 107 RBI’s, 101 Runs and a .282 Avg.

RF: Vin Ibanez – Vin had another great year from the leadoff spot setting the table for the big sticks behind him and was rewarded with a 5 year, 32.5 million dollar contract in the offseason. He finished with 4 HR’s, 72 RBI’s, 106 Runs, 54 SB’s, and a .316 Avg.

DH: Fernando Armas – His MVP days are probably behind him, but Armas is still one of the most feared hitters in the league. He finished the season with 17 HR’s, 100 RBI’s, 33 SB’s, and a .376 Avg.

Reserves: C – Chris O'Donnell, 1B/DH – Keith Reid, IF/OF – Andrew Waters

After losing his boyish good looks to plastic surgery gone wrong, O’Donnell left Hollywood and now hides behind his catcher’s mask. It’s rumored that he haunts the bowels of Deuce Dropper stadium, a la the Phantom of the Opera.

SP1: Britt Swindell - Britt, son of former major leaguer Greg Swindell, is the teams ace. He had a solid season last year finishing 16 – 10 with a 3.51 era. This season Britt hopes to win his third CY Young award.

SP2: Russell Spence - Spence moves up to the number 2 spot this season. He was solid last season going 15 – 8 with a 3.80 era.

SP3: Chad Sanders - Sanders, brother of fictional 90210 character Steve Sanders, will start as the teams #3. This fprmer CY Young winner hopes to continue the success he had last season. Last season he was 14 – 9 with a 3.30 era in 32 starts.

SP4: Nicholas Perry - Illegimate brother of 90210 star Luke Perry returns as the teams #4. Perry is a reliable vet who has started 32 in each of his last 4 seasons. Last season he finished 13 – 12 with a 4.55 era.

SP5: Marty Stoops - Stoops spent most of last season in AAA going 8 – 8 with a 3.77 era. He was 3 – 0 in 3 starts last season in the majors.

LR: Hipolito Palacios - Future ace of the team. This 20 year old returns for his second season in the majors. Palacios was stellar in the playoffs last season with a 2.35 era in 15 innings.

LR: Dwayne Charleston - Charleston was decent last season. He was great in the playoffs managing a 3 – 0 record in only 3 innings.

LR: Victor Mendoza - The team has been waiting for Mendoza to develop into a sold reliever. This should be his first full season in the majors. Last season he had a 3.34 era in 86 innings in AAA.

LR: Donald Tanaka - The teams former #5 starter moves to the bullpen. If he struggles expect to see him traded or on the waiver wire.

SU: Victor Blanco - Blanco was brought over from the Brewers last season. He was solid for the team with a 1.17 era in 15 innings.

SU: Doug Cambridge - Cambridge has been solid for the past few seasons. Last season he had 18 saves in 19 opportunities with a 3.20 era.

SU: Mark Carew - Carew hopes to improve in his second season in the majors. Last season he had a 4.65 era in 40 innings.

SU: Jeremy Russell - The virtually useless Russell pitched 25 innings last season with a 5.96 era.