Bedford Crunch

2016 Record: 74-86 (3rd in North)
2017 Projected Record: 76-84
Key Additions: Scott Kazmir (free agent), Nick Swisher (free agent)
Key Losses: none

The history of the Crunch is one of award winning players, an all-time winning record and 4 Hall of Famers. Yet this squad has barely sniffed post-season action - their lone appearance coming in 2008 as a Wildcard team. So what has been the problem here? Ownership has been consistent and left the decisions to GM Rich Gin. Gin has been active but not reactionary, leaving some NY media types begging for the bold move. And Manager Tommy Lasorda has been with Bedford since the beginning: maybe a change might light a fire under some of these players. A 90 year-old manager may have a little trouble relating to the younger players and let's face it - at this point they're all younger. So after yet another 3rd place finish, did Gin go ahead and reinvent this team?
Last season the Crunch scored a measly 652 runs, good for 13th in SLB. What did Gin do to help his offense this season? He signed 36 year-old LF Nick Swisher (everybody together: ooooh, aaahhhh) to a 3 year deal. He also signed .... wait, that's it? Swisher's the answer? He had a .791 OPS with 18 bombs last season and will be roaming the outfield with 37 year-old bag of hammers Milton Bradley and 25 year-old stud CF Todric Johnson (Gin snagged him in the 2nd round back in 2013). GM Gin is also counting on disappointing 1B Basil Elton-John and future Hall of Fame 2B Josh Barfield to give this team some sock. The 33 year-old Barfield led all Crunch hitters with 21 home runs in 2016. This team had better pitch ....

.... which leads us to Gin's work at the auction. Bedford had a 4.14 team ERA last year, 3rd best in the league. Gin obviously thought pitching was still a problem and went and signed LHP Scott Kazmir to a 3 year/36.75M contract and he'll be the Crunch's ace. Reliever Dick Briscoe agreed to return to the Crunch and the pitching staff looks great but did Gin spend his money wisely? Will dominant pitching get this team to the postseason or will not signing or trading for a big bat be a huge error? Perhaps Bedford is just biding time, attempting to avoid last place, and waiting for their young position prospects (SS Paddy Farr, 2B James Gordon, 3B Ken Woodward and the aforementioned Elton-John) to develop before they make a serious run at the title. That's a risky move and could result in a ticked-off fan base and a lower salary cap.

Projected Lineup
CF Todric Johnson
3B Ken Woodward
2B Josh Barfield
RF Nick Swisher
1B Basil Elton-John
LF Milton Bradley
C Pat Jordan
SS Paddy Farr

The starting nine has a nice balance and should be fine against LHP or RHP. Where's the power? Maybe Crunch fans have a good thing going - low scoring games that finish quickly and get them back home to the suburbs before they get beaten or robbed.

Projected Rotation
Scott Kazmir
Ted Striker
Yadel Marti
Luke Hochevar
Luis Martinez

Closer
Jason Ray

Lasorda will mix and match to find a better mix in the 'pen this season. There's more quantity than quality right now. Will Ray be able to handle the closer job? He had a 4.44 ERA last season and that was much better than both Rafael Soriano (5.23) and Don Drysden (5.51). The Crunch won't be pushovers with this rotation but aren't going to be in contention with this 'pen come fall. Look for another season of treading water, in which case heads should roll.