HSH - Cleveland Dawgs




2016 Record - 66-94 (Last Place)
Projected Record - 70-90 (Last Place)
Key Pickups - P Michiyo Towaki (free agent)
Key Losses - P Justin Verlander (free agent)

After two seasons of nothing from GM Kevin Parks, former GM Mike McAvoy is back on board with the Dawgs, hoping to rekindle the building plan he had in place during his first tenure. Much to McAvoy's surprise, most of his prospects and young players are still on the roster, so he won't have to start over from scratch. The bad news is that those players managed just 66 wins last season and the pitching depth is paper thin. Can McAvoy work the phones and get the team back on the right track again?

The Dawgs were 8th in the league in HR a year ago, but just 12th in runs scored. Alex Hildenbrand continued to show that he's the future for this lineup, and Neil Walker continues to be one of the most underrated hitters in the game. Alex Gordon looks like he has plateaued as an 80 RBI guy, which is fine if some of the fantastic OF prospects (Horner, Austin) can step up as all-star caliber sluggers. Another year from Matt Bush equals more disappointment; will he ever live up to his potential? There are holes in the middle infield and the bench will be rough, but Dawgs fans are hoping that the offense can move up to at least league average in 2017.

The pitching is the real problem in Cleveland, and there doesn't seem to be an easy fix here. The team posted a league-worst (by a big margin) 5.88 team ERA, and that was WITH Justin Verlander (who ran as fast as he could to division rival Halifax). Mike Miller had a good season, and might be the de facto staff ace with Verlander's departure. The rest of the staff put up ERA's ranging from 5.38 to 9.30. Pretty awful. It's a good bet that you'll see at least one (if not three) rookies in the starting staff, and every draft pick this June should go towards new arms.

So the Dawgs are what they are: a team that was rebuilding in 2014, were left to stagnate under bad management for two years, and are now a few seasons behind in getting better. Anything above last place will be a miracle.

PROJECTED LINEUP

2B John Mercer
SS Rian Luiz
LF Alex Hildenbrand
C Neil Walker
RF Tex Austin
1B Al Allen
3B Alex Gordon
CF Darin Ford

SP Mike Miller
SP Calvin Y'Barra
SP Daniel Pursel
SP Joel Piniero
SP James Howell

CL Michiyo Towaki