Scotland Rebels

2016 Record: 61-99
Projected Record: 81-79
Key Additions: Kenji Johjima (trade), Jed Lowrie (trade), Jeremy Sowers (trade), Ricardo Romero (trade), Hank Blalock (free agent), Felix Hernandez (free agent)
Key Losses: Dennis Tankersley (trade), Ryan Howard (free agent)

GM Carmelo Guarneri has a trade record that rivals Cleveland's Mike McAvoy. This winter Scotland made 6 trades and may have more cooking by the end of Opening Day. He added a couple of solid pieces in the auction and should be set .... but if the phone rings, Guarneri's listening.

Last year's Rebels left fans and ownership disgusted but all of the winter moves have been like a breath of fresh air. There's quality young players at almost every position. But is there enough star quality to win the Euro? At catcher Scotland added former All-Star Kenji Johjima. Nice work. And he has two 23 year-olds to back him up and rest those tired old knees. At 1B, Ryan Howard took his .215 batting average to Kyoto (addition by subtraction?) and will be replaced by Billy Gladden (25) and Henry Sanchez (23). Definitely an upgrade there. Second base could have a platoon as newcomer Jed Lowrie (27), stolen from Atlanta, and Kevin Bristow (25) who batted .336 this spring, are both capable starters at worst. Shortstop could also have a platoon of 23 year-old Wilson Finney and Andy Cannizaro (25) who hit .309 last season, one of the few bright spots for the Rebels in 2016. Hank Blalock signed for three seasons to play 3B which bumps Howie Sloat (26 HR in 2016), who's only 25, to the bench. Nice, right? Not much power though so it will have to be provided by the outfield of Drew Stubbs, Walt Coon and Rob Walsh with Grady Sizemore and Dale Parks able to step right in. Coon led all Rebels with 29 HR last season.

Will Scotland have enough power to survive in the Euro? They may lack the big bopper but are counting on several 20 HR type threats to do the job. They were one of seven teams to hit fewer than 200 bombs last season and just one of those teams made the playoffs.

One might argue that the cold temperatures and regular rainfall depress the offensive numbers. That's fine. But then why the heck did Scotland put up a 4.81 ERA last season? That's truly horrible and improvements have to be made. 11th in ERA isn't going to cut it this year and pitching coach Bob Gibson had better figure out how to knock almost a run off that mark or he'll be canned in a hurry. Guarneri dumped the aging Dennis Tankersley on Baltimore and picked up last year's Comeback Player of the Year Ricardo Romero. He'll be the third starter behind the returning Brandon Webb and underachieving Jeremy Sowers, who was so bad last season (6-15, 4.95) he got bumped to Baltimore's 'pen. (If that's not living in exile, I don't know what is.) Frustrating Felix Hernandez joins this year's team and sophomore Eddie Degerman had a helluva spring, enough to win the 5th spot. To recap, that's Aging, Underachieving, Comeback, Frustrating and Sophomore as your Rebel rotation. A lot of things will have to go right for Scotland to beat out either Paris or London for a playoff spot.

What about the bullpen, you ask? Well, it isn't Osaka bad .... but it's close. Dallas Buck (6.20 in 2016) will have a role if he doesn't grab the 5th starter spot. Dan Brauer (6.71), Lee Dedaux (9 freakin' 58!), Eddie Krueger (5.26, phew!) and anyone else with an arm and a pulse lead to Closer Jorge Julio (3.38) and new setup man Chad Cordero (4.71).


Projected Lineup
2B Kevin Bristow
SS Andy Cannizaro
3B Hank Blalock
LF Walt Coon
C Kenji Johjima
CF Drew Stubbs
RF Rob Walsh
1B Dan Gladden

Look for a lot of platoons. Drew Stubbs blew goats last season (.214 12 HR) and stubbornly stayed with his approach at the plate this spring (.220 4 HR). That's unacceptable from a starting CF. Has the league figured him out? Stubbs averaged .286 with 21 HR and 49 SB's his first two seasons but apparently has fallen of a cliff - the cliff of sucktitude. How long before he's on the trading block? We're talking minutes, not days.

Rotation
Brandon Webb
Jeremy Sowers
Ricardo Romero
Felix Hernandez
Eddie Degerman

Closer
Jorge Julio

There's a huge dropoff in talent from the rotation to relief. GM Guarneri has improved his roster a great deal but not enough to take out the big boys. Manager Rollie Fingers has to be hoping his starters can go 6 and that the skies open up. If there's an inordinate amount of games getting called early, you know Fingers has been working the umps. They could be in for trouble on the road with that strategy though.