Slayers Opening Day Report

via Minas Morgul Post Dispatch

MINAS MORGUL - Winterball is over. Spring Training is complete. The teams are ready to begin a new campaign. The Slayers are expected to do well again this season, predicted to win their division for the 2nd year in a row and arrive in the playoffs for the 3rd straight year. In fact, the Slayers are predicted to have their best overall season in the sense that they are said to have the talent to advance to the Return of the King Series.

As such, let's take a look at the Slayers roster as Opening Day dawns.

Pitching Staff
The staff is much improved over the course of the Slayers history. A mixture of development success, a few free agent signings, and mostly successful trading, the team has a talented, perhaps even feared staff as a result.

Starting Pitching
Whether the team goes with 4 or 5 starters is up in the air. Right now, the team is set to try 5 starters although it's hardly a sure thing to continue beyond opening week.

Heading the rotation is the girl that has been since her devleopmental increase, Galealbo Elvawen. She's been a quality pitcher, if a bit lighter than expected on the wins side. Her career marks are a .550 win % with a 3.38 ERA. Solid, considering their ballpark. She won a career high 18 wins last sseason.

Second will be Fabur Beardcutter, the fabled 20-million-dollar pitcher. The Slayers, sparing no monetary cost in an effort to improve, picked up the pitcher in one of their many minor league for major league talent trades. He won very few games, but was strong in the second half. He, arguably, has the best stuff on the staff. His stats support that with more than 9 Ks per 9 innings in his career and a sub-1.00 WHIP.

Third looks to be the wild girl, Ishanna Seladriel. Walks are the only real weakness as her knuckleball moves incredibly. She allowed just 14 HR, fewer than 1 hit per inning, and even K'd quite a few. Her stuff is said to have improved and her stamina is better, perhaps allowing her to last longer, survive her often sky-high pitch counts, and turn the corner. If nothing else, she's shown she can survive in the bullpen.

The bottom end features Hagush Eartrembler (10-2 last season) and an experiement in Kashi Darkleaf. Eartrember was acquired in a swap of slow developers with Rohan and has finally shown some positive signs. He'll get another chance this year. Darkleaf was injured much of last season, but she showed great improvement before and even better after her injury in the second half. If she falters, expect her to return to the bullpen where she thrived.

Relief Pitching
A couple new additions to the bullpen. Lefty specialist Borulas Celol was acquired in a trade Dead Marshes. He's shown little good in his career, but the Slayers have tried to find a lefty to count on. The other, Deniagrin "In The Ear" Eärunduil, was picked up in the rule 5 draft, and looks to continue in a budding Minas Morgul tradition of having a contributor come from the draft. Nark Steelshaper will feature in the setup role again, after a strong rookie campaign. In 48 1/3 IP, he allowed just 36 hits and a 2.79 ERA.

The closer is a trade acquisition from last season, Hildibrand Bridger. She gave the Slayers a reliable closer for a change, and helped turn the team around in August and September. She saved 26 and looks to get the chance for a whole lot more.

The Hitters

Catchers
Minta Sandyman, once labelled as a perpetual underachiever, she is now looked on as the #1 catcher after splitting time with Fandir, who came over in yet another trade that also netted Imrilron. Minta had a career year with 23 HR, .280 average and over an .800 OPS. Fandir will be used as a pinch hitter, to give Sandyman days off, and as a pinch runner as she does have solid speed.

Infielders
Minto Foxburr returns to the starting lineup at 1B with the trade of Myrtai Elvywyn. Foxburr looks to contribute his tremendous ability in the clutch, his consistency and leadership, and his ability to put up a nice OBP, something lacking in the Slayer offense. Despite some decline in his skill, Foxburr still has the ability to help the Slayer offense. He will be spelled by a similar player in Giol Driderwalker.

Second base is nailed down for the forseeable future by Tanta Chubb. The hobbit slugger has started living up to her potential, stroking 45 HR, 110 RBI and 101 R. Her excellent defense will also be welcome.

SS will see some changes as Lyric Portoga was weak as was Oathbane. A platoon situation is expected to develop with Vogel, traded for last season, and Glothien, traded for this season. Glothien will also be a defensive sub vs RHP (he starts vs LHP) at SS. Agnes Fernia is the girl of the future here.

3B is held by K.L. favorite Tina Legal. Legal came alive as a part time player in 2008 and earned full time play last season, batting .325 with 20 HR, 96 RBI, and a .884 OPS. Her defense can be erratic, but the team will live with it.

Outfielders
The outfield will be counting on Marquis Smith in CF in all likelihood. Gamer that she is, Lumtina Elvawen will probably be playing out her last year in Minas Morgul. She has served her contract well and added the spark K.L. had hoped at the top of the lineup. She should get playing time all year long, but Smith will be the main starter. Marquis can be similar to Legal in batting with his high contact and gap power. He won't have the HR, but that would be fine.

Imrilron will anchor LF once again and the Slayers will hope for another MVP type season from him to go with his gold glove level defense. Extended for 4 years last season, he may well retire as a Slayer. Last year, actually a down season from him, netted 42 HR, 118 Runs and RBI and a 1.011 OPS. The season before, he smacked 53 HR and was a huge part of the team's postseason berth.

Rightfield could be iffy. Ettinripper will probably be starter again as his consistency is amazing. His numbers are almost the same all year and if he gets hot, his career high of .346 could be reached again. Gwogast Gorund gave Ettinripper time off last year, hitting .305 with 31 RBI and 31 R.

Bench
This is one area that could be weaker. Foxburr was a monster in pinch hitting appearances, especially late in the game. He frequently drove in the winning or tying run last season. With a platoon in SS, that's one body for the bench, but it will be against their weaker side, unless they come in to face opposing bullpens. Dean Shute, a rule 5 selection, could be big from the bench. He knows 5 positions with servicable skill and has some pop in the bat. Lumtina Elvawen and Giol Driderwalker could also feature huge roles as pinch hitters or extra inning subs.

Minor League Help
Despite all the trades of the team's picks and several prospects the last few seasons, the team has potential help from the minor leagues and often gets a contribution or two from the minors during the year. Hagush Eartrembler, for example, began his year last year in the minors.

Pitchers on the farm that could likely help include Smoothflower, Evermind, Arborna, and Earora. These four are on the front line to go in to support the staff or the bullpen in all likelihood. Arborna, in particular, has seen time in each of the past two seasons. While her ERAs are often on the high side of average, she wins games, sporting a 20-7 career record. Valdez, a Rule 5 draftee of last season, contributed to last year's campaign (3.08 ERA in 38 IP), and could get a chance to do so again.

Not a whole lot of help from the hitter side, at least on paper. Elrilmer is versitile in the outfield and has great defense, but his offense has yet to mature. Gamwich has been disappointing as well in the chances he's had. Ghoulgobbler is much the same way, but both have big bats that could help if they ever get going.

One of the several minor league signings, Gorchamiel Darkelf, could be a dark horse contributor at SS. He has speed, rare on the Slayers roster, above average defense at two positions, and some power for both the gaps and homeruns. Oathbane and Portoga are still around to help as well.

Posted at October 17, 2005 07:16 AM | more from Minas Morgul