Slayers: Mixed Messages or Parts of a Bigger Plan?

via Morgul Investigator

MINAS MORGUL - "You never know with K.L.," a dryad reporter spoke, "Things that don't seem to make sense end up coming together in the end."

This seems to be the case. The Slayers picked up two hitters in the offseason in a huge trade, went over the cap, have weak pitching, and too much offense. But then Grudgesmelter is dealt. Darkleaf is dealt. Grillo is dealt. Foxburr walks and it looks like with cutting some dead weight and relatively minor (or ineffective) players the team could get under the cap yet.

Fans don't really know what to make of things, but considering the fans hardly filled the stadium, despite having a full 100 rating in fan interest and some of the cheapest tickets around in former years, it's not really likely to have expected them to show up suddenly.

Then rumors are that the team has picked up Denihil to add a young catcher to a sorely lacking catcher situation. Clubwalker will likely become 1B so that Denihil's killer defense can take the forefront. What will this do to Firbal?

Assuming Firbal will be gone, the team still would have a killer lineup. The Atrocious could also mature into a slugger type and middle of the order of Ruano, Fandir, Marblerage, Clubwalker is still a killer force and young Silkpetal is still around. It looks like all of this meandering has still left the lineup with weapons. Add in Elylith and Denihil as young hitters with a chance, and the lineup could return to be a feared force from top to bottom.

Even the bench could have a weapon in Boli Stoneteeth. Boli is every bit an everyday outfielder...except when your outfield is of the calibur of Minas Morgul's. As it is, he's an excellent sub/depth option.

And the defense is better. As bad as Mithrilslinger will probably be with the bat, his defense is nice. Ruano/Gandir/Silkpetal can go get it almost as well as they hit it. Elylith is a nice 2B, Marblerage will shift to 3B and be a defensive improvement over Foxburr. Denihil mans home plate with a 110 arm. Only 1B will likely be weak, and that's no weaker than Firbal currently is.

Grillo will be missed in the bullpen, but it looks like Buxton and Smoothflower will stick around, even among cap cuts. That takes care of the back end of the bullpen. Gandillias and a healthy Orehead will be asked to take care of the middle, and the top of the rotation is still as strong as any with the Mathilda/Deneadur combo. What comes after those two is anyone's guess. It will probably fall to some kid that has a chance and hope he fares better than disappointing Celolas. Moonblossom will get one last chance to save her career as 3rd starter most likely.

Where this leaves the Slayers in the division is anyone's guess. The team lost a few key pieces, but added two huge bats in the offseason and the team seems to be more all-around skilled in offense and defense, and even a little baserunning - and have some young players with hope in the system for the first time in years.

Posted at September 1, 2008 10:39 AM | more from Minas Morgul