Idaho Potatoes

Idaho Potatoes
Owner: Dirk Rabdau
       (3rd Season)
Park: Shea Stadium
AKA: 

Projected Line-Up

Rotation 
1. S. Reynolds
2. O. Daal
3. R. Sirotka
4. O. Olivares
5. R. Arrojo

Closer 
U. Urbina/T. Percival

Line-Up
1. B. Larkin SS
2. M. Piazza C
3. B. Giles CF
4. M. Ramirez RF
5. S. Green LF
6. J. Thome 1B
7. M. Loretta 2B
8. E. Chavez 3B

Reynolds has been
Mr. Consitent in his 
career. Idaho needs
him to go out there
every 5th day and be
their Ace. Is he up
to the task?

Ugee the great. He 
has been one of the 
best and most 
consistent closers 
in baseball. Paired 
up with Percival it 
will be tough to 
comeback vs. the 
potatoes.

     When you look at the Idaho line-up you have to double 
check and make sure you are not viewing an All-Star game 
starting line-up. With names like Piazza, Thome, Ramirez,
Green, Larkin and Giles. The batting line-up is strong but 
there are some questions regarding the starting rotation. 
Made up of hard working pitchers can they take Idaho to the 
top again? time will tell but we know they will benefit with
some outstanding run-support.

Rotation

     If Idaho has one weakness, this might just be it. The 
starting rotation, while serviceable, lacks depth. Daal and 
Reynolds are a strong 1-2, and Sirotka may provide a good 
answer in the #3 slot. The rest of Idaho's options, however, 
while less than optimal, still should keep the Potatoes in 
the game, especially considering the devastating run-scoring 
capabilities on this team.
     Daal and Reynolds are unquestionably two of the more 
durable, dependable workhorses in the game. Featuring 
different strengths, Daal paints the corners, giving up his 
share of walks, but generally keeping opponent hit totals low, 
and is stingy with the longball. Reynolds, a pinpoint control 
specialist and groundball pitcher, gives up more than his share 
of hits, since he's always around the plate, but issues very 
few walks and delivers the knockout with high frequency. Both 
pitchers can be counted on into the late innings, and Idaho 
will be able to rest its bullpen because of this factor - a 
welcome opportunity, since the pen will be needed lower in 
the order.
     Sirotka looks to be a dependable #3 starter for the Spuds. 
He'll also give up a lot of hits (like Reynolds), but has good 
control for a #3. Likewise, Olivares is a better #4 than most 
teams boast, and should deliver his fair share of quality starts. 
It's the #5 slot where things begin to look a little dicey, with 
Loaiza, Arrojo, and Wakefield all likely to see duty. While 
Loaiza still shows promise for the future, count on Idaho to use 
its vaunted bullpen to squeeze its fair share of victories out 
of the final rotation position.
     30-year old Brian Bohanon may see limited duty, but look for 
the Potatoes to deal him away for some infield depth at some point 
during the season. This team has little starting depth for the 
future (darkhorse candidate Chad Durbin may be an exception), so 
barring a trade for prospects, we expect Idaho to focus on this 
area in next season's rookie draft.

Bullpen

     As average as the rotation might prove, the bullpen is 
a definite Idaho strength. Boasting twin closers Ugueth 
Urbina and Troy Percival, this club also features Keith Foulke, 
Jason Grimsley, and Jerry DiPoto. Foulke might fill the closer 
slot for most teams, but look for Idaho to use Foulke's 
tremendous talents in middle to longer relief, taking pressure 
off the lower spots in the rotation.
     Urbina and Percival will trade off in the closer role, 
with each also serving as a setup man for the other, and 
occasionally coming into games as early as the 7th inning, 
in pressure situations. The team can comfortably rely on any 
of its three top guys to get the Potatoes out of any jam, 
while Grimsley and DiPoto provide solid options when the game 
looks dicey in the early or middle innings.

Catching

     What team wouldn't like to trot out Mike Piazza every 
day? The slugger's tremendous batting skills more than 
compensate Idaho for some defensive shortcomings. Opponents 
will be able to run more or less freely on Piazza, but his 
bat should be good for 35+ HR and 120+ RBI. Potatoes lack 
a backup for Piazza, who will need some rest, so we see a 
deal for a young backstop capable of catching 20 or so games 
in Idaho's future.

Infield

     Jim Thome, who will likely launch 30+ HR with 120+ RBI, 
anchors the infield here. While he strikes out more 
frequently than one would like, he also should draw 100+ 
walks, forcing pitchers back to the plate, and making him a 
darkhorse candidate for 40+ homers.
     Versatile Mark Loretta mans 2B for Idaho. Loretta can 
be depended on to reach base often from the lower reaches of 
the order. He won't score as many runs as he might elsewhere, 
but this is because he'll bat in the #7-hole in Idaho.
     While rumors persist that Idaho is after a young stud to 
replace him, shortstop still belongs to the venerable Barry 
Larkin. While his power has declined in recent years, Larkin 
is still a durable producer, and could again post a .400 OBP, 
with enough smart speed to throw off opposing pitchers.
     The hot corner is manned by young phenom Eric Chavez. 
Still needing seasoning, young Chavez will likely struggle 
this season. However, his future looks to bee full of 35+ HR, 
120+RBI, all-star seasons. Chavez is the brightest future 
star for Idaho.
     With only Loretta at 2B, and only Loretta capable of 
backing up Chavez this season, Potatoes need to acquire depth 
in the infield, as an injury at either 2B or 3B would, at 
this point, be devastating. Jeremy Giambi, Erubiel Durazo, 
Jose Hernandez, and Orlando Merced provide options at 1B 
and SS.

Outfield

     The deepest, most talented outfield in GSBL makes its 
home in the starchfields of Idaho. The core of this 
devastating outfield is comprised of Manny Ramirez, Brian 
Giles, and Shawn Green, all capable of 40-50 home runs. 
Ellis Burks provides stellar backup, with 30 HR power 
himself. In fact, as a fulltimer, Burks can also launch 
40+ homers. Jeremy Giambi and Orlando Merced make this 
also the deepest outfield in the league, a group which 
continues to ensure Idaho's future success on the field.

 
Manny Ramirez is the 
anchor of Idaho's very
potent line-up.

PRESSURE PLAYER

Thome is perhaps the key 
to a successful season. They 
need him to be healthy and
provide the leadership and 
day to day intensity that he 
brings to the line-up. If Jim
stays healthy expect at least
35-45 HR's and 100+ RBI's.