Can the Locals Compete?

By Amanda O’Neill
Denver Post Sports Writer
April 4, 2011

The Colorado Everest finished dead last in their division last season, winning 71 of 162 games.  New management has arrived in town and taken over.  The financial picture is not rosy.  Fan interest seems on the wane.  And two stars from last year are.  Does this team have any chance to compete in 2011?  Let’s have a look position by position.

First Base

Tim Lee begins his second full year as the Everest first sacker.  After a promising rookie half season in 2009, Lee surprised many with a spectacular sophomore season in which he hit .311 and pelted 43 home runs.  This year he jumps from a league minimum salary to a lofty arbitration based $8,000,000.  While only average defensively, it’s hard to argue with his offensive numbers.  He’s ranked ninth best at his position by the Baseball News Network (BNN).

John Edwards is the likely backup.  He had a fine year at Colorado Springs last year, but there are doubts if he can hit big league pitching.  He can also play second base effectively.  Victor Farrell did well in AAA last season, and he may make the opening day roster.  But he’s less than adequate defensively and he has no versatility to help at other positions.  There is a trio of others at Colorado Springs, the most likely candidate being Jason Begin who will be tried in right field early in the AAA season to see if he can help the Everest at a different position.

Second Base

Fans will miss Jeff Cooper’s .336 batting average and 20 home runs, but Kiminobu Baba has the capacity to quickly become a favorite with the locals.  He’s better defensively than Cooper will ever be, and he’s no slouch at the bat although he lacks Cooper’s power.  He can play shortstop equally well if needed.  Baba is ranked number eight at second base by the BNN.

John Edwards, mentioned above, is the only viable replacement on the Spring Training roster, and there is no one in the system ready to help.  Mac Stephenson could play here in a pinch but he’s not suited to the keystone sack.

Third Base

Blake Rankin begins his third season at the hot corner for the Everest.  Adequate at best in the field, his bat is one of the best in the Classic Baseball Union (CBU).  In two seasons he has 103 home runs and 290 runs batted in to go along with his .301 batting average.  Only Sioux Falls’ Bryan Wigmore is rated higher at third by the BNN.

Mac Stephenson will probably be the backup if he can hit big league pitching.  Tsuginori Takeuchi will be tried here during the spring, but he’s primarily a first baseman.  Best hope is that Rankin can play 162 games.

Shortstop

Adam Taylor has this position locked down.  He’s yet another player who barely gets by with the glove, but he hit a nifty .327 last season.  And he knocked in 66 runs while hitting only 2 home runs.  BNN lists him as the number five shortstop.

Baba can move over here if needed.  Stephenson will be the primary backup and late inning defensive replacement as he’s quite comfortable at short, his natural position.

Left Field

Justin O’Day is an accomplished hitter – over .300 for both his years with the Everest, and he has reasonable power.  He may not do enough to earn his $17+ million salary, but he’ll be patrolling left for sure.  He has a great arm which partially makes up for his limited range.  Rated number six by BNN.

Dan Webb will backup at all three outfield positions.  He’s a defensive standout and is a great base runner as well.  But he hit under .100 is his limited trial last year with the club.  Jose Alvarez will also play some left field.

Center Field

Will Hendrickson hit 33 home runs last year and knocked in 84, so there’s no question he can contribute with the bat.  The BNN ranks him as number four in the league.  But he’s not a center fielder by choice, much preferring the corner outfield slots (and he’s no defensive wiz in those positions either.

Webb is a much better center fielder and will probably see time as a defensive replacement,

Right Field

Kazu Higuchi has had two fine offensive years for the Everest.  However, he struggled badly in Spring Training, and scouts are rumored to be saying that he has developed bad habits.  He may find his ratings seriously reduced. For the time being the BNN rates him as number five at his position.

Webb and Jose Alvarez will be the backups.  Alvarez plays the corners very well, and if he can hit, he will see additional playing time.

Catcher

Nick Young is ranked number six by the BNN, but he isn’t a great resource defensively.  At bat he’s always a threat, hitting over .300 in both his years in Colorado.  The big problems are his inflated salary and his age.  He’ll turn 36 by year-end, and it won’t be too long before a replacement will have to be found.

Oliver Arreola will be the backup as of Opening Day, and he will probable see some late inning defensive subbing as well.  He hit .321 in a partial season last year, but that may prove to have been an apparition.  Richard Vincent will be lurking at Colorado Springs if Arreola doesn’t hit, not that he’s a big offensive threat either.  But he is another fine defensive catcher.

Starting Rotation

With Robert Côté gone to Carson City, the rotation is really going to struggle.  Steve Downey came over from Carson City and will vie with Hector Martinez for the “ace of the staff” banner.  After them, it’s slim pickings:  Pepe Birrell and Ryozo Maruyamu were acquired as bargain free agents.  They were bargains for a reason.  And Jerry Bancroft will fight with Jorge Vargas for the fifth spot in the rotation.  Bancroft comes via waivers from Portland.  Vargas has a great contract (for him), but he would probably be cut if the club could afford to pay him off all at once.  This rotation could easily be the worst in the league.

Bullpen

Things look better here, and the staff will see lots of work.  Kirby McDermott and Ed Trxler should do well.  They came over in the deals for Côté and Cooper.  Michael Montgomery will begin the season as the closer with help coming from Armando Silva.  Richard Swanson and Dominic Williams will round out the pen.

Summary

It looks like a long season for Everest fans.  The team might do well offensively, but there are serious questions about the defense and the starting rotation.  Avoiding the cellar won’t be easy.