This offseason has been full of change for the franchise formely of Burlington.  Gone are the Phisheads and the memories of two underachieving seasons while the team struggled to find consistensy amidst the young core of talented prospects.   What has emerged after a move across the country to Mexican Hat is a new identity and hopefully a new confidence that will help the team be consistent challengers in the GL Veeck division.

Here is a quick look at the made over lineup and their early returns on the season so far;

C – Angel Cruz – Age 25 – .254/.362/.356 – Angel is looking to build off of last seasons .313/.412/.545 line he posted last season in 393 ab’s.  His bat is all gravy as Angel was a Brooks Robinson award winner in his first full season in the bigs.

1b – Angel Vasquez – Age 25 – .429/.513/.673 – Angels big bat is found squarly planted in the cleanup spot in the batting lineup.  While his hot start has exceeded expectations thus far it’s hopefully a glimpse of what’s in store for the season.

2b- Jeff Cooper – Age 29 – .307/.373/.547 – Cooper was brought in as a veteran bat that would add stability and leadership to the lineup.  Despite the fact that his previous #’s were generated in the rarified air of Colorado Cooper has delivered so far in every aspect.

3b - Jose Estrada – Age 25 - .297/.434/.407 – Big swinger who’s sitting at #3 in the lineup.  While Estrada has been great with the bat he’s struggling mightily with the glove with 4 errors at the hot corner already this season.  Management will watch close to see if a position change might be in order.

SS – Tim Stewart – Age 25 – .306/.366/.469 – Stewart looks comfortable with big league pitching  as there were concerns that he was rushed last year making the jump all the way from AA.  Stewart has made his way around the league already as he was drafted by Redbank, traded to Colorado, and then packed his bags to Burlington.  Here’s hoping he sticks.

LF –   Tom Stewart – Age 23 – .355/.382/.488 – In an effort to beef up the lineup management brought in Stewart this offseason from Souix Falls in a trade that brought some groans from fans.  The team had ballyhood Hamilton SP for awhile and to see him shipped out in a trade for a relative unknown in Stewart raised some eyebrows.  Stewart however has delievered thus far showing some of the hitting prowess that the team had hoped although he’s still yet to hit his first HR for his new team.

CF – Pat Lewis – Age 29 – .280/.378/.560 – Lewis was the afterthought in the deal with Colorado that brought Jeff Cooper to the team.  When Ed Bryant went down with injury early in the year Lewis was slotted in the lineup and has performed admirably thus far.  When Bryant returns from injury it’ll be interesting to see how management divies up the at bats.

RF – Kader Runako – Age 25 – .380/.437/.620 – Kader, who hails from Ghana, showed tremendou promise last season with New Orleans by hitting .401/.475/.690 in 187 ab’s.  Enough promise in fact that Mexican Hat traded promising SP David Rodriguez in order to get him.  Kader hasn’t disappointed thus far as he’s raked from the start of the year.  Defensive liabilities aside, Runako looks like the real deal.