New Orleans Season Preview

It's a new year, and with the last year for the Looters, it won't be too hard to top last season's record, or at least you would hope. Looters front office has stated they hope to finish above .400 this year which would show a marked improvement. The ownership though says they hope for an even record.

Rotation
Bill Maddox
Ricardo Gomes
Ivo Estima
Armando Felix
James Kelly

There are 2 new members of the rotation from the rotation that ended last season. Ricardo Gomes comes as a Rule 5 selection from Sacramento. Gomes comes in as the #2 man behind last year's ace and is 26 years old. Last year he had a rough year in Haddonfield going 9-11 with a 6.33 ERA and 1.87 WHIP. However, he's got obvious talent and just needs to put it together. Ivo Estima comes from a trade with Baffin Island. He is a 26 year old Brazilian. Last year he split time between AAA and BSA. In AAA he was 7-4 with a 3.03 ERA and 1.07 ERA with a 165 ERA+. In the BSA he was 4-2 in 11 starts and 2 relief appearances with a 4.70 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. Not bad for a 25 year old. He will be asked to be the #3 man in the rotation for now while Felix and Kelly further get adjusted to the life of starting games they embarked on last season.

Relievers
Middle: Chris Woodruff, Bob Burton, Bob Harding, Peter Tucker
Setup: Cameron Rowde, Jesus Hernandez
Closer: Zi-jun Chou

Mostly the same relief core as last year. The bullpen was one of the only strong points of the team last year. Chou is still young and improving as a closer, but has killer ability. Tucker is the new addition to the pen after earning a promotion from AAA last year where he went 6-5 with 24 saves and a 3.76 ERA with more than a K per inning. He'll get his feet wet in middle relief at the back of the bullpen and can get more innings as he gets his feet wet.

Starting Lineup
RF Donald Ellis
CF Jose Estrada
2B Jaime Manuel
DH Errol Hughes
1B Nathan Lammas
LF Alex Herrejon
SS Raul Sosa
3B Anthony Hunt
C Sandro Cajani

The lineup has a few old faces and many new faces. Donald Ellis and backup 3B Ronald Reardon were claimed through the rule 5 draft. Ellis will get the opportunity to prove he doesn't belong after coming from Sacramento. Reardon hasn't gotten much opportunity in Regina, but with the lack of ready depth at 3B, he'll get backup duties for now until Ramon Hernandez is ready which could be mid-season. Estrada made a name for himself becoming the biggest Jose Estrada in New Orleans overtaking the previous Jose Estrada that didn't make the opening day roster in the OF this year. Manuel, Hughes, and Lammas return from last year with Lammas and Hughes the power threats. Looters officials hope Manuel and Hughes can stay healthy this year after both missed significant time last year. Alex Herrejon is making his debut at 27 years old for New Orleans. The scout loves him, but unsure if he will be able to handle it. He did perform well at AAA, but he's at the age he needs to prove BSA ability, or move on. Raul Sosa came to the team this offseason from Baffin Island as well. He will be a stop gap SS. The same can be said for Anthony Hunt. Hunt is the stop gap until Ramon Hernandez arrives. He has shown flashes in the past, and is still only 24 years old, so is looking to possibly win a backup role when Hernandez arrives, especially given his capability of playing all 4 infield positions well. Finally, Sandro Cajani is the Looters newest roster member coming off a waiver claim on opening day from division rival Jacksonville. Cajani has great potential as a defensive catcher who can hit decently. He will be given every chance to win the role of catcher and at only 23 years old has time to grow still.

The Looters look better this year. How much better we will have to wait and see, but all the Looters fans can only hope they keep improving. They have a lot of youth, but now they just have to hope that the youth approach works and can make the Looters into a contender in a few seasons to challenge the likes of the Evil Empire.