2013 Season Preview

2013.

A new year, a new hope.

The Los Angeles Bruins start the season at home for the first time in four years hosting the El Paso where the team is sure to face ex-Bruin ace Ethan Pickup and Quebec which will probally see Reginald Krause, an ex-Mentalist who owned the Bruins last season.

Talk about your opening week storylines.

Much like a Hollywood film, the Bruins 2012 season started strong then the team came into injuries/hit a spur, sending the Sacramento Mentalists towards the top of the division from May-August. The Bruins with the help of mid-season acqusition Harvey Phillips (who the Bruins resigned to a 3yr 6m per contract before the season ended) and 3B Woody Garner (who was signed by GM Mike Brouillettes crush Bosma of the 84’s – Garner, also hit .355 for LA in two months), found their stride and ended up winning the division after losing only six games in the month.

The Bruins have some new faces this year as well, with former 2010 champion Hitmen UTL Matt Roberts and the long coveted 1B Carl Crow as well as 2011 champions Auriello Ramos, Arturo Ruiz and Alexander Head (with Ruiz/Head both coming over from Niagra Falls).

“ The Bruins love talent, but we value winners. We value players who know how to win and have been there before. “ commented GM Brouillette, “ So, we got winners. We got guys who know how to win. We got guys who have been there before. “

Matt Roberts had a career year in New Yorks super friendly hitting park, though posted a third straight season with a above average OBP and is a wiz with the glove 3-6. He should will in nicely off the bench.

Crow had a career year at 28 (which is something to be said as the 1B/DH has averaged around 290/27/95 rbis) for his career. Slated to hit clean-up.

Auriello Ramos had a career worst year, however performed very well in the spring starting three games – pitching two shutouts and getting shalacked by Boston (but let’s face it, the Rebels shalack everyone).

Ruiz had an average season out of the pen, but is only going to be asked to be the Bruins 7th option out of the bullpen so no worries here. His high velocity/gbp-fb ratio and the Bruins park should improve his stats some.

Alexander Head is a career .315+hitter, though is only average on defense and is on the DL. OF Hamilton the Bruins signed as the 25th man has performed well in the spring hitting just below .300 with 4 homers.

The Bruins will slide into the seasons are more than likely the favorites to repeat in the Western Division, and we have just gotten the list from Brad Anderson as to the rundown of his squad.

PITCHING STAFF

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Starting Rotation

SP1. Ricky Bolden, The Bruins $85M man, paid off last year. 28 years old

SP2. Declan Parsons, Mr. Consistency on the mound, 25 years old

SP3. Earl Harper, Jekyl/Hyde-Can’t get out of the 4th faces 12 and K’s 8, 27 years old

SP4. Harvey Phillips, Fantsatic down the stretch, big plus for the rotation 29 years old

SP5. Auriello Ramos, Was good in spring, Hoffmeyer appears ready if he slips, 30 years old
(It’s also worth noting, SP Michael Hoffmeyer dominanted while not utilizing LA’s spacious park during ST. Maybe all the fallen through deals is a good thing. Looks to be a piece for LA now. 23 years old, 4 ½*P)

Bullpen

MR1. Jose Murillo, Huge arm could close-wants too, 29 years old

MR2. Evan Brown, Huge arm could close-wants too, 27 years old

MR3. Floyd Faulkner The lefty is poised for a huge season, also huge arm, 26 years old

MR4. Arturo Ruiz, Solid/not a closer pitched well for NFF pitchers park should help, 31 years old

SU1. Domingo Ruiz, Huge arm could close-wants too; new heir-apparently to Morales 25 years old

SU2. Joe Brooks, Low 3era first two years in LA as starter-under 1.80as a SU/spot starter last year, 35 years old

CL. Juan ‘Better than that Martin Griffin guy’ Morales, 2nd best closer since league creation behind that dude from HEN-#1/2 in saves first three, 33 years old

EVERYDAY LINEUP when HEALTHY
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cf, Augusto Pena – 65 steals, the go-go-go in the Bruins offense, A+++ defense at every single position besides catcher, 27 years old

3b, Woody Garner – Hit .355 for LA after the mid-season trade, 24 years old

rf, Cooper Newell – Star in the making, hit 9hrs in Spring. 2011 TL MVP, 25 years old

1b, Carl Crow – Mr. Consistantcy with the bat, 29 years old

dh, Enrique Jarmillo – Balls deep 41hrs last year, 29 years old

c, Julian Harle – Best ‘hitting’ catcher in the league not named Danny Kelly/2009 MVP,… before start , 28 years old(Junchi Choi vs LHP sparringly, high OBP guy. Only 25, improved every single year)

lf, Alexander Head – Avg/OBP super underrated, 27years old

ss, Jong-min Kim - #1 SS in the league according to OSA with great OBP, 25 years old

2b, Matt Roberts (Jose Nunez vs LHP) – suprisingly great OBP wiz with glove, 25years old/A great veteran bat, the best #9 hitter in the league if he plays to form

Who am I kidding though really.

Again, I’m being super optomistic as nobody in my park EVER hits, I’m sure to be bottom 5 again in the leagues offense, but new season = new form of optomisim! Thus, the Bruins are again in World Series or Bust mode.

Reverse Jinx, fear not.

LA acquires Earl Harper from NFF

The Bruins shored up their 2012 rotation last week by trading for high risk, huge reward pitcher Earl Harper.

The man with the wickiest knuckleball in the business, has already been dubbed "Knucklehead" by new teammates, and been told by Enrique Jarmaillo that he's going to be allowed to keep his mustache.

" I was surprised " said Harper upon joining the Bruins, " I left Regina in 2011 for greener pastures and the world champion Frenzy, but being traded to the Los Angeles Bruins was as big of a shock as I've ever had in my lfie, " he added, " To be able to play for Brad Anderson is going to be fun. "

Anderson is famous for his off-day trickery, staging dinner parties with murder mysteries, and playing cards and drinking his team under the table.

Harper will be slotted #2 or #3 for the Bruins this year behind Ricky Bolden/and possibly Declan Parsons.

An Asian Invasion,...

The Los Angeles Bruins and Madison Bombers have agreed to a deal that will send Ernesto Colon, David Canales, Matt Elbert, Phil Ingilby for Takuma Mizutani, Jun Choi, and the number three starting pitching prospect within the VBL6 Richard White.


White will be paired with the number one pitching prospect in the VBL6 now, Michael Hoffmeyer whom the Bruins received in a deal that sent Ethan Pickup (and other(s) to division foe El Paso.


" We had to get younger, " said General Manager Mike Brouillette, " Not that we were old by any means. Our core is between the ages of 24-28(9) and we plan on having a run for the next few years. We know our window is now. I see us six deep in the rotation within the year. Six GOOD deep. "


The Bruins are banking on the pair to bolster the league's best pitching dramatically, as both are as big as prospects as the league has when talking about young arms..


But under the radar goes something else,... 


The three primary pieces the Bruins have acquired this season are Jun Choi, Takuma Mizutani, and Kentaro Aoki. All three, asian.


While it's known that Los Angeles is home for the countrys largest asian market, rumor has it star shortstop Jong-Min Kim was already at the airport to great the duo. Kim, lives in China town - where he has just gotten Kentaro set up over the last few days or so.


" They appear to be best friends already, " said Manager Brad Anderson, " Julian (Harle) and Jong(-min Kim) were drafted back to back,.. and while they didn't speak the same language they had a way of communicating,... I'd say they were best friends. "


Whether or not the 'Asian Invasion' can be productive is another thing. Aoki came over at the end of the 2011' season and made his debut in April, starting for El Paso all year. Mizutani is another utility player (one of Brad Anderson's favorite types) and Jun Choi should be the be of the bunch as he had an average of around .300 while getting on base at around .400. The best free agent catcher will not be a free agent, the Bruins have made sure of that.

The Bruins still have some other things to do after Travis Hays of the Hitmen went ballistic these last few weeks and added All-Star, after near MVP, after future All-Stars,... and only time will tell to see what happens in Boston with the defending champs. Sac has been active, and JTP should be as usual.

The ML is already shaping up for the 2013' season and it's going to be interesting to see how it all plays out,... again...

Ethan's bags are Picked Up,...

The 35 year old Ethan Pickup who saved the LA Bruins season down the stretch has been told by management after being STINGY about signing a contract with the team to pack his bags, and get ready for the heat.

The 16th best SP in the league (according to OSA) and key-cog in the Bruins stellar 2012 rotation has been told he's been dealt to El Paso on the cheap.

Full details soon...

2013, a 4th Backstop + Canales rumors...

Three seasons have come and come for the Los Angeles Bruins, and while All-Star (former 2009 MVP catcher) Julian Harle has been a staple of consistancy for the Bruins the back-up backstop position has not as the team has shuffled through three different backups in as many years.

Alexander. Lawson/Smith combo... And this past year Colon.

Rumors are flying out of Los Angeles that just days after the season has ended, the Bruins have agreed in principal to send 1B David Canales packing. The fact the information has yet to been leaked is a strange one considering the fantastic investigative reporting throughout the entire VBL6, but given Canales 2012 season it's not a surprise.

The Bruins had hoped Canales would transition from an everyday 1B (whose hit 30 or move home runs in his three seasons as a starting player) into a leathal threat off the bench from the Bruins. Brad Anderson was quoted on earlier in the season saying that, " IF Canales can play defense, he's our starter no doubt. But this isn't the TL, and the Bruins REQUIRE everyone to play defense. "

The switch hitting Canales could never get comfortable after gaining twenty pounds in the off-season and not being able to work himself into season-shape while mainly pinch hitting and getting a shot to start every now-and-again.

Canales was signed in 2011 to a 3 year deal, 1.4/1.5/2.1 deal.

The organized was pleased to get someone with that type of power at that price, but his style and defensive liabilities just didn't fit the Bruins model, or park that is.

David Canales, 2012-2012.

Canales is said to be fetching a catcher in return, and one has to wonder with Ernesto Colon on the current roster (and his down year in Los Angeles, though, amazing defense) what will happen with him.

Knowing the Bruins, and given the fact they have two other catchers on their 40-Man, Colon could very well be out the door as well.

Brad Anderson announces batting lineup for Game 1 & 2...

Due to starter Juan Padilla's putrid offensive numbers (.000, 0 for everything vs HEN), Brad Anderson is shaking things up and has inserted Howard Hunter into the everyday lineup.

The following is the order for the LCS Games 1 & 2:
1) RF Pena, A.
2) 2B Garner, W.
3) LF Newell, C.
4) 3B Jaramillo, E.
5) C Harle, J.
6) SS Kim, J.
7) Brouthers, L.
8) Nunez, J.
9) Hunter, H.

LCS Preview

First of all, good luck to Boston.

With Manuel Jiminez getting hurt, and being the Bruins second starting pitcher going down in the last months the Bruins will head into the series against the team with the best offense with only three starting pitchers (including team Co-Ace Declan Parsons).

The Bruins will give the ball to Ethan Pickup and Harvey Phillips in the first pair of games in Boston where the Bruins were 1-2 this season. Not having home-field against a team like the Rebels and being down two of their top four starters in a series will likely catch-up with the Bruins (Boston has the best home record in the league).

Bruins manager Brad Anderson is going to have to regulate his rotation and bullpen (one of whom will more than likely have to spot start, candidates being Joe Brooks or Domingo Ruiz) better than he ever has as Jiminez leaves a huge gap within the teams rotation. 

Can a team really win a postseason series with three pitchers? LA came close in 2010 when they lost two guys and ManRod, Joe Brooks and Jiminez did that dance and got the team within a game of the World Series. In 2011 they tried it with Manuel Jiminez only (all four others were on the DL), and Joe Brooks made his first start back since May in the playoffs and was happy greeted by Pittman and Co.

Boston's bats are the best in the league, and before all the injuries the Bruins arms were the best. It's going to be interesting to see if the arms of Bolden, Pickup, and Phillips can hold up against this very proflic offense that is the Boston Rebels...

We've acknowledged before it's either Boston or San Francisco for GM of the year, and it will test the mind of the Bruins and take everything they have to beat such a fantastic Boston roster whose without their star starter Lara and stud Rosa.

The schedule breaks down:

LA @ BOS - GM1 Ethan Pickup

LA @ BOS - GM2 Harvey Phillips

BOS @ LA - GM3 Ricky Bolden

BOS @ LA

BOS @ LA (IF NECC)

LA @ BOS (IF NECC)

LA @ BOS