Forecasting 2015 Fisher Cats Bullpen

Mandatory Credit: Ball Park Reviews http://www.ballparkreviews.com/template2.php?in_name=Northeast%20Delta%20Dental%20Stadium&in_city=Manchester&in_state=New%20Hampshire

The Manchester based Double-A team last finished above .500 in 2011, and only three times since the Blue Jays took over the team in 2004. In 2015, the New Hampshire (NH) Fisher Cats finished 22.0 games behind Portland Sea Dogs and tied for second last in the Eastern League with Reading Fightin Phils with a 66-76 record.

Last year’s bullpen had Gregory Infante closing out games and a cast of 27 year olds consisting of Randy Boone (Free Agent), Tyler Ybarra (Traded), Scott Gracey (Free Agent), Richard Bleier (Left via Free Agency), John Anderson, Blake McFarland, and Tony Davis (Left via Free Agency).

As you can see, many of last years bullpen arms won’t be returning. This might not be a bad thing either, what with Boone, Infante, and McFarland being the only arms to produce a WHIP below 1.20.

Alex Anthopoulos has done excellent work replacing the Fisher Cats departed arms with arms that have potential and experience. There will be some youth coming up from last year’s Dunedin team and veteran presence from free-agent signings. I won’t being going into too much depth with these guys because…well there is a lot of them.

Let’s get right to it.

Mandatory Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NewHampshireFisherCats.PNG

New Vets

Tiago Da Silva RHP

Da Silva spent the 2008 to 2013 seasons pitching for T&A San Marino of the Italian Baseball League where he was primarily a starter. He dominated in Italy, showing good command by limiting walks and rack up the strike outs. In 2014, Tiago pitched in the Class AAA Mexican League for the Delfines de Ciudad del Carmen where He was moved into the bullpen and assumed the closers role. Despite the change in role, Da Silva continued to exhibit above average command with solid SO/W numbers (6.25). Da Silva should be a solid depth guy.

Rafael Cova RHP

The 33-year-old native of Venezuela throws a heavy mid to high 90’s 4-seam fastball with a slider/changeup mix. Cova has spent much of his career in the Mexican and Venezuelan leagues. He has a power arm, but struggles with his control. Another good power arm.

Luis Perez LHP

Perez is back in the Blue Jays organization after spending 2014 with the Atlanta Braves system, but never throw a pitch. Perez will spend the year fighting is way back to the majors. He throws a 4-seamer, sinker, 12-6 slider and a change. His fastball and sinker is thrown in the low 90’s, with his slider and changeup in the low 80’s. Perez will start the year with NH, if healthy he could be moved straight to Toronto’s bullpen as the need arises.

Mandatory Credit: SportsLogo.net (http://news.sportslogos.net/2015/02/26/u-s-historical-figures-on-sports-logos/new-hampshire-fisher-cats-uncle-sam-logo/)

Dunedin Arms

Arik Sikula RHP

Sikula has a fan club forming among Jays Journal readers and writers alike, so you might imagine we’ll all be cheering for him in 2015. Primarily used to finish games in Vancouver, Lansing and Dunedin, he could have a new role in 2015. With the Fisher Cats Sikula will be used in the late innings and could find a new role as a set-up man. Go get them Arik.

Chad Girodo LHP

The 24 year-old side arm reliever will turn heads in 2015. Showed good control (2.35 BB/9 and solid strike out numbers (9.51 K/9). He doesn’t throw hard but has good movement on his pitches. Chad has done an amazing job of keeping the ball in the park with 2HR in 100.1IP over Low-A and High-A ball. Girodo has LOOGY written all over him.

Wil Browning RHP

Quit simply, Browning is Girodo from the right side and with more mhp. Browning has used his side arm to dominate RHB (.181/.235/.225) and has done a good job with runners on base (84 LOB%). He did get 6IP in NH last year and struggled, but that sample size is way too small to pass judgement. He hasn’t posted a FIP higher than 2.43, that’s excluding his rough 6IP in Double-A removed. The 26-year-old will look to continue his development with the Fisher Cats in 2015.

Mandatory Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:LansingLugnuts_PrimaryLogo.png

Lansing Arms

Scott Silverstein LHP

So far in his professional career, Scott has always been about 2 years older than his competition. After a decent year with the Lansing Lugnuts Silverstein could be pushed up to NH to start 2015. Scott has done a good job keeping the ball on the ground (1.52 GO/AO) and in the park (4HR over 107.1IP).

Brady Dragmire RHP

The 22 year-old received Lansing’s Reliever of the Year award in 2014. Brady shows good control, and is very efficient with his pitches. He doesn’t strike out too many batters, but he is a worm killer (2.17 GO/AO in 2014). Brady held opp BA to .234, .270 BABIP and generated a solid 1.02 WHIP . After pitching 77IP in Lansing he definitely heading for Dunedin and will need to figure out how to get LHB out if he hopes to progress (309BA with 5BB and 7K in 23IP).

Jimmy Cordero RHP

Cordero is a flame thrower who can consistently hits 100mph…..enough said. Really excited to see what Vince Horseman can do with Jimmy, because if he can get the 23-year-old to sharpen up his delivery then Cordero could really move up the depth charts. He’ll give up a hit an inning, tougher against RHB than LHB, and is god for about 5BB/9 and 9K/9. I find hard thrower tend to need more time in the development process. They need to learn to repeat their delivery, stop over throwing and relying only on the fastball.

Good luck to all the candidates.