2009 Recap
Standings- 59-81, 4th out of 5 in CAL South
Team Runs- 662, 8th out of 10
Team ERA- 4.72, 8th out of 10
Statistical Leaders:
BA (min. 200 AB)- Trayvon Robinson, .306
R- Trayvon Robinson, 82
HR- Scott Van Slyke, 23
RBI- Scott Van Slyke, 100
SB- Trayvon Robinson, 43
OPS (min. 200 AB)- Scott Van Slyke, .907
W- Steve Johnson and Timothy Sexton, 8
ERA (min. 50 IP)- Steve Johnson, 3.82
IP- Timothy Sexton, 157
K- Chris Withrow, 105
WHIP (min. 50 IP)- Mario Alvarez, 108
S- Jake McCarter and Marcel Prado, 7
This franchise was renamed for Route 66 in 2003, and since then, Inland Empire has generally had a lot of success. In four years with Seattle, they won two championships and made the playoffs an additional season. The 66ers also made the playoffs in the first two years affiliated with the Dodgers, but the 2009 season produced the team's second worst win total in that span. The offense may not have scored as many runs as their speed, power and team OPS indicated they should have, but even that wouldn't have made up for the pitching being bad no matter how you measure it.
Likely key departures
OF Scott Van Slyke
1B Steven Caseres
DH Elian Herrera
SP Timothy Sexton
Potential Baseball America top 10 prospects
1. SS Dee Gordon
3. SP Aaron Miller
4. SP Ethan Martin
Other potential additions and returnees
OF Kyle Russell
OF Jerry Sands
C Tony Delmonico
OF Alfredo Silverio
SP Nathan Eovaldi
P Geison Aguasviva
Fortunately for 66ers fans, a turnaround should take place right away with much of the talent that helped Class A affiliate Great Lakes to reach the Midwest League finals, which includes three of the Dodgers' top four prospects. Dee Gordon, son of former ML closer Tom Gordon, should help fill the void of the departed Trayvon Robinson and Elian Herrera, whose 43 and 42 steal seasons helped Inland Empire lead the league in that category. In a league that generally suffocates power, players such as Kyle Russell and Alfredo Silverio were able to produce enough runs to make Great Lakes' lineup one of the league's most productive.
At Baylor, Aaron Miller was a two way player but is now focusing on just pitching after the Dodgers took him 36th overall in the 2009 draft. In some cases, the Dodgers like promoting pitchers aggressively, but Miller's inexperience on the mound should land him with the 66ers to start 2010. He'll be joined by fellow former first round pick Ethan Martin to form a 1-2 duo that has the stuff to strike out a lot of batters. Nathan Eovaldi is another young arm that could be in the Inland Empire rotation, but all of these players could be facing inning limits in 2010 to protect their health. Great Lakes' pitching was middle of the pack in the 2009 season, so many of those guys should advance to improve that unit for the 66ers in 2010.
Standings- 59-81, 4th out of 5 in CAL South
Team Runs- 662, 8th out of 10
Team ERA- 4.72, 8th out of 10
Statistical Leaders:
BA (min. 200 AB)- Trayvon Robinson, .306
R- Trayvon Robinson, 82
HR- Scott Van Slyke, 23
RBI- Scott Van Slyke, 100
SB- Trayvon Robinson, 43
OPS (min. 200 AB)- Scott Van Slyke, .907
W- Steve Johnson and Timothy Sexton, 8
ERA (min. 50 IP)- Steve Johnson, 3.82
IP- Timothy Sexton, 157
K- Chris Withrow, 105
WHIP (min. 50 IP)- Mario Alvarez, 108
S- Jake McCarter and Marcel Prado, 7
This franchise was renamed for Route 66 in 2003, and since then, Inland Empire has generally had a lot of success. In four years with Seattle, they won two championships and made the playoffs an additional season. The 66ers also made the playoffs in the first two years affiliated with the Dodgers, but the 2009 season produced the team's second worst win total in that span. The offense may not have scored as many runs as their speed, power and team OPS indicated they should have, but even that wouldn't have made up for the pitching being bad no matter how you measure it.
Likely key departures
OF Scott Van Slyke
1B Steven Caseres
DH Elian Herrera
SP Timothy Sexton
Potential Baseball America top 10 prospects
1. SS Dee Gordon
3. SP Aaron Miller
4. SP Ethan Martin
Other potential additions and returnees
OF Kyle Russell
OF Jerry Sands
C Tony Delmonico
OF Alfredo Silverio
SP Nathan Eovaldi
P Geison Aguasviva
Fortunately for 66ers fans, a turnaround should take place right away with much of the talent that helped Class A affiliate Great Lakes to reach the Midwest League finals, which includes three of the Dodgers' top four prospects. Dee Gordon, son of former ML closer Tom Gordon, should help fill the void of the departed Trayvon Robinson and Elian Herrera, whose 43 and 42 steal seasons helped Inland Empire lead the league in that category. In a league that generally suffocates power, players such as Kyle Russell and Alfredo Silverio were able to produce enough runs to make Great Lakes' lineup one of the league's most productive.
At Baylor, Aaron Miller was a two way player but is now focusing on just pitching after the Dodgers took him 36th overall in the 2009 draft. In some cases, the Dodgers like promoting pitchers aggressively, but Miller's inexperience on the mound should land him with the 66ers to start 2010. He'll be joined by fellow former first round pick Ethan Martin to form a 1-2 duo that has the stuff to strike out a lot of batters. Nathan Eovaldi is another young arm that could be in the Inland Empire rotation, but all of these players could be facing inning limits in 2010 to protect their health. Great Lakes' pitching was middle of the pack in the 2009 season, so many of those guys should advance to improve that unit for the 66ers in 2010.
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