2010 Preview: Visalia Rawhide

2009 Recap
Standings- 64-76, 4th out of 5 in CAL North
Team Runs- 629, 10th out of 10
Team ERA- 4.25, 4th out of 10

Statistical Leaders:
BA (min. 200 AB)- Konrad Schmidt, .304
R- Ollie Linton, 81
HR- Taylor Harbin, 14
RBI- Kyle Greene, 77
SB- Ollie Linton, 28
OPS (min. 200 AB)- Collin Cowgill, .819

W- Patrick McAnaney, 10
ERA (min. 50 IP)- Tom Layne, 2.86
IP- Patrick McAnaney, 147
K- Joshua Collmenter, 152
WHIP (min. 50 IP)- Jeff Dietz, 1.12
S- Billy Spottiswood, 8

Visalia got the pitching teams need to compete in the Cal League, but unfortunately the Rawhide clearly had the worst offense in the league and couldn't back the pitching up. Patrick McAnaney had a solid season, leading the team in wins and innings, and Joshua Collmenter had a very effective season with the team stirkeout lead and a 4.15 ERA. A few regular players managed to have decent seasons; Collin Cowgill posted a .819 OPS, but he was joined by only one other regular over .800, Konrad Schmidt. Both Taylor Harbin and Kyle Greene had over 11 home runs.

Potential Baseball America top 10 prospects
3. OF A.J. Pollock
8. OF Mark Krauss
9. 1B Ryan Wheeler

Other potential additions and returnees
3B Justin Parker
2B Jake Elmore
SP Ryan Cook
SP Wade Miley
P Taylor Sinclair

If A affiliate South Bend is any indication, it doesn't look like Visalia will be scoring more runs in 2010. No player had more than 8 home runs, so the Rawhide will need to find power from somewhere. Three of Arizona's top 10 prospects appeared to be headed to California, and they'll need them to spark the lineup and maintain their prospect status. The best of the bunch, A.J. Pollock, did not have a great pro debut in his return to South Bend, but a stint in the Cal League could turn that around. The players transitioning from South Bend to Visalia will need to improve on their basestealing as well.

Visalia could struggle to maintain the standard their pitching set in 2009, but one or two guys could work to keep it. Ryan Cook will probably be their best starter after posting a 3.66 ERA with South Bend last season. Unfortunately, he was the only pitcher on the staff with over 100 strikeouts, and pitching to contact isn't always the best approach in the Cal League. At the very least, the Rawhide should keep the free passes down, which is very important in preventing multi-run innings.

And that concludes my season previews. Now, teams should be starting to release their actual rosters which will make these pretty meaningless.