Flagstaff, AZ-- The Alpines are not standing still as opening day approaches. They executed a blockbuster deal today sending #1 Prospect Ju-hyung Kang and disgruntled ace Bob Peters to The New York Brewers for 31 yr old starter Randy Grant, 20 yr old Relief Pitcher Chris Neal, 27 year old Starting Pitcher Lonny Simmons and 28 yr old 2b Steve Lowry.
General Manager and Owner Troy Olsen was sad to see Kang go but there was no place for him. "We had big hopes for Kang and think he'll be amazing for New York. Problem is, he wasn't going to win a starting spot on this team this year and maybe not next. New York had an instant opening in their Outfield after the injury and bringing in Lonny (Simmons) and Randy (Grant) instantly help our starting staff."
A starting staff that had a disgruntled ace, "I honestly can't tell you what happened with Bob. He was excited when he first got here but I don't know if it was the altitude or the losing or what but his attitude went to shit and it showed at the field. I truly hope he finds his mojo in New York."
Steve Lowry will move into the everyday 2nd base spot leaving 4 guys battling for 1 or 2 utility infield spots. "We had hoped someone would emerge from the crowd at 2nd but it just hasn't happened and we had to do something. We are finished losing in Flagstaff."
The leaders for those utility spots seem to be down to Don James, Kevin Nelson and Gus Owens. So what does that mean for the others? "Whoever doesn't emerge from the 3b/util platoons will either be playing in Vegas or another organization. We are here to win, not help people get paid."
The team is hopeful to move some of the plethora of middle infielders/3rd basemen along with Catcher/1b Dan Swain and 1b Joe Hunter, who slugged 34 hrs in his first year as a starter but lost the starting job to Pat Newton and the backup spot to Dan Swain this spring.
With a week left in spring, the lineups/backups appear to be:
C: Jim Cummings
1b: Pat Newton
2b: Steve Lowry
3b: Kevin Nelson/Don James
SS: Jim Quirk
Util: (2nd/SS/3rd) Gus Owens/Kevin Nelson/Don James
Util: (C/1b) Dan Swain
OF: (LF) Cristo Dr La Garza, (CF) Antonio Estrada/Bob Ormiston, (RF) Bob Ormiston/Antonio Espinosa
Bat off the bench: Joe Hunter (1b)
The team looks to break camp with the 13 pitchers they currently have following this trade.
