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Manager: Clyde Spicer (Alva, FL - Manager since 1999) Notable: Began play in the 1999 season
2005 PreviewTwo years ago, the Intercourse Fighting Amish had the league's worst record
at 60-102. Last year, they improved significantly but still finished under .500
at 80-82. This year, the team has relocated Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, and there is
reason for optimism that this could be the franchise's best season ever. With
"Los Dos Miguels" pacing the offense and a much-improved pitching staff, the
Mocs could finish over .500 for the first time, and perhaps even challenge for a
playoff spot. Going into the off-season, the team had some problems: A gaping hole at third
base, a lack of quality arms in the bullpen, and a lack of depth in the infield.
The Mocs dealt with the first problem by trading long-time star firstbaseman
Jeff Bagwell to the River City Gamblers for thirdbaseman David Bell. The other
deficiencies on the roster were fixed via the draft. As the curtain prepares to
go up on the 2005 season, here is a position-by-position breakdown of what the
fans in Oconomowoc can expect this season: C: The Mocs are blessed to have two talented starting catchers in Paul Lo
Duca and Bengie Molina. Lo Duca is the better hitter of the two, while Molina is
the better defender. Both will see significant playing time during the course of
the season. 1B: With the departure of Bagwell, the versatile Brad Wilkerson inherits the
starting first base job. On the occasions when Wilkerson plays in the outfield,
Nick Johnson will play first. Scott Hatteberg also can play the position, but is
slated for full-time duty as the Mocs' designated hitter. 2B: Ray Durham returns as the starting secondbaseman. Nick Green and Damion
Easley will fill in for Durham as necessary. SS: Miguel Tejada will anchor the infield defense. He's made it plain that he
doesn't want days off. Don't expect him to get any until rosters expand in
September. 3B: The newly-acquired David Bell brings quality defense and a solid bat to
the lineup. Green and Easley are his backups. OF: Miguel Cabrera will play LF, Milton Bradley will play CF and Geoff
Jenkins and Wily Mo Pena will platoon in RF, with Jenkins facing RHP and Pena
facing LHP. Other than Bradley, the outfield defense will be mediocre, but
that's a price the Mocs are willing to pay to get all of those bats into the
lineup. SP: The starting rotation will consist of Carl Pavano, Freddy Garcia, Jeremy
Bonderman, Jeff Suppan and Paul Wilson. Zach Day is the team's sixth starter,
and although he is starting the season in the minors, he will see significant
playing time this season. "These guys should be able to keep us in the ball game
most of the time," said manager Davey Johnson. RP: The bullpen looks radically different after this year's draft. Only two of the six relievers starting the season on the major league roster are carryovers from 2004: Luis Ayala and B.J. Ryan. The Mocs added lefty Mike Gonzalez and right-handers Chad Cordero, Bob Howry and Duaner Sanchez in the draft. "We like having the two quality lefties in Ryan and Gonzalez," said skipper Davey Johnson. "And the other guys give us a lot of looks, a lot of options. It'll be nice looking out there and not seeing any guys with 5.00+ ERAs warming up for me. That's a nice change." |