C – Donnie Atkinson

Will this be the season that Atkinson lives up to his hype? We certainly hope so. Donnie hit .242 with 10 homers while platooning behind the plate. He get’s the starting nod again this season, and again it is his to lose.

1B – Adrian Gonzalez

Hit .297 last season with 27 home runs. Three reliable predictions have him posting similar numbers this year. The “upgrade” at first base is the move of Gonzalez from DH to the field. While Gonzalez will never win a gold glove, his offense is enough better than Casey Kotchman’s to offset any errors he may make.

2B – George Collins

Immediately after Collins was selected at the end of the first round of the Free Agent draft, Ulery was on the phone with Atlantic City owner Andrew Eismont about a trade. Collins hit .264 with 10 HR in 2016, but is projected as a .300 hitter with an OPS pushing .900.

3B – Nathan Nicholson

Another product of a trade with Atlantic City, Nicholson will start his third season in Dawsonville. Nathan led the 9ers last year in batting average, home runs, RBIs, slugging percentage, and OPS. Look for .285 with 25-30 HR.

SS – Snake Miller

One of St Charles’ biggest offensive threats last season, Miller logged a .291 average with 27 HR and 17 SB in 2016. Miller is a slight upgrade in defense at short, and is projected to hit right around .300 again this year with 30-34 HR.

LF – Steve Cozart

2015′s Rookie of the Year hopes to bounce back from a disappointing sophomore season in which he hit .276 with 11 home runs. He’s projected to see those 2015 numbers again, with an average close to .300 and 30+ HR. His speed makes him a threat on the basepath’s as well which could set up his teammates quite nicely.

CF – Louis Shears

Signed out of the Orlando organization, Shears is an slight upgrade at center. He didn’t play for Orlando last season, but his ability to make contact projects him out with an average in the .310 range. He’ll hit home runs just due to the number of times he’ll put the ball in play, and can even snag a base or two now and then.

RF – Brian Rike

Rike should make a serious run at rookie of the year contention. Projected as a .285 hitter with about 20 HR and good speed, Brian joins Steve Cozart the pair of young guns that will be the heart of the Dawsonville lineup for the next few years.

DH – Clint Barmes

Not expected to still be in Dawsonville this season, Barmes will get the chance to do what he does best – hit. By taking him out of the field, the team should save a few more opposing runs while maintaining his hitting production. Clint had an off year compared to 2014 and 2015, and is projected to bounce right back up to a .290 / 25 HR season in 2017.

Bench – C John Buck

The other half of last season’s catching platoon, ready to step in again if Atkinson doesn’t cut it. Won’t be a big threat offensively, but is much better at defense.

Bench – 1B Casey Kotchman

Still available as a pinch hitter or defensive replacement.

Bench – 2B Jeff Keppinger

Picked up out of the Memphis organization. Keppinger saw very little action last season. He projects out at .290 / 15 hr in a platoon situation, so he may see some playing time at 1B or 2B if needed.

Bench – CF Keiunta Span

At 33, he’s still the fastest guy on the team. Likely used as a pinch runner, and may get sent to AAA if the team decides to carry another pitcher.

Bench – RF Brian Anderson

Slightly below average season in 2016. Projections on him are all over the place (average between .211 and .291). He’s a fourth outfielder, available to spell any of the three starters as needed.

SP1 – David Tinsley

Missed 11 starts in 2016 due to injury, but sill posted the best ERA on the team. The new league rules that favor offense will likely hurt his stats, but he will still put up numbers better than league average.

SP2 – David Price

15-12 with a 3.94 ERA in 2016. Projections have him being average at best, but a nice strength increase and a much better changeup should help his stats quite a bit.

SP3 – John Maine

Came over in a deal with New England last season. Maine spent 2016 at AAA Chattanooga, but will be making his big league debut this year. He improved on all of his pitches and picked up a bunch of arm strength this spring.

SP4 – Chris Capuano

It was a disappointing rookie year in 2016 for Chris. 6-11, 5.38 is enough of an incentive to spend the offseason working hard. Because he’s not the hardest thrower out there, Capuano worked on perfecting his cut fastball and slider.

SP5 – Gregory Miller

Gregory quietly had a decent season for the 9ers in 2016. He started seven games and pitched in relief in 22 more. The loss of Jack Blair and Sap Pfeffer to Free Agency moves Miller into the starting rotation.

CL – Ryan Franklin

Some said that Franklin was called up too early. They may have been right, based on the stats he put up last season. This year, he boasts a much stronger arm and three greatly improved pitches. He might not be a lights-out closer, but he shouldn’t be a pushover either.

LR – Jack Ewoldt

Free Agent from Phoenix. No stats or projection, so we’re taking a shot on an aging veteran.

MR – Nich Schmidt / Jorge Collins

These two will either start working out, or they’ll bounce up and down between the bigs and AAA again this year.

SU – Yasuhiko Yabuta / Johnathan Mikrut

Yabuta continues to disappoint and Mikrut has a weak curve that could get him into trouble.

5 Keys to Winning

1. Spring needs to have been good to the pitching staff. Most of them project out at average or worse pitchers under the new league rules. Those predictions were done prior to spring training, so hopefully we’ll see some improvement (esp Price, Maine, and Franklin).

2. Someone needs to step up. The lineup projects out at solid from top to bottom. There are 8 hitters in the lineup capable of putting up .290 / 25 hr. Can a team that is “good” win against teams that have some big names and some nobodys.

3. Bullpen can’t blow too many. Bullpen ERA last year was a 6.20. There are a lot of question marks that could end up hurting the team in the long run.

4. Team Defense. Defensive upgrades at SS and in RF, downgrades at 2B and 1B. Which is more powerful? Does it have an impact on the pitchers?

5. Roster Moves. The hitters in this group are getting old. Can the ownership trade for some pitching that could push them over the top, or will some of the aging hitters find their way to other teams in contention.

Key Additions

2B George Collins (FA)

SS Snake Miller (FA)

CF Louis Shears (FA)

RF Brian Rike (Rookie)

Key Losses

P Jack Blair (FA)

P Sap Pfeffer (FA)

To acquire Collins, Ulery traded his 1st round pick in next year’s amateur draft. Along with Collins, the 9ers received Atlantic City’s 2nd round pick in the free agent draft at the end of next season.

Dawsonville’s second round pick this year hinged on the trade negotiations with Atlantic City. “After securing our shortstop and designated hitter in round one, second base was our top priority,” said Ulery. “We were hoping that Collins would have fallen to us in round two, but also had our eye on Joe Hines of Memphis.” By acquiring Collins, Ulery was able to turn his sights on other options for his second round pick. “We took a good look at the pitchers available, and weren’t confident in any of them. Shears, however, is projected to be a .300 hitter at center field.” Center field has been patrolled by Keiunta Span for the last few seasons. Span is expected to be used as a pinch runner and backup outfielder this year.

The addition of Shears and Collins puts players at all spots in the batting order who should be above average hitters, including four or five legitimate threats to bat .300 or better.

Defense is still a concern for Dawsonville management and fans. Snake Miller is an improvement over Clint Barmes at shortstop, but Collins does not have as good a range at second as either Doe Loan or Davey Benton, Dawsonville’s two second basemen currently on the roster.

The pitching staff is the biggest opportunity the team currently has. The team lost starters Jack Blair and Sap Pfeffer to free agency, and did not replace either during the draft. The expectation in Atlanta is that rookies John Maine and Jonathan Mikrut will be on the opening day roster to try and stop the opposing hitters. Also look for the 9ers to look for available pitching all season long.

Ulery’s fears were unfounded as pitcher Jack Blair was taken by Aberdeen three picks later allowing the 9ers to retain the power-hitting Barmes. “While we’re sad to see Jack go, we do wish him well in Aberdeen. Keeping Clint in Dawsonville will keep our offense potent,” said Ulery. Barmes had an sub-par season in 2016, mostly due to a lingering injury that hurt his performance for almost two months. He has fully recovered and is projected to post record numbers in 2017. Adding Miller gives the 9ers another top of the order threat and allows Barmes to move to the DH spot.

What Miller’s selection does not address is Dawsonville’s problems on the mound. With only David Tinsley and David Price expected to be solid starters, the rotation is considered weak at best. Yasuhiko Yabuta’s sophmore season and Ryan Franklin’s rookie year were disappointments, leaving major questions about the 9er bullpen. Expect Ulery to look for any viable arm that still remains in round two.

As players continue to be pulled out of the draft at a record pace, the question of what pitchers will be available has to weigh heavily on Ulery’s mind. A specific question he must consider is the future of Sap Pfeffer, if the enigma is still available when the 9ers are once again on the clock. The independent Virtual Players Sporting Group continues to see the screwballer as a top pitcher in the league. Unfortunatly Pfeffer has never lived up to his hype, sporting a 21-43 record and a 5.64 ERA over five seasons, and with the new league rules coming into effect, is expected to have another disappointing year.

Worst Offensive Player:
Commish Prediction – Xavier Nady
Gray’s Selection – Nady didn’t make it very far into the season, but Casey Kotchman was a huge disappointment as well.

Worst Defensive Player:
Commish Prediction – Clint Barmes
Gray’s Selection – I’d go with Adrian Gonzalez. 24 errors in 73 games as a 1B…

Best Starting Pitcher:
Commish Prediction – David Tinsley
Gray’s Selection – Missing Tinsley for 10 starts was a huge blow to the staff. Rookie David Price stepped up as a good #2 guy going 15-12, but Tinsley only gave up three runs per nine innings, almost two fewer than the league average.

Worst Starting Pitcher:
Commish Prediction – Michael Pelfrey
Gray’s Selection – Pelfrey and Colton Willems were both pretty bad. Willems went to New England for John Maine, and Pelfrey would have gone to AAA if it weren’t for injuries keeping him in the majors.

Best Reliever:
Commish Prediction – Jorge Collins
Gray’s Selection – Collins went to AAA after giving up 11 ER in 11 innings. Gregory Millar took his removal from the rotation in good stride, maintaining a 4.46 ERA in 84 2/3 innings.

Win Total:
Commish Prediction – +/-5 70
Actual Results – Ended up with 66 wins. A disappointing second season for the 9ers. We climbed one spot in the standings, but won four fewer games. A slumping Steve Cozart, a lackluster rotation, and an bullpen that couldn’t win or hold games crushed the hopes of the Georgia fans. As league officials debate a change in the way Virtual Baseball is played, the future looks bleak for the 2017 season.
 
Look for Brian Rike and John Maine to make their Major League debuts as the 9ers scramble to assemble a viable bullpen.

The team’s home look is on the left and the road jerseys are on the right.

Introduction 

The the last time the fans in Border City, Bugaboo Creek, Reading, and Shelby had anything to fear from the Dawsonville franchise was back in Season 3 when Artigas went 85-77 en route to a 2nd place finish. Season 14 gave the Atlanta area something to get excited about as they watched their team challenge some of the top clubs in the league. While they ultimately finished in fourth place, the seeds were sewn for a competitive season in 2016. 

Projected Lineups and Rotation 

As a result of trades made prior and during season 14, the 9ers had a relatively quiet offseason. Only Brian Andersun joins the team, and will likely see some playing time as the 9ers try to find productivity in the outfield. Also making his Dawsonville debut is catcher Donnie Atkinson, brought over from Aberdeen in the Larry Bonds deal.

vsL
1. CF Brian Andersun
2. LF Steve Cozart
3. SS Clint Barmes
4. 3B Nathan Nicholson
5. DH Adrian Gonzalez
6. 2B Doe Loan
7. C Donnie Atkinson
8. 1B Casey Kotchman
9. RF Xavier Nady

vsR
1. CF Brian Andersun
2. DH Adrian Gonzalez
3. LF Steve Cozart
4. 3B Nathan Nicholson
5. SS Clint Barmes
6. 2B Doe Loan
7. C Donnie Atkinson
8. 1B Casey Kotchman
9. RF Xavier Nady 

Dawsonville will return four starters to the rotation and will add a highly anticipated rookie to the staff in David Price. Also coming up with Price is reliever Ryan Franklin, selected in the third round of the pre-season 14 amateur draft. Franklin was a closer in college and in the minors but is expected to be a setup man for Yasuhiko Yabuta.

Starting Rotation
1. RHP David Tinsley
2. RHP Colton Willems
3. LHP David Price
4. RHP Jack Blair
5. RHP Michael Pelfrey 

Long Relief
1. LHP Gregory Millar 

Middle Relief
1. LHP Nick Schmidt
2. RHP Jorge Collins 

Setup
1. RHP Ryan Franklin
2. LHP Sap Pfeffer

Closer
1. RHP Yasuhiko Yabuta 

Five Factors to Winning 

1. Starting Pitching Listed as the number one key to winning last year as well. Tinsley seems to alternate his performance each season. He has a good season followed by a mediocre one. Last season was his off year, this season needs to seem him at his 2014 levels. Willems improved his arm strength as well as both his fastball and his curve. David Price needs to have a tremendous rookie season. He currently is rated as the number 69 starting pitcher in the league and is expected to continue to improve. 

2. Better Production at Catcher and Right Field  The only two positions which didn’t come close to meeting the league average in batting average or OPS. If Cozart, Nicholson, and Barmes continue to produce the way they have been, solid hitters at Catcher and Right will mean that the team won’t be losing for lack of scoring runs.

3. Don’t Sell Tomorrow for Today This team is not built to win it all. It will take a couple more seasons of continued improvement for the Highway 9ers to be a serious playoff contender. The team gave away it’s top draft pics last season as part of a rebuilding plan, the plan for this season requires keeping the pics – unless an amazing offer comes along.

4. Big seasons from the three rookies Another repeated ”factor” from last season. This year the three rookies in question are Atkinson, Price, and Franklin. Atkinson needs to produce from the catcher’s spot, Price needs to keep the team in the game, and Franklin needs to prove he should be the closer.

5. Bats need to overpower gloves Nicholson, Barmes, Cozart and Atkinson need to generate more runs than their sub-par fielding abilities give up to opposing hitters. Three of the four listed are the core of the 9er offense, and should easily prove their worth with their bats, leaving Atkinson as the biggest question mark. The rookie has the skills to be a much better hitter than either veteran catcher on the roster (Terry Barrett or last year’s everyday starter John Buck), but his fielding skills are considerably worse than either of his backups. 

Player and Team Spotlight 

Farm System 

OF Brian Rike, starter Chris Capuano, and closer Zach Sterner have been promoted to AAA Chattanooga and may see limited action this season, especially if the team is in the playoff hunt come September. Outfielders Jesus Feliciano and Zach Collier are still 3-4 seasons away from the big leagues as are starters Hisashi Iwakuma and Rick VandenHurk. 18 year old catcher William Myers has very high potentials, and should be getting ready to reach the majors about the time Atkinson’s contract is up. 

Off-Season Moves 

Key Additions: OF Brian Andersun was the only non-rookie to join the team.
Key Subtractions: RP Brant Rustich (Lexington) pitched much better than his ERA suggested.
Projected Win Total: 87-75. The off-season advancement of this club means that it will be fielding what could possibly be the best team in franchise history. In fourteen seasons the franchise has only managed to win 80 games four times with the record going to the Henderson squad that made the playoffs at 86-76 in season one. If the 9ers hit their 87 win mark, it will not only set a new wins record for the franchise, but it will be a 45 win improvement in just two seasons.

 ”Steve was fantastic for us last year,” team owner Gray Ulery said when informed of the award. “The kid definately deserves it. In my opinion, and one that is obviously shared by all but one of the owners, there wasn’t another rookie in the Marvin League who came close to matching Steve’s performance.”

Cozart hit .301 with 100 RBI for Dawsonville, and is anticipated to be the offensive leader of the team again this year. “Nothing is set in stone yet, but we like Steve hitting in the number three spot in the lineup,” Ulery said. “Having traded away our top two pics in this last free agent draft to get [Nathan] Nicholson and [Gregory] Millar, we weren’t able to add an impact bat during the offseason. Luckily we’ve got both Nicholson and Clint [Barmes] returning, so the core of our offense is in tact.”

The 9ers were able to pick up Brian Andersun of Aberdeen during the draft. “None of our options in right panned out last year, so we went into the draft with an outfielder as our top priority. Luckily we were not only able to bring Brian to Dawsonville, but we were able to keep Keiunta [Span] with us as well.” Most of the 9er free agents were retained, only reliever Brant Rustisch (Lexington) and First Baseman Brian Dopriak (Pacifica) were lost during the draft.

Nicholson hit .280 with 29 home runs and 98 RBI this past season. He played in all 162 games for the 9ers

Management would not comment on whether Nicholson’s FP contract would be renewed at the end of season 15 when he becomes eligible for Free Agency.

April was a month that forbode the sort of painful year that franchises on the move typically endure. May and June proved to the VBL that Dawsonville had the potential to be a force in the league. July through September, however, showed that the 9ers weren’t ready yet, lacking the depth needed to give starters the chance to rest or to carry on when injuries finally began to take their toll. All in all, the 9ers made significant improvement over the Shawnee team that finished last season with a mere 42 wins.

Offense: While 3B Nathan Nicholson was brought in at the start of the season to provide some punch to the 9er lineup, it was rookie outfielder Steve Cozart who stole the spotlight. Cozart led the team in Hits, Doubles, Home Runs (tied with Nicholson), Batting Average, On Base Percent, and Slugging Percent. He hit cleanup, he hit leadoff, he hit in the number two and three spots. Cozart and Nicholson were supported in their efforts by SS Clint Barmes, 1B Casey Kotchman, and DH Adrian Gonzalez.

Pitching: Like the rest of the 9ers, the pitching staff has high potential that just didn’t materialize. David Tinsley was selected with the first pick of the FA draft to add a solid arm to the rotation. Instead his performance regressed to the level of his 2008-2010 campaigns. Gregory Millar suffered a late season injury that knocked him out of the rotation and his return stints were pretty shaky. Jack Blair turned in the lowest ERA of the starters, but that was a 4.05 and only netted him 9 wins. Sap Pfeffer and Michael Pelfrey continue to baffle. Scouts rate each of them as top 100 pitchers, but instead they turned in ERAs of 5.16 and 5.82 respectively. Rookie Colton Willems seems to have been the only 9er starting pitcher to get any run support. He allowed almost 4 runs per start, but still managed a winning record at 12-10. The bullpen came out of the gate as one of the top in the league, but started falling apart at the beginning of June. Brant Rustisch and Rookie Yasuhiko Yabuta platooned the late innings, earning 22 saves between them. Both of them performed better than their ERAs suggest, tending to have a few good outings followed by one terrible one.

Rookies: The Highway 9ers used three rookies in their first season in Dawsonville. Steve Cozart, Colten Willems, and Yasuhiko Yabuta each were leaders on the team, and Cozart should be considered the front runner for Marvin League Rookie of the Year. Expect to see more rookies in the starting lineup next season including catcher Donnie Atkinson, starting pitcher David Price, and possibly pitchers Chris Capuano and Zack Sterner and outfielder Brian Rike.

Offensive MVP: OF Steve Cozart

Pitching MVP: SP Jack Blair

Rookie of the Year: OF Steve Cozart

August Offensive MVP: Nathan Nicholson. 20 of his 36 hits in August were for extra bases. He hit .293 for the month.

August Pitching MVP: Michael Pelfrey. 1-2 in 5 starts with a 3.15 ERA. Pelfrey kept the team in the games, the rest of the squad just couldn’t get him his well deserved wins.