Saturday, January 19, 2013

After Great Run, A Letdown?

The Hornets found the postseason a year earlier than expected last season.  Once there, the team made a much deeper run into the postseason than expected, getting to the World Series.  It was a phenomenal season for team leader Mike Bergeron, who won both the TML Silver Slugger and MVP.  He did everything, playing all 162 games, with a.339/.402/.609 slashline, with 221 hits, 40 HRs, 122 RBIs, 122 Runs Scored, and even 50 stolen bases in 71 attempts.

The Hornets still have a number of young pitchers, and will require more offensive fireworks to be competitive this season. Just as during last season, when a more seasoned bullpen helped to stabilize/bail out a weaker starting rotation, it should do the same this year.

Last season may have been something of an overreach, but within the next year or two the rotation should be very solid.  With the offensive core mostly intact, that will enable the team to be competitive on a regular basis.

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