The Potato City Mashers…not your typical California cuisine

What’s on second? The 1985 All Star game was held at the Metrodome. Lou Whitaker, Masher second baseman in 2007 and 2008, showed up in an ill-fitting uniform. Turns out he didn’t bring his official Tiger uniform and had to settle for a souvenir stand uniform. His platoon partner at second on the Mashers is Billy Herman. In his first major league at bat he fouled the ball off the plate so hard that it bounced up, hit him in the head, and knocked him out cold.

What could work: Balance. The starting rotation includes four strong arms from last season (Koufax, Appier, Parnell and Saberhagen). If history holds, they should all put up 15 to 20 wins in the pitcher friendly confines of southern California’s Dodger Stadium. Five starters, four set up men and Hoyt Wilhelm closing the door bodes well for this team. The outfield is set with quality players and great hitters in Ed Delahanty, Edd Rousch and Larry Walker. Likewise, the infield is strong defensively and offensively with Helton, Whitaker, Nomar and Bobby Bonilla. Behind the plate is the speedy catcher Roger Breshnahan. This lineup is capable of having every regular player hitting thirty or more doubles.

What could fail: Conceivably the team could have the fewest home runs of any team in the Municipal League. Chances are their opponents will score ridiculously few runs as well. Runs will definitely be at a premium. The team will play well at home, but might find themselves challenged on the road. Koufax, for instance, in his first five years at Dodger Stadium had a 57-15 record with an ERA of 1.37. On the road, however, he was only 54-19 with an ERA that ballooned to 2.57. The General Manager likes to tinker too much with his squad.

Result: 85-77. Respectable, but will be out of the playoffs quicker than you can spell potato…or is it potatoe?