BDB 2019: 82-80
I’m going to say it right now, Owner Todd Kuiack is the Tony Robbins of BDB. From walking on coals, to having the best coffee served in BDB, and the use of X-Country skiing for team physical training, everything is about making every player be the best they can be. Kuiack can be heard saying things like “In life you need inspiration or desperation”, or “If you can’t, you must, if you must, you can”. Todd is kind of like Yogi Berra but way more positive.
He has this way that motivates his team to believe that they have the ultimate destiny to be BDB Champions, despite a struggle to measure up talent wise. Kuiack has gone on the record to say he is no fan of WAR, but instead values the little things about baseball … bullpen management, riding hot streaks, sitting down players who forgot to wish everyone well, walking on coals as a team, making sure that the English players have translators to help with the Spanish … that kind of thing. It is a very clubhouse as Kuiack works hard to make sure every at bat counts and every inning count; and, more important than all of those things, is make sure you have fun doing it. If there is a team that does the best to better their luck during the “Lucky” 9 games … chances, are they squeeze the best out of those nine games. Last year the team was counted to do much, and although there was hope for another Wild Card position, it was just out of reach.
BDB 2020: 80-82
| German Marquez | 6.2 |
| Kyle Hendricks | 5.1 |
| Lance Lynn | 3.5 |
| Kyle Freeland | 2.7 |
| Cristian Javier | 1.4 |
| Tanner Houck | 1.2 |
| Jose Abreu | 7 |
| Trevor Story | 6.5 |
| Ian Happ | 5.1 |
| Willson Contreras | 2.6 |
| Teoscar Hernandez | 4.1 |
| Brandon Nimmo | 3.2 |
| Michael Brantley | 3.2 |
| Jon Berti | 1.7 |
| Josh Donaldson | 1.7 |
| Isiah Kiner-Falefa | 1.3 |
| Tucker Barnhart | 0.7 |
| Brett Gardner | 0.7 |
However, as every owner knows, it’s one thing to manage, but it’s another thing to be the General Manager and make sure the team on the field is the best it can be. The truth is, the book is not out on this newish owner, as it takes many years to figure out how to build a winning roster … and let’s be honest, winning teams are not measured by finishing above .500 year after year, but the amount of post season hardware the team takes in.
Kuiack has managed a few interesting trades over the years, Severino for Corey Seager, Corey Seager for Josh Donaldson and for this past season, bringing in Ian Happ. However, is it enough? If there is a knock on Kuiack is that he exists far too much in today, and doesn’t give enough thought to tomorrow. Case in post, dropping Tommy Pham from the roster this Draft Cut out date, when there was clearer better suited players to be let go, but the most glaring one is the first round choice of Kiner-Felafa. It’s not that he isn’t a serviceable player, but chances are, he is a more of a fifteenth-round pick. The draft had youngster Alec Broom, Willi Castor still hanging who had far greater upside, but really, who knows? Nobody had German Matquez on their top round draft list, and that move is still paying off.
This year’s team has some great offense at their disposal, led by AL MVP Jose Abreu (.316-52-162), Michael Brantley, Teoscar Hernandez, Trevor Story and Ian Happ. The issue is going to be pitching, which I am sure MudHen management will disagree with (here come the “WAR, what is it good for” chants. The starting staff of Hendricks, Lynn, Javier, Marquez and Freeland won’t need a lot of help inning wise, but for this league, are too mediocre. Beyond Marquez, there just isn’t the shut down aces that a team needs to contend. Look for the team to put in a run for the final Wild Card spot, but truth of the matter is, Langley is not the push over they once were, and North Bay is not without teeth. To contend, Hamilton will really need to fall apart, and Langley will have to throw in the towel, as Madawaska doesn’t have a lot of pieces to trade during the season.
Hope for the Future.
BDB 2021: 73 – 89
Marquea and Story are the shining stars of the team, but beyond them, agism and lack of top flight talent has this team sinking more than swimming. Let’s see what a few high round draft picks can do to change the fortune of this team.
| German Marquez | 3.9 |
| Lance Lynn | 3 |
| Kyle Hendricks | 2.6 |
| Kyle Freeland | 1.6 |
| Josh Fleming | 1.5 |
| Michael Lorenzen | 1.2 |
| Trevor Story | 4 |
| Josh Donaldson | 3.5 |
| Ketel Marte | 3.3 |
| Michael Brantley | 2.9 |
| Brandon Nimmo | 2.5 |
| Willson Contreras | 2.4 |
| Ian Happ | 2.3 |
| Jose Abreu | 1.8 |
| Teoscar Hernandez | 1.8 |
| Brett Gardner | 1.8 |
| Tucker Barnhart | 1.7 |
| Tim Locastro | 1.5 |
BDB 2022: 72 – 90
| German Marquez | 4 |
| Lance Lynn | 2.4 |
| Kyle Hendricks | 2.1 |
| Kyle Freeland | 1.5 |
| Daniel Norris | 1.3 |
| Cal Quantrill | 1.3 |
| Trevor Story | 3.8 |
| Ketel Marte | 3.1 |
| Brandon Nimmo | 2.5 |
| Ian Happ | 2.4 |
| Michael Brantley | 2.4 |
| Willson Contreras | 2.4 |
| Josh Donaldson | 2.1 |
| Teoscar Hernandez | 1.6 |
| Tim Locastro | 1.4 |
| Leody Taveras | 1.3 |
| Jose Abreu | 1.2 |
| Brett Gardner | 1.2 |
Truthfully, there not a lot of Hope (beyond Tony Robbins hope that is) that this team is ready to make an advance in the next few coming years. There are a few young guys, but not any with high ceiling talent that can change the destiny of a BDB Team. Ian Happ is the most talented of the youth movement, but the team also has Leondys Taveras, Tyler O’Neill (think Dave Kingman and Christian Javier as their top young talent. Future wise, this team is going to have to plug a few more holes if they are going to catch the eventual Jenkins King, the Langley Spartans.