Lineup 1.) Bob Brown 2.) Sean Mitchell 3.) Dave Case 4.) Kevin Burke
Projected Rotation Starters: #1: Dave Case #2: Bob Brown Relievers:
Offseason Targets: Matt Connolly
Scouting Report: The Busch Lightweights enter the 2009 season as a shade of their former selves. The Lightweights best hitter (Tony Landek) and their best pitcher (2008 Cy Young Winner, John Martin)from a year ago will both be seeing very limited, if any, action in 2009. Though the road back to the SBWL August Classic will be a difficult one for Busch, they are still confident that they can do it. If the Lightweights really expect to compete though, David Case will have to carry a heavy pitching load. Bob and Burke both made appearances on the mound last year, but Bob had the control of Rick Ankiel and Burke's straightball made Shingo Takatsu's fastball look formidable. The Lightweights will either have to develop Burke, Bob, or Mitchell into a servicable number two pitcher or Captain David Case will have to look for an offseason acquisition that can plug his hole (in the rotation). On the positive, the Lightweights will have a much easier time replacing the offense of Landek and Martin than replacing Martin's pitching. Rookie Kevin Burke struggled at the dish early in 2008, but eventually figured things out and became possibly their most feared hitter in the playoffs. At the top of the Lightweights order sits Bob Brown. Bob's speed and ability to get on base made him the best leadoff man in the SBWL last season. The middle of the Lightweights lineup features massive disappointments, David Case and Sean Mitchell. Both players have the potential to be very good hitters, but they have yet to figure out SBWL pitching.
The Decision: The Lightweights will probably be in the middle of a tight race for that coveted 2nd spot in the August Classic. The main question with the Ligtweights is "how will they replace John Martin's pitching?", because they don't have the offense to support their Texas Rangers caliber pitching staff. If Case comes into the year with A.) a #2 pitcher to bolster his staff and B.) a newfound ability to hit the wiffleball, the Lightweights will quite possibly earn their way back to the August Classic with a chance to claim the SBWL title that evaded them a year ago.
