Equipo el Martes: El Diablos

by  David Buhr   Don't let the "El Diablos" name fool you. They're Spanish for fighting chickens all extremely nice guys. And though they're nice guys, this team will be a mighty force to be reckoned with in the 2013 season. During the offseason, El Diablos were formed by four former Belgian Wiffles and is being Captained by Mark Phillips. Mark played a few games in the 2012 season as a part of the replacement team, Seamen. Mark's numbers may not have been great in that period of time, but after playing against him, I see some serious potential for him to be a threat as both a hitter and a pitcher. Although four Wiffles were originally forming El Diablos, one left during the offseason. Losing David Castle's bat and pitching arm seems like a harsh blow to any team, but El Diablos had already been quick to pick up Dakota LaDouceur. LaDouceur provides the lineup with serious power and a consistent bat as he batted over .300 and tied for the league lead in Home Runs with 20 in the 2012 season. And though El Diablos don't necessarily need another pitcher, Dakota provides as a good backup pitcher. I had the privilege of playing on the same team as three of the players on El Diablos during the 2012 season and was sad to see them leave, but I truly enjoyed the 2012 season. Let's look at that talent. Starting with CJ Phillips, we see a kid with a power arm on the mound and some pop at the plate. All he needs is more consistent plate appearances and he'll be hitting for average too. CJ's accuracy on the mound at times was lacking, but I expect him to hone in on his control skills and to be one of the top 5 pitchers in the league next season. Craig Skinner is another great pitcher, in fact, one of the best. I believe he will definitely be the ace of El Diablos team next year. With a 7 inning perfecto against the Squirrels, another near perfect game against the Donkeys (not even going to a 3-ball count on anyone until the 5th inning!), and an ERA under 1.00 in 2012, Skinner was easily one of the top 3 pitchers in the league in 2012 and I expect he'll be better in 2013. What Skinner lacks at the plate, he more than makes up for on the mound. He has more than just a couple pitches coupled with speed and accuracy. He is my favorite to win the 2013 Clown Shu, though there will surely be some stiff competition. Along with such great pitching, El Diablos have a major force in their batting lineup in Kyle Tomlinson. Kyle seems to live by former President Teddy Roosevelt's mantra, "Speak softly and carry a big stick." That's just what Kyle did in 2012. We have a lot of talkers in WSEM, including CJ and Skinner, but Kyle quietly gets the job done. He batted .346 with 6 Home Runs as well as a great OBP and several walks helping to earn him 2012 Rookie of the Year honors. Though his offensive numbers are impressive, what often gets overlooked is Tomlinson's defensive prowess. He saved many a would-be-hit or Home Run that never seemed to get caught on film, but I saw him do it. Look out for Kyle to vie for MVP honors next season alongside Dakota LaDouceur. Overall, El Diablos is going to be a team you don't want to mess with in 2013! With potential MVP and Clown Shu candidates, I expect them to be one of the top 3 teams in the league!