Spring Training Begins

Ashley Schaeffer BMW's Spring Training has officially begun. The team had their first practice of the spring, and I was quite impressed by the large turnout. The manager John "Salami Tits" Savastano has hand picked an impressive motley crew of wanna be athletes. Everyone is back from last season with the new addition of Bryan Steiger. The team has also elected to start Merrill Castro with the big club after a late season addition to the clubs playoff roster.

Outfield

The team brings back a stacked outfield consisting of Matt "Lord of the dance" Lazarus (Who's playoff heroics are the stuff of legends), Anthony "p 90 moch" Machiano, Brian "Eye of the Jew" Cohen, Brian "Ginger Kid" Buckley & Sean "My wife said I could play" Clancy. This sturdy outfield possesses potent bats throughout, and solid glove work 49% of the time. Its lead by the always reliable Lazarus, who you can always count on to be there in the playoffs. This group can really hit, look for them to provide some sparks this year!

Hitting Grade: A+ (Lazarus averaged a HR every 3 Abs last season, and Cohen, Machiano, Buckley combined for a batting average of over .500)

Fielding Grade: B- (Machiano can be an adventure in left, the rest of the outfield is steady)

Intangibles: B (This would have been an A+ had it not been for Lazarus' playoff gaffe)

Overall Preseason Grade: B+ (This outfield can hit and play with the best of them, they just have to show up)

Infield
With the new change in leagues (Moving to Island Slow Pitch) a strong infield is extremely important to the teams success and that's what the team hopes will be its strength coming into the season (But we know it'll always be an adventure).

Team Captain Savastano will man the shortstop position, while the flashy fielding Dave "The guidance counselor" Figaloro will man the hot corner. The right side of the infield brings Mike "The Toolman" O'Toole at 2nd and James "Why can't I hit the ball past the pitchers mound" Milner manning the 1st base bag.

The team expects Merrill "Police Brutality" Castro & Bryan "Mr Clean" Steiger to come through across multiple positions within the infield. Let us not forget the steadying presence behind the plate, Anthony "Chairman of the Board" Sinatra, he spent the entire off-season improving his footwork behind the plate and is ready to oversee the teams deep pitching staff this up and coming season.

Hitting Grade: B- (Would Have Been an A+ if James could hit the ball out of the infield)

Fielding Grade: A (Solid glove work all around, great range)

Intangibles: A+ (John Savastano's Salami Tits are always capable of magic, as we saw late last season)

Overall Preseason Grade: B+ (This infield comes in with high expectations, only time will tell how the infield gels for there second full season together)

Pitching

The team brings back their Graceful Ace from last year Jeff "Turtle Dick" Guida. Who led the team in wins 12, ERA 9.97, and K's 5. The team is looking for Guida to lead the pitching staff into the playoffs for a 3rd consecutive season. The team is also working out Castro on the mound, it's too early to tell but the team expects great things from this young fireballer (He's been clocked at 16mph on the gun).

Pitching: A (Guida's a workhorse who throws strikes, he's capable of striking out 2 batters a game when he's on)

Fielding Grade: B- (Guida moves like a drunken midget off the mound and We'll have to see how Castro's surgically repaired knee holds up to the rigors of a 36 game season)

Intangibles: A (Turtledick Guida enough said)

Overall Preseason Grade: A (This staff is deep, and has been there before, we expect big things from them)

This year looks to be a great one for Ashley Schaeffer BMW, stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to the start of the regular season.

-Jon Heyman