Targets Again: Flapacs Quest To Defend Title A Familiar One, But Not An Easy One

 A long journey back to the top has been a great source of joy this offseason for the Flapacs, but as the 2024 campaign has worn on towards tournament day, the Flapacs have found themselves with a longer list of questions than they've expected. When they take the field tomorrow at 11am, this squad will look dramatically different than the one that claimed its 5th title last season. 

They will be without star pitcher Kevin Engasser, and as anyone in the Flapacs organization will tell you, they are not trying to "replace" him. They have had to take a different approach this year. The thought goes as follows. Ryan Ricci slides up to #1, and they will maximize his innings for better or worse. The remaining innings will be a platoon. It is expected that veteran and long-ago Cy Young winner Al Etter will take on an expanded role on the mound again. But as one source said, they have enough decent arms that they could even try to patch it together based on each trip through the order.

The talent is still there. Some could even argue that at the plate, they're actually better than they were last year. But it's going to take contributions from everyone, as any championship effort does. The Flapacs are used to having to come together to get by, they'll need to lean on that closeness more than ever this time around if they want to repeat.

Projected Batting Order

1. Ryan Ricci

2. Jake Lambert

3. Dylan Clark

4. Eric Bomenblit

5. Brent Ewald

6. Al Etter

Bench: Tyler Suppa, Joey Bomenblit

Projected Pitchers

Ryan Ricci

Al Etter

Eric Bomenblit

Brent Ewald

Dylan Clark

One Interesting Fact

Flapacs have as many guys with over 65 games played, as they do players making their tournament debut, by far the largest gaps in the tournament field.

Key Factor To Watch

It's the key to their whole chances, same as some other teams. Who emerges as the 2nd arm, and, if not one individual, how does Manager Pat Ney thread the needle through to the finish line. They'll need roughly 37 innings. Ryan Ricci will throw 21 of them. Those other 16 are the difference in the Flapacs repeating as champs, or flaming out early. Who steps up to handle the balance of their innings?

Draftkings Odds

+140 to win WP18, O/U win total: 2