2014 NASL: Tampa Bay Rowdies Preview, Depth Chart & Key Players




2013: 10-8-8 (5th Spring Season/3rd Fall Season)

Head Coach: Ricky Hill

Key Returners: Georgi Hristov M (22gp 12g 5a), Jay Needham D (20gp 2g), Frankie Sanfilippo D (25gp 2a), Diego Restrepo G (23gp), Evans Frimpong M (23gp 6g 2a)  

Key Newcomers: Brian Shriver F (22gp 13g 1a - Carolina), Darel Russel F (Toronto - MLS), Anthony Wallace D (Colorado - MLS), Christophe Lallet (Hammarby - Sweden) 


Analysis: Similar to other clubs favoured to do well this season, the Tampa Bay Rowdies have done a great job recruiting players who were highly regarded in the American youth soccer system and as potential MLS players. The Rowdies forward combination of Brian Shriver, Amani Walker, Lucky Mkosana, and Casey Townsend would be familiar to any person who follows either college or soccer at this level.

Although what will make the Rowdies successful this season are three foreign signings in the midfield with Bulgarian Georgi Hristov, who scored 12 goals and 5 assists last season, Christophe Lallet, who was a starter in Sweden Allsvenskan, and Darel Russell who has played 400 professional games including 18 last season with Toronto FC. The Rowdies have good experience and depth in all positions and will feel they have as good of chance as anybody else in lifting the 2014 Soccer Bowl.

2014 Prediction: 4th place

Key Players

2014 MLB: Tampa Bay Rays Projected Statistics

TAMPA BAY RAYS  (Stats Projection: 3rd AE 85-77 +33 RD)

Player	Age		Pos		.Avg		Gp		Ab		Rn		Ht		Hr		Bi		Sb
DEJESUS, David	33		LF		0.263		122		414		58		109		8		43		6
ZOBRIST, Ben	32		2B		0.271		157		591		72		160		14		74		13
LONGORIA, Evan	27		3B		0.270		160		607		87		164		32		97		3
MYERS, Wil	22		DH		0.293		144		522		68		153		22		85		7
JOYCE, Matthew	28		RF		0.240		140		416		61		100		18		53		7
LONEY, James	29		1B		0.294		158		545		57		160		13		76		4
JENNINGS, Desmond	26		CF		0.251		139		522		77		131		14		53		23
ESCOBAR, Yunel	30		SS		0.267		153		529		61		141		10		57		4
HANIGAN, Ryan	32		C		0.236		112		288		34		68		7		31		0
MOLINA, Jose	38		C		0.232		99		233		17		54		1		11		0
RODRIGUEZ, Sean	28		OF		0.237		96		219		14		52		6		24		3
FORSYTHE, Logan	26		3B		0.236		75		144		14		34		1		11		6
NIX, Jayson	30		OF		0.306		87		144		13		44		5		25		11
DUNCAN, Shelley	33		1B		0.230		47		126		17		29		6		21		0

Pitcher	Age		Wn		Ls		Era		Gp		Sv		Ip		Ht		Bb		So
COBB, Alex	25		12		9		3.40		31		0		188		154		66		148
PRICE, David	27		11		8		3.28		27		0		181		166		37		153
MOORE, Matt	24		14		7		3.83		29		0		162		136		81		151
HELLICKSON, Jeremy	26		8		8		4.30		26		0		134		141		44		101
ARCHER, Chris	24		9		7		3.33		23		0		127		105		39		104
PERALTA, Joel	37		3		7		3.62		80		1		77		58		30		76
BALFOUR, Grant	35		2		3		2.81		65		27		64		49		28		72
MCGEE, Jake	26		5		3		3.75		71		1		60		49		20		73
BEDARD, Erik	34		4		6		3.83		16		0		80		73		33		68
BELL, Heath	35		5		3		3.84		69		9		68		71		20		73
RAMOS, Cesar	29		2		2		4.21		48		1		62		61		22		49