SPB NOW 2005....

The Star of the Show

His name is Vladimir Guerrero. The 5th pick in the Inaugural SPB NOW draft in 2003. Drafted by the Rip City Highlanders. It certainly was risky business drafting Vlad, a 5- tool super star but with health questions, mainly a herinated disk in his lower back suffered in 2003 while playing in Montreal. But as it turns out it has been a very solid pick. He's healthy, happy and a solid on the field leader for the Highlanders in their two up and down seasons in SPB NOW.

With Troy Glaus healthy once again and the emergance of SPB NOW rookie draft round 2 pick in 2004, Ryan Howard, the Highlanders potentially could have one of the best 3-4-5 hitters in the League. Starting pitching has been the one glaring weakness but Rip City had 3 first round picks in this years rookie draft and went after two young pitchers, Zach Duke the number 2 overall pick in the draft and Brandon McCarthy. So things are looking up in Rip City country and with Guerrero in the saddle the trail back to the playoffs appears brighter.