Season 49 NL East Preview
Huntington Fire Blitz
steelforge
Season 29: 90--72, won Division, reached AL Play-in DS & lost to New Orleans
"Breakthrough" Means: Making the World Series. Huntington will win this division by 20 games and probably at least 100 games. They have it all.
To Do That They Have To: Show up and get a little lucky. They match up well with any other AL team.
This Team Is Built On: A bushel of stars. B.C. Alfonzo, Lewis Gilkey, Tommy Webster, Hanley Welsh, Kurt Marte, Mark Martin, Shane Philips and Fausto Rodriguez. The players listed in my previews aren't random. They are above a certain number on my rating scale Huntington has the most of any team I reviewed.
Player to Watch: Fausto Rodriguez. No good reason except he is one of my favorite players. If I had him he'd be closing for me that moment.
Trades
traded ML SP Ramiro Lira for ML IF/CF Bobby Michaels
traded ML RP Enerio Tatis for MiL IF/CF Hanley Chase and MiL RP Wally Amaya
traded MiL C Ken Jay, MiL 2B Steve Moses, and ML SP Kevin Hong for ML RP Fausto Rodriguez
traded ML C Ismael Vidal for ML OF Hanley Welsh
Free Agent Signings
RP Kurt Marte, 3B Oswaldo Alberro, C Jerry Nicholson, RP Mark Martin, 2B/OF Lewis Gilkey
Burlington Dark Monsters
doume
Season 29: 79-83
"Breakthrough" Means: Making the playoffs. My favorite line in Clueless is when Alicia Silverstone's Cher calls the late Brittney Murphy's Tai "not completely unfortunate". The Dark Monsters are the same. They have perhaps the league's best player and a lineup that will score some runs, but not nearly enough pitching. I'd predict a WC #2 for the team, but what is this, Kentucky?
To Do That They Have To: Get pitching. If this team goes 70-92 its because their team ERA is 5.00. They'll score runs, but can they prevent them?
This Team Is Built On: My not-so-secret boyfriend Joshua Monahan. He's amazing.
Player to Watch: Bernard Clifton. Monahan will do his Superman thing, but Clifton will need to put up 800 OPS with steals to give Burlington to compete.
Free Agent Signings
SP Tony Duran
Chicago Capone's
akresser ** NEW OWNER **
Season 29: 76-86
"Breakthrough" Means: AKresser comes back for a second season. The rebuild since the surprise World Series title has been uneven and Chicago just doesn't have enough pitching. and only Addison Oropesa and Pasqual Hernandez really excite me.
To Do That They Have To: They aren't projected to be terrible, just a little hopeless. If things go well, they stay healthy, and they get a little lucky in the draft/IFA they could have something to build on.
This Team Is Built On: time. I don't have a lot here.
Player to Watch: Addison Oropesa is fantastic. He's going to be an all-star multiple times in his career.
Trades
traded IF/CF Freddie Suzuki for IF/CF Tony Veras
traded ML SP William Mather and ML OF Manny Saitou for SP Carter Robinson and MiL 1B Gaylord McIntosh
Free Agent Signings
RP Alvin Timlin, OF Vlaidmir Henriquez, SP Doug Kaline, SS Yordano Mota, SS Michael Keisler, SP Groucho Donovan, SP Steve Lohse
Indianapolis Started from the Bottom
iain ** NEW OWNER **
Season 29: 52-110
"Breakthrough" Means: A winning season. This is in better shape than one might think. . .alright than I thought right off. They lack of depth of quality players you'd like to see in a team that would make the playoffs, but 75-87 is a very reasonable expectation.
To Do That They Have To: Their key players Darren Walton, Lou Donald, and Davey Rogers will really need to perform. David Jimenez and Edgar Martin are good bats that will need to give an OPS well into the 800's.
This Team Is Built On: a foundation of losing. 16 straight losing seasons to be exact. Eventually you put together enough draft picks to really have something. Most of the best players on Bottoms are 25 or less.
Player to Watch: Darren Walton is ready explode. He could win the MVP this year with a little luck. Superstud.
Trades
traded ML DH Vicente Rodriguez +$4.5MM for MiL SS Derek Cammack
traded MiL IF Miguel Ramirez for ML C Pablo Rosado, MiL 2B/CF Matt Buddie, and MiL 1B Bruce Klingenbeck
traded MiL IF Bucky Witt and MiL OF Alexei Megias for ML SP Shawn McIntyre
traded MiL 1B Hector Bryant, MiL C Avisail Flores, and MiL CF/2B Matt Buddie for ML SP Lariel Vazquez
traded ML OF Hanley Welsh for ML C Ismael Vidal
traded ML OF/1B Timothy Denham for MiL RP Felix Figueroa
traded MiL IF/CF Matt Hunter for ML CF Ezequiel Neruda
Free Agent Signings
RP Haywood Valdes
Jacksonville Three Meaningful Games
topoftheworl
Season 29: 102-60, won Division, reached NLDS & lost to Dover
"Breakthrough" Means: After going 663-309 over the last 6 seasons finally winning a World Series.
To Do That They Have To: Stop choking.
This Team Is Built On: This will not be one of those 121 win Jacksonville seasons, but top still has a few weapons at his disposal. Al Troncoso, Rick Branson, Diory Diaz, Orlando Fernandez, Jair Gonzalez, Del Guapo, and Benji Ramirez are all elite arms and Bill Williams Jr., John Small, Herm Stein, Vinny Catalanotto, and Juan Aramboles are all elite bats. This team will win the division again and will be the #1 or #2 seed. the question is will it get more than 3 meaningful games.
Players to Watch: Jair Gonzalez already has 309 wins. Can he get to 350 before father time catches up? Also, can top find enough at bats to make the Geronimo Marquez signing make sense? Great bat, but top does realize he is the National League, right?
Free Agent Signings
SP Yoo-Nah Chang, 3B Vinny Catalanatto, SP Jair Gonzalez, Orlando Fernandez, DH Geronimo Marquez
Dover Rabid Dogs
kdfan35
Season 29: 93-69, Wild Card, reached WS & lost to Las Vegas
"Breakthrough" Means: Winning the World Series.
To Do That They Have To: Hope the pitching holds out and get at least one more bat. They were 3rd best team in the NL last season, but caught a few breaks. On paper this team does not have the star power last season's team had.
This Team Is Built On: While Ken Woods and Bartolo Cela are fine bats, it is Woody Reagan that drives the bus. If he can put up the MVP numbers he is capable of, Dover will have a chance. The rotation and the bullpen are both solid at top lead by Ernest Carey, Chun-Lim Xaio, Derrin Duncan, and Jose Palacios. I worry that they could be a little short on innings, but time will tell.,
Player to Watch: William Mathers is literally the highest paid player in Hobbs. His rating tells me he is 3rd starter. If he can play up to a #1 starter or high end #2 that could provide Dover the push it needs to make it a threat in the playoffs again.
Trades
traded MiL 1B Yoervis Barrios and MiL C Vern Schofield for ML OF Ken Woods
traded ML SP Lariel Vazquez for MiL 1B Hector Bryant, MiL C Avisail Flores, and MiL CF/2B Matt Buddie
traded IF/CF Tony Veras for IF/CF Freddie Suzuki
traded SP Carter Robinson and MiL 1B Gaylord McIntosh for ML SP William Mather and ML OF Manny Saitou
Free Agent Signings
RP Damaso Sojo
Baltimore Buushwackerz
turzich
Season 29: 84-78
"Breakthrough" Means: They secure a top 5 pick. No activity this off-season and no effort to address their dreadful hitting.
To Do That They Have To: They have the arms with Bucky Champion, Derrick Dawkins, Felipe Garza, and Lawrence Hannity to put up a top 3 ERA again, but no bats that are even above average. They will either need to move the arms for prospects or get a couple of solid bats to have any shot at the playoffs whatsoever.
This Team Is Built On: Pitching and defense. The are regularly top 3 in runs allowed.
Player to Watch: Derrick Dawkins in a top 5 arm in the NL. He's really terrific,
New York Sewer Gators
mbriese
Season 29: 78-84
"Breakthrough" Means: Making the playoffs. I don't think it is likely as I see them as a little better than a .500 team.
To Do That They Have To: Hit. Their best bat might not even start for 5 teams in HBD. With Enerio Tatis, Joe Johnson, and Dillon Mays they have the solid pitching needed to make a difference. There was a lot of activity, but the team still has some glaring weaknesses.
This Team Is Built On: Pitching and defense. The team should be top 4 in runs allowed, but will need to be #1 have any shot at 90+ wins.
Player to Watch: Joe Johnson...they'll need every inning they can get out of him.
Trades
traded MiL IF/CF Hanley Chase and MiL RP Wally Amaya for ML RP Enerio Tatis
traded MiL 2B Willie Ramirez and MiL OF Calvin Nixon for ML SP Don Bagley
traded MiL IF/CF Donald Moore for ML 1B Magglio Flores
traded ML SP Mariano Mendez for MiL IF Cecil White
traded ML RP Jayson Faulkner for MiLRP Wil Gray
traded MiL RP Felix Figueroa for ML OF/1B Timothy Denham
traded ML RP Wil Gray and ML SP Oswaldo Beltre for ML SP Ramiro Lira
Free Agent Signings
RP Jorge Seanez, SP Joe Johnson, IF Ruben Mantalban, CF Steve Eckenstahler
Welcome to the Not-So-Wild, Wild West, where Las Vegas has dominated for a decade. They're clearly the class of this division, which leaves few questions. The most pressing: can Vegas repeat?
Las Vegas Desperados
mongoose_22
Season 29: 101-61, won Division, reached WS and defeated Dover: WORLD CHAMP
"Breakthrough" Means: Hmmm, 10 straight AL West titles, 2 World Championships in that stretch...I think they're well beyond breakthrough, although 2 straight World Series wins would be a big deal.
To Do That They Have To: Keep doing what they're doing, which is scoring 100 more runs than any other AL team. Better pitching wouldn't hurt, although their mid-pack 4.09 ERA was plenty good enough. Their biggest offseason move was a $60 million commitment to SP Lew Ellis, now a year removed from a devastating shoulder injury. Ellis had a monster year (14-8, 2.86) as recently as Season 27...if he can return to anything like that form, watch out, AL.
This Team Is Built On: Jin-Chi Itou and his sidekicks-who-would-be-the-best-players-on-most-teams, Jumbo Sanchez and 1B Dayan Franco. Itou just won his 7th straight MVP, Sanchez has a career OBP of .409, and Franco hit .299/39/188 as a sophomore. Totally overshadowed: a pair of DH's (Robinzon Beltran and Fred O'Malley) who both hit over .310 and combined for 46 HR and 130 RBI (OK, O'Malley caught 122 innings and Beltran daydreamed in RF for 100).
Player to Watch: Itou, of course, en route to his 8th MVP.
Free Agent Signings
RP Brian Roberts, SP Lew Ellis, SP Ruben Mardona, RP Tony Escobar, RP Vern Stone, RP Einar Mercedes, SP Ruben Maradona
Cheyenne Huckleberries
nicbase2
Season 29: 81-81
"Breakthrough" Means: speeding up the "Up" parts of their up-down cycles. The 'Berries won 102 games in Season 25, then dropped to 88 and 77. Then they bounced to 99 in Season 28 and lapsed back to 81 last year. One down year followed by a 99-102 win year wouldn't be a bad pattern at all.
To Do That They Have To: Keep taking walks and improve the pitching. Of their 4 best pitchers last year, they re-signed Naulty and Trammel, but Martin and Rivera moved on. FA signees Carlos Guerrero (7.40 career ERA) and Paulie Stone (5.28 career ERA) will have to be better than they've been in the past to make a difference. Could it happen? Yes. Odds? 15%.
I wish I could say rookie Juan Marichal resembled his real-life namesake, skills-wise, but it's not the case. Season 27's #1 pick, Polin Araujo (#28 overall) might be the best bet to help the pitching, but he may spend the year in AAA.
This Team Is Built On: Sharp batting eyes. They led the league with 600 walks last year, an impressive total in this era of waning offenses. They're pretty good up and down the lineup, but DH Marcus Martin is their foremost free pass generator (92). AAA RF Jose Tavarez might get the call this year...he could add some power to the mix.
Player to Watch: Keep an eye on the 2 AAA prospects, Araujo and Tavarez. If Vegas sprints out to a big early lead (a distinct possibility), Cheyenne may sell off some vets and open up playing time for them.
Free Agent Signings
SS Orlando Gil, SP Carlos Guerrero, SP Paulie Stone, CF Kareem Valdivia, RP Benj Trammel
Promoted
SP Juan Marichal, SP Albert Macias
Santa Cruz Sparkies
panolo ** NEW OWNER **
Season 29: 76-86
"Breakthrough" Means: OK, since most of their trades were major leaguers for minor leaguers, I'm assuming there's some form of rebuild going here. So I'm saying "breakthrough" for them is collecting enough minor-league talent to pose some kind of threat next year, while still winning 70 this year.
To Do That They Have To: Keep moving minor-league pieces around...they have a lot of minor-league talent but no real stars. They spent high picks on Greg Ward (Sea 27 #7) and Vic Guerrieri (Sea 28 #4) hoping to land the CF of the future, but both look like COF's at this point...Ward a low BA, high-walks, power hitter and Guerrieri kind of a moderate power/speed combo. They can assemble a good team from their farm system but need to make a trade or 2 for a star, or alternately add a star via FA.
This Team Is Built On: We'll know in 30 games. The power-deficient lineup was decent last year and returns mostly intact. RF Kenny Wolf (.254/29/88) and 3B Willie Martin (.241/34/92) will go deep occasionally, but from there it's mostly dink-and-dunkers. They traded away 2 of last year's SP's and their best reliever...they'll try to fill those gaps with Kevin Hong, Andrew Merrick and Rafael Posada.
Player to Watch: I'm going with their AAA prospect Greg Ward.
He's their best bet to make a splash both this season and down the road.
Trades
traded ML SP Don Bagley for MiL 2B Willie Ramirez and MiL OF Calvin Nixon
traded ML SP Shawn McIntyre for MiL IF Bucky Witt and MiL OF Alexei Megias
traded ML OF Wolf Purcell and MiL RP Aurelio Fernandez for MiL IF Vic Meulens
traded ML RP Fausto Rodriguez for MiL C Ken Jay, MiL 2B Steve Moses, and ML SP Kevin Hong
Free Agent Signings
RP Rafael Posada, SP Andrew Merrick
Promoted
SS Andrew Holmes, IF Josh Gomes,
San Diego Surf Sharks
Iceman67
Season 29: 72-90
"Breakthrough" Means: Getting into the wild-card chase. They've been there a few times, most recently in the big 95-win Season 26 (bad luck that year - Vancouver and Boise both won 99 to take the wild-cards).
To Do That They Have To: Do something to score a few more runs and help out their AL 2nd-best pitching staff (3.56 ERA). OK, the ballpark helps the staff, but they still had a 3.88 ERA on the road (5th), and their lineup still had the league's worst road OPS. RF Joe Wilk has been a bit of a miracle (91 HRs) in his first 2 years...he absolutely MUST keep up the pace. DH Alfredo Ozuna - their only addition to the lineup - has been a decent major-league hitter (.836 OPS) but has been in AAA the last 2 seasons.
This Team Is Built On: Pitching, pitching, pitching. Starters (Luther Roosevelt - 2.95 ERA in 205 IP, Bernie Gonzalez - 3.47 ERA in 228 IP), relievers (Sal Creek - 6 wins, 4 saves, 1.95 ERA, Talmadge Dillard - 3 wins, 2 saves, 3.01 ERA), you name it. Yes, park-aided but plenty good enough to win if they can find some more runs.
Player to Watch: Wilk, and not only because he's the only position player worth watching (utilityman Russ Dye's .714 OPS in 174 AB's was the only other one on the team over .700...yow). His .870 OPS is his first 2 seasons is pretty wondrous in Petco.
Free Agent Signings
SP Elmer Craig, RP Lance Jay, DH Alfredo Ozuna,
Divison Outlook
11th straight division title for Vegas...the only real betting is the over/under on a 20-game margin again. Or maybe who comes in second.
Las Vegas 105-57
Santa Cruz 78-84
Cheyenne 77-85
San Diego 70-92
Kansas City Jayhawks
dakar
Season 29: 108-54, won Division, reached ALDS & lost to New Orleans
"Breakthrough" Means: Winning it all. Anything less is just another great but underachieving season. Unfortunately for the 'Hawks, that window is now closing rather than opening. Still, plenty of teams have done it on the downside of the curve of opportunity, and there is still plenty of talent here.
To Do That They Have To: Stop imploding in the playoffs. Year after year, KC makes the playoffs as a top seed, and then gets sent home by a lower ranked opponent.
This Team Is Built On: Starting pitching primarily, but really on balance. In terms of offense, the team was in the top 4 in the AL in most important categories, and basically the second best offense (Runs scored and OBP) to the hitting machine that is Las Vegas. Led by solid power hitters DH Hugh Pierre, OF P.T. Feliz, LF/1B Jorge Lunar and C Del Camacho bolstered by newcomers Ramirez and Guerrero, this team should at least duplicate their 864 runs scored.
Defensively, the team led the AL with a .990 fielding percentage and was plus 44 on +/- plays, but did rank last in SB prevention. With the trade of Rosado, outstanding fielding catcher Jackson Parris is likely to be brought up from AAA sooner rather than later.
Pitching is sort of a mixed bag. The starting rotation is still excellent, despite the loss of FA Juan Veras. Santos Eovaldi, Louis Wilson, Jason Haywood and Carlos Tavarez anchor the rotation with Hairston and Rodriguez competing for the 5th spot. Relief may be a sore spot for KC though. Closer Diaz was retained and was very good last year, but at 39 will be on a short leash. If he falters, Hipolito Alvarado or Bud Waner would be the likely replacements. Still the staff combined to have the best ERA and was just edged by SD for best WHIP, so this is a real strength overall.
Player to Watch: Several players could be mentioned here, but the obvious one is Eovaldi. He needs to bounce back from a mediocre season and pitch more like a four time Cy Young winner.
Trades
Free Agent Signings
SP Eliezer Rodriguez, SP Walt Hairston, 3B Wilkin Guerrero, RP Edgardo Diaz
Vancouver Voodoo
hatesong
Season 29: 84-78
"Breakthrough" Means: Winning the division. They have been bridesmaids 4 of the last 5 seasons winning the wildcard. Oh, and A World Series ring would be a nice perk as well.
To Do That They Have To: Just improve a little bit at most everything. This team could almost be KC Lite, in that they are above average in almost every phase of the game, yet just behind the Jayhawks in most areas.
This Team Is Built On: Their all around game. Offensively, they have big bats in 2B Olmedo Lee, C Jung-Lee Wang and DH Carlos Tatis. They could have really used a big bat at 1B, but chose to spend their FA budget on the bullpen. Still, Doyle Evans is serviceable there. One other thing in their favor: last year they were very unlucky in scoring runs relative to their overall offensive production. Expect that to balance out a bit this season.
Anchored by Vicente Prieto and Sadie Miller, the rotation is solid 1 through 5. The bullpen, led by closer Kurt Esposito, was otherwise underwhelming, but should be bolstered greatly by the signings of Phelps and Robertson.
Defensively, they were near the top in all the important categories, and no one has aged enough to expect that to fall off much.
Player to Watch: There were no clear players to expect big improvements from, but several key players such as Lee and Prieto still have room to improve over last year.
Free Agent Signings
RP Rob Phelps, RP Fritz Robertson
Philadelphia Erffdogs
wholck
Season 29: 69-93
"Breakthrough" Means: A winning season. Philadelphia has been below .500 for 5 straight seasons and that means the fans are getting restless. Check that. In Philly, that means they are getting violent.
To Do That They Have To: Hope some of the kids are ready to contribute. This is a very young team that has a nice ceiling but right now is closer to the floor. While some FAs were signed to plug some holes, management obviously was willing to get by with bargain priced players, so it is all about developing the kids.
This Team Is Built On: So far, power hitting and good defense. There are some good bats in the lineup such as LF Lefty Simon, DH Dario Stults and 1B Scott Barnes, who fell off dramatically last season after a breakthrough year in '28. Charles Powell is a great fielding power hitting SS who will never threaten for a batting title, but makes a great lower order hitter. Oddly, or perhaps by design, much of the Erffdoggs lineup is made up of very high stamina players, so very few lineup changes should be necessary.
Unfortunately, the pitchers allowed even more homers than the hitters could hit. The pitching was near the bottom of the AL in most categories. Perhaps Richmond and Roberts and a year's experience will help. Among the holdover pitchers, SP Glenn Bako looks to be the staff ace, while Dicky Wang has the best stuff in the pen, despite pitching his way out of the closer's role last year.
Defensively, they are one of the league's better teams. SS Powell, especially standing out as a future gold glover.
Player to Watch: Barnes looks poised to bounce back to his better self, and Bako seems the best bet for upside among pitchers. Also, keep an eye on C Esmerling Tabaka. He should get promoted at some point this year and add a lot of offense.
Free Agent Signings
RF Benji Almanzar, SP Andy Richmond, RP Rick Roberts
Boise Spuds
akresser ***NEW OWNER***
Season 29: 67-95
"Breakthrough" Means: Approaching .500 this year, but realistically this is the start of a rebuild.
To Do That They Have To: Upgrade the pitching if the goal is anything other than a rebuild. Their offense was good, coming in 6th in OPS at .757 and 7th in runs at 771. They don't have a ton of power, C Carlos Polanco is the returning home run leader with just 18, as they lost their top 2 home run hitters in FA. They do however, have good team speed. 1B Corey Drew, SS Alex Duran and 2B Emmanuel Lee can all run, and several other guys such as their FA SS Ozuna are capable of 20+ steals given the playing time. Their pitching is led by holdovers Christian Nakamura, Vin Gonzalez, James Huang and Padden. Felipe Gonzalez and Vin Gonzalez led the bullpen last year, but Vin would be of more value starting. (Strange fact: Boise has 3 pitchers named 'Gonzalez') Defensively, this was an above average team in all aspects.
This Team Is Built On: To be brutally honest, this team is best described as being built to be competitive while they start working on the future of baseball in Boise.
Player to Watch: Drew is a good bet to bounce back from his big drop in home runs last year, but the most interesting player is Lefty Hubbard, a DH who would make an interesting leadoff hitter
Free Agent Signings
SS Josias Ozuna, SP Lawrence Padden, SP Albert Johnson, SP Albert Gonzalez, SP Vin Castilla
Division Outlook
Kansas City again looks like the team to beat, while Philadelphia looks like the team most likely to improve. Vancouver seems like a team that is just treading water and Boise is more likely to regress than move forward.
Expected finish:
Kansas City 101-61
Vancouver 86-76
Philadelphia 80-82
Boise 60-102
