AL NORTH
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Curious to know if it was just me, or if there was some truth to my assumption that the AL North is a true powerhouse division in the AL, I posed the question: How many seasons since Hobbs inception has the AL North had the top winning team in the American League?
The Answer❓❔❓.....well lets just say, its a lot.
Using my limited research staff and low budget statistical analysts, I concluded that the AL North Division has had the top winning team or has tied for the most wins, in 28 of the 49 seasons, with Kansas City having 18 of them. Two of the three highest season win totals of all-time in the AL are from AL North Teams. Both the Jayhawks and Erffdoggs have posted a win total of 117 in a single season, which is just under the AL record of 118. Not surprisingly, the very first World Series in Roy Hobbs World was won by an AL North team, the Seattle Imperials, which is now the Milwaukee Franchise.
Season 49 Record 104-58 (World Series Champions)
Highlights of Season 49 The Jayhawks were projected to win the division and make another run in the playoffs, which is exactly what they did. Fueled by the lost opportunity to repeat as champions in Season 48 and their disappointing exit in the ALDS after entering the playoffs as the League's top team, dakar added some talent in the offseason and set their sights on the World Series Title. Everything went right for Kansas City in Season 49. Like a machine, they won the division, earned a first round bye as the #1 seed, and cruised through the playoffs winning both the ALCS and the Worlds Series 4 games to 1.
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| Willie Matos |
 |
| Pascual Castillo |
Offseason changes/moves
Not a lot changed, but they lost their primary 2B Lenny Mack
who thinks he's the difference maker and flipped to the NL to help out
Austin after beating them for the 2nd time in the World Series. Maybe
he's the key...keep an eye on Mack come playoff time. Dilson Rodriguez
re-signed as a minor league Free Agent, but a few days later he packed
up his stuff and moved to Omaha (Rule 5). Kansas City still has no idea
he is gone. Dolf Adams
came over in a trade with Buffalo to take over in CF. Perhaps the best
move was declining Willie Matos option and letting him walk, then
picking him up at a discount in Free Agency. Risky move, but it worked
and the 40 year old is tearing it up.
Season 50 Outlook
 |
| Happy Cepeda |
Season 49 Record 95-67
Highlights of Season 49 The previously bewildered Mashers fans were singing a different tune in Season 49. The Mashers finally put it together and won a respectable 95 games and got the 1st Wild Card spot and made the Postseason for the first time in 7 years. The prior year defensive moves worked out and the bullpen, which was solid, got much better. Newcomer Jacob Barker went 13-1 in 120 innings of middle relief, and Erv Person was impressive as a rookie reliever, and closer Benny Lira took home the AL Fireman of the year award. The team MPV, however goes to All Star and Silver Slugger left fielder, Felix Cave who hit .312 with 30 HR and 119 RBI's, scored 131 runs and had 215 hits.
Offseason changes/moves
The core players remained, but Madison made several moves during the offseason. The biggest move was locking up Fireman of the year Benny Lira who agreed to a 5 year deal worth 31.5 million. 14 game winner, SP Clarence Mays was released (remains unsigned), and standout rookie Erv Person will move into the rotation. A few new arms were brought with hopes of some improvement, and to cut down on the walks. (3rd most in the AL). They also traded for DH David Andujar after declining the option of Domingo Marmol's in a move to open cap space.
Season 50 Outlook
While the Mashers did not make any big changes to improve the roster, they did not lose any significant players either. The Mashers can be expected to remain competitive and make a push for a second straight playoff appearance, but they aren't ready to compete with Kansas City just yet. So far they have gotten off to a slow start, but are well balanced in all areas and the wins should come. Madison is currently top five in runs scored and runs allowed, and the team batting average will most certainly get better. Expect Madison to end the season with a similar record as last year. Hopefully the team won't be so excited about just making the playoffs that they forget about the Wild Card series like last year. The talent is there to advance.
Season 49 Record 76-86
Highlights of Season 49
The
90 win Wild Card team that went to the World Series one season before,
saw a major decline in Season 49 and it ended in dissapointment.
Coaches and fans alike were left scratching their cheeseheads and
searching for answers. Lets focus on the positive... P.T. Ordaz won a Gold Glove at Shortstop in the and RP Omar Nicasio went to his first All-Star Game. Omar finished the season with a 3.05 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 65 IP and was 30-34 in Saves.
Offseason changes/moves
The Chedda went out and made some big moves in free agency. The were able to sign starter J.J Snell
by luring him in with a first year 10 Million Dollar Bonus to hopefully
improve the rotation. Next they won the bidding for 5 time All-Star SS Eddie Fonville
offering him a Max Contract. Fonville earned his big payday by having
his best season offensively in his contract year, he hit .308 with 37
HR and 129 RBI posting career highs in nearly every offensive category.
He will play primarily 3B in Milwaukee.
Season 50 Outlook
Milwaukee
should see some improvement over last season, and they are off to a
good start, sitting just 2 games behind Kansas City (now 3 games back).
The offense right now is top 5 in runs scored (118) in the AL, and 3rd
overall in team batting average (.281). Hopefully it continues, because
Milwaukee will have to be excellent offensively to stay in the
race...if there is a slight drop in offensive production, I'm afraid the
pitching just isn't strong enough to keep winning at this pace....runs
allowed is not too far behind the runs scored. (111)
Highlights of Season 49
Philly went from 102 wins in Season 48 to just over .500 in Season 49 and missed an opportunity to return to the playoffs. What didn't change was the teams ability to hit the long ball. Philly hit 313 Homeruns which was the most in the league. Destin Shea (53) Tony Martin (45) and Nevin Stinnett (40) combined to hit 138 Homeruns with seven other guys in double digits.
Offseason changes/moves
The power hitters are all returning and offensively the team is basically the same. The Erffdoggs changes were all in pitching. They lost Starting Pitcher Theo Schulte and their primary closer and 6 time Fireman of the year guy, Yordano Valdes,to Free Agency, who at 40 years old is still a solid bullpen guy. Valdes is now with Omaha. Philly went out and signed some younger pitching arms to add bullpen depth.
Season 50 Outlook
Philadelphia looks strong on paper, although they are off to a rough start. The dropoff to 83 wins last season may have been just a bit of bad luck, an Philly fans are hoping the team plays more like the 102 win squad. With the power bats in tact, the lineup will produce runs. If a few guys can get on base more regularly when the balls are flying over the fence, the Erffdoggs could be scary. My stats guys were unable to come up with the team numbers for runners in scoring position or Home runs with guys on base, but jugding things by Shea, Martin, and Stinnet's RBI numbers, they were surely down. In fact, Shea's numbers for hits, 2B, 3B and HR were all up from the prior season, but his RBI's were down from 113 to 98. Watch for Philly to improve, but with the strength of this division, it will be a tall task for them to make it in the playoffs.
Final AL North Standings Projection
AL NORTH:1st Kansas City Jayhawks Projected AL North Champion
2nd Madison Mashers Projected Wild Card
3rd Philadelphia Erffdoggs
4th Milwaukee Chedda
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