NL NORTH
Pawtucket
Key Additions: Oswaldo Ortiz (minors)
Key Subtractions: Kenneth Whitten, Rex Mintz, Gabby Sefcik
Summary: Pawtucket lost a lot of ML talent, but paid the
price to get a future ace in Oswaldo Ortiz. They now have a bright future with
Harley Owen, Garland Bryant, and Ortiz. I think the division is Pawtucket’s to
lose as the other three teams in the NL North didn’t make a whole lot of
improvements in this off-season.
Prediction: 96-66
Buffalo
Key Additions: None
Key Subtractions: None
Summary: Buffalo did not make a lot of moves this
off-season. It will be tough to predict a record here, but I see a step back
due to Pawtucket being the best team in the division.
Prediction: 76-86
Rochester
Key Additions: Christopher Malone
Key Subtractions: None
Summary: Malone should help stabilize this rotation, but
there just isn’t a lot of major league talent on the ML team. Should see a
similar record as last year as Buffalo, Rochester, and Scranton should beat up
on each other.
Prediction: 78-84
Scranton
Key Additions: None
Key Subtractions: None
Summary: I feel like a broken record over the last few team
summaries, but when you weren’t very good last year and you don’t make many
moves to improve your roster, there isn’t much different to say. There is a
chance that Scranton could call up Trent McNamara, and that might move Scranton
into position to contend for 2nd place, but that’s about it.
Prediction: 80-82
NL EAST
Huntington
Key Additions: None
Key Subtractions: None
Summary: Huntington didn’t make many moves this off-season,
but they won statistically the weakest division last year. With a 77-85 record,
Huntington squeaked into the playoffs and then made a quick exit. They still
have one of the best teams in this division, but they better watch out for
Cincinnati.
Prediction: 80-82
San Juan
Key Additions: None
Key Subtractions: None
Summary: San Juan didn’t make too many moves this
off-season either, and I’m not sure I see much room for improvement. I think
there is a long-term rebuild plan in place, and this division is weak enough to
do so. Should see a decline in wins due to the rise of the mighty Stingers.
Prediction: 62-100
Cincinnati
Key Additions: Felipe Torrealba, Willie James, Jack
Stafford, Sam Knotts, Elston Park
Key Subtractions: None
Summary: If you like spending money, Cincinnati wet
your whistle this off-season spending a combined $107.8M on 5 FA’s (listed
above) for a combined 13 years of playing time. What does that mean? Cincy has
a 2-year time frame to JUST WIN BABY! I look for them to win the division
pretty easily, and then in 2 years have a complete rebuild.
Prediction: 85-77
Philadelphia
Key Additions: None
Key Subtractions: None
Summary: Things can’t get much worse for Philadelphia, but
then again, there isn’t much talent on this ML roster either. I look for an
improvement on the win total because ewells seems to be in it for the long
haul, and they won’t start the season with an abandoned franchise.
Prediction: 52-110
NL SOUTH
Tampa Bay
Key Additions: Earl Shields
Key Subtractions: Julian Grabowski, Danny Darwin
Summary: Tampa Bay lost 2 very good position players,
but softened the blow by re-signing arguably the best FA in the class in Angel
Bennett. They also landed Earl Shields in FA to help with the loss of Danny
Darwin. Part of me says that TB’s SP over-performed last year with 50 different
people winning 15 games (at least it seemed that way). If that comes back down
to reality, the win total might decrease slightly, but they will still be up
there fighting Kansas City to the very end.
Prediction: 108-54
Kansas City
Key Additions: Saul Bonilla
Key Subtractions: Benji Reyes, Vic Villafuerte,
Summary: The rich keep getting richer. Kansas City
seems to add another 1-2 future stars to its farm system every year while
keeping all of its ML talent. This off-season was no different by adding Saul
Bonilla. Bonilla’s value lies primarily as a DH, but KC can use him as a C for
now. Losing Reyes and Villafuerte won’t hurt too bad as it’s who’s up next for
the KC team. I look for another strong regular season performance followed by
another deep playoff run.
Prediction: 110-52
Mexico City
Key Additions: Davey Wilson
Key Subtractions: None
Summary: Mexico City did the impossible last year,
outlasting Tampa Bay and Kansas City in the playoffs and making it to the WS.
Richmond make quick work of them, but with the addition of Davey Wilson’s bat,
MC might have enough to take on TB and KC in the regular season as well.
Prediction: 95-67
New Orleans
Key Additions: None
Key Subtractions: Hank Boskie
Summary: Well, what can you say about the BIG easy,
except that playing in this division is anything but easy. New Orleans should
take advantage of what appears to be several high draft picks over the next few
years and look to build up its farm talent in what is the best division in this
world.
Prediction: 70-92
NL WEST
Las Vegas
Key Additions: Matthew Serrano, Howard Cox, Hank Boskie
Key Subtractions: None
Summary: Las Vegas continued to make improvements to
its team by adding SP depth and a solid bat in Boskie. Serrano and Cox are
versatile enough to start or add LR depth. I still worry a little about Vegas’
lineup, but statistically they were pretty good last year. With Colorado Springs going through a
semi-rebuild and the California teams struggling to compete, Las Vegas run on
this division will continue.
Prediction: 96-66
Colorado Springs
Key Additions: Benji Reyes
Key Subtractions: Davey Wilson
Summary: Colorado Springs continues to hang in their
in terms of talent to compete on the ML level, but losing Wilson really hurts
their lineup. This owner is very good and will have the team competing for
division titles again very soon. Look for them at the top in the very near
future.
Prediction: 84-78
San Francisco
Key Additions: Dante Golub
Key Subtractions: Earl Shields
Summary: San Fran did a great job in trading for a
talent like Golub. He should dramatically help the SF offense. Still not sure
if there is enough SP to compete with Las Vegas or CSP, but this team plays
good defense and with timely hitting, they will continue to be competitive.
Prediction: 85-77
Anaheim
Key Additions: None
Key Subtractions: None
Summary: Anaheim has plenty of money to spend but
didn’t quite go all Cincinnati on this off-season. Look for them to make some
mid-season moves to acquire some talent. Other than the hope for a better
future, not a lot of bright spots on the Anaheim ML roster right now. They didn’t
have a pitcher win more than 9 games last year, which makes it tough to compete
for a division title.
Prediction: 61-101
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