National League West Preview

National League West

Scottsdale Saguaros

Prediction – 90-72

Offensive Rank – 9th              Defensive Rank – 18th               Pitching Rank – 3rd

Best Position Player –   

Randy Raburn (LF) 6th overall position player – 1st overall Left Fielder

Best Pitcher –       

Anthony Erickson (SP) 17th overall pitcher – 13th overall Starting Pitcher

Added Players -       

Darin Hobbes (P) 1 year 3.1million {298th Ranked Pitcher}

Theo Nelson (3B) – Acquired from Texas {28th Ranked Position Player}

Saul Galvez (C) – Rule-5 Draftee {197th Ranked Position Player}

Departed Players –

Jesus Astacio (P) Traded to the Toast, Odalis Hernandez (C) Traded to the Toast

Armando Rosario (P) Left for  Free Agency, Ismael Chavez (P) Left for Free Agency, Curt Cooper (P) Left for Free Agency

Fresno Grizzlies

Prediction – 87-75

Offensive Rank – 8th               Defensive Rank – 12th              Pitching Rank – 10th    

Best Position Player –   

Nyjer Lowe (LF) 5th overall position player – 3rd overall Left Fielder

Best Pitcher –       

Mo Shelby (SP) 26th overall pitcher – 18th overall Starting Pitcher

Added Players -       

Garry Forbes (SS) 2 years 5.8 million [4.7 million bonus] {195th Ranked Position Player}

Juan Alvarez (P) 1 year 2 million {198th Ranked Pitcher}

Michael Sele (P) – Rule-5 Draftee {314th Ranked Pitcher}

Departed Players –

Santiago Gil (LF) Released, Jade Benjamin (3B) Released, Jesus Beltre (P) Released, Sandy Stockton (P) Released

Maicer Bennett (P) Declined Option, Orber Nieves (C) Declined Option, Ajax Douglas (1B) Declined Option, Andrea Thompson (1B) Declined Option, Deivi Dali (SS) Declined Option

Milt Andrews (P) Left for Free Agency, Alexei Manzanillo (P) Left for Free Agency, Derrin Henry (P) Left for Free Agency, Babe Saberhagen (1B) Left for Free Agency

Portland Castors

Prediction – 86-76

Offensive Rank – 12th               Defensive Rank – 2nd               Pitching Rank – 8th

Best Position Player –   

Derrek Hammonds (1B) 1st overall position player – 1st overall First Basemen

Best Pitcher –       

Frank Yang (SP) 9th overall pitcher – 7th overall Starting Pitcher

Added Players -       

Departed Players –

Yamil Sanchez (P) Released, Ismael Rivera (P) Released, Chris Callaway (P) Released, Patrick Kirby (P) Released, Jair Estalella (P) Released, Rey Jang (SS) Released, Micah Moore (CF) Released

Al Regan (P) Left for Free Agency, Pete Childs (RF) Left for Free Agency   

Preview

The Portland Castors made a shocking run to a National League pennant last season but was quickly defeated in the World Series by Pawtucket.  So what does the defending National League Champions due to bolster their club this off-season, well it seems that have done nothing.  GM njm_sons told us that Portland did not just sit idle during this off-season, they had made plenty of moves, and “We went into the off-season seeing that it was a week free-agent market that we were going to offer many of our young player extensions.  We signed Sherm Washington, Maicer Renteria, Will Oliver and Tim Nance to long-term contracts.  It was deemed important that we keep are young players giving up several arbitration years for a couple more years of the players prime years.  Plus we need to anticipate that Derrek Hammonds is going to ask for a big contract extension in a couple of seasons.”

Portland will once again have one of the top pitching staffs this season but the knock on the team has always been lack of power in lineup.  “Sure no power in the lineup can hurt at times but that is not how this team was built.  We are just a bunch of scrappy hitters that don’t strikeout a ton and get deep into counts.  We cause headaches on the bases.  Are pitching will keep us in games and are defense will always make that great play you need every game to win.  Plus this strategy has worked for the last five seasons, why change what is working,” njm_sons said of this complaint.

If you are looking for any impact rookies coming to Portland this season you might be disappointed to find that the impact players in the farm systems will not be in the majors this season.  Njm_sons added, “Ryan Sisco looks to really be the only rookie to make are roster coming out of spring training, as we have plenty of depth in our bullpen and on our bench.  Plus this would allow many of our young players a chance to play every day, which we deem as very important in their growth.”

Expected Lineup

Pascual Baez – Catcher

Derrek Hammonds – First Basemen

Greg Reynolds – Second Basemen

Brian Duvall – Third Basemen

Tim Nance – Shortstop

Max Uribe – Leftfield

Jeffrey Moore – Centerfield

Fausto Alfonseca – Rightfield

Expected Pitchers

Frank Yang

Will Oliver

Maicer Renteria

Sherm Washington

Luis Belisario

Bullpen

Benny Mieses – Closer

And the Nameless Six

Portland is the defending National League Champions but many people feel that was an incredible run by the team in the playoffs, which their magic ran out in the World Series.  This is practically the same team as season, so they will be the same position as last season.  The National League has only got tougher, so a run of five straight playoffs appearances could come to an end this season.  The team is good enough to make the playoffs but it will come down to what the rest of the National League does.

Salem Sativa

Prediction – 73-89

Offensive Rank – 21st             Defensive Rank – 16th              Pitching Rank – 22nd  

Best Position Player –   

Pedro Arredondo (C) 96th overall position player – 3rd overall Catcher

Best Pitcher –       

Louis Obermueller (SP) 74th overall pitcher – 43rd overall Starting Pitcher

Added Players -       

Pedro Arredondo (C) 3 years 11.1 million (mutual option) {96th Ranked Position Player}

Dummy Wells (CF) 3 years 15 million (mutual option) {256th Ranked Position Player}

Alexei Manzanillo (P) 1 year 2.5 million {165th Ranked Pitcher}

Stephen McCormick (RF) 2 years 4.5 million (mutual option) {299th Ranked Position Player}

Tuck Hultzen (P) 1 year 3.1 million {151st Ranked Pitcher}

Dick Daly (P) – Acquired from Rochester {129th Ranked Pitcher}

Rickey Lawton (P) – Acquired from Rochester {146th Ranked Pitcher}

Departed Players –   

Lon Gray (1B) Released

Geronimo Duran (3B) Declined Option, Walker Bulger (C) Declined Option

Kevin Cheung (P) Traded to the Rhinos

Kirt Fogg (P) Left for Free Agency

National League South Preview

National League South

Texas Toast

Prediction – 102-60

Offensive Rank – 3rd              Defensive Rank – 8th              Pitching Rank – 1st

Best Position Player –   

Mac Dalrymple (1B) 18th overall position player – 6th overall First Basemen

Best Pitcher –       

Jesus Astacio (SP) 8th overall pitcher – 6th overall Starting Pitcher

Added Players -       

Juan Lee (P) 3 years 24 million [2.5 million bonus] (mutual option) {62nd Ranked Pitcher}

Art Mercedes (C) 3 years 13.155 million [.255 million bonus] (mutual option) {223rd Ranked Position Player}

Jesus Astacio (P) – Acquired from Scottsdale {8th Ranked Pitcher}

Odalis Hernandez (C) – Acquired from Scottsdale {50th Ranked Position Player}

Departed Players –   

Kent Ward (CF) Released, Ryan Hollins (1B) Released

Theo Nelson (3B) Traded to the Sagauros

Bobby Sterns (CF) Left for Free Agency, Pedro Arredondo (C) Left for Free Agency

Preview

The Texas Toast franchise was once was one of the few teams to never make the playoffs and in a good year they barely had a .500 record.  That all changed when current GM pjfoster13 took over the franchise.  Pjfoster13 said of his quick turn around, “I've had incredible fortune turning this team around in quick fashion, and it involved a confluence of factors, both skill and luck.  Although I took over a team that was weak in the standings, I actually inherited a ton of strong prospects across multiple positions.  Teams keep bailing me out bad contracts via waiver wire and trades and I have been very lucky in that sense.  The skill is in build a lineup for cheap (thru the draft is ideal), platoon correctly to maximize offensive output, only use players who qualify defensively at their positions (so important), pay for pitching if it makes sense, avoid unmovable long-term contracts, pick up a strong IFA every season, acquire expiring contracts and let free agents leave for comp picks.”

The one thing that has plagued Texas the last couple seasons has been that complete lack of a number one starter.  So going into the season, Texas needed to find a number one starting pitcher, which pjfoster13 explains was his number one goal, “our downfall in the last season’s playoffs was a lack of that number one starter to compete with Portland's Frank Yang.  Jesus Astacio looked to be our best option on that front so trading franchise player Theo Nelson was a no braining with the log jam this team had at the third base position”

With a team stacked full of young players, it would be hard to see a rookie player making an impact but I believe teams should look out for Rex Wagner this season.  Pjfoster13 said of his young outfielders, “if we can find him enough playing time he could probably get 15-20 HR and 20-25 doubles.  This lineup is scary good with all its young players, as it’s hard to believe that I have 13 hitters barely making over 5 million this season, we will find Wagner the at-bats.”

Expected Lineup

Odalis Hernandez – Catcher

Mac Dalrymple – First Basemen

Pepe Gregorius – Second Basemen

Nick Holmes – Third Basemen

Moises Unamuno – Shortstop

Bob Vernon – Leftfield

Ricky Boyle – Centerfield

Rex Wagner – Rightfield

Expected Pitchers

Jesus Astacio

Jesus Miro

Geraldo Zorrilla

Daniel Peterson

Lyle Spencer

Bullpen

Mike Prinz – Closer

And The Texas Rangers

The window for a serious World Series run for Texas is wide open right now.  This team is young and hungry to proof that they are the best.  Pjfoster13 added, “Texas' window to make a title run is definitely open, but the national league is indeed very tough. Rochester made some bold moves to acquire top-end pitching talent, Toronto looks to be taking a step back but Buffalo looks tough and Fresno is a persistent challenger, plus you could have a shocker like Portland making a run in the playoffs, anything can happen in a short playoff series.”  Look for Texas to make a series run for the title, as they are my pick to win the whole thing and claim it’s franchise first ever World Series title.  Billboards throughout Texas has been plastered with a simply message, BRING HOME THE FLAG.

Mexico City Cartel

Prediction – 95-67

Offensive Rank – 2nd             Defensive Rank – 27th              Pitching Rank – 16th

Best Position Player –   

Richie Wise (SS) 8th overall position player – 1st overall Shortstop

Best Pitcher –       

Tony Velazquez (SP) 20th overall pitcher – 14th overall Starting Pitcher

Added Players -       

Wilt Richard (LF) Claimed off Waivers

Departed Players –   

Tarrik Tabaka (LF) Released

Walt Bolden (P) Traded to the Phillies

Miguel Alfonzo (P) Left for Free Agency, Jason Jakubauskas (CF) Left for Free Agency, Patrick Holmes (P) Left for Free Agency

San Juan Plan B

Prediction – 93-69

Offensive Rank – 6th             Defensive Rank – 5th              Pitching Rank – 11th

Best Position Player –   

Bobby Ray Williams (LF) 45th overall position player – 7th overall Left Fielder

Best Pitcher –       

Del Blowers (SP) 34th overall pitcher – 23rd overall Starting Pitcher

Added Players -       

Al Prado (CF) 1 year 4.2 million {170th Ranked Position Player}

Rafael Montanez (P) 1 year 2.7 million {168th Ranked Pitcher}

Ismael Chavez (P) 1 year .715 million

Walker Bulger (C) 1 year .830 million

Leonardo Gyorko (3B) – Rule-5 Draftee

Rubby Diaz (2B) – Rule-5 Draftee

Louie Wasdin (P) – Claimed off Waivers

Fernando Abreu (LF) – Claimed off Waivers

Luis Sojo (LF) – Claimed off Waviers

Junior Williams (CF) – Claimed off Waivers {261st Ranked Position Player}

Sal Waters (P) – Claimed off Waivers

Departed Players –   

Javier Estrada (P) Released

Al Baez (2B) Declined Option

Sean Andrelczyk (P) Left for Free Agency, Oswaldo Martinez (2B) Left for Free Agency, Fritz Peterson (C) Left for Free Agency, Freddy Hughes (P) Left for Free Agency, Giomar Navarre (P) Left for Free Agency, Torii Springer (LF) Left for Free Agency, William Chen (P) Left for Free Agency

New Orleans Laissez le Bon Temps Rouler

Prediction – 79-83

Offensive Rank – 19th              Defensive Rank – 15th              Pitching Rank – 12th

Best Position Player –   

Arthur McIntyre (LF) 57th overall position player – 8th overall Left Fielder

Best Pitcher –       

Charles Carpenter (RP) 21st overall pitcher – 7th overall Relief Pitcher

Added Players -       

Reed Stohr (P) 2 years 5.6 million {156th Ranked Pitcher}

Gary Ruffin (P) – Rule-5 Draftee {323rd Ranked Pitcher}

Stephen Douglas (C) – Rule-5 Draftee {298th Ranked Position Player}

Naoto Martin (P) – Claimed off Waivers

Nick Matheson (P) – Claimed off Waivers {332nd Ranked Pitcher}   

Departed Players –   

R.J. Lopez (P) Released, J.R. Payne (P) Released, Greg Gross (3B) Released

Ben Fonville (LF) Left for Free Agency, Juan Martinez (P) Left for Free Agency, Ron Beck (1B) Left for Free Agency, Al Olmedo (SS) Left for Free Agency