The continuing series of division by division previews continues with the NL South:
1 - San Antonio Sandbaggers
This defending division winner with 103 regular season wins has a solid mix of veterans and youth as they have won the last 3 of the last 4 division titles. They were never challenged last season as they ran away from the pack early and won the division by 19 games. No team in this division made the necessary changes this offseason to overtake the Sandbaggers. Therefore, a 5th franchise division title looks solid. They will compete for home field advantage in the NL and look for better playoff results.
2 - Wichita Rabid Wombats
This team was one of the more active teams during the offseason with 11 free agents signed. They have a salary exceeding 100 million and have 15 players over 30. If there is a team that is setup to win now this is it. It will be a close fight with Houston for the 2nd position and their experience may provide the edge. This team has no one outstanding player but has several solid players that will contribute to a winning season and in consideration for a wild card spot. They may not have enough to win this division, but this team looks to regain the glory days of seasons past when they won 4 consecutive division titles. This team will be trouble for the rest of the league.
3- Houston Councils For Foreign Relation
This up and coming team is very young and looks to improve on their 84 win season and compete for the division title. It might be a season or 2 too early for that, but this team will continue to provide headaches for the rest of the division and NL. With only 1 offseason move to resign a veteran pitcher this team is supported by the superstar center fielder and NL MVP John Jones. The hitters are young and will carry the team in most games, but solid pitching will be the challenge for this team this season. They will be in the Wild Card hunt but may fall short because of their pitching.
4 - Tampa Bay Tic-Tacs
This team has struggled for the past 4 seasons with a high of 66 wins. They are looking to rebound with 5 Free Agent signings and youth as there are only 2 players over the age of 30 on the roster. They have solid and young hitters who will only get better. Pitching is up and coming with youth. This team will not climb out of the basement this season, but could see up to 70 wins at least. In a few seasons they look to contend for the division title, patience will be of the essence.
Friday, July 31, 2009
ML NL South Division Preview
ML NL East Division Preview
This is the continuing series of the division by division preview for the upcoming season.
1 - Cincinnati Marauders
Last season the Marauders finished 2nd in the worst division in HBD. It took only 85 wins to win the division title last season and at one point no team was over .500. The GM has taken to task and acquired 4 Free Agents this offseason which will propel them back to the top spot in this weak division for their 6th division title. The acquisition of 2 veteran pitchers, a catcher, and a superstar RF in Alvarado will be enough to win this division.
2 - Jacksonville PnBs
Last season's division winner stayed pat mostly in the offseason with only 2 veteran pitcher pickups. This team is driven by its young offense which will bash its way to challenge for their 2nd division title. They may fall short with their average pitching and will need to improve their win total to challenge for the wild card. With only 4 players over 30 years of age this team will continue to challenge for the divsion title for the foreseeable future.
3 - Toledo Lugg Nutts
This new owner has taken over a hapless team and made a big splash in the free agent market with 8 acquisitions. The acquisitions include 4 pitchers which should help re-vamp this pitching staff and 1 potential star player in LF Jeff Smith. These moves should be enough to vault them to 70 to 75 wins and a 3rd place finish in this division. The rebuilding of what once was a 5-time division winner should take a couple more seasons to contend for a wild card and division title.
4 - Washington D.C. West Wingers
This hapless franchise has the lowest payroll in baseball with 31.5 million. Unfortunately, the results will reflect that as well as this team will struggle all season with its pitching. Only 1 FA acquisition during the offseason won't change the fortunes of this team. The rebuilding process will continue for this franchise. This team is very young with only 3 players over the age of 30 and has potential to improve as the team matures. This team will be looking up at the rest of this division and perhaps lose 100 games again this season.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
ML NL North Division Preview
To kick off the pre-season a division by divison breakdown and predicted order of finish:
1 - Toronto Trail of Tears
This team is a perennial contender and this season will not be any different. They have 8 division titles (6 consecutive), 4 NLCS Titles, and 1 World Series Title. This defending NLCS champion is stil the force of the North until proven otherwise. Last season was a step back as far as regular season wins go from their normal 100 wins, but still claimed the NLCS Title and went 7 games in a thrilling World Series with Las Vegas the eventual winner. This team is carried by its balanced offense and supported by its veteran pitchers. They are starting to replace some veterans with some new blood which they hope would bring their 7th straight division title.
2- Pittsburgh Outlaws
This team has been consistent in regards to regular season wins for the last 6 seasons with 85, 82, 90, 87, and 86 wins. This team has good balance between hitting and pitching with no player older than 32. They have several players in their prime and if they are going to make a charge for their first division title the time is now. With only 1 playoff appearance in the last 11 seasons it appears this team could win up to 90 games and contend for a wild card which is always a dogfight in the NL.
3 - Burlington Coat Factory
Last season had their worst season in franchise history with a 62-100 record and a 4th place division finish. The GM has made a number of good changes with this team with trades and free agent acquisitions. The team has solid pitching with a pure ace of Pedro Seneca with an up and coming offense. This team can come back to their over .500 days quickly and challenge for the wild card and perhaps even steal 2nd place in the division. Even with all of the improvements this young team won't quite catch the Trail of Tears. We could see this team winning up to 90 games and making their 6th playoff appearance.
4 - Chicago Chargers
This 3rd place division finisher for the last 3 seasons may now dip into last place in this tough division. They have solid pitching but a mediocre offense which may have trouble scoring runs in stretches. Like Burlington they have a solid ace with Daryl Brower. This team could struggle to reach .500 this season and may even be under that due to the improvements of the other teams in the division. A Wild Card run would be a stretch with this veteran group as this team may be looking to rebuild soon.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Wright World Player Records - Updated
Career Records(Hitting):
HittingAvg: .351 Don Fujiwara(RICHMOND)
Hits: 2,073 Alex Renteria(SIOUX FALLS)
Hitting Streak: 33 Hector Terrero(CINCINNATI)
Doubles: 537 Robin Griffin(LAS VEGAS)
Triples: 143 Trenidad Segui(TORONTO)
Home Runs: 637 Artie Cunningham(DURHAM)
OBP: .449 R.J. Mesa(RICHMOND)
Runs: 1,581 Robin Griffin(LAS VEGAS)
Runs Created: 1827.35 Artie Cunningham(DURHAM)
RBI: 1,751 Trenidad Segui(TORONTO)
2 Out RBI: 685 Trenidad Segui(TORONTO)
Slugging Pct: .723 Artie Cunningham(DURHAM)
Stolen Bases: 645 Robin Griffin(LAS VEGAS)
Walks: 1,041 Patrick Brown(FREE AGENT)
Intentional Walks: 183 Trenidad Segui(TORONTO)
NOPS: 28,497 Patrick Brown(FREE AGENT)
Career Records(Pitching):
PitchingWins: 199 Miguel Colome(HELENA)
Pitching Losses: 125 Derrick Wickman(FREE AGENT)
ERA: 3.06 Damian Yamamoto(SIOUX FALLS)
Strikeouts: 2,026 Miguel Colome(HELENA)
Strikeouts Per 9 Innings: 8.18 Daryl Brower(CHICAGO)
Complete Games: 58 Daryl Brower(CHICAGO)
Saves: 336 Will Gray(SALEM)
Shut Outs: 20 Miguel Colome(HELENA)
WHIP: 1.12 Damian Yamamoto(SIOUX FALLS)
Batting Avg. Allowed: .226 Marc Hoffman(PITTSBURGH)
OBP Allowed: .286 Damian Yamamoto(SIOUX FALLS)
Quality Starts: 249 Miguel Colome(HELENA)
Innings Pitched: 2,797.3 Miguel Colome(HELENA)
Win %: .747 Jeffrey Farley(RETIRED)
Save %: .894 Will Gray(SALEM)
Games: 810 Mac Stern(WICHITA)
Games Started: 403 Miguel Colome(HELENA)
Home Runs Allowed: 336 Philip Hunt(LAS VEGAS)
Slugging % Allowed: .344 Marc Hoffman(PITTSBURGH)
Career Records(Fielding):
Assists (1B): 1,059 Theo Bold(BOISE)
Assists (2B): 4,905 Norm Lowell(TORONTO)
Assists (3B): 2,204 Ryan Webb(WICHITA)
Assists (SS): 4,308 Patrick Anderson(DURHAM)
Assists (CF): 129 Robin Griffin(LAS VEGAS)
Assists (LF): 65 Patrick Brown(FREE AGENT)
Assists (RF): 84 Kelvim Wells(SALT LAKE CITY)
Assists (P): 8 Steve Christiansen(FREE AGENT)
Catcher ERA: 3.47 Vic Diaz(SAN DIEGO)
Good Plays (1B): 13 Alex Manto(CLEVELAND)&Gill Chen(PORTLAND)
Good Plays (2B): 63 Harry Burroughs(RETIRED)
Good Plays (3B): 23 Wiki Guerrero(ROCHESTER)
Good Plays (SS): 32 Stuart Wilkinson(RETIRED)
Good Plays (C): 1 Julio Delgado(ATLANTA)&Harold Klassen(WICHITA)
Good Plays (CF): 163 Albert Rios(RICHMOND)
Good Plays (LF): 24 Dan Speier(RETIRED)&Patrick Brown(FREE AGENT)
Good Plays (RF): 24 Kelvim Wells(SALT LAKE CITY)&Miguel Ordaz(RETIRED)&Ozzie Wells(RETIRED)
Good Plays (P): 9 Luis Alfonzo(LOUISVILLE)
Runners Caught Stealing: 328 Charlie Mulder(RETIRED)
Runners Caught Stealing%: .470 Ray Podsednik(CLEVELAND)
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Annual Ownership Opportunites Review
Taking a look at the available teams for season 12. Includes a review of the minor league system as well as a idea of what to expect.
American League
North
Former Montreal Moose
Record: 65-97
Division Standing: 4th
Major League Foundation: Questionable
Alex Renteria is the franchise player. Followed by Don Fujiwara
Vinny Stevenson(68/74),Ahmad Bailey(71/75),Luis Pena(69/73),
Minor League Building Block: Solid
Omar Prieto(79/83),Tony Hall(51/71),Sammy Perez(57/73),Felipe Lind(51/65),Cody Baines(56/70),Roland Brewer(51/69),Marc Stokes(57/70),Marvin Cooney(69/73),Sammy Blasco(53/70),Marc Risley(65/71)
Outlook: Rebuild
The team is lacking in star quality overall. You have a few pieces on the ML side but they're getting up there in age.
The minors have a huge quantity of prospects. The issue however is that the quality of them is in question. You have potentially 1 with superstar potential and after that everyone else is ok.
This team will probably go through a rough patch for a few more seasons before it turns around.
Perfect rebuilding candidate for those seeking the challenge.
East
Former Charlotte Bobcats
Record: 70-92
Division Standing: 3rd
Major League Foundation: Solid
The major league team has a pretty solid core group of players.
Geraldo Flores(70/73), Lonnie Sewell, Nash Lamb,Victor Gomez,Bubba Nathan,Valerio Reyes,Harvey Diaz,David Cabeza,
Minor League Building Block: Solid
Potential MVP hitter Domingo Mercedes(67/73) leads the prospect pack. Yoo-Nah Shinjo(54/71),Bernie Miller(63/70),Dick Jacobs(67/78),Russ Moore(42/70),Leo Wise(65/75),
Rex Barker(58/69),
Outlook: Potential Rebuild/Contender
This is a team in flux. Part contender and part rebuilding. The team is aging and it's window to compete is closing. The issue however is that the entire franchise has the same problem at all levels. You have a few nice players here and there but no flat out superstar stud.
South
Former Texas Rangers
Record: 92-70
Division Standing: 2nd
Major League Foundation: Very Good
Kelly Flanagan(85/91),Kiki Astacio,Wiki Vega(72/76),Felipe Rios(78/82),Trey Broome(75/81),Dave Tucker,Joshua Hines,Gregory Goldberg,J.T. Kelly,Flip Jones(73/77),Ben Siddall,Luis Alfonzo,Al Espinoza(78/81),
Minor League Building Block: Very Poor
David Durazo(76/81),Douglas Morel(61/67),Miller James(57/66),John Parkers(54/63),Carlos Jacquez(65/71),Wily Mo Barker(44/74),
Outlook: WS Contender
A stacked team on the ML side. A good mixture of veteran presence and youthful talent.
The minors are barren at the moment due to most of the talent being promoted. Is definitely a team that can contend for the WS title now and for future seasons to come.
Former Memphis Chickasaws
Record: 61-101
Division Standing: 4th
Major League Foundation: Solid
Brian Ransom(85/92),Ariel Carrasco(76/82),Vicente Ramirez(78/80),Eduardo Jacquez(75/83),Esteban Elcano,Luis De La Vega(70/78),Sarma Roberts(69/76),Brandon Leach,
Minor League Building Block: Very Good
Theodore Wilson(82/88),Dorian Johnstone,Robert Isringhausen(74/75),Jackson Stoops(70/81),Quinn Jenner(57/71),Ed McDowell(58/72),
Outlook: Young Potential Contender
This is a very young team is all facets of the game. The ML side has some very nice and usable pieces. The minors are stacked even with a ton of players being brought up over the past few seasons. This team could easily contend for the playoffs with the right moves and a dedicated owner.
National League
East
Former Indianapolis Colt 45's
Record: 62-100
Division Standing: 3rd
Major League Foundation: Questionable
Buzz Scott(72/77),Patrick Brown,Leon Riley(66/73)
Minor League Building Block: OK
Bernie Larson(60/82),Nick Austin(68/80), Gregory Matheny(66/81),Julio Pimentel(51/69)
Outlook: Severe Rebuild
This franchise is in need of a steady and dedicated owner. Once one of the best franchises in the world. It has fallen upon hard times. There are some pieces in the minors but much like with the ML club it's sparse and needs to be built up.
South
Former Florida Villians
Record: 75-87
Division Standing: 3rd
Major League Foundation: Good
Damian Yamamoto,Hipolito Barrios,Esteban Alvarez(83/87),Ivan Pizzaro,Mac Stern,Ryan Webb,Alex Arroyo(68/71),Carlos Velazquez,Glenn Adkinson(76/81)
Minor League Building Block: Poor
Chief Giavotella(67/80),Glenn Hoffman(46/76),Pedro Rodriguez(66/77),Henry Grace(64/79),Tim Warden(63/76),Luis Crespo(67/71),Juan Sardinha(70/74),
Outlook: Contender
A cluster of vets on the ML side leaves this team in good shape to contend. The one thing this franchise has above most is that pitching is a strength for them. The main issue will be to get the bats needed for the lineup to compliment the pitching.
The minors have alot of players but most are future role players or defensive experts. You have 1 maybe 2 prospects with legit star potential. The numbers look good on the outside but after you dig deep you can see that the minors will never a overhaul.
Sin City Claims The Crown
The celebration was unlike any other in recent memory. The aura of immortality was evident as the Las Vegas Immortals partied like it was the end of the world.
Claiming their very first world series title by defeating the Toronto Trail of Tears 4 games to 3 in the world series. Congrats to werniss on his season 11 title.
