AL North Season 18 Preview

Scranton Red Barons

Key additions: Stevie Reed, Luther Broome, Louis Gibson, Harry Mateo
Key losses: Eddie Marshall, Tex Parnell, Clem Smith, Fred Lieberthal

Although this franchise won 87 or more games each of the past 3 seasons, they missed the playoffs each year, and new owner pgburner realized some moves were necessary to push them over the hump and land their first playoff berth since season 14. Gibson and Mateo were signed to small 1-year contracts to provide an offensive burst, and newly promoted Phil Hampton should provide some pop from a corner outfield position. The starting rotation looks pretty solid, but the bullpen will probably need more help than just newly signed Reed and Broome. Prediction: 95-67

New York Juicers

Key additions: David Ontiveros
Key losses: Gabe Douglass, Hector Beltran, Erubiel Martin, Ismael Santiago

The Juicers underwent a tumultuous off-season that could cause them to lose their 6-season hold on 1st place in the notoriously tough AL North. The biggest loss was 2-time MVP Beltran, who left to sign a 5-year, $102 million contract with Colorado Springs. The bats of Martin and Santiago will also be missed, but Ontiveras, acquired in a trade with Salt Lake City, will greatly help the lessen the blow. Along with Emmanuel Machado and on-base machine Hideo Hujimoto, this offense still has the capability to put up lots of runs. And the 1-2 punch of Raymond Buckley and Daisuke Kimura will probably keep the Juicers in playoff contention all season. Prediction: 94-68

Cincinnati Red Stockings

Key additions: None
Key losses: Matty Oliva

Not much changed over the off-season for the Red Stockings, who look to return to the playoffs after a first round exit last year. There's no doubt that the offense will be solid, led by Tony Shannon and Mack Webster. The real question is whether the pitching staff will repeat its performance last season, when SP's Tomas Alomar, Ken Gehrig, and Tuck Sweeney all posted 16 or more wins and ERA's of 3.45 or below. My guess is the staff will take a step back this season. Prediction: 86-76.


Milwaukee Brewers

Key additions: Eugene Nicholson, Luis Nieves, Vladimir Bautista, Stuart Kirkland
Key losses: Darrel Young, Bret Gagne, Jimmie Morales

Last season, the Brewers won 88 games...and finished in dead last in the division. Their off-season plan appeared to be replacing departing old pitching with some fresh old pitching from the free agent market. However, their pitching staff appears to be stronger than last season's staff, provided injuries and aging don't strike too hard. The offense is once again led by Bosco Hyers and a solid, but not spectacular, supporting cast including Adam Gagne and Albert Lugo. The season likely depends upon incoming SP Nicholson's ability to stay healthy. Prediction: 84-78

NL North Season 18 Preview

Ottawa Rough Riders

Key additions: Jay Hughes
Key losses: Carlos Fernandez, Lonny Aguilar, Neil O'Neil

The Rough Riders have done a real nice job staying competitive with a small payroll in recent seasons, and this season should be no different. With a payroll under $50 million and no huge losses following a 93-win season, the Rough Riders look to compete for the division title once again this year. The offense is led by former ROY winner John Murata and fellow young slugger Sawyer Delmonico, and the rotation, though it features no true ace, is solid and should keep the team in games enough for the offense to push the Rough Riders to the playoffs. Prediction: 90-72.

Tacoma Mountain Men

Key additions: Buddy Cepeda
Key losses: Jimmy Springer, Tomas Concepcion, Vladimir Bautista, Donne Higginson, Jamie Risley, Peter Chong

After 17 years of unmatched success, including 8 (eight!) World Series titles, including one last season, it might finally be time for Tacoma (formerly the Rochester Big and Tall juggernaut) to return to the pack. Although a lot of talent was lost during the offseason, the Mountain Men still boast a strong starting rotation led by Robert Walton, and a few good middle-of-the-lineup bats, led by Benito Perez. They aren't my pick to repeat, but I think they have a chance at making the playoffs despite all the off-season losses. Prediction: 87-75.

New York Stink Palmers

Key additions: None
Key losses: Dennys Hayes

We've all heard a lot about New York's rebuilding plan, and now it's time to see if there are going to be results. The offense is led by Ben Bickerton and young Javier Santana, and the pitching staff is led by Mark Cox. Owner joshcarolina obviously feels he has enough young talent on this franchise to make a run at the playoffs this season, but a weak starting rotation and a mediocre offense will probably lead to a finish in the bottom half of the division. Prediction: 74-88.

Madison Cheeseheads

Key additions: Carlos Fernandez, Freddy Dixon, Michael Lee, Neil O'Neil, Eddie Marshall
Key losses: Charles Suzuki, Grant Kapler

After a disappointing 89-loss campaign last season, the Cheeseheads set out to improve their pitching through free agency, and they did just that, inking SP's Dixon and Marshall and RP's Fernandez and Lee. However, without a true ace atop the rotation or top-notch slugger in the middle of the lineup, the Cheeseheads will probably disappoint this season as well. Prediction: 73-89.

The State Of The New York Stink Palmers

The New York Stink Palmers started a rebuild after a dismal season 13 winning only 71 games and had a diminished minor league system.Their 1st move was to get young players that were one day capable of playing in the major leagues and being an annual playoff team.This provides the hurdle of, by the time these young players make it to bigs the stars or core players of now are rapidly declining so it was apparent to me that those stars of now needed to be moved.which leaves a ML team defenseless.Pitching was a major problem, no one wants to trade with a team that has nothing to offer back in the pitching department since every owner wants a top notch prospect to depart with a good solid pitcher.Position players http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=373755 and http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=373788 were moved along with pitchers http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=350477 and http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=958587 . With these moves arrived setup pitcher http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=3041411 and Rookie of the Year candidate http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2806179 who has seen the best offensive production year for a NY2 guy in a decade,along with http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2847768 and http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2281574 to give me a holdover 3rd baseman until a miracle happens and one comes to new york along with a cple other additions.I'm still looking for that guy!

So that left a young bad team after the loss of the last few above average players left from the whole franchise, but had started a decent beggining of young capable players.With the drafting of http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2657307 a year before at number 8 in the draft, before the tear down, and the placement of Javier i was only in need of a left fielder who came along quickly.The rule 5 draft let http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2281557 fall through the cracks and sure up a young outfield along with http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2466741 to give me a #4 or 5 starter.That meant drafting infield,pitching and a nice catcher was all that was left in my rebuild.....besides the wait of them developing.With the next draft http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2847378 fell to the 19th pick and gave me what i wanted at catcher.With the loss of those pricey big leaguers came loss of a budget which allowed me to play in the international market and acquire some pretty good players which included a starting shortstop in http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2806201 . Then after learning that http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2466830 was not going to be the Big Bat star believed in New York we made a move to acquire a bat in http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1802143 for more contact.About this time another international free agent was picked up to play 2nd base position and fit the age range(which was key for anyone i was looking to acquire) http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1737534 has played well and is molding into a nice ML player. With the addition of utility player http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2416393 my infield was about finished and all that was left to assemble was pitching.

This was the trickiest part of all because who wants to depart with a good pitcher especially a young one,once i realized this, it had to be the draft i had to rely on. http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=3041427 was the 1st stop,i needed pitching and with his low accuracy he fell to 8th somehow. In just his 3rd major league start he throws a no-hitter and establishes himself as a threat every time on the mound and still is just in his rookie year.Next draftee was a #6 pick in http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=3231331 who has already suffered a broken arm but can still be a #3 guy.Then comesalong a #1 draft pick with all the cream not yet risen to the top, http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=3501706 makes for a nice #2 and leaves me looking for bullpen help and a starter to complete this long treachorous rebuild.The international market was huge in these 4 yrs, i didnt get everyone i was after but acquired a few nice pitchers in http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=3184948 , http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=3185025 , http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=3441615 , and http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=3441751 .Add players to the great skills of http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2466757 and by golly i think we have a team! Milledge,Lester,Valentin,Montero/Rollins gives me a 1thru 5 that can give a great chance to win over any starting 5 put against it in 5 years, i believe. With Cox,Hitchcock,Abreu,Alcantara,Fernandez, and Pascual in the bullpen and if closer http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1138475 can hold on for a few yrs with his 96 makeup and remain a solid closer, i believe we have a annual playoff team that may gain back to back world series! These guys will take a few yrs to be fully developed and playing to at full potential but i think it is a promising team that will make some noise in a few seasons.Its not the best team ever assembled but since i started with next to nothing im happy with the 4 season process now i just hope i can afford all these guys contracts when that time comes :)

The Record Update Pt 2

Now that we have the offense out of the way, lets talk pitching.Curt Schilling(PHI),Jimmy Springer(TAC),and Al Carreras(STL) have always been huge name pitchers in this league and have owned many records between them.One record that i dont see being broken by anyone other than these guys is complete games,with the new AI and changes made to whatif these guys are the top dogs probably for life!To give these guys some credibility i am going to list a few record facts to support them.Out of the 3 Springer leads win % by a large chunk and neither of the other 2 are in the top 5,Schilling holds the strikeout title and i dont think any of the other 2 will catch him,Carreras and Schilling are tied for shutouts in their career,and Carreras has a 6 win lead over schilling245-239 for the win's record.a 33 yr old David Lugo(IND) is not far behind them with 194,so it will be interesting to see if danman can get him wins to put him in contention for the record.There is another good pitcher in the world that deserves some recognition named Robert Hinchcliffe from the Salem City Slickers that owns some records.He recently passed Schilling in games started but has thrown 305 less innings than Schilling and is behind leader Carl Blalock(176) by 2 in most losses followed by Pedro Johnson(172)(NAS) and a young Joshua Womack(149) at 32 yrs old in Baltimore.Some players are stuck on bad teams with no offense but these guys show up without injuries for a great chunk of the time and i felt they Hinchcliffe deserved the recognition.
The save record is owned by Benji Banks at 441 and has a crop of young pitchers coming for his record.Rafeal Tatis(NYJ) is 6 yrs younger and is already at 396 ,followed byVin Estrada(OTT)32 yrs old and 345 saves and then Davey Sosa(FLA) at 325 and 31 yrs old.Save percentage is lead by Davey Sosa in a extremely close race with Hector Kierschnick (PHIL) and then Rafeal Tatis.Tony De La Vega(BAL)leads the world in OAV followed by Ed Owen ,another up and comer from St. Louis.De La Vega also is tied for 1st at the moment for K's through 9.A couple other players making a push at he K/9 is another Baltimore player named Chance Rivera and a 29 yr old Graeme Hinch from Seattle Emeralds.Also we have a new ERA leader for the time being in Joe DiFelice(STL) who recently overtook it from Jimmy Springer.
Here are a couple fun facts i noticed.Schilling leads league with 51,381 pitches thrown 3,500 more than Robert Hinchcliffe(who is 3rd). 9 more wild pitches from Eddie Bryant and we have a new wild pitch leader.and the 4th and 5th worst OAV pitchers ever in the world still found homes in Salem(Marshall Cox) and Vancouver(Troy Downs) not being harsh i had Cox, but just found it interesting they have homes!

The Career Records Outlook Pt1

First lets talk offense,the world as we know it has been ruled by Rudy Aldridge(IND) but all that is changing.Dont get me wrong,Aldridge still leads the world in HR's and has a 117 HR lead on the young 33 yr old Karim Martin from Durham,but for how long?Is Perez the new King of Alexander?Not so fast Aldridge still has a 562 runs created lead over Martin which is huge and has a slim 35 RBI lead. Although Martin has scored more runs than "Rudy the Great" not sure if he has earned to be crowned The King!
Gary(The Stank) Stankiewick(IND) has put up some offense himself at 36.He has recently taken the lead in games played from Wally Crespo(Karim Martin is only 100 back at 33)to prove he is an ironman and ready for every game.He also has taken the hits record away from Rudy Aldridge and also owns the runs scored and plate appearances record(by 921 appearances).Martin is only 176 runs scored behind "Stank" in runs scored, so is this is a premature assumption about Martin?Only time will tell but i will miss the greatness and awesomness of Rudy Aldridge,who wowed us all with his power!
A few other records are out there in jeopardy or already been taken over that also need mentioning.The career OBP owned by Aldridge is being threatened by Helena Loggers,Adam Gagne its a close .468-.459. Aldridge has a firm grip on the INT walks also at 228 but a young powerful Jorge Park in Colorado is only 29 and has 105 and will threaten the most feared batter in history for his title.There has been a plethera of young speedy players moving up the stolen base rank and Benito Perez looks to be the next Rickey Henderson at the young age of 30 he has swiped 605 bases which leads his closest competitor(Larry Richard-Burlington Bay Bogarts) by 85 and they are the same age.The retired Hector Sterns still holds the triple's record at 150 but Karim Martin is 33 and closing at 117 after just passing "The Stank" whos stuck at 113! On a lighter note the beanbag award has been taken over by Edwin Parker from Oakland,how much longer can this 37 yr old take pitches for the team?

Franchise Wins Through Season 15

1. Rochester/Tacoma - 1611 (107 per season, .663 W%)
   
2. Indianapolis - 1482 (99, .610)
   
3. Pawtucket/New Britain/Washington D.C. - 1416 (94, .583)
   
4. New York (NL) - 1402 (93, .577)
   
5. (T-5) Colorado Springs - 1374 (92, .565)
   
6. (T-5) Anaheim/Honolulu/Seattle - 1374 (92, .565)
   
7. Montgomery/San Antonio/Kansas City/El Paso - 1368 (91, .563)
   
8. St. Louis - 1327 (88, .546)
   
9. New Britain/Ottawa - 1323 (88, .544)
   
10. Kansas City/Durham - 1309 (87, .539)
    
11. Albaquerque/Oklahoma City/Las Vegas/Vancouver/Salem - 1288
12. Augusta - 1272 (85, .523)
    
13. Toronto/Fargo/Buffalo/Syracuse/Boise/Minnesota/Cincinnati - 1260 (84, .519)
    
14. Baltimore - 1256 (84, .517)
    
15. Texas/Tampa Bay - 1237 (82, .509)
    
16. Montreal/Pawtucket/Philadelphia - 1194 (80, .491)
    
17. Nashville/Louisville/Richmond/Mexico City/Nashville - 1192 (79, .491)
    
18. San Diego/San Juan/Helena - 1170 (78, .481)
    
19. Milwaukee - 1168 (78, .481)
    
20. Louisville/Santa Fe/Atlanta/Memphis/San Juan/San Antonio/Houston - 1143 (76, .470)
    
21. Cleveland/Columbus/Chicago/Philadelphia/Iowa City/Rochester - 1129 (75, .465)
    
22. Charleston/Tampa Bay/San Antonio/Jackson/Mexico City/Jackson/New Orleans - 1111 (74, .457)
    
23. Chicago/Jacksonville/Cleveland - 1110 (74, .457)
    
24. Madison/Scranton/Philadelphia/Madison/New York (AL) - 1106 (74, .455)
    
25. New Orleans/Santa Fe/Charlotte/Wichita/Atlanta - 1105 (74, .455)
    
26. Boise/Arizona/Oakland - 1095 (73, .451)
    
27. Las Vegas/Tacoma/Tucson/Las Vegas/Salem/San Diego/Oklahoma City - 1085 (72, .447)
    
28. San Francisco/Los Angeles/Boise/Arizona/Boise/Anaheim/Las Vegas/Vancouver - 1081 (72, .445)
    
29. Norfolk/Syracuse/Philadelphia/Wichita/Chicago/Burlington - 1067 (71, .439)
30. (T-30) Cincinnati/San Juan/Boston/Chicago/Philadelphia/Boston - 1007 (67, .414)
    
31. (T-30) Richmond/Cleveland/Hartford/Trenton/Charleston - 1007 (67, .414)
    
32. Atlanta/Tampa Bay/Nashville/Little Rock/San Antonio/Florida - 972 (65, .400)
    

HR poll

Here are links to the players and their stats so far:

Rudy Aldridge - ML years 12, HR 709, Age 33

Clay Tanner - 11 ML years, 613 HR, Age 32

Karim Martin - 11 ML years, 556 HRs, Age 30