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LAST YEARS RECORD:90-72
LAST YEARS PREVIEW: The Redsox squeeked into the playoffs by winning a tiebreaker for the last W/C berth. They advanced to the ALDCS and lost to division foe New York in 5.The Redsox had the best hitting club last season(.291) but it wasn't enough to get them to the Series.With the influx of 4 Houston players and several others. This is a completely different team than last year and will rely on the new and improved Rotation. But can the bullpen and good hitting get them to the finish? I think this team will vie for the division and get at least a wild-card.PREDICTION:90-72
OUT: Bobby Carpenter , P.J. Dingman , Rafael Oliva , Pasqual Matos , Tom Metzger , Jose Arias , Alex Tabaka , Alex Garces , Alton Holloway , Henry Phillips , Angel Duran , Luis Pineda , Parker Roberts
IN: Boomer Colbert , Willie Lugo , Olmedo Serra , Alex Molina , Alfonso Machado , Placido Ortiz , Alvin Farrell , Al Segui , Bronson Mann , Wilt Higgins
PAT007OHMSS's PREVIEW: After losing to the eventual World Champion St. Louis Cardinals in last year’s playoffs, it was clear that the main thing that would put the Red Sox back in the Series over the offseason was PITCHING, as the offense has never been an issue. So what did I do? You guessed it, I added offense. But I felt that long-term it was the best move. After trading Parker Roberts, Angel Duran, and Luis Pineda to the Diamondbacks, the Sox got back a player who I believe will be a perennial All-Star for the next 10 years or so, and the fastest CF in the league with the most range, Luis Mesa, who’ll be brought up from AAA after 20 games, and play RF his first couple of years. In CF, also with 90+ range, former MVP and perennial MVP candidate Steven Starr, and in RF, free agent pickup Willie Lugo, a switch-hitter tailor-made for Fenway with 94 vs. right-handed pitching, who will lead off. ¾ of the infield of 3B Andre Rivera, SS Willie Silva, 2B Terry White, and returning to the fold before retirement and the HOF 1B Placido Ortiz, have won World Series rings and been All-Stars, and C Yeico Astacio performed well as Roberts’ backup last year, making Roberts available as trade-bait. C Wilt Higgins (a monster defensively, and hitting vs. lefties), and all-around utility players Alvin Farrell and Olmeda Sierra give us a very strong bench, which was a weakness last year. Overall, the Red Sox defense in the past couple of years has gone from awful to superb. As for pitching, the hope is that Rodrigo Ontiveros and Orvil Jefferies mature into quality starters, and that the trio of Gerald Holliday, Horacio Montero, and Diory Baez stay strong. The 2 most significant additions pitching wise are SP Bronson Mann, and RP Al Segui. The remaining relief staff are either young ones on the way up, like Adam Borland, or the rest of the staff, all 30-somethings I hope have a little left. My prediction? This is crazy, but…..104-58, with either a World Series entry this year or next (based on…..lol….pitching)
PREVIEW: Patricks Red Sox did win the division and finished with 90 wins as predicted. Looks like the Houston castoffs worked out well. In fact Boston won in the first round against the Houston Astros.But in the DCS they lost a heartbreaking game 5 to the New Champs. No shame in that! Last season the Red Sox were 4th in hitting(.281 Team BA), below average pitching(4.72 Team ERA), above average fielding(86 Team Errors).In the offseason Patrick let Carpenter,Dingman,Oliva,Matos,Metzger,Arias,Tabaka and Garces head to free agency. Then he released Holloway, Phillips and traded away Duran,Pineda,Roberts to Arizona. With most of the roster to fill ,Patrick signed free agents Colbert,Lugo,Serra,Molina,Machado,Ortiz,Farrell,Segui and Mann. Finally he promoted Higgins to the majors last season.This is a new look Red Sox team. I guess Patrick didn't like what he saw and revamped most of this squad. My take is that Patrick has improved this team with a couple of good Type-A free agents and they will be near the top in this division.They Should at least win a Wild-Card.PREDICTION:92-70
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LAST YEARS RECORD:80-82
LAST YEARS PREVIEW: Maybe I was a little to optomistic last season when Ardthomp picked up Peter Pastornicky , Craig Ingram and Torey Tabaka in early season trades. I thought this team would take off......... Well.....that didn't happen. The froth was dripping from the side of ardthomp mouth when he pulled out his knife and started cutting away the dead weight.Usually when a team is rebuilt with Waiver wire and R-5 it spells doom. But The havock that Reigny wrought on the Nationals is fastly fading away. Ardthomp is slowly picking up nice young players and keeping payrolls down to collect more (5 1st round picks). This team should finish about .500. PREDICTION:80-82
OUT: Juan Herrera , Peter Pastornicky , Oswaldo Benitez , Desi Seneca , Torey Tabaka
IN: Santiago Jimenez , Jesus Santana , Harry Azocar , Pedro Rodrigo , Diego Hernandez
ARDTHOMPS PREVIEW: After finishing last season with a franchise record 80 wins, the Nationals were left wanting more. The goal this season is to have the first ever winning season in franchise history. How are they going to do that? The additions of Diego Hernandez and Harry Azocar to the lineup certainly help.
With Breen, Tanaka, and Tejada locked in as the first three starters and former #1 pick Pedro Rodrigo taking over the closer role, the pitching will provide enough help to get those 82 wins this season.
In the past four seasons, the franchise has 273 wins, which is only 34 games behind the 307 wins the franchise accumulated from seasons 5-10!
PREVIEW: Ardthomp is still putting this team together and 80 wins is a nice year for the Nationals. Ard did pick up some great young prospects with his 5 first round picks(Nap Brantley, Luke Recchio , Julian Ross , J.P. Albaladejo , Talmadge Thompson) some are already traded and some are still there.We all have our own way of rebuilding.Last season the Nationals were a poor hitting team(.256 Team BA), average pitching(4.52 Team ERA), average fielding(99 Team Errors).In the offseason Ard resigned Tuck Shumpert and let Herrera,Pastornicky,Benitez go to free agency.Then he released Seneca and traded Tabaka to Texas.With just a couple holes to fill Ardthomp signed free agents Jimenez and Santana.Then he promoted Azocar and Rodrigo and traded for Hernandez.Wow!! I'm really excited about this team. At first I was kinda critical about trading away last years 2 first round prospects. But Ard got a great value player in Hernandez.Then he add the two promotions of Rodrigo and Azocar to the mix and Ard has greatly improved the Nationals.Look for this team to go far this year or real soon. This is my darkhorse pick and could win the division. PREDICTION:90-72
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LAST YEARS RECORD:80-82
LAST YEARS PREVIEW: Like last year I believe this team is heading in the right direction.They picked up a couple more pieces last season in the draft and IFA market(Manuel Hernandez, Matt Sandberg). The Orioles will start winning soon and Bourboncask can finally put down the Bottle.From what I can see the Orioles are defensivley challenged and average with the bat. The pitching is going to have to get them thru and they are a young bunch and should improve every year.Bourbon has alot of talent in the minors but for now they will finish about .500. PREDICTION:81-81
OUT: Manny High , Doug Schulte , Benny Ramirez , Zip Ramsey , Neifi Cruz
IN: Dusty Stoops , Lawrence Smith , Frankie Coy
BORBONCASKS PREVIEW: Having a pitching staff with a combined 4.34 ERA, keept me in the playoff run most of the year. I decided to address my below average defense. Starting Yonder Hernandez at 3rd base instead of SS (were he comitted 16 errors in 47 games last year) should help.Trading for Frankie Coy to patrol CF where he has only made 4 errors in 471 career games at the ML level, will alow me to move Brutus Neill to right field.He may not get a bunch of OF assists at RF, but he no doubt helps cover a lot of ground with his range and glove. Loosing Zip Ramsey hurt my lineup, but for what he got in free agency, I could only watch and say "it was nice to know you". Hopefully this young line up and pitching staff (only two players on the entire 40 man roster in their 30's) has many good years ahead, and enough to challenge for a playoff spot this year.
PREVIEW: Bourbon and his Orioles finished about as predicted. And this team shows flashes of brilliance occasionally. And every year they get better and better so it wont be long before they breakout. Bourbon added 3 first round prospects(Tom Pridie , Aroldis Andujar , Zephyr Bacsik) and traded 2 away. He also added 2 nice IFA's(Augie Chong , Kiki Lopez) so the farm is stocked . Last season the Orioles were a average hitting team(.262 Team BA), average pitching(4.34 Team ERA), a little below average fielding(106 Team Errors).In the offseason Bourboncask resigned Jason Starr and Joaquin Ordaz and let High,Schulte,Ramirez and Ramsey head to free agency.Then he released Cruz outright. Now with a few spots to fill Bourbon signed free agents Stoops and Smith and traded for Coy.Bourbon also traded some of last years prospects for this years M L player. And Coy should help in the Fielding department as well as hit. With alot of talented youngsters in the pipeline its just a matter of time before the Orioles soar. This year they will finish above .500 PREDICTION:85-77
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LAST YEARS RECORD:77-85
LAST YEARS PREVIEW: Looks like ARomano and the Yanks are back.They didn't fall short like I predicted and went all the way to the ALCS before losing to Oakland. They did all this with a great offensive team (.279 BA, 1611 hits) and stellar defense (.986 FPct).The Yanks are a veteran team and they got a little younger with the additions. But they do have a ageing starting rotation. ARomano will have to keep a ready supply of Ben-Gay on hand for the old timers. But they should play like solid veterans. PREDICTION:85-77
OUT: David Stechschulte , Lawrence Smith , Ryan Moore , Brandon Padden , Francisco Gandarilla , Michael Hardy , Willie Tomlinson
IN: Billy Yeats , Juan Herrera , Wayne Olshan , David Wang , Marino Manuel , Mendy Cameron
PREVIEW: Ah the Old Timers joints were scraping and rubbing against each other. ARomanos Senior Citizens finished with only 77 wins last year and it was the first non-winning season in Yankees history. Ahem...McCabe history that is. Last year the Yankees were below average hitting(.261 Team BA), below average pitching(4.76 Team ERA), 6th best in fielding(85 Team Errors).In the offseason ARomano resigned Catfish Sexson and let Stechschulte,Smith,Moore,Padden,Gandarilla,Hardy go to free agency.Then he traded away Tomlinson to Minnesota.With some roster spots to fill ARomano first Signed free agents Yeats, Herrera, Olshan and promoted Wang.Then he picked up Manuel and Cameron in the R-5.Yep...The old guys have left the Yankees Club house to that Dugout in the sky...LOL...Really, they are waiting for someone to sign them. It looks like The Yanks picked up a couple of Comp picks and will look to get better through the draft. It may be a second below .500 season for the Yanks but dont count ARomano out yet. He may suprise us. PREDICTION:79-83
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