|
|
|
MITCHELLVILLE
MAULERS |
| FRANCHISE
PLAYERS -
B
Lidge, A Soriano, D Ortiz
|
1ST
ROUND DRAFT PICK -
I
Kinsler
|
| STARTERS
-
Division
(6), League (12)
|
BENCH
-
Division
(1), League (1)
|
| PITCHING
-
Division
(4), League (8)
|
BULLPEN
-
Division
(6), League (12)
|
| OUTLOOK
- The Maulers have a new name, a new look but the outlook looks
to be a repeat of 2008. The franchise choice of D Ortiz might
hurt the Maulers as he seems to be declining quickly. The
reserves are stronger than the starters for the Maulers.
Reserves Francoeur and Lind will be in the starting line-up
sooner rather than later. Weak links in Tulowitzski &
Iannetta do not have serviceable back-ups. The pitching is OK
with Hernandez, Volquez & Lidge but the bullpen is weak with
unknown starters and a Pirate closer. |
| PROJECTED
FINISH - 80-82, 6th Slugger Division |
|
|
|
|
SWELL
GUYS |
| FRANCHISE
PLAYERS -
A
Rodriguez, V Guerrero, C Utley
|
1ST
ROUND DRAFT PICK -
Ca
Lee
|
| STARTERS
-
Division
(5), League (10)
|
BENCH
-
Division
(3), League (6)
|
| PITCHING
-
Division
(3), League (6)
|
BULLPEN
-
Division
(2), League (2)
|
| OUTLOOK
- Coming off a sub-par 2008 season the Swell Guys seem to have
drafted well enough to start moving back up the ladder. With the
franchise player A Rodriguez the Swell Guys have a better bench
than starting line-up. Mixing youth and experience the Swell
Guys might feel the wrath of declining seasons from V Guerrero
& B Abreu. They also may have found a diamond in the rough
with N Cruz. Pitching looks to be strong with the only questions
being A Cook & A Sanchez. Hamels, Harden & Myers will
keep the Swell Guys in the race. |
| PROJECTED
FINISH - 88-74, 3rd Slugger Division |
|
|
|
|
GRIMES
BOMBERS |
| FRANCHISE
PLAYERS -
J
Reyes, G Sizemore, R Braun
|
1ST
ROUND DRAFT PICK -
C
Granderson
|
| STARTERS
-
Division
(3), League (7)
|
BENCH
-
Division
(2), League (3)
|
| PITCHING
-
Division
(5), League (9)
|
BULLPEN
-
Division
(4), League (8)
|
| OUTLOOK
- Owner Sauer vowed to go with youth in 2009. They certainly did
that picking sleepers Davis, Votto & Bruce in the starting
line-up. The reserves are bolstered by Swisher & Scott. The
pitching is not as strong as the hitting with Wellemeyer, Price
& Hanson being the weaker links and knowingly drafting
injured Duchscherer. Soria gives the Bomber one of the best
closers in the league. |
| PROJECTED
FINISH - 85-77, 3rd Slammer Division |
|
|
|
|
BUTTUGLIES |
| FRANCHISE
PLAYERS -
T
Lincecum, CC Sabathia, M Kemp
|
1ST
ROUND DRAFT PICK -
C
Crawford
|
| STARTERS
-
Division
(6), League (11)
|
BENCH
-
Division
(6), League (12)
|
| PITCHING
-
Division
(1), League (3)
|
BULLPEN
-
Division (2),
League (4)
|
| OUTLOOK
- Starting and finishing with pitching the Buttuglies have one
of the strongest pitching staffs in the league. Lincecum,
Sabathina, Grienke along with Rivera are locks to carry the
Buttuglies offense. The selections of Renteria & Crisp will
hamper some of the scoring while the reserve choices of Wieters,
Dukes and the position less Teahen will slow down the
offense. |
| PROJECTED
FINISH - 79-83, 5th Slammer Division |
|
|
|
|
SPTINGFIELD
STOGIES |
| FRANCHISE
PLAYERS -
A
Gonzalez, I Suzuki, J Rollins
|
1ST
ROUND DRAFT PICK -
D
Pefroia
|
| STARTERS
-
Division
(2), League (4)
|
BENCH
-
Division
(4), League (8)
|
| PITCHING
-
Division
(6), League (10)
|
BULLPEN
-
Division
(6), League (11)
|
| OUTLOOK
- The Stogies made a draft day whopper of a deal in securing A
Pujols for his 3 franchise players. It looks like Pujols is
going to need help carrying this team. The drafting of Pedroia,
Peralta & Ordonez will keep the offense rolling but if they
need to get into the bench it might cause some problems. The
drafting of F Tatis ensures a free agent transaction while
youngsters Morales, Willingham & Beckham could hamper the
offense. Pitching looks to be slight coming from an Owner which
proudly exclaimed "Look at my staff!" in a previous
draft. D Haren is the only strong pitcher in the group followed
by the aging Moyer. Carpenter, Broxton, Perez, Snell and
Wakefield are all risky picks. |
| PROJECTED
FINISH - 81-81, 4th Slammer Division |
|
|
|
|
SOUTHSIDE
EXCALIBUR |
| FRANCHISE
PLAYERS -
M
Ramirez, C Beltran, M Cabrera
|
1ST
ROUND DRAFT PICK -
F
Rodriguez
|
| STARTERS
-
Division
(1), League (1)
|
BENCH
-
Division
(6), League (10)
|
| PITCHING
-
Division
(1), League (1)
|
BULLPEN
-
Division
(1), League (1)
|
| OUTLOOK
- The offense is strong with the franchise players along with
Hudson, Youkilis, Werth, Ibanez & Jacobs. The choice of
Giambi was a risk for power numbers. The bench is questionable.
Ross, Moss and Burriss have potential but it may not be in the
2009 season which may cause a problem if the Excalibur have
injury problems. The pitching staff comes in #1 based on the
numbers but looking at it S Lewis is a horrible choice as a 5th
starter and if Dempster, Lee, Meche & Buehrle start slow the
Excalibur might have to depend on Lannan and Braden. Not awe
inspiring but still overall a top staff based on numbers. |
| PROJECTED
FINISH - 95-67, 1st Slugger Division |
|
|
|
|
ROCKFORD
MAFIA |
| FRANCHISE
PLAYERS -
E
Longoria, J Hamilton, M Holliday
|
1ST
ROUND DRAFT PICK -
C
Quentin
|
| STARTERS
-
Division
(5), League (9)
|
BENCH
-
Division
(5), League (11)
|
| PITCHING
-
Division
(4), League (7)
|
BULLPEN
-
Division
(5), League (10)
|
| OUTLOOK
- The Mafia surpassed the projections in 2008 and ended the
season 2nd in the Slammer Division. They will need to again
surpass projections in 2009. The franchise players are talented
but Longoria & Hamilton may experience sophomore slumps.
Starting hitting has minimal pop and might suffer setbacks if
Bradley is the Bradley we all know. Fielder, Ankiel and Quentin
have some pop. The reserves are made up mostly of Cardinal/Whitesox
players and unproven rookies in Andrus & Getz. The pitching
staff is enough to get them some wins and can become a surprise
staff if Johnson, Carmona & Danks can live up to their
potential. Scherzer, Reyes and Marmol look like picks trying to
catch lightening in a bottle like the 2008 pick of Longoria
& Hamilton. |
| PROJECTED
FINISH - 76-86, 6th Slammer Division |
|
|
|
|
AMAZIN'
WOMBATS |
| FRANCHISE
PLAYERS -
H
Ramirez, R Howard, R Martin
|
1ST
ROUND DRAFT PICK -
B
Phillips
|
| STARTERS
-
Division
(4), League (6)
|
BENCH
-
Division
(5), League (9)
|
| PITCHING
-
Division
(6), League (12)
|
BULLPEN
-
Division
(4), League (5)
|
| OUTLOOK
- The franchise players are top flight especially Ramirez &
Martin based on the lack of stars at those positions. The
starting line-up is scattered with veteran leadership from the
"Flyin' Hawaiian" Victorino, DeRosa, Dye &
Konerko. The reserves are just that, reserves. Scutaro, Lowrie,
Barajas & Milledge will all be struggling with playing time
and thus might cost the Wombats if their starters go down or
slump. Pitching is also a little weak. After Nolasco, Jurrjens
& Lilly the Wombats are hoping for either bounce back years
(Harang, Bush, Millwood) or breakout years (Billingsley,
Sanchez). The Wombats still use their team concept of carrying 3
closers. Maybe they are hoping for a trade. Street, Qualls &
Gonzalez could all have trouble getting saves. |
| PROJECTED
FINISH - 81-81, 5th Slugger Division |
|
|
|
|
WOOD
COUNTY GAMBLERS |
| FRANCHISE
PLAYERS -
N
McLouth, B Webb, J Shields
|
1ST
ROUND DRAFT PICK -
N
Markakis
|
| STARTERS
-
Division
(3), League (5)
|
BENCH
-
Division
(4), League (7)
|
| PITCHING
-
Division
(2), League (2)
|
BULLPEN
-
Division
(3), League (5)
|
| OUTLOOK
- After choosing players who still look strong in Delgado, Uggla,
Young & Markakis the Gamblers looked to be trying to find a
diamond in the rough with Choo, Spilbourghs and Sandoval.
Drafting the declining Lowell & Dunn was a risk. The
reserves also are littered with youth in Dickerson, Span,
Teagarden and Bonifacio. The pitching is strong behind Webb,
Zambrano, Floyd and Shields. Wilson might be a risk depending on
save opps in SF. The bullpen has potential but Harrison, Baek
& Motte are high risk, high reward players at this
time. |
| PROJECTED
FINISH - 88-74, 2nd Slugger Division |
|
|
|
|
OMAHA
ASSASSINS |
| FRANCHISE
PLAYERS -
D
Wright, M Teixeira, J Morneau
|
1ST
ROUND DRAFT PICK -
A
Rios
|
| STARTERS
-
Division
(3), League (3)
|
BENCH
-
Division
(2), League (5)
|
| PITCHING
-
Division
(5), League (11)
|
BULLPEN
-
Division
(5), League (9)
|
| OUTLOOK
- Franchise players are some of the best the league has to
offer. Hitting does not seem to be a question for the Assassins.
Ethier, Rios, Ellsbury, Hawpe & Loney are proven and not
looking to decline soon. The bench seems to be a little stronger
with 2B Sanchez & Weeks being a possible better option than
A Cabrera. Francisco and Morgan have good upside. The pitching
staff has Beckett, Pettitte, Sonnanstine and Jenks for stability
while Chamberlain and Vazquez are still question marks. The
bullpen has injuries and unknowns with Escobar starting on the
D.L. and Uehara, Marshall and Fuentes being very unproven. |
| PROJECTED
FINISH - 82-80, 4th Slugger Division |
|
|
|
|
BALFORS |
| FRANCHISE
PLAYERS -
A
Pujols, J Bay, J Santana
|
1ST
ROUND DRAFT PICK -
R
Ludwick
|
| STARTERS
-
Division
(1), League (2)
|
BENCH
-
Division
(1), League (2)
|
| PITCHING
-
Division
(2), League (4)
|
BULLPEN
-
Division
(1), League (3)
|
| OUTLOOK
- Where do you go from the top? Can you say further up? Well we
will see if that happens but starting off the draft with 5
franchise players is not a bad way to start. The awe inspiring
trade of A Pujols for I Suzuki, J Rollins and A Gonzalez started
the draft off with the championship being handed to the Balfors
again. Owner Keady has proven he can draft too. The Balfors are
strong with their offense that also includes C Jones, J Thome, B
Giles and R Ludwick. Suzuki leads the reserves along with Garko,
Gomez, Inge and Kubel. No real fall from the starters to the
reserves. Pitching will always be strong when you can start with
J Santana and then add Halladay, Garland & Valverde. The
bullpen is not as strong with injured Santana but has bright
futures in Baker, Jimenez & Cordero. The numbers say the
Balfors will again win the division but anything can
happen. |
| PROJECTED
FINISH - 94-68, 1st Slammer Division |
|
|
PROJECTED 2009
STANDINGS |
| POSITION |
TEAM |
RECORD |
| 1 |
SOUTHSIDE
EXCALIBUR |
95-67 |
| 2 |
WOOD
COUNTY GAMBLERS |
88-74 |
| 3 |
SWELL
GUYS |
88-74 |
| 4 |
OMAHA
ASSASSINS |
82-80 |
| 5 |
AMAZIN'
WOMBATS |
81-81 |
| 6 |
MITCHELLVILLE
MAULERS |
80-82 |
| |
|
|
| 1 |
BALFORS |
94-68 |
| 2 |
DOUG'S
DESTROYERS |
87-75 |
| 3 |
GRIMES
BOMBERS |
85-77 |
| 4 |
SPRINGFIELD
STOGIES |
81-81 |
| 5 |
BUTTUGLIES |
79-83 |
| 6 |
ROCKFORD
MAFIA |
76-86 |
|
|
Tinkers,
Evers & Chance Inc Notes:
The
rankings and projected finishes are based upon the pre-draft rankings and
points projected by this company. These points did not take into
consideration extended injuries and slumps. These are based on projections
assuming the players are playing at full health and for a full season. The
projected finishes also used a complicated system based upon the points
and the average of points scored by previous league winners. All
projections are opinions of this company and are subject to outside
questioning and ridicule. We would expect nothing less.
If you
have questions or comments regarding this review please forward them to
the league commissioner.
Thanks,
T/E/C
INC
|
