AL NORTH
Chicago Bear Cubs S8 Finish: 81-81 Preseason Salary: 90.4M
KEY FREE AGENTS: Hitters: C Ben Anderson (R) backup catcher at this point DH Jamey Jacquez (R) Solid DH. Field liability
BURNING QUESTION: Can no huge losses and 3 MVP caliber players mean they are playoff bound this season, or does this team need a shakeup in chemistry to win?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: Phil Becker has won the last 2 CY Young awards though the Bear Cubs have not made the playoffs each year.
VEGAS ODDS 15-2
New York Bombers S8 Finish: 93-69 WILD CARD Preseason Salary: 54.8M
KEY FREE AGENTS: Pitchers: P Joey Cunningham (R) Solid long reliever could start if called on SP Vitas Burke (L) - at 41 he's still a viable pitcher
Hitters: DH Bill Darwin (S) - Type B awesome hitter, marginal in the field
BURNING QUESTION: With
age and salary coming off the books and a young team who do they pursue in free agency?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: A team that has reinvented itself with a "rebuilt" but never fields a non –competitive team. A playoff favorite
VEGAS ODDS 13-2
Madison Massa's S8 Finish: 109-53 WS CHAMPS Preseason Salary: 50.3M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: Bob Hatteberg (R) –type A SP1 type pitcher Gus Tabaka (L) – Type B SP1 Skills aging star Jeff McKnight (R) Type B RP aging but still
Could be effective in the pen
Hitters: RF Marc Brown (R) - solid contributor has the most WS rings (4)
BURNING QUESTION: Will they attempt to resign their departing starting pitchers? If not that would leave only 1 starter who has been in both Massa's World Series.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: Has won the last 2 world series.
VEGAS ODDS 12-1
Cleveland Indians RECORD 55-107 Preseason Salary: 69.8M
KEY FREE AGENTS: SP Kevin Chace- at 39 his best years are behind him, coming off an injury, but he does have gas in the tank for the right role.
BURNING QUESTION: Big salary and bad records, Will an owner finally invest in a rebuilt?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: team has a great foundation to build around with Lee Adkins
VEGAS ODDS 200-1
AL EAST
Boston Badasses S8 Finish: 87-75 DIV CHAMP Preseason Salary: 62.9M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: RP Mike Foster (L) 34-41 as a closer shows he can handle the role
BURNING QUESTION: struggled most of last season to get above .500, what is the missing piece?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: has only finished out of 1st once in 8 seasons (season 1)
VEGAS ODDS 20-1
Washington D.C. old school warriors S8 Finish: 76-86 Preseason Salary: 31M
KEY FREE AGENTS: NONE
BURNING QUESTION: Payroll is
low; will they go for the rebuild or shoot the moon to try to overtake a faltering Boston team?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: traded away their ace closer last season should be on the prowl for a replacement
VEGAS ODDS 25-1
Baltimore Wire tappers S8 Finish: 74-88 Preseason Salary: 46.7M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: SP Karl Stevenson (R) - might make someone's rotation Alex Jacquez (L) - might be a good long reliever or spot starter.
Hitters: 2B Damian Ramirez (R) - should accept more than 2 years on these treads, but he can be a handy utility player.
BURNING QUESTION: What do you do with old pitching and fill the holes they will leave?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: previous season's owner might have done enough to right the track of this team.
VEGAS ODDS 40-1
Durham Bulls S8 Finish: 66-96 Preseason Salary: 32.7M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: SP Jorel Jenkins (L) - could fill out a rotation in a pinch
BURNING QUESTION: Who's going to anchor the starters or the bullpen?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: team era last season was 5.99 in a solid park
VEGAS ODDS 100-1
AL SOUTH
Oklahoma City Chickens
S8 Finish: 107-55 DIV CHAMP Preseason Salary: 38.5M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: SP B.C. Ozuna (L)-type B type coming off good years in OC SP Junior Dali (R) - Type B should land somewhere
Hitters: DH Theodore Zoltan- cheap option if you need apart-time bat
BURNING QUESTION: Odds on favorites in season 9, will this prediction be a curse?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: Zoltan's overall rating is lower than his age
VEGAS ODDS 11-4
Charlotte Winstons
S8 Finish: 93-69 WILDCARD AL CONF RUNNERUP Preseason Salary: 60.3M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: P Albert Aparicio (R) - serviceable spot starter, he's no longer a star but can still get the out when needed
Hitters: RF Billy Ray Moore (R) - still can play and will probably be a good cheap option
BURNING QUESTION: A lot of youth and skills on the team, can the play be duplicated again?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: 3 players stole 40 or more bases in season 8
VEGAS ODDS 15-1
Monterrey Acero
S8 Finish: 77-85 Preseason Salary:51.6M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: SP Herman Franklin (L) - never a guy to have difficulty finding work
Hitters: CF Clay Ludwick (L)
should find a home for someone at 2B SS Greg Long (R) he has the glove and the bat to cover the field and be a plus
in your lineup.
BURNING QUESTION: is the biggest thing this team is missing, a consistant owner?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: Team on auto pilot early last season was tops in the league. A full time attentive owner might do wonders
VEGAS ODDS 40-1
St. Louis Stampede S8 Finish: 63-99 Preseason Salary: 36.4M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: SP Yannick Fonville (L) - solid type B pitcher who will round out a rotation
BURNING QUESTION: where will they get their rbis in season 9?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: team has been pedestrian at the plate and on the mound, they need a huge star to shine.
VEGAS ODDS 300-1
AL WEST
Kansas City McCoys
S8 Finish: 89-73 DIV CHAMPS Preseason Salary: 60.9M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers : SP D'Angelo Mercedes- type B should land on his feet and eat innings somewhere SP Mark Swift- type A anchoring a rotation near you.
Hitters: 2B Vic Ramirez Type B free agent with a good stick and excellent glove.
BURNING QUESTION: losing a lot in Free agency, are the McCoy's reloading for the future?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: already the 3rd oldest team in the league
VEGAS ODDS 15-1
Wichita Sizzlers
S8 Finish: 80-82 Preseason Salary: 46.2M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: SP Pepper McCall (R) - call me crazy but he should get a chance somewhere RP Ariel Estrada (R) - leaving Colorado lowered his era by
Almost a run.
Hitters: 1B Sean Fryman (L) - still has the bat and glove to play everyday
BURNING QUESTION: will the Sizzlers look to make the needed splash and get an ace starter off Free agency
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: Roosevelt Williams 3856 career ABs no homers, WOW
VEGAS ODDS 20-1
Las Vegas Gamble
S8 Finish: 77-85 Preseason Salary: 46M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: SP Louis Medina (R) - type b starter could be solid anywhere SP Shane Mack (L) - better years are behind him and he will make a few
mistakes with his pitches
Hitters: 1B Brace Miller (S) - dominant hitter, but not suited for the field
BURNING QUESTION: My pick for surprise team, will they add pitching to lock my selection?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: OF Del Prieto fell 2 hrs shy of the 40/40 club in season 8
VEGAS ODDS 25-1
Arizona Rattlesnakes
S8 Finish: 75-87 Preseason Salary: 57.4M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: P
Roger Murphy- solid long reliever/spot starter can fill a need
Hitters: LF Tsuyoshi Gonzales (R) - type A could play CF solid bat C Bill Hayes (R) - can give you 1 or 2 seasons behind the dish great bat
BURNING QUESTION: a lot of money is invested on starting pitching, what changes will be made to improve performance?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: 51 of Keith Durham's 52 appearances in season 8 were save opportunities
VEGAS ODDS 50-1
NL NORTH
Cincinnati Bowties
S8 Finish: 95-67 DIV CHAMPS Preseason Salary: 62.1M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: P Geronimo Lopez (L) - might be a strong bullpen candidate.
Hitters : RF Achilles Hayes- type A has speed and a glove to play, limited role last season 2B
Benny Jimenez (L)- Type B solid contact and glove guy C Jumbo
Montanez (S) - starting C can hit, glove and play. Poor arm.
BURNING QUESTION: who will be providing the rbis after Hernandez and Sheets in the lineup?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: oldest team in the league and runs the only 3 man tandem rotation in Ryan.
VEGAS ODDS 20-1
Philadelphia Balboas
S8 Finish: 86-76 Preseason Salary: 33M
KEY FREE AGENTS: Pitchers RP Alex Padilla- might be able to reestablish himself SP Joe Stone- also a risk/reward pickup.
BURNING QUESTION: Will they invest in pitching for season 9?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: Formally the Montreal Money Shots. Smaller park will help the already good hitting
VEGAS ODDS 20-1
Seattle Warbirds
S8 Finish: 56-106 Preseason Salary: 32M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: SP Nolan Sodowsky (L) - Former ace now struggling at times he will do more good than harm for any team
BURNING QUESTION: Besides Matt Matthews who can bat them in consistently?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES:
Jumbo Guerrero after earning 16M the last 5 years is now arbitration eligible. How?
VEGAS ODDS 150-1
Milwaukee Blues
S8 Finish: 55-107 Preseason Salary: 12.4M
KEY FREE AGENTS: NONE
BURNING QUESTION: who is going to bat 3rd and lead this offense?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: no one could strikeout like FA Jesus Santiago
VEGAS ODDS 175-1
NL EAST
New York Burros
S8 Finish: 108-54 NL CONF RUNNERS UP Preseason Salary: 25.3M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: SP David Perez (R) - Type a winning pitcher with a knack at the art.
BURNING QUESTION: Is this the year of Johnny Stroud?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: The Burros have never missed the playoffs in 8 seasons
VEGAS ODDS 4-1
Atlanta Braves
S8 Finish: 75-87 Preseason Salary: 50.9M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: SP Kenny Marte- type B Starter will struggle at times but has many good pluses
Hitters: 2B Hades Koch- best days are behind him but he still has the skills to play
BURNING QUESTION: Who closes Jose or Ma? Will the other be traded?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: 3 players with 110+ SO's needs to be contained.
VEGAS ODDS 25-1
Burlington Ballbusters S8 Finish: 74-88 Preseason Salary: 57.5M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: SP Fausto Pujols- coming off arm surgery but might fill a role
Hitters: 1B Alvin Boudreau (L) - solid hitter with good bat C Ken Lidge (R) - serviceable starting catcher
BURNING QUESTION: Need to establish a consistent lead off man, who will it, be?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES:
Tony Kelly could contend for MVP with his stats in Season 8
VEGAS ODDS 40-1
Rochester Raging Reverends
S8 Finish: 49-113 Preseason Salary: 59.5M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: Sp Paul Hara (R) - walks might kill ya
Hitters: 2B Harry Chavez (R) - Solid 2 bagger with pop
BURNING QUESTION: Which Neil Fletcher will show up last seasons or the real Fletcher? HOF honors depend on a good year.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: more number 1 picks have landed here than any other team. Now where are they?
VEGAS ODDS 1000-1
NL SOUTH
Texas Outlaws
S8 Finish: 101-61 DIV CHAMP Preseason Salary: 28.1M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: P Juan Palmeiro (L) - awesome long reliever will be worth picks to Texas in the least SP Scooter Huskey (R) - has seen better days but
Can still give you the innings
Hitters: C Luis Belliard (L) - top flight catcher he will be picked up somewhere quickly
BURNING QUESTION: Was last year a fluke, or is this team legit?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: Sam Miller stole 132 bases last season, how much will the rule change affect him?
VEGAS ODDS 30-1
Houston Labs
S8 Finish: 84-78 Preseason Salary: 39.8M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: P Moises Tavarez (R) - has a role somewhere to play
BURNING QUESTION: A team built around speed, is there an adjustment that needs to be made with the system changes?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: ran for the big city and a change of scenery in season 9. Let's see how the team responds.
VEGAS ODDS 30-1
Florida Marlins
S8 Finish: 78-84 Preseason Salary: 50.0M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: SP Harry Nixon (R) - Type B solid starter SP Rolando Fernandez (L) - Type B in the right situation he might shine
BURNING QUESTION: Can he pitching stay healthy or at least recover after last season?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: no Marlin reached 100 RBI in season 8
VEGAS ODDS 61-2
Richmond Revolution
S8 Finish: 73-89 Preseason Salary: 54.6M
KEY FREE AGENTS: None
BURNING QUESTION: When will we see some of those draft picks hit the Pros?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: Franchise has never realized a winning record
VEGAS ODDS 50-1
NL WEST
Cheyenne Marmots
S8 Finish: 91-71 WILDCARD Preseason Salary: 30.3M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: RP Ismael Franco (R) - above average bullpen clog SP Rafael Nunez (R) Type B pitcher, could be a team's ace in a pinch
Hitters: 3B Luis Amaral (R) - type A speeder, he still has the wheels, fielding and hitting still looking to add to his trophy case.
BURNING QUESTION: Who will win the must win games for the Marmots in S9?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: Chris Durbin's 114 stolen bases to 4 caught stealing are just sick.
VEGAS ODDS 23-2
San Diego Surf-
S8 Finish: 103-59 NL CHAMPS Preseason Salary: 55.5M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: .RP Brian Huang (R) - former closer looking to return to that role SP Tim Burnitz (R) - former 18 game winner hoping to get 1 last shot
Hitters: CF Walter O'Brien (R) type B Star could anchor a lineup or just plain contribute.
BURNING QUESTION: who will add to the offence after Thomas Campbell hits?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: second year to take a chance on him man Deion Dunn was 21-2 last season
VEGAS ODDS 7-1
Colorado Springs Organizational Filler
S8 Finish: 89-73 WILDCARD Preseason Salary: 8.1M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers: SP Doug Perry (R) quality pitcher who is still capable for 1 season.
Hitters: 1B Jose Mercedes (L) - at 29 he's in his prime with a strong bat
BURNING QUESTION: Is this the tear of Arthur Dellucci?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: had 11 players play multiple positions in season 8
VEGAS ODDS 12-1
Omaha MILE HIGH CLUB
S8 Finish: 73-89 Preseason Salary: 46M
KEY FREE AGENTS Pitchers : SP Fergie Sanders (R)- he's the type of pitcher who will surprise you with his wins nothing pretty just grit SP
Tori Walker- Deserves a shot in the show Hitters: DH Diego Santiago (R)- he has had a storied career in Colorado, and will continue probably in the AL.
BURNING QUESTION: a move out of thin air Colorado will help the pitching, but what about Beltran and Mullins?
BEYOND THE BOXSCORES: season 8 was the first year the team had less than 90 wins in its history.
VEGAS ODDS 30-1
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