AL NORTH SEASON 10 Preview

AL NORTH

TEAM Fargo Favola's PAYROLL 71.9M

LAST YEARS RECORD: 71-91

KEY ML TRANSACTIONS:

ADDED				SUBTRACTED
NAME	POS	AGE		NAME	POS	AGE
Benji Adkins	CF	29		Rocky Alexander	C	34
Jesse Harper	DH	24		Bob Shaw	DH	28
Paul Miyakazi	3B	30		Brian Clarke	P	30
				Roger Forbes	P	27
				Jesus Ramirez	LF	26
				J.P. DeJesus	P	25

SUMMARY: Offensively this is a team that will score many runs, they only have 1 position that features little power(CF) the rest of the lineup can swing with almost anyone. In a tough division they need all the hitting they can get. Starting Pitching is young and able, they should be able to take a few games on their effort alone. This could be the year to break 500.

HOLES TO ADDRESS: Relief pitching and CF are the teams biggest weaknesses. Defensively they will run into a logjam soon as they have many great hitters with limited defensive value.

VEGAS ODDS: 35-1

TEAM Madison Massa's PAYROLL 85.5M

LAST YEARS RECORD: 116-46

KEY ML TRANSACTIONS:

ADDED				SUBTRACTED
NAME	POS	AGE		NAME	POS	AGE
Jose Rojas	P	30		Louie Suarez	P	38
Andre Thornton	SS	32		Gene Hooper	SS	29
Roger Davis	P	35		Tim Burnitz	P	35
Alex Delgado	P	34		Dude Reed	3B	32
Damian Lemon	LF	33		Roger Davis	P	35
Brian Huang	P	35		Ricardo Guillen	C	28
Tarrik McGee	P	25		Victor Gonzalez	RF	29
Chris Bush	C	24		Al Leskanic	SS	29
				Vin Montero	3B	28
				Cookie Benitez	P	32
				Victor Vega	P	26
				Steve Smart	SS	29

SUMMARY: Many huge losses on the field in Madison, but still overall a potent lineup which is balanced for both speed and power. Injury issues do loom over their starting catcher and SS which makes the team very volatile to collapse. The Trade of RP Vega and SS Smart might be huge mistakes.

HOLES TO ADDRESS: a big hole at 3B has developed with backup SS Ray bell having to slide over to fill it. The rest of the Offense is getting old and with that this might be the last year for Madison to make another World Series.

VEGAS ODDS: 12-1

TEAM NY Bombers PAYROLL 81.9M

LAST YEARS RECORD: 91-71

KEY ML TRANSACTIONS:

ADDED				SUBTRACTED
NAME	POS	AGE		NAME	POS	AGE
Stephen Allen	SS	29		Doug Perry	P	37
				Archie Clinton	P	30
				Goose Whitman	SS	27
				Jung Sugawara	P	30
				Jim Mateo	SS	33
				Carlos Ramirez	RF	26
				Alfonso Flores	P	33

SUMMARY: The Al's Defending Champs look to build on a mixed S9 where they started slow and kicked it up a notch at the end of the season. The offense is definitely one of the better in the league, as is the defense. The Starting pitching is aged with a few guys who have past their heyday, but their veteran presence is welcome on this team.

HOLES TO ADDRESS: The middle relief is a bit thin as is their injury protection on the bench.

VEGAS ODDS: 8-1

TEAM Toledo Holy PAYROLL 77.4M

LAST YEARS RECORD: 81-81

KEY ML TRANSACTIONS:

ADDED				SUBTRACTED
NAME	POS	AGE		NAME	POS	AGE
Artie Hausmann	C	25		Carl King	3B	35
Banana Kashmir	2B	26		Sean Washington	P	32
Roy Robinson	P	27		Clarence McDowell	LF	32
Clarence Adams	P	28		Jorel Jenkins	P	33
Mike Bush	P	28		Herman Franklin	P	34
Al Leskanic	SS	29		Darwin Alexander	1B	32
Jumbo Guerrero	LF	36		Alex Delgado	P	34
Hong-Gu Kobayashi	P	39		Jimmie Estrada	P	27
Kelvim Wilkinson	P	34		Arthur Jacobsen	P	31
Albie Ortiz	C	23		Otis Carpenter	P	35
William Alexander	P	25		Scooter Paronto	SS	29
Zip Beckett	P	22		Philip Baxter	P	35

SUMMARY: I team that is failed to live up to expectations for the past 3 seasons in now under new leadership. Immediately changes were made to replenish the farm and revitalize the lineup. Gone are proven hitters Freddie Reynolds and Darwin Alexander. Also dealt was Philip Baxter. With Matt Shave on the Block this is a whole new team, the only question is, is this team better?

HOLES TO ADDRESS: Most of the team is made up of 2^nd rate hitters and career backups, besides Matt Shave who do you hang your hat on to drive in balls?

VEGAS ODDS: 35-1