Wednesday, January 21, 2009

AL EAST SEASON 11 Preview

AL EAST

TEAM Burlington Ice Storm PAYROLL 77.0M
LAST YEARS RECORD: 57-105
KEY ML TRANSACTIONS:

ADDED

SUBTRACTED

NAME

POS

AGE

NAME

POS

AGE

Raul Gutierrez

RF

29

Bono Crede

RF

31

Alan Nixon

SP

29

Alex McNamara

SP

36

Bump Ford

RP

29

Ismael Franco

RP

36

Jarrod Everett

SP

29

Gregg Henry

SP

30

Travis Hardtke

2B

25

Miguel Estrella

LF

32

Brian Mlicki

LF

28

Alfredo Padilla

SP

32

Farmer Drese

LF

28

Alex Gonzalez

RP

31

Rigo Granados

SP

31

Sid Stone

SP

31

Pepper McCall

RP

33

Charles Paquette

CF

31

Denny Graham

DH

25

Mike Hodges

2B

31

R.A. Bellinger

RP

31

Jung Sugawara

RP

31

Alex Lopez

3B

33

Lance Patterson

RP

34

Rolando Johnson

3B

22

Kenny Clinton

RP

31

Heath Alexander

RP

25

Kelvim Sellers

SP

31

SUMMARY: This is a totally remodeled team from 1 season ago when tragedy struck its long standing ownership. 18 new faces are in the program this year. . Defensively the unit is also solid, but offensively the new faces have overall strengthened the lineup. Steve Jenners could be looking at an all-star year with a few good bats around him. The Pitching is revamped; Neale is joined by solid starters Granados and Ford, With Everett and Ecklenstahler rounding out the rotation they should be better off than 1 year ago. The relief corp. is in place with 1st year closer RA Bellinger at the hot spot where in the past he has had minimal success.

HOLES TO ADDRESS: the outfield is offensively weak and 1b could be upgraded in Free agency right now.

VEGAS ODDS: 45-1

TEAM Durham Bulls PAYROLL 71.9M

LAST YEARS RECORD: 54-108

KEY ML TRANSACTIONS:

ADDED

SUBTRACTED

NAME

POS

AGE

NAME

POS

AGE

Al Borbon

RP

30

Roy Robinson

RP

28

Vladimir Almonte

RP

27

Diego Mieses

SP

32

Pedro Ortiz

3B

34

SUMMARY: offensively this team has weapons, Tito Hume will hit has dingers, but also will strikeout 100+ times. 2B Calvo will steal 20 bases but only knock in 50 rbi. Defensively this team is where it needs to be to compete and be elite. The pitching will be the stumbling block. Starting pitching continues to be very hittable, but is improving each season. They are still as a whole the wildest staff in the league. expect a lot of walks. Losing Robinson and Mieses will sting this season. Closer Clarence
Adams will continue after taking on the closer role and filling in better than expected, but another arm in the pen would be welcome
.

HOLES TO ADDRESS: CF is still an issue a defensively weak player needs to at least pull is weight on offense. Another starter would be helpful, but getting a top quality guy is going to be tough. The bullpen is missing a steady arm.

VEGAS ODDS: 90-1

TEAM Hartford Ascension PAYROLL: 17.7M
LAST YEARS RECORD: 65-97
KEY ML TRANSACTIONS:

ADDED

SUBTRACTED

NAME

POS

AGE

NAME

POS

AGE

Alfredo Gardel

RP

29

Leonardo Daniels

SP

30

Bump Loiselle

SP

34

Nolan Crummack

2B

26

Leo Nielsen

RP

35

Zoltan Eiland

LF

30

Alex Kirby

RP

32

SUMMARY: SS Dennis Lockwood and Bart Hitchcock complement each other well, with solid hitters Marquis Ashley, and Speedster Matthew Hurst this team does have offensive tools, but still has a few offensive and defensive liabilities. The Pitching staff is not the worst in the division, but the Loss of Leonardo Daniels does set the team back some. Fryman, Brantley, and Becker are all middle of the rotation types.

HOLES TO ADDRESS: This team badly needs to complete the pitching staff. The Team has one of the worst bullpens in the league and this will need to be addressed with a few last minute free agents.

VEGAS ODDS: 90-1


Washington D.C. old school warriors PAYROLL 64.8M

LAST YEARS RECORD: 66-96

KEY ML TRANSACTIONS:

ADDED

SUBTRACTED

NAME

POS

AGE

NAME

POS

AGE

Douglas Ainsworth

1B

25

Will Crawford

RP

30

Rube Jefferson

RP

40

Peter Roberts

LF

33

David Parker

SP

35

Wendell Dickerson

RP

32

Julian Canseco

2b

32

Roberto Borges

C

34

Vitas Burke

RP

43

SUMMARY: The Old Schoolers have 2 dominant style hitters in 3B Dude Reed and SS Craig Cooper, but have very few other proven hitters around them. RBIs could be far between. Trevor Jackson's speed should help to get a body in scoring position. Pitching Whoas will continue this season, Goldman will continue to get better, but still isn't quite the top line starter he has the potential to be. The Addition of David Parker will bridge the pitching holes, but outside of Shiel, Jackson and Parker, Washington will struggle on the mound. Ismael Lopez looks to get his first real shot as an everyday closer, but could lose the job to perennial closer Darryl Sexton. The rest of the bullpen could struggle with a group of has-beens and wash ups.

HOLES TO ADDRESS: Weak all around starting catcher, 1st base and 2nd base, pitching is developing blaring holes without much lost in free agency

VEGAS ODDS: 65-1

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