AL EAST SEASON 12 PREVIEW

AL EAST

Burlington Ice Storm PAYROLL 60.1M

LAST YEARS RECORD: 76-86
KEY ML TRANSACTIONS:

ADDED				SUBTRACTED
NAME	POS	AGE		NAME	POS	AGE
Shawn Kennedy	C	32	a	Shawn Kennedy	C	32
Pasqual Concepcion	SP	31		Rafael James	LF	35
Benito Javier	C	28		Glenn Osik	2B	32
Johnny Stroud	2B	25		Todd Hardy	RP	35
Pedro Osuna	RF	25		Ray File	DH	28
Tony Kelly	DH	34		Bump Ford	SP	30
				Brian Wang	C	31

Opening Day Lineup
C Shawn Kennedy (R)
1B Denny Graham (L)
2B Raul Gutierrez (R)
3B Rolando Johnson (L)
SS Steven Jenner (R)
LF Farmer Drese (R)
CF Johnny Stroud (R)
RF Pedro Osuna (R)
DH Tony Kelly (R)
Starting Pitching: Lucas Neagle, Pasqual Concepcion, Rigo Granados, Jarrod Everett, Carlos Torcato
Closer: R.A. Bellinger
SUMMARY: the hitting is in the place the Storm have added 2 solid hitters through trades in Osuna and Stroud. The Addition of FA Conception also adds a good arm to the rotation.. Thgis team finished sub-500 last season but should have no issues breaking .500 this season if everyone stays healthy. As a team they have solid defense and can play a strong game if the hitting gets going. Pitching is solid but again unspectacular with a solid bullpen closer in Bellinger..
HOLES TO ADDRESS: would benefit moving Stroud back to 2B and getting a solid defender for CF..
VEGAS ODDS: 27-1

Durham Bulls PAYROLL 58.6M
LAST YEARS RECORD: 73-89
KEY ML TRANSACTIONS:

ADDED				SUBTRACTED
NAME	POS	AGE		NAME	POS	AGE
				Clint Malone	SP	28
				Al Borbon	RP	31
				Daryle Davis	RP	30
				Kelvim Sellers	SP	32
				Mike Durrington	DH	32
				Malcolm Hutton	SS	26
				Dario Mouton	DH	33

Opening Day Lineup
C Justin Vernon (L)
1B Tito Hume (R)
2B Deivi Blanco (R)
3B Haywood Woods (R)
SS Scott Rose (R)
LF Junior Buckley (R)
CF Jaret Nathan (S)
RF Richie Cormier (L)
DH Tony Jimenez
Starting Pitching: Jose Rojas, Sherm Taylor, Enrique Saez, Will Gonzales, Bob Hines
Closer: Clarence Adams
SUMMARY The team does not do much extremely well, but they also don't do much poorly either. The Dulls have a lot of power guys who strikeout more than their share. They need to find that dependable .300+ bat to build around. The bullpen is missing a steady arm and the starting rotation has an extra could be a converted starter pitching out of the Pen. Closer Clarence Adams will continue closing after taking on the closer role and filling in better than expected, but another arm in the pen would be welcome.
HOLES TO ADDRESS: upgrade at Catch and 1 superstar would be great for the offense a solid bullpen arm would also add greater depth.
VEGAS ODDS: 30-1

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

ADDED				SUBTRACTED
NAME	POS	AGE		NAME	POS	AGE
Clarence Morgan	3B	22		Alfredo Padilla	SP	33
Calvin Lui	2B	22		Josh Brantley	SP	29
Cristobal Jacquez	1B	21		Andres Martin	C	32
Joe Lincoln	RF	25		William Fryman	SP	30
				Bob Jenkins	2B	28
				Bart Hitchcock	3B	28
				Charles Howard	RP	32
				Greg Griffiths	3B	30
				Alfredo Sanchez	P	29
				Glenallen Bell	SP	33
				Gus Tabaka	SP	40
				Oscar Rollins	RF	27

Opening Day Lineup
C Davey Santana (R)
1B Marquis Ashley (L)
2B Calvin Lui (R)
3B Clarence Morgan(R)
SS Dennis Lockwood (R)
LF Ivan Gonzalez (S)
CF Matthew Hurst (R)
RF Joe Lincoln (S)
DH Cristobal Jacquez (L)
Starting Pitching: Jake Becker,Victor Perez, Willis Ryan, Willis Daniels, Wesley Matthews
CloserKris Aspromonte
SUMMARY: With solid hitters Marquis Ashley, Clarence Morgan and Calvin Lui along with Speedster Matthew Hurst, this team does have offensive tools. The Pitching staff is in shambles, at best you have a pair of middle of the rotation guys. Add in lot of rule 5 draft picks and this pitching staff will struggle to compete with BL hitting. This team badly needs an ace in the rotation to compliment the stable of hitting. The bullpen also has huge holes to address most relievers would struggle in AAA let alone the Show.
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: 100-1

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
Alex Chang	RP	31		Roy Robinson	SP	29
Jeff Foster	C	25		Richard Frazier	1B	28
Vic Toca	RP	35		Cesar Batista	C	35
				Emil Rogers	P	35
				Ismael Lopez	RP	38
				Rube Jefferson	RP	41
				Alex Padilla	RP	39
				Darryl Sexton	RP	37

Opening Day Lineup
C Mariano Lee (R)
1B Douglas Ainsworth (L)
2B Ozzie Ono (R)
3BGraeme Watson (R)
SS Craig Cooper (R)
LF Trevor Jackson (R)
CF Luther Oliver (L)
RF Victor Mondesi (R)
DH Adam Corsi (R)
Starting Pitching: Julio Carreras, Junior McLemore, Doug Ojala, Darrell Williamson, Chad Goldman
Closer: Tony Eckenstahler
SUMMARY: Trevor Jackson's 50+ SB's are a nice along with his 100+ Runs a year. Cooper is the catalyst for this offense they just need more power around him to balance the order more. A few Lefties would be nice or this hitting will struggle with strong pitching and coaching. Pitching is improving slowly but the rotation could do without Ojala and the bullpen will need to upgrade after key losses of Sexton, Padilla, Lopez and Jefferson.
HOLES TO ADDRESS: Weak at 1B and 2B, and CF. pitching is in need of an ace in the bullpen and 1 more solid arm to start.
VEGAS ODDS: 45-1