Tuesday, November 9, 2010

NL West and NL South S18 Previews

NL WEST


 

Cheyenne Marmots

LAST SEASON RECORD 86-76 Roster: 22/25, PAYROLL 61.6/65M

Needs: 3B, CF

Stars: C Edgardo Lima, LF Chris Durbin, SP Eduardo Feliz, SP Phil Morgan, 2B Travis Stokes

Slugs: 3B Miguel Cairo

Minor Hope: C Yank Lanning(AAA), 1B B.J. Leach (LoA), 1B Donaldo James (AAA), SS Raul Mairena(AAA), LF Eddie Slusarski(AAA), 2B Pedro Rivera(AAA) , P Vicente Cruz(AA), SP Jimmie Perez (AAA)

Summary: Cairo's days are numbered, he is no longer capable on Defense every day, Joey Forrester and Ralph Terry both are coming off career years and really aren't as good as they played last season. I would guess they both are in line for an adjustment and with them this team should sink in the wins column. FA signee O'Malley will add another great arm to what already could be one of the best pens in the NL. Opponents will have to get to Cheyenne early and wear these guys out if they want to makes some dents.

Projection: 81-81 they still has enough talent to hold at .500 but they are starting to drift a little from the glory days.


 

Colorado Mile High Club

LAST SEASON RECORD 86-76 23/25 Roster PAYROLL 93.2/96M

Needs: Pitching Depth, Bullpen

Stars: 2B Lucas Martin, 3B Delino Frias, LF Terry White, SP Steve O'Malley, SP Pablo Javier, SP Yorvit Vincente

Slugs: SP Mack Henderson

Minor Hope: 1B Aaron Walker, Sp Jason Brooks, RP Victor Mendoza

Summary: Colorado should have been a lot better sooner last season. They did come on strong at the end and slip into the playoffs, but they have superstar potential in all their positions. The addition of Del Prieto adds another established bat to a potent lineup. They really need to invest in pitching depth after Mile Highs 4th pitcher the quality drastically drops. They have a sporadic bullpen who could wear thin in the thin air. They need to add a few arms in waiting just in case someone gets injured.

Projection 100-62- They could be that good barring injury.


 

Colorado Springs Organizational Filler

LAST SEASON RECORD 93-69 ROSTER 24/25 PAYROLL75.6/79M

Needs: CF, SP

Stars: SS Pedro Cela, 3B Walt Harris, LF Manuel Gonzalez, RP Billy Ray Potvin, SP Ismael Perez

Slugs:

Minor Hope: C Tim Crow(HiA), 1B Rickie Ray (HiA), Sp Matthew Saberhagen(AAA), SP Jim Gulan(HiA), RP Joaquin Sosa (AAA)

Summary: Rookie Lewis Tucker struggled most of S18, CSP has to be expecting more out of a guy so loaded with talent. It's scary to think that if he gets hitting he joins a potent middle of the lineup for the Fillers. The pitching is getting older; they might not have enough depth to make another conference win. The bats should make them competitive though and I would never count them out the playoffs. They lack really 1 bad player at the Ml level.


 

Salem Slammers

LAST SEASON RECORD 85-77 ROSTER: 25/25 PAYROLL 69.7/78M

Needs: power Hitter, Feature bat

Stars: SP Angel Mateo, CL Albert Rincon, SS Roosevelt Murphy

Slugs: RP Louie Maduro, 3B Harvey Merrick

Minor Hope: 2B Jorge Ramirez(AAA) LF Albert Segui(AAA), RF Jacob DiFelice(AA), Cl Felix Tucker(HiA), SP Orber Leon(HiA), LRP Hal Friend (HiA), RP Alex Gonzales(LoA)

Summary: The pitching struggled more than it should have in S17. Salem has to believe it was just bad luck versus lack of talent. The Slammers should be able to pitch with anyone in the league and feature a number of young up and comers. They also have the depth to pull arms from the farm if needed. The hitting will be a little slow this season with a decisive lack of power. Watch for the Slammers to be closer resembling the Slappers as they won't be putting to many balls out of play.

Prediction: 83-79 they need one more killer hitter to makes the difference or they will be spinning their wheels.


 

NL SOUTH


 

Florida Sting Ray

LAST SEASON RECORD 75-87 Roster 25/25 PAYROLL 70.1/87M

Needs: C, Pitching

Stars: CF Candy Zoltan, RF Tony Lopez, SS Footsie Long

Slugs: C Marino Santos, 3B Turner Hemingway, RP Edgar Cruz, SP Deion Dunn

Minor Hope: SP Troy Corbin, SP Orber Bonilla, RP Travis Kerr

Summary: The offense has all the pieces to score runs with any team in the league. The Rays lack a pitching that will keep teams guessing at the plate. All the offense in the world isn't going to do any good when you're the opponents are batting off a tee. Dunn is by far their best pitcher and he is no longer able to give 5 innings every 5 turns.

PREDICTION 68-94


 

Monterrey Metros

LAST SEASON RECORD 69-93 23/25 Roster PAYROLL 87.3/93M

Needs: C, Pitching

Stars: SS Bip Williams, 3B Sam Miller, 2B Julio Rios, Sp Bruce Yarnall, SP Ugueth Ortiz, RP Stretch Olshan, SP Francis Charlton

Slugs: SS Louis McCormick, C Wil Dorsey, 3B Gary Bigbie, SP Francis Charlton

Minor Hope: C Willie Easterly (AA), LF Thomas Kipling (AA), P Benito Vazquez (HiA, P David James (AAA), RP Dwight Carson (HiA, RP Henry Terry (AAA)

Summary: The Metros are a lot better than they showed last season. A few down season by a number of their key starters, along with a bad rookie start to uber pitching-prospect Lou Robinson combined to make this a tough season. I don't understand how you sign a starting pitcher coming off a Cy Young award and use him as a spot starter. The pitching coach should be fired. Look for Monterrey to bounce back and break .500. Their lack of depth is keep them from making too much of a splash, but they should give the wild card a run for a little while.

Prediction: 81-81- They could be better with a solid catcher and a proper pitching set-up


 

Memphis Amon-Ra

LAST SEASON RECORD 87-75 PAYROLL 86.1/92M ROSTER 25/25

Needs: Offensive minded bat to drive in runs

Stars: 1B Kimera Newman, RP Benito Hernandez, Sp Osvaldo Azocar

Slugs: 3B Eugene Walker

Minor Hope: SS Henry Glass (AA), RF Ebenezer Price(HiA) SP Alvin Cameron(HiA) SP Alfredo Andujar (LoA), SP Johnny Smart(LoA), RP Morgan Holbert (LoA)

Summary: Walker's contract is going to become a burden soon. Next season he is due to make over 18M. A huge amount for his declining production. This team makes the best out of team who consistently plays above their level. The Pen always performs at a high level and could be one of the better bullpens in the league. The starting pitching lacks elite talent after Azocar, but they always seem to get it done down the stretch. I would not count this team out of a deep playoff run. They are geared for major defensive stands. It is hard to catch the Amon-Ra making a mistake in the field.

PRODICTION: 90-72 they love the underdog role, and will roll over opponents who think they can overlook Memphis.


 

Santa Fe BUTCHERS

LAST SEASON RECORD 65-97 ROSTER 25/25 PAYROLL 81.8/101M

Needs: C pitching depth

Stars: RF Johnny Stroud SP Hi Telgheder, SP Calvin Coco, LF Hugh Prokopec

Slugs: C Russell McRae C Cam Baxter P Brad Robertson SP Dude Simas P Nolan McFeely RP Wes Harvey

Minor Hope: CF Blade Duncan

Summary: Changed city, but look for the same results. This team outside the big two starters needs pitching help in the rotation and long relief. They cannot depend on the weak arms they have to pitch quality innings. They can expect Lance Mann to rebound from a bad S17 and contribute more offense that should cover some of the pitching whoa for the fans. I don't expect this team to challenge for anything but the toilet bowl in S18

Prediction 63-99 they just seem to be waiting on the troops to arrive, I just don't see any pitching help in the Minors right now. I guess they are playing for S23.

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