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 1^st 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, 1^st base and 2^nd base, pitching is developing blaring holes without much lost in free agency

VEGAS ODDS: 65-1