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AL West
Honolulu Dashboard Hula Dolls
jweatherman (10th season w/ club, 15th overall)
Last Season 96-66 (1st)
Key Additions: OF Phil Murphy (Trade – Fresno), P Ron Perry (FA)
Key Subtractions: OF Bruce Boucher (FA), P Edwards Beech (FA), P Edgardo Vincente (Trade – Fresno), P Leonardo Hume (FA)
Projected Starters
C – Damian Yoshii (.273, 11, 36)
1B – Jeff Jennings (.317, 38, 135)
2B – Walt Brown* (.331, 40, 113, 38 SB)
3B – Guillermo Nunez (.280, 33, 99, 20 SB)
SS – Alvin Standridge (.249, 45, 120)
LF – Scott Springer (.317, 23, 68, 50 SB)
CF – Eddie Henderson (.254, 5, 48)
RF – Phil Murphy (.315, 50, 138)
DH – Hub McNamara (.278, 32, 89)
Key Pitchers
SP – Eddie Baker (13-15, 4.39, 1.42)
SP – Ron Perry (14-10, 3.91, 1.37)
SP – Orlando Castilla (10-10, 4.67, 1.50)
RP – Dave Griffith (6-4, 3.99, 1.22)
CL – Norman Gordon (2-3, 35 SV, 3.02, 1.34)
S16 Outlook:
The Dashboard Hula Dolls limp into S16 after a disappointing first round exit in last season’s playoffs. A pitching staff that was more than shaky last season will be under a magnifying glass – particularly after the loss of S15’s only reliable starter, Edwards Beech, to FA. Veteran FA acquisition Ron Perry will try to live up to the hype that actually got a franchise named after him and one of Summer of ‘49’s all-time workhorses, Eddie Baker, should surpass the 200-win plateau.
Offensively, the addition of NL MVP candidate Phil Murphy bolsters what is already a team strength – beating the crap out of the ball. The DHDs will miss perennial MVP candidate Walt Brown for the first month of the season.
If the pitching staff performs, they win 100. If they pitch like its S15 again, they win 90.
Prediction: 93-69 (1st)
Vancouver Wanachi
TXLnghrn (3rd season)
Last Season 77-85 (3rd)
Key Additions:IF Phillip Ransom (Trade – KC), IF Matty Campos (Waivers), P Mule Black (Trade – Fresno)
Key Subtractions: OF Javier Rosado (FA), SS Ricardo Candelaria (FA), JD Boyer (Trade – KC)
Projected Starters
C – Tsuyoshi Hasegawa (.272, 32, 92)
1B – Willie Chavez (.275, 34, 110)
2B – Phillip Ransom (.302, 24, 75, 25 SB)
3B – Tom Torres (.268, 33, 109)
SS – Hal Carasone (.302, 14, 70)
LF – Dustin Charlton (.273, 17, 97, 33 SB…AAA)
CF – Hector Valentine (.263, 1, 41, 39 SB)
RF – Sean Pulsipher (.306, 17, 78)
DH – Ricardo Lopez (.321, 32, 86)
Key Pitchers
SP – Mule Black (12-13, 4.47, 1.40)
SP – Carter Schofield (7-7, 5.23, 1.57)
SP – Murray O’Neil (19-9, 4.64, 1.43)
SP – Micah Morton (1-2, 13 SV, 3.09, 1.13)
RP – Rabbit Byrd (0-1, 20 SV, 4.61, 1.65)
S16 Outlook:
Vancouver adds a solid mix of veteran and youthful pitching to a staff that’s arguably the best in the division. Acquiring SP Mule Black could end up the best move in the AL if he can deliver a playoff season. Murray O’Neil looks to replicate last season’s success. The rest of the staff brings a truckload of potential.
Offensively, sluggers Willie Chavez, Tom Torres and Ricardo Lopez welcome a solid top-of-the-lineup guy in Phillip Ransom to join Sean Pulsipher. Big follow-up seasons from Tsuyhoshi Hasegawa and Hal Carasone are huge in determining this season’s success.
Some solid off-season moves equal improvement, but not quite enough for the playoffs.
Prediction: 86-76 (2nd)
Kansas City Masterpieces
Fantasy Frea (10th season)
Last Season 79-83 (2nd)
Key Additions: P JD Boyer (Trade – Van)
Key Subtractions: OF Raul Andujar (Trade – SLC), IF Phillip Ransom (Trade – Van), OF DaRond Neal (FA), P Pascual Frias (FA)
Projected Starters
C – Pedro Vega (.343, 21, 102)
1B – Ralph Dixon (.292, 20, 83)
2B – Toby DiFelice (.340, 29, 113…AAA)
3B – Adrian Burroughs (.349, 14, 57)
SS – Dustin Wolcott (.326, 13, 98)
LF – Benny Alfonseca (.284, 16, 77)
CF – Dave Offerman (.271, 16, 77, 28 SB)
RF – Bill Piper (.318, 43, 141, 36 SB)
DH – Gordon Hines (.265, 29, 87)
Key Pitchers
SP – Fred Daal (11-15, 6.14, 1.63)
SP – JD Boyer (13-14, 4.49, 1.34)
SP – Omar Molina (14-10, 5.69, 1.64)
RP – Kirt Woolf (2-8, 14 SV, 4.81, 1.58)
RP – Mac Pearson (13-7, 3 SV, 4.28, 1.37)
S16 Outlook:
The Masterpieces were anything but last season after their impressive run in S14. A solid offense returns several key cogs. CF Dave Offerman is a budding star. He’s joined in the lineup by monster Bill Piper, doubles machine Ralph Dixon, and one of Summer of 49’s best offensive catchers in Pedro Vega.
JD Boyer was added from Vancouver to bolster the starting staff. Youngster Fred Daal must bounce back from a rough S15 and the Pieces must get consistent work from Omar Molina and a slew of young arms to make a run at a playoff berth. Reliever Kirt Woolf and Mac Pearson are solid multi-purpose guys who need to find a little help in the pen.
In the end, I think they’ll be a couple arms short of a run at the playoffs.
Prediction: 75-87 (3rd)
Las Vegas Sand Dollars (formerly Boise Mashers)
bradheld (6th season)
Last Season 66-96 (4th)
Key Additions: 1B Clinton Lindsay (FA), P Louie Neruda (FA)
Key Subtractions: UTIL Ken Pritchett (FA), P Hugh Catalanotto (FA)
Projected Starters
C – RJ Jacquez (.229, 20, 58)
1B – Clinton Lindsay (.304, 28, 114)
2B – Bobby Griffin (.264, 8, 60, 47 SB)
3B – Carl Brennaman (.245, 4, 20)
SS – Chun-Lim Wang (.277, 29, 115)
LF – Dean Crawford (.269, 22, 83, 38 SB)
CF – Jose Montanez (.252, 11, 44)
RF – Craig Quinn (.306, 12, 56, 32 SB)
DH – Ryan Ruffin (.279, 23, 80)
Key Pitchers
SP – Louie Neruda (14-7, 5.27, 1.45)
SP – Douglas Satterwhite (8-15, 6.16, 1.52)
SP – Alex Roque (11-11, 1 SV, 4.00, 1.31)
RP – Luis Wilfredo (0-0, 4.63, 1.34)
CL – Miguel Nunez ( 2-10, 30 SV, 5.21, 1.78)
S16 Outlook:
A move to Sin City might just be what the doctor ordered for the former Spuds. It’ll definitely increase interest in road trips to play the Sand Dollars!
Bradheld should show off a much improved lineup – thanks in part to the signing of FA 1B Clinton Lindsay providing stability in the middle of the order. More pop is needed for the Dollars to make noise in the division, but the pieces are starting to come together.
Louie Neruda was signed to be the ace of the staff that includes talented youngsters Douglas Satterwhite and Tyson Schneider. Alex Roque, Summer of 49’s answer to Jamie Moyer, just keeps on putting up solid numbers.
Luis Wilfredo and Miguel Santana provide a little help in the pen. Miguel Nunez better watch his back before he loses his closer job.
Overall, there are too many improvements to make this off-season to talk of moving out of the division basement, but they’re edging closer.
Prediction: 65-97 (4th)