AL North Preview- 2016

AL North

Dover ‘Necks

wilhitec (12^th season)

Last Season 94-68 (1^st)

Key Additions: SS Ricardo Candelaria (FA)

Key Subtractions: none

Projected Starters:

C – Doug Darnell (.275, 18, 50)

1B – Robinson Washington (.279, 41, 121)

2B – Phillip Simmons (.265, 19, 82)

3B – Vic Gil (.249, 43, 98)

SS – Ricardo Candelaria (.267, 6, 27)

LF – Fred Blowers (.323, 9, 78, 49 SB)

CF – Del Jiang (.288, 10, 51, 35 SB)

RF – Russell Piper (.317, 34, 109)

DH – Shaggy Brown (.321, 35, 110)

Key Pitchers

SP – Russ Jerchower (16-11, 3.60, 1.30)

SP – Ryan Nelson (14-13, 4.66, 1.43)

SP – Vince Morgan (11-9, 4.84, 1.48)

RP – Phil Matsumoto (3-1, 3 SV, 4.93, 1.38)

CL – Cy Voyles (5-3, 41 SV, 1.51, .97)

*162 IP min for ERA and WHIP leaders

S16 Outlook:

All the key cogs return for the surging ‘Necks. Wilhitec brings back a powerful lineup led by slugging 100-RBI producers Robinson Washington, Russell Piper and Shaggy Brown. Fred Blowers comes off a surprising rookie season where he led the club in BA and SB.

A young bullpen is led by closer Cy Voyles. The rotation is solid 1-4 led by vets Ryan Nelson and Russ Jerchower (who will forever be pelted by coconuts on road trips to Honolulu after bolting for a max contract prior to S15).

The ‘Necks have built a strong foundation from within and expect to be among the top teams in the AL for the foreseeable future.

Prediction: 94-68 (1^st)

Detroit Domination

petec (12^th season)

Last Season 86-76 (2^nd)

Key Additions:none

Key Subtractions: OF Butch Neill (FA), P Dmitri Hull

Projected Starters

C – Walt Nunnally (.304, 16, 50)

1B – Jon Price (.310, 34, 84)

2B – Don Mercer (.272, 15, 57)

3B – Jumbo Moya (.257, 29, 79)

SS – Rafael Gomez (.230, 8, 46)

LF – Randy Tollberg (.263, 32, 113)

CF – Paul Stankiewicz (.268, 19, 90)

RF – BC Tatis (.269, 24, 70)

DH – Stone Curtis (.336, 10, 37)

Key Pitchers

SP – David Polanco (14-9, 3.05, 1.16)

SP – Harry Heath (8-11, 4.05, 1.36)

SP – Andrew Coggin (12-11, 4.98, 1.47)

RP – Brant Lowry (10-7, 29 SV, 2.34, .95)

RP – Jason Montgomery (6-2, 3.60, 1.32)

S16 Outlook:

Rarely is The Dominator absent from the playoffs, but S16 leaves the Domination wanting to get back to the post-season.

Future HOFer Jon Price leads a lineup with plenty of pop. Versatile Jumbo Moya and OFs Randy Tollberg and BC Tatis provide additional run support. The Domination routinely trot out a top-notch defense and this season should be no different.Can they find a way to get slugger Russell Bierbrodt onto the field?

Pitching is either feast or famine for the Domination. David Polanco continues to lead the a reliable staff that includes Harry Heath and Andrew Coggin – who after a rough Spring Training is getting back in shape for the season opener. Brant Lowry continues to be one of the AL’s most dominant relievers.

Unless they get more consistent offense and back of the rotation pitching, the Domination will increase the win total but fall just short of the division title..

Prediction: 88-74 (2^nd)

Chicago Crme (formerly Toledo Mudhens)

dustintwise (1^st season)

Last Season 65-97 (4^th)

Key Additions: P Ernie Alexander (Trade – Fresno), P Dante Edmonds (Trade – Fresno), 1B Russell Mercedes (Trade – Fresno)

Key Subtractions: IF Valerio Cornejo, SS Dom Wathan, OF Darron Beltre, P Jonathan Campbell, P David Mecir, P Ryan Pose

Projected Starters

C – Cy Keats (.266, 28, 82)

1B – Ernest Dougherty (.324, 26, 82)

2B – Harold Cox (.246, 14, 67)

3B – Vic Acevedo (.295, 12, 66)

SS – Rafael Bravo (.306, 14, 54…HiA)

LF – Rafael Castro (.245, 4, 26)

CF – Neifi Torrealba (.268, 8, 50)

RF – Alex Martin (.274, 20, 90)

DH – Bob Newsome (.271, 12, 36)

Key Pitchers

SP – Ernie Alexander (9-16, 4.27, 1.34)

SP – Brad Adams (8-13, 5.40, 1.59)

SP – Dante Edmonds (8-18, 5.72, 1.58)

RP – Bip Stieb (4-3, 18 SV, 2.90, 1.13)

RP – Willie Mercado (6-3, 1 SV, 3.60, 1.39)

S16 Outlook:

Looking for a darkhorse in the AL this year? No…well, I’ll give you one anyway – the Chicago Crime.

Dustintwise pulled off a big trade with Fresno this off-season to improve pitching. If Ernie Alexander and Dante Edmonds pitch to their ratings they’ll be a perfect compliments to veteran Brad Adams. Bip Stieb as very solid as S15’s closer. More pitching depth will be necessary to make a move on Dover and Detroit.

Offensively, the lineup is remniscent of my KC Royals - several guys who’ll get on base but lacking the big sticks to go deep and drive them in. 3B Vic Acevedo has to be that guy for the Crime-rate to skyrocket. No offense to C Cy Keats and 1B Ernest Dougherty who are very solid vets.

The new owner is just beginning the project of turning the Crime around. I expect a big jump in wins, but not enough to be playing in Pretend October.

Prediction: 78-84 (3^rd)

Cleveland Apachies

gatorbum (2^nd season)

Last Season 72-90 (3^rd)

Key Additions: none

Key Subtractions: 1B Clinton Lindsey (FA), Einar Candelaria (FA), P Darin Ulrich, P Kennie Moss

Projected Starters

C – John Martin (.244, 8, 49)

1B – Dave Daal (.259, 19, 76)

2B – Miguel Diaz (.304, 38, 116)

3B – Bernard Hammond (.252, 10, 52)

SS – Tuck Bowen (.229, 9, 42)

LF – Trenidad Park (.255, 7, 42, 24 SB)

CF – Bono Battle (.329, 17, 95…AAA)

RF – Rob Sierra (.288, 40, 125…AAA)

DH – Alberto Jimenez (.304, 20, 71)

Key Pitchers

SP – Jose Guerrero (4-10, 2 SV, 5.31, 1.62)

SP – Matt Gordon (15-6, 4.27, 1.56)

SP – Mikey Torres (8-17, 6.28, 1.65)

RP – Roy Pall (1-3, 27 SV, 6.81, 1.83)

RP – Stan Martin (5-3, 3.70, 1.34)

S16 Outlook:

Second year owner gatorbum is doing some nice things in Cleveland. Although they Apachies didn’t make any big free agent signings or trades this off-season, they’ll still boast an interesting young lineup led by star 2B Miguel Diaz. Former 1^st round pick Dave Daal needs to play up to his draft status, but young CF Bono Battle and DH Alberto Jimenez look ready to step into big roles in this offense.

The pitching staff is led by Matt Gordon (sidebar: who is the genius owner who drafted Gordon. That’s one smart, good-looking dude). Youngster Jose Guerrero who pitched both as a starter and reliever in S15 has the ratings to provide a breakout season. Stan Martin is excellent out of the pen, but needs some help. Overall, the staff doesn’t appear poised to hold up their end of the bargain.

The Apachies have to keep on truckin’ and adding pieces because their division is a little too tough for a breakthrough season this go round.

Prediction: 64-98 (4^th)