2030 JLS and JLA Previews

[Ted]

Sorry, been busy with work. Most of you have already looked at these in the Media guide, but Stephen pointed out that it would be good to have them here for the sake of discussion if anyone wants to. This is the raw, text only version I sent to Stephen. Sorry for the lack of some links.


2030 Johnson League Atlantic

<Projected (from my individual team writeups) and last year's standings - Stephen, it's hard to make a table in text, but I figured it would nice to these here as a summary>

With one big exception, 2029's Johnson League Atlantic division shook out as most pundits expected. Montreal was strong, Atlantic City staved off father time and injury for one more run, and Brooklyn rebounded (albeit not as much as some expected) from a dismal 2028. However, no one foresaw Jacksonville leading the pack pretty much wire to wire.

Last year, most appreciated the talent in the Hurricanes' young hitting core, but the pitching staff was still an odd collection of short contract veterans. GM Tyler Simmons looked poised to make a series of mid season deals to add to a growing farm system. Simmons started out thinking the same thing, it seems. He sold from first during the early part of the year. Eventually, the Hurricanes' front office reversed course a bit and bought into their contender status. The club made the playoffs for the first time as the Jacksonville Hurricanes (and the first as a franchise since 2022).

The Hurricanes' primary competition was initially not the mighty Montreal Blazers, who were expected to run away with the division. Rather, Atlantic City's minor offseason retooling around its Hall of Fame core worked once again, at least until injuries decimated the pitching staff. The Brooklyn Robins DID rebound, just not as much as expected. An aging Carolina finally threw in the towel, and now looks to the future. Halifax continues to be rudderless, and changed GM's for the umpteenth time in the last few seasons. The mighty Montreal Blazers scuffled a bit, but their run differential was that of an elite team. Eventually, they got things sorted out and made a strong playoff run before losing to Las Vegas in the Cartwright cup. As for the newcomer, the expansion Charm City Jimmies made a good showing. Their 71-91 record isn't bad for an expansion franchise, and belies an effort that had them flirting with .500 for most of the season.

What will 2030 hold? Likely more of the same. Montreal is still very, very talented and is the early favorite. Jacksonville looks to have improved enough that even if 2029 was a bit of an overachiever, they can make up the difference. Atlantic City is Atlantic City. The core is old (and maybe a bit rickety), but they have the talent to contend. Brooklyn has "underachieved" enough times to make me wonder if they really have the goods. As they bring back pretty much the same team, I again expect to seem them on the outside looking in. Charm City made some big noise in free agency, but a seventy win team needs more than a couple big players to move into playoff contention. Still, given the young talent they have, this is the team with the biggest ability to surprise in this division. Carolina could win a few more games, but GM Aaron Weiner seems committed to rebuilding and this team will likely be sellers in the second half. Then there's Halifax. Poor Halifax. Let's hope Moonie can provide some stability for a team that seems completely directionless (unless you count down). They weren't last in 2029, but only by the grace of an implosion in Carolina and an expansion team in Charm City. They won't be so lucky in 2030.


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<Logo> Atlantic City Gamblers
<GM: Ryan Scott>
<2029 Record 85-77, RS:749 RA:689, -2 pyth> <2030 Prediction 88-74>

<While some of our key players from our early 20s success have already moved on or retired, we do have a quartet of veterans that are kind of the bedrock of our franchise right now ... All four of these guys have contracts that expire after 2030. So I feel like this will probably be the last season of them together as a group, unless something crazy happens.

Post Subject: Boardwalk Empire #2029: This Core's Last Hurrah?>

You don't have to look much further than GM's Ryan Scott's late season analysis of his own team to understand what 2030 means for this franchise. The days of Bido, Boone, and Sanchez are likely drawing to a close. Veteran additions like Kharlamov and Boone Carlyle, have extended this team's run. With Sanchez and Bido, that's still enough offensive potency for the Gamblers to score runs. Pitching will determine the fate of this team in 2030.

Unfortunately, Scott has had the matter taken out of his hands. Mingo Boone should be healthy by opening day, but how will the 36 year old vet come back from his modified Tommy John surgery? He's almost certainly going to take a hit, and the Gamblers need front end starter stuff out of the future Hall of Famer. The pen is alright, and there are some good back end pieces in the rotation like Dan Cannon and Nick Sutton. Even if Boone is alright, the availability of future staff ace Hiroyuki Rin (recovering from his own cloned UCL replacement) could make or break the team.

There is at least a bit of a youth movement going on in Atlantic City. Rin is joined on the staff by the above mentioned Dan Cannon. Right fielder Adam Parish looks like a decent enough OF and may be a bit better with another year under his belt. Left fielder Chang-Hyeok "Beserker" Chang should see some time this year, as may catcher Joaqin Camacho.

The team added starter Jose Garcia and left fielder Juan Cruz in free agency. Both should add a little to the team. In reality though, it comes down to the health of the starting pitching. Let's say they get 80% of the old Boone. If Rin can get things going by June, this team has a strong shot at the playoffs.

Projection: 88-74


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<Logo> Brooklyn Robins
<GM: Alan Ehlers>
<2029 Record 80-82, RS:786 RA:704, -9 pyth> <2030 Prediction 80-82>

<Reporter: So if all these allegations are false, why were your crying before?

Ehlers: Because Louisville really is moving to the Frick next season. We now have far less easy wins on our schedule. The JLA will no longer be the Johnson League Badlantic.

Post Subject: Robins Roundup 2029/1
...like throwing a ballpark frank down a concourse>

I'm not sure even Alan knows what to expect from his team in 2030, but he's probably glad he doesn't have to count on Louisville for those "easy wins". According to the ancient Greek Sabermatrician Pythagorus, they "should" have won 89 games last season. That would have been good enough for a wild card berth.

Something weird is going on in Brooklyn though. This is two straight years of underachievement in a division that frankly has a lot of punching bags. The division change might have increased the competition level a bit, but not enough that it explains the Robins' frustrations. This has been a team that is less than the sum of its parts.

To the casual observer, Brooklyn looks like a team that can't pitch. Rick Ward would argue otherwise, especially after he missed a perfect game due to a batter reaching on a strikeout last year. Domingo Castillo, Jose Morales, and Miguel Delgdo disagree too. Still this team lacks a number two to follow Ward's excellent opening act. Ward himself is recovering from Tommy John and may miss the first month or two of the season.

Part of the problem seems to be that the infield defense is mediocre at best. Michael Starr and Oliver Medrano, while fine bats, form a weak left side of the infield. The 'pen isn't that great either. If I want to explain away a negative pyth, poor defense and bad relief are the usual culprits.

Still, Brooklyn has at the very least starting depth and some great bats in Holden Blackwell, Emilio Rodriguez, and Enrique Salazar. The did lose a big thumper in catcher Sam Adams, and don't have impact talent on the way from the minors. They also have made very little noise in free agency, but still have some cash to spend.

Sadly for Alan, I don't see 2030 working out for Brooklyn. There's enough talent on this team to fight for a playoff spot if the right moves are made, but as is I see a repeat performance of 2029. The theme of the year is inconsistency.

Projection: 80-82


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<Logo> Carolina Kraken
<GM: Aaron Wiener>
<2029 Record 72-90, RS:668 RA:706, -5 pyth> <2030 Prediction 72-90>

< As a righty hitter, Thomas may indeed be unmatched in all of history. He's never played the field in the bigs, but if he continues hitting well, it's going to be fairly safe to put him among the ten greatest hitters in league history.

Post Subject: Wise Kraken 2029 #2: Examining Thomas's Career>

It's a good thing fans in Carolina get to look forward to seeing "Little Hurt" every day, and for that matter Billy Chapel Jr. every fifth. The Kraken aren't likely to offer much to get excited about in the near future. The real question is not about 2030, but whether Carolina can regain competitiveness before these two generational talents retire.

There are some role player bats like the Rodriguez's Manuel and Jose, Ron Whitney, and Chris Klein surrounding Thomas, but not much else. This team is limited in defensive range as well, especially in the infield.

Billy Chapel is facing a similar feeling of isolation in the starting rotation. Gustavo De La Torre, Juan Lopez and co. are okay, but not anyone you would want in an important game. Keeping with the "One Superstar Surrounded by Forgettables" theme, Rafael Mata is the only big piece in the bullpen.

Carolina did sign Joey Budding to a reasonable deal. It may not be too bad of an idea to see if he can return to starting. If not, at least between him and Mata they should keep from wasting too many of Chapel's starts.

Chet Gabriel and Jin-song Xuan may get called up before too much longer, and both look like big league starters, but neither is a huge upgrade over the Kraken's existing talent. It also wouldn't been impossible to see Arthur Dempster (arguably the best arm in the minors) get a late season call-up.

2030 looks like a forgettable transitional year for the Kraken. They have some talent in the minors, but it's a season or two away, and the roster has been decimated by trades and free agent losses.

Projection: 72-90


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<Logo> Charm City Jimmies
<GM: Brandon Slouck>
<2029 Record 71-91, RS:742 RA:826, -2 pyth> <2030 Prediction 77-85>

<The GM also acknowledged that the team "still has work to do." The team still needs to address the left side of the infield and add some pitching all around.

Post Subject: 2030.03 - Savage chooses CCJ>

That quotation from CCJ GM Brandon Slouck, along with looking at last years runs scored and runs allowed tells you everything you need to know about the 2030 Jimmies. You can't add a player like Savage Salazar and not improve, but offense wasn't their problem. This team couldn't pitch in 2029. Now, Egbert Behner should be better, and they did sign veteran journeyman Chester Kipling. They also have some bullpen arms in Soto, Concepcion and Schlondorff. However, as Jesus once said to Ghandi, "A number 2 and number 3/4 starter and three relievers do not a pitching staff make." (At least, I'm pretty sure that's what he said. I was all mystified by the water turning to wine thing and wasn't really paying attention.)

This team will have to score a TON of runs to win games. The good news is that a Salazar, Danny van Halen, and Desiderius Kirshbaum outfield could go a long way toward making that happen. Don Logan, Dale Jones, Jeaic Dalyell, and Brian Whitten are some nice supporting bats.

This is a pretty darn good offense. Good gloves all over the place too. Will it be enough? The short answer is no, but it's a step in the right direction. Charm City, if it can earn the revenue to support it, is still 25 million under the cap. This core, with 25 mil worth of starters added, could easily be a playoff team in a year or two. They could get there faster if they decided to trade offense for pitching (which may honestly be a questionable long term move given their relative values right now).

Charm Cities fans can dream big about the future, but for now that's all they can do. This edition of their Jimmies just doesn't have the arms.

Projection: 77-85


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<Logo> Halifax Hawks
<GM: Jason Russell>
<2029 Record 73-89, RS:704 RA:799, +2 pyth> <2030 Prediction 67-95>

<So, that's where I'm at. I'm back. I'm motivated. I want to see where I can take this team. Halifax may not be a big league town right now, but maybe we can help turn it into one. I can tell the Montreals, Jacksonvilles, and Atlantic Cities out there that they better put their big boy pants on, because Halifax is on the way...eventually.

Post Subject:
Halifax? I'm in Halifax?>


Poor fans in Halifax. They've been jerked around with a whirlwind of GM changes for years. Rebuilding was replaced with selling the future for the present, which then gave way to giving up and going full rebuild, yielding to negligence, followed by another teardown. I've probably forgotten some steps in there. The road they've followed is littered with bad trades and missed opportunities. By all rights, this team should have Cisco Guererro, Elroy Hinson, Mark Sturdivant, Pierre Cordova, Domingo Castillo and Roberto Ramos on the roster. Ask Jason Russell if he'd trade the entire organization for those six guys. What if you get to keep Sancho Delgado, the only talented player developed in Halifax in the last decade who wasn't traded for cents on the dollar?

Hopefully Russell can provide stability and direction to franchise the has been allowed to list aimlessly against the rocks in Nova Scotia for far too long. Let's hope so. A miracle can't save the 2030 season. There's no immediate help in the minors for 2030, and the big league roster is Stelio Kontos, Dominic Wyatt, Sancho Delgado, Martin Lewis, and Louis Hall. Hall and Wyatt represent some hope for the future. In the meantime, the best plan might be to get the highest possible return for Kontos, Delgado and Lewis.

This will be ugly in 2030, but Russell will get the best he can out of his guys.

Projection: 67-95


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<Logo> Jacksonville Hurricanes
<GM: Tyler Simmons>
<2029 Record 92-70, RS:735 RA:709, +8 pyth> <2030 Prediction 86-76>

<It looks like the Hurricanes are finally making a push for the playoffs and with an 11 game lead on the final wild card spot, this fan is beginning to get excited about the thought of October baseball in Florida for the first time since....well, ever!! (the old Jacksonville Monarchs never had a winning season before shipping off to Baltimore)"

Post Subject:
Tropical Tidbits 29.03 - So You're Saying There's a Chance!>

The story in Jacksonville is resurgence. Baseball fans in Florida are riding a high they haven't felt in decades. They have reason to. These Hurricanes don't appear to be a flash in the pan, one and done type team. GM Tyler Simmons has carefully crafted a minor league system in Jacksonville that has consistently borne fruit, and the team has clawed its way out of the basement over the last few years.

While the plan looked solid, no one expected the Hurricanes to put it all together so soon. Most considered them a year or two away. As is often the case however, Jacksonville's kids grew up before anyone noticed. Given a chance, they took the ball and ran with it.

The question now is, can they sustain their success? Jacksonville has an offense. Rutlidge and Hahn can anchor any lineup. They have other talented contributors in guys like Vicente Chavez, Lloyd Braun, and Jake Blues. Sergio Ramos and BFP provide some veteran presence.

They question is can they pitch? Last year's team rode a bunch of career or better than average performances out of aging vets. This time, Jacksonville boasts a couple bona-fide front of the rotation starters in Tully Crow and Jesus Tonche. That is, unless Tonche continues to do his #3 starter impersonation and Crow has his usual injury problems. Ye Kung and Vicheslav Vasilyev probably can be back end rotation types, but this group is short of depth and top end talent. The bullpen is a bunch of middle relief types as well, with Ricardo Valera, Andy Cantrell, and whatever is left of Skip Glendenning leading the way.

There is some help on the way. Uber third base prospect David Noburu is tantalizingly close. Jose Garcia and [url=http://montybrewster.net/MBBA/OOTPFiles ... 32511.html]Luis Manuel Torres[/url] could really help out the rotation if they could finish off their development. Still, none of those players may make an impact this year.

Look for Jacksonville to make a late free agency signing to shore up the pitching. Also expect about 10-15 in season deals. If we've learned anything, it's that Simmons doesn't stand pat well.

Sadly, I do think last year's team was a bit of an overachiever. I still think this is a playoff club, but they'll likely by fighting for a wild card spot, rather than winning the division outright.

Projection: 86-76


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<Logo> Montreal Blazers
<GM: John Callahan>
<2029 Record 96-74, RS:820 RA:651, -7 pyth> <2030 Prediction 101-61>

<The crack of the bat was was different then any other player during the River Rats batting practice. As soon as he stepped into the cage, and connected with that first BP pitch, everyone just stopped and started watching. Ettienne LaFitte was cracking line drive, after line drive.

Post Subject: Gung Ho is 'LaFitte' for the Blazers - 2029>

For the love of jeebus, another young superstud for the Blazers? Really? Who keeps letting this happen? At least Entienne LaFitte was drafted by the team, unlike monsters Cisco Guerrero and Jared Gilstrom who they somehow acquired via trade. With speedsters like Juan Fernandez, Anastacio Sanchez, Jorge Rodriguez, and Ken Jenkins getting on base, Montreal's terrifying trio should have no problem driving in runs. Don't expect much dropoff from last year's league second best offense.

At least no one traded them pitching... Crap. Leon Flores hasn't been quite the pitcher he was when he tried to win a Gillstrom and a Nebraska in the same year, but he's definitely front of the rotation material. Veterans Luis Soto and Jorge Stanza will provide tons of reliable innings as well. And the bullpen's good. And they can pick it at every position. So there's no reason they won't repeat that league second runs allowed total as well.

At least they can't add anything more in free agency. To give you an idea how good this team is, and how badly John C is winning all his trades, some pretentious owner in California has six playoff appearances and a Landis since taking over eight and a half seasons ago. Lafitte, Guerrero, or Gillstom are each easily better than ANY bat that jerk has had in that time. This is a team largely build through timely trades of veterans for huge hauls and excellent contract management, and should be the model for anyone who wants to know how it's done.

Projection: 101-61


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2030 Johnson League Southern

<Projected (from my individual team writeups) and last year's standings - Stephen, it's hard to make a table in text, but I figured it would nice to these here as a summary>

If you were a fan of a team the new Johnson League Southern that wasn't Las Vegas, Huntsville, or New Orleans, you probably expected to have a long season last year. Well, about the only good news you got is that Crawdads fans got to suffer with you after injuries derailed the 2029 campaign. The bad news is, 2030 probably won't be much different.

Huntsville brings back the same team that had a ridiculous +261 run differential and Vegas, if anything, looks slightly improved. After injuries and age torpedoed the Crawdads' season, it will be interesting to see if they can claw their way back into elite contender status.

The other teams are, well, the other teams. Birmingham has two of the best pitchers to put on a uniform in the Brewster, and not much else. Havana has almost dug itself out of its financial disaster. I don't know about you, but to me that's not a statement that smacks of winning potential. Hawaii's retooling continues, and while the progress looks decent, they aren't ready yet. Phoenix is still playing the expansion team game of creating revenue while trying to acquire and develop young assets.

Ho-hum, nothing to see here. Another year of the Haves duking it out while the Have-Nots have to have patience.


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<Logo> San Antonio Outlaws
<GM: Mike Calvaruso>
<2029 Record 79-83 (as Birmingham Bandits, RS:579 RA:692, +11 pyth> <2030 Prediction 67-95>

<“I am honored and blessed to stand here today and accept the Steve Nebraska Award. Even though it is given to a single player, it truly represents a team effort. Without my brothers in arms I would not be up here right now. I really want to thank my beautiful Wife Cindy who has been my rock, I love you babe”.

Post Subject: The Outlaw Chronicles 2030-2 Ramirez Wins #3>

The newly minted San Antonio Outlaws do have Nelson Ramirez, and that's something. Ramirez is the best control pitcher of his era, and when he keeps the HR totals respectable he's arguably the best pitcher in the game today. Following him in the rotation is Juan Jose Ornelas, who if not for his teammate, would have at least a couple Nebraska's of his own. Both of these guys are at the top of their games, just over 30, and likely free agents to be (Ramirez has a 16 mil player option for 2031). What to do with the pair is the biggest question facing the franchise.

Looking at the team as it is currently constructed, Juan Rodriguez gives them a nice number 3 option. After that however, the team looks to be counting on a collection of has beens and never wases to fill out the rotation. The bullpen is essentially Jonathan Bowen and Joost Breakwell, plus some middle relief types and worse. Still, the top end talent here is so good that this will likely be at least a good pitching team. They're thin though, and one big pitching injury could cripple them. In the minors, John Wick and Elliot Buckland are close, but could be overexposed if used too soon.

We can stop now if you like. Poor Mark Stuart looks like he will be miscast as a middle of the order bat, as outside of him the offense doesn't have a single player worth mentioning. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Just a bunch of old fogeys and defense first AAAA types. This group will be last in the Johnson in runs scored. Again. Last year they were in last by 75 runs, and this group is worse.

Still, fans in San Antonio are excited for their new team. "I hear we have some great pitching. And you know, pitching and defense is what wins ballgames," quipped a guy in a cowboy hat. "Well, you have to score SOME runs I guess, but as long as you do better than that team in Birmingham I heard about..." We didn't have the heart to crush his dreams.

2030 will be an interesting year for the Outlaws. There is some good hitting talent in the pipeline for the first time in a long time, and some young pitching. Do they break the bank to extend their exemplary starting duo in hopes they stay elite for a few more years until the rooks are ready? Do they sell their pride and joy to bolster that good up and coming crop? Do they (San Antonio Fans better hope not) trade the near ready youngsters for immediate help?

Barring a "win now" move, which I'll just come out and say would be disastrous for the franchise, the San Antonio Outlaws will be your same old Bandits in 2030, but won't get an absurdly lucky +11 pyth this time around.

Projection: 67-95


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<Logo> Havana Sugar Kings
<GM: Daniel Bigeau>
<2029 Record 67-95, RS:654 RA:804, +1 pyth> <2030 Prediction 71-91>

<A high priority will be to stop the bleeding, and bring this organization back to profitability. How remains to be seen.

Sugar cane diaries - 2029-08-01 : Day One>

It seems like all the Sugar Kings have done since their establishment in Cuba is bleed. Hemorrhaging money, hemorrhaging talent, hemorrhaging GM's. You name it, they've lost it. They say all bleeding stops eventually, but when you have the financial resources of a big league franchise, you're looking more at an ocean than a puddle of blood.

The new GM however seems to have things in hand. This team won't be good right away. That's okay. What it needed was to stop the bleeding, and it seems to have done so. With tourniquets in almost all the right places (Iran Brito will mercifully fall off the books after this season), Havana can swim out of its ocean of red and start creating a stream of green. Hopefully down the road that stream becomes a river.

Key to that process will be some guys who might get some cup of coffee time this year, but more likely will make an impact in 2031. Names like Reece Wareham, Manuel Gil, Jose Gamboa, Albert Gaona, and Jeffrey Cunningham could join Dave Wifler in the foreseeable future. Ignacio Rodriguez might finally get some help on the staff from Noonie Soong, Rien van der Heyden, Lawrence Hernandez and Wu-han Lu.

For now though, the treatment will have to be patience. I-Rod, Wipfler, Fernando Alaniz, and Miguel Macias will have to keep those arteries tied off for another year. The pitching staff might have under-performed last year, but it's still bottom half. Any amount they improve will probably be balanced out by a regression in an offensre that seemed to use a lot of smoke and mirrors last season. They'll duke it out with San Antonio and Phoenix to avoid last place. I'll go out on a limb and say the Sugar Kings get one or two of those young bats developed enough to help and come out ahead.

Projection: 71-91


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<Logo> Hawaii Tropics
<GM: Mike Bieschke>
<2029 Record 71-91, RS:678 RA:754, -2 pyth> <2030 Prediction 73-89>

<With the Hawaii Tropics stumbling through a dismal season, THE WHOLE TEAM is available via trade.

Post Subject: 2029/5 Sanchez moved to Des Moines>

Thrust into a division that had the previous two Landis contenders and the perpetually strong Las Vegas Hustlers, Tropics GM Mike Bieschke did what any sensible head of a scuffling franchise would do. He sold everything that wasn't nailed down, and the pulled out the nails and sold some more. While some of the returns on his deals won't make an impact this year, Hawaii surprisingly looks a bit more competitive than the team that lost 91 games in 2029.

The lineup still has Joe Wilcox (whose looks to get a much needed move to first), Roberto Miranda and Paul Backstrom. No superstars in this group but above average players. Groucho Carter and Boys Altena are decent enough players in their own right, and this looks to be the year we see Hawaii's top prospect Claudio Moreno. Scouts rave about the 22 year old center fielder's glove.

The pitching staff will have to hope for a rebound year from Jody Nunez, as every other start on the roster looks like a back of the rotation type. The bullpen similarly is high on depth, low on high end talent.

What sets Bieschke's team apart from the other teams expected to be in the bottom of the standings is that Hawaii, while lacking top end talent, can field a team of players who actually belong in the Brewster. They won't compete or even post a winning record in a division with Vegas, Huntsville and New Orleans, but they won't be abysmal. My win projection is a bit lower than I think this team can get as currently constructed, because I think Bieschke sells a bit more.

Projection: 73-89


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<Logo> Huntsville Phantoms
<GM: Kyle Stever>
<2029 Record 100-62, RS:853 RA:592, -7 pyth> <2030 Prediction 100-62>

<With 2029 in the books, it's officially time to start looking forward to 2030. And when we do that, we feel a whole lot better! First off, the entirety of the Phantoms roster is coming back except its bench. So, if you were hoping to get a reprieve from our JL best offense AND pitching staff next year I am pleased to say that you are SOL.

Post Subject: 29.4. Oh Well!>

I'll be honest. I'm having trouble figuring out what to write about this team. We all know Stever has a team full of lefty OBP machines with 30 HR power at every position. We all know about his deep, talented pitching staff. We've heard his opinions on team construction so many times I really don't feel like repeating him (especially since he seems to be right). So I took a peak at Ron's bit from the last guide, looking for inspiration.

It didn't help. Ron spent the whole segment talking about space camp and conspiracy theories. Thanks, buddy.

Okay. Here goes. Huntsville is good. Very good. They have lots of talented hitters and pitchers. More than just about anyone else. They're going to win a lot of games.

Projection: 100-62


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<Logo> Las Vegas Hustlers
<GM: Matt Rectenwald>
<2029 Record 94-68, RS:792 RA:680, +2 pyth> <2030 Prediction 99-63>

<At the end of the day, it's about the bottom line and all it offers. "They cut over $10 million from their salaries next year," said Slizz in amazement. "They did it without killing their chances this year, and they did so while improving their future. You're not supposed to be able to accomplish all three of those things at once.

Post Subject: WHIV 2029.24- 2029 Trade Deadline- Hustlers Make Waves>

Rectenwald's Hustlers won 94 games without reigning Silk holder Fredo Martinez last year. The outfield was a series of moving pieces all year. The bullpen imploded. Did the Hustlers panic?

Of course not. Rectenwald just made trades. Lots of trades. Now the outfield looks to be Salazar, Sweetworld, and eventually Joyride (at least if he figures out that he's supposed to play defense too). That's enough for most of us, but Recte still has Hank Brewer, Gervasio Ridder, and Jack Gulliver on the roster. (The "Doctor" is rumored to be on the block as he's pushing 30 and Recte surely looks to continue his amazing circus of revolving parts).

The pen? Somehow it's now one the of the best in the league. Ramos, Staples, Cruz, Hartinger, Henry, Cruz and on and on. They won't even have to work very hard, as the starting rotation features five starters that go deep into games.

If this team has any weakness, it's that the rotation is getting a bit long in the tooth. Out of nowhere phenom Sam Romero is the only player who can't be described as veteran. Is this the year age finally catches up with Gary Estes?

Somehow, you have to pick between this team and Huntsville's. The age of the Hustlers' pitching scares me a bit, so I'll use that as an excuse to give Vegas slightly fewer wins.

Projection: 99-63


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<Logo> New Orleans Crawdads
<GM: Jim Roberts>
<2029 Record 84-78, RS:730 RA:739, +4 pyth> <2030 Prediction 87-75>

<Pitching, Hitting, Bullpen, Starters, Relievers, Infielder, Outfielders...they all struggled in unison this year. Perhaps it was the switch from the Frick League to the Johnson League, but clearly something went wrong in the Big Easy this season. Look for New Orleans to re-tool a bit this off-season.

Post Subject: Crawdad Chronicles 29.02 - Disappointing Season in Big Easy>

There are a lot of GM that would commit murder (or at least give someone a very severe wedgie) for an 84-78 record right now. Not Jim Roberts. Eighty-four wins may as well be a last place finish for his mighty Crawdads.

Of course, it doesn't help when Pedro Canales gets injured and comes back a shadow of himself, or when you lose Miguel Datiz for most of the season. Eyechart Ramirez remembering how to pitch would go a long way towards righting the ship as well.

Even if those players rebound, the middle of the infield is pretty much a hole at this point for the 'Dads, and the bullpen looks shaky. Fortunately, there may be some help on the way as shortstop Reynaldo Ruiz looks about ready to join the big league club. Other youngsters who could make an impact include first baseman Juan Parra and starter (although he may be used in a relief role until he figures out his command issues) Freddy Delgado.


This is still an above average, powerful offense, with a good starting rotation, so fans in New Orleans can look forward to another winning season and a likely playoff berth.

Projection: 87-75


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<Logo> Phoenix Talons
<GM: Sean Marko>
<2029 Record 75-87, RS:654 RA:800, +9 pyth> <2030 Prediction 66-96>

<Finally new GM S. Marko walks out of the Men's restroom, rubbing the remnants of sanitizer into his hands as he steps up the the microphone stand, hastily assembled atop the Denny's waitress' hostess station. "Our job right now is to create buzz in Phoenix and the BBA. To show the league that we are serious about putting a legitimate team on the field and immediately fill the roster with recognizable names, as well as fill the stands with excited fans."

Post Subject: 2029-01 How do you build an Expansion team? Old superstars!>

This team would be a good deal better if it was playing in 2025. One year removed from expansion, GM Sean Marko is still relying heavily on some players who I hesitate to call geriatric, but only out of kindness. Many are holdovers from last year's expansion draft, guys like designated hitter Fulton Reed and shortstop Johnny Archer, but Marko doubled down on the decrepitness when he purchased the ghost of Manny Bautista's arm from Louisville for $1 and brought back Floyd Carter's corpse in free agency.

Poking fun aside, Phoenix seems to be making the best of a tough situation while waiting for the young guys to develop. The veteran stars should help keep fans coming to the stadium. There is talent in this minor league pipeline, even if none of it sees action this year.

Outside of Ssempa and Batkitski, the pitching staff is a bunch of old guys best suited to 3rd or 4th starter and middle relief roles. The offense is relying on Rupert Grant and Luis Baca to be dependable. Yikes. Hard to see Phoenix winning many games this year.

Projection: 66-96


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[jiminyhopkins]

Should have broken these up into four separate previews for more points!

[Dan]

Awesome work Ted

[udlb58]

Still hoping to sneak into the playoffs. I think we can get there with a bit of luck, but we don't have a lot of margin for error.