Manama Pearls
TOP RETURNING HITTER: OF Sadahara Oh III(.363/.438/.680/1.118, 7.6 WAR, 144 RS, 142 RBI)
TOP RETURNING PITCHER: SP Johan Trajka(17-7, 3.66 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 4.5 WAR)
TOP NEWCOMER: P Vladimir Reichel from Istanbul(13-5-1, 4.29, 2.4 WAR)
OSA has the Pearls winning a UMEBA best 93 games in 2044. Oh and Josh Koka are one of the best hitting duos in the entire UMEBA and they have the makings of a very good starting rotation with Trajka, Maxim Makin(15 wins in 2044), and Rule 5 pickup Thomas Rodriguez.
Baghdad Kings
TOP RETURNING HITTER: 1B Raul Hernandez(.313/.374/.629/1.003, 5.2 WAR, 63 HR, 173 RBI, 127 RS)
TOP RETURNING PITCHER: Lenny Peron(12-6, 4.67 ERA 1,22 WHIP, 3.2 WAR as a Rookie)
TOP NEWCOMER: P Bert Hackworth from Istanbul(16-9, 4.33 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 2.9 WAR only 22 years old)
With Peron, Hackworth, and Ian Lusso the Kings could have a very young, very good starting rotation to last for ages. Lusso did not pitch up to his potential last season but if he finally does then watch out. He's not great in the locker room so on a team with no real leadership he could be a problem before the year is over. The lineup will remain close to the same as we saw last year.
Beirut Cedars
TOP RETURNING HITTER: 1B/DH Joe Estrada(.294/.357/.545/.901, 2.9 WAR, 67 XBH, 113 RS, 126 RBI)
TOP RETURNING PITCHER: SP Carlos Rodriquez(14-8, 4.08 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 2.9 WAR)
TOP NEWCOMER: OF Weaver Ripley from Kuwait City(.277/.370/.533/.903, 45 HR, 117 RS, 133 RBI, 218 K, 5.0 WAR)
The Cedars are expected to fight for the Burt Wildcard. They had a very good expansion draft getting not only Ripley but Kuwait City closer Wayne Mawle and Cairo closer Fernando Delgado. Ripley will certainly help the lineup with his power potential and his willingness to take a walk. He will also strike out a lot as he did 218 time in 2043.
Jerusalem Hebrew Hammers
TOP RETURNING HITTER: C Baden Dutton(.326/.373/.549/.922, 4.1 WAR, 61 XBH, 83 RS, 84 RBI, 133 games)
TOP RETURNING PITCHER: SP Jose Villarreal(11-10, 4.11 ERA, 0.7 HR/9, 4.7 WAR)
TOP NEWCOMER: 1B/DH Adam Backhouse from Istanbul(.331/.344/.588/.932, 46 HR, 151 RBI, 99 RS, 226 hits, 3.0 WAR)
When three of four teams are predicted to be over .500 in a league then someone has to be the whipping boy. In the Burt for 2044 that team would be the Hammers. Hitting is not predicted to be the problem. Adding Backhouse and IF Nur al Din Kodwo to Dutton and Leonardo Martinez makes for a pretty good lineup despite the fact that Backhouse is allergic to bases on balls. The 22 year old likes to swing the bat which is obvious when you look at his 11 unintentional walks last season in 700 plate appearances. The pitching will be a big problem in Jerusalem as Villarreal will be counted on to carry the team.
