Season 19 Preview - AL North

Robusk boasts a solid veteran team that nearly went to the World Series last year, and should return again this year. The most delicious looking mascot in the league didn’t make many changes to the team, but considering the success it wasn’t needed. The Bones, however, are one injury away from losing major production. Rumors are circulating that they are in the market for a right handed starting pitcher.

SJPratts rebuild begins in Syracuse this year. The Chiefs had the 2^nd best FIP in the entire league but still allowed 4.23 runs per game. Syracuse also had the highest salary in all of MiLB, yet only pulled in the 6^th seed. So, it was time to blow it up and start remaking the team. The starting pitching staff is gone except Suzuki. And the team will suffer because of it.

Helop brought up pitching prospects Flier and Swindell to bolster the starting pitching staff. Only time will tell if it is too soon for either. Usually it takes pitching prospects a little more time and they don’t have the best make up. On offense, the Dogs feature a group full of OBP guys that play good defense. It’s a good strategy for a team playing in a pitchers park (why spend money on boppers when they can’t bop?). But I just don’t see this team taking a big enough step forward to make the playoffs.

Vegasbombers needed to add some offense to a team that only averaged 4.31 runs per game (good enough for 12^th) or add pitching to a team that had one of the worst FIPs (26^th) and allowed 752 runs (21^st). Since no changes were made on offense, the changes had to be made on the pitching staff. Two young starters are making their debut (Whitney and Thurman), and that might help a little bit. But, just like in division rival Portland, they may have been called upon too soon. Expect the Redhawks to have trouble flying this year.

Season 19 Preview - NL North

Wholck and his flock of Hens won their 3^rd division title last year, and did so with only a $45 million dollar player salary. The victory was short lived since the Muddy bastards got bounced in the first round. Boasting one of the better pitching staffs in the game last season it was easy to see why Wholck's guys led the league in FIP. Returning all five starters should ensure continued success despite having some turnover in their bullpen (nothing that hurts them).

Offensively, the team had a tough time scoring runs consistently. The Hens are mostly built on defense, and lost some production on the offensive side. With a higher salary ($76 million) it didn't happen this year. It could cost them the division.

The Monsters missed the playoffs by one game. Despite having a very high payroll, they didn’t get many wins per million spent (20^th) in the league. Definitely not your usual Pak led team. The consensuses from others in the league are that the Monsters are a force to be reckoned with. It’s not quite that chiseled in stone. They tried to improve their pitching by bolstering their bullpen, and going after starter Stan Palmer. Palmer is now down with an injury for most of the year. Outside of Palmer there are no upgrades, and the starting rotation is in shambles.

On offense, the team got a MAJOR upgrade in Chris Cummings. He is worth about 50 runs, even in a hitting depressant park. The rest of the group is still solid, but aging. The window is closing on this group, and it may have already closed due to the lack of pitching.

Mal made his move this year after barely missing out last year. The Bison traded some fairly weak pieces offensively, for a bumper crop of free agents. By gaining Ramirez, Calderone, Halter, and Cabeza the team picked up roughly 120 runs of production. The pitching staff took a minor hit in the process, but made up for it defensively. Without any reservation, the NL North can expect a stampede this season. And the best part is…no one saw them coming until now since everyone is still looking at the Monsters as the team to beat.

The Yankees (formerly the Cyclones) were left for dead at the end of the year. A new owner..check that BRAND NEW owner with no previous HBD experience takes over the team. I do have to say that usually the learning curve for new owners is very sharp.

But this is a team I am very impressed with. They spent money fairly wisely to upgrade their offense and pitching. Part of the learning curve is figuring out what works defensively, and there are a few places where a defensive upgrade could save the pitching staff. Overall, remarkable job by Brian to begin rebuilding the franchise.