NL West Preview

The NL West is the home of the dominant Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Salt Lake City and the rest of the league struggles to keep up with the Sox, and someday someone might catch them in the division.



Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Last year: 90-72
RS 712, RA 586, 19-11 division
Key Losses: Javy Castro (trade - SXF), Michael Stanley (FA - Louis), Pat Nomura (released), Raul Rodriguez (FA - KC), Rube Lewis (traded - Roc)
Key Additions: Angel Gordon (FA - NOR), Edgar Martin (trade - SXF), Everett Ward (promoted), Gio Gutierrez (rule 5 - SLC), Hughie Gibbons (trade - Paw),
Outlook: History says, don't bet against the Sky Sox. They have won the West five of seven years, went on to win the LCS in five of those years, and won two world series titles. Pitching and defense is the key to success and the formula hasn't changed.
Prediction: 94-68, Division Winner



Salt Lake City Bees
Last year: 90-72
RS 812, RA 703, 17-13 division
Key Losses: Desi Cedeno (FA - Indy), Scott Brown (FA - Roc)
Key Additions: none
Outlook: Bleak. It appears at the time of this writing that the owner has abandoned the team. Jose Lima, William Baek, and Matty LaFromboise should spark the team no matter who is running it. They should still score over 800 runs, and allow a little more than last year.
Prediction: 83-79, 3rd division


Las Vegas 51's
Last year: 82-80
RS 708, RA 713, 13-17 division
Key Losses: Jason Jennings (FA - Buf), Trenidad Rivera (FA - Rich)
Key Additions: Alex Carrasco (FA - Fresno), Hack Halter (FA - Indy), Yeico Guzman (FA - Boise)
Outlook: Anytime a team improves their pitching and defense without losing offense they usually improve. Should be enough to compete for a playoff spot if they can score more runs.
Prediction: 84-78, 2nd in division


Vancouver Canadians
Last year: 57-105
RS 690, RA 883, 11-19 division
Key Losses: Hipolito Mota (FA), Jaime Wells (FA), Jeremy Ratliff (FA), Lyle Mays (traded - Port), PT Blair (FA), Pat Putnam (traded NOR)
Key Additions: Jason Cameron (promoted), Leo Fontenot (promoted), Max James (rule 5- SLC), Pedro Martinez (FA - NO)
Outlook: The team with the worst pitching staff in the NL didn't improve. It looks like Vancouver is still waiting on the rookies to trickle up with Cameron and Fontenot coming up this season.
Prediction: 55-107, Last in division

NL South Preview

This could be the year that the South rises again. In the early days of the MiLB the division consistently had two teams in the playoffs. Last year, Little Rock rose to the top in season 13 and has won the division for three straight years. Oak City (now Memphis) has been three games back the last two years with New Orleans and Iowa City (now San Antonio) falling further behind in their efforts to rebuild.


Little Rock Travelers
Last year: 90-72
RS 702, RA 674, 20-10 division
Key Losses: Ben Hanson (FA - Charl)
Key Additions: Matty Adams (FA - Trenton), Patrick Rueter (FA - Rich), Vic Marrero (promoted), Vic Villa (FA - SWB), BC Morris (promoted)
Outlook: Can't argue with success. The Travelers have a solid defense and pitching staff. The addition of Villa might help the offense more than anyone thinks. However, will it be enough to repeat in a divison that suddenly got better over night?
Prediction: 85-77, 2nd in Division


Memphis RedBirds
Last year: 87-75
RS 703, RA 693, 16-14 division
Key Losses: Beamer Towers (FA -Norf), Grant Smith (FA - Indy), Mac Hong (traded - Norf), Marvin Gagne (FA)
Key Additions: Doug Parrish (FA - Rich), Yamil Cueto (FA - Boi), Steve Bradley (FA)
Outlook: A lot of young players just got a whole lot better in Memphis. Hal Fowler is really the wildcard for the team after he missed half of last season with a foot injury. Last years big signing, Tomas Rios, hope to have a better season. Rios hit 40 homeruns, but only had a slash line of .276/.334/.516 for an OPS of .850. 24 year old David Romero could be a 30-30 guy this year and should OPS over .900 to improve on last years slash of .257/.363/.442.
Prediction: 90-72, Division Winner


New Orleans Zephyrs
Last year: 73-89
RS 683, RA 743, 12-18 division
Key Losses: Hipolito Vazquez (FA), Pedro Martinez (released - Van), Stephen Camilli (released - Boise)
Key Additions: ?
Outlook: It doesn't appear that New Orleans did anything in the offseason. Looks can be deceiving. Total player payroll is a measly $29 million (with 65 budgeted). The Zephyrs are quietly amassing a minor league system that will return them to prominence and keep them their for a very long time. Don't count on them being able to compete in a suddenly strong division.
Prediction: 62-100, last in division


San Antonio Missions
Last year: 68-94
RS 651, RA 808, 12-18 division
Key Losses: Benito Cruz (FA), Carlton Easley (FA), Edge Cloud (FA), Hugh Clyburn (FA), Nicholas Coco (released), Nigel Becker (released)
Key Additions: Craig Bowen (trade - Paw), Germany Jones (trade - Paw), Karim Baerga (FA - Omaha), Sammy Beckwith (FA - New Brit), Shea DeHart (promoted), Tomas Maduro (trade - Port)
Outlook: The Cubs said "Screw waiting til next year, we're moving and getting out from under this rain cloud of rebuilding." The offense that has been historically weak is suddenly a juggernaut with the addition of Bowen and Jones. The maturation of Gleason, Buckley, Holdridge, and Garrido gives the Missions six of eight position players that should OPS well over .800 and improve on their measly 651 runs scored from last year. Expect them to score over 800 runs. From there it is all in the hands of the pitching. It still isn't great, and the defense is still suspect, but they should reach beyond .500 for the first time since season six. It should also be noted they did win the division in season 10 with a LOSING record.
Prediction: 84-78, 3rd in division