So Season 5 marks the fourth season that the NL North has featured the same owners. Featuring a former World Series winner in Milwaukee, and defending division champion Scranton, it features to have some fierce competition.
Season 4 saw Scranton win the division for the first time with 95 wins, and Milwaukee finishing second with 92. Cleveland was in the hunt for a wild card berth up until about the 2nd to last week, and finished with 86 wins, 3 less than what they won the division with in season 3. Buffalo brought up the rear of the division for the second straight year, finishing with 76 wins.
Milwaukee ended up getting swept in 3 games by Huntington, now the Charleston Chiefs. Scranton faired better sweeping the aforementioned Chiefs in 3 games, but lost in seven games to the world series runner up Washington Revolution.
The North has alwas been a close division, having the division championship always being decided by 6 games or less, and always going down to the last week. The north also features 4 of the 8 lowest NL payrolls. Both Milwaukee and Scranton have maxed out draft budgets, but Milwaukee as decided to forgo the International Market for the 2nd straight season. Cleveland and Buffalo have decided to spread their scouting budget evenly across all 3 areas. All four teams also have maxed out, or have nearly maxed out advanced scouting. It sure appears that they are continually building for the future and trying to win now at the same time.Scranton SweetSwing’n AbbyMo’s
Scranton probably has the most unique team name of No Quitters II. Their success seems to rely on stellar defense, not walking a batter, and slugging the ball all over the place. The second youngest team in the North, with an average age of 26.7, they are ready to move on to the world series this year, returning all 25 players from their roster last year. Scranton’s roster features former number one pick Chuck Parker hitting third. In his second full year in the ML last year Parker hit .289, with 26HR, and 103RBI. They also feature Matt West behind the plate and hitting fourth. Matt is able to absolutely obliterate right handed pitching.
The AbbyMo's rotation is the best in the division, featuring the ace, Carson Redmond. Carson was a former 19 game winner in Tacoma, and arrived in Scranton last year as a free agent, signing a 3yr - $54 million contract. Dante Adkinsson, Antonio Wallace, and Matt Carver are all solid in the rotation, and would be welcomed on any team, with the exception of possibly Tacoma. Don Martin leaves a little to be desired in the 5th spot, ratings wise, but has performed very successfully the last two years, combining for a total of 27 wins.Opening Day Lineup
C: Matt West
1B: Trevor Duvall
2B: Tim Gonzales
3B: Ramon Yang
SS: Charlie Lorraine
LF: Luis Silva
CF: Rod Freeman
C: Matt West
1B: Trevor Duvall
2B: Tim Gonzales
3B: Ramon Yang
SS: Charlie Lorraine
LF: Luis Silva
CF: Rod Freeman
RF: Chuck Parker
Rotation
Carson Redmond
Dante Atkinson
Antonio Wallace
Matt Carver
Don Martin
Closer
Douglas Dawkins
Notable Signings: NoneRotation
Carson Redmond
Dante Atkinson
Antonio Wallace
Matt Carver
Don Martin
Closer
Douglas Dawkins
Notable Departures: None
Prediction: Division Championship - Possibly 1st Round Bye
Milwaukee Timber Rattlers
The Timber Rattlers are making the transition of perennial division champs to rebuilding for the future. Having been "obliterated" by free agency this year, they are sticking to a budget and not going to go over. The team still has former MVP Quinn Morgan batting cleanup, and former CY Young winner Ismael Torres leading its rotation. Ted Alexander made a successful debut as the Timber Rattler's closer, winning the NL Fireman of the Year award and seeting the club record with 43 saves.
Milwaukee also features the fastest NL starting lineup according to the franchise rankings. Opposing catchers are going to be challenged keeping them from stealing bases as every position, with the exception of C and RF, features a guy with a speed rating over 75. The bench also features two guys who can come in and go from first to third faster than you can say "Rickey Henderson."
Milwaukee also features the fastest NL starting lineup according to the franchise rankings. Opposing catchers are going to be challenged keeping them from stealing bases as every position, with the exception of C and RF, features a guy with a speed rating over 75. The bench also features two guys who can come in and go from first to third faster than you can say "Rickey Henderson."
Opening Day Lineup
C: Luis Oropesa
1B: Quinn Morgan
2B: Cody Relaford
3B: Rob Beirne
SS: Eduardo Rosado
LF: Raymond Lombardi
CF: Ismael Reyes
RF: Preston Burkhart
Rotation
Ismael Torres
Hugh Luebbers
Orber Gutierrez
Bill King
Victor Encarnacion
Closer
Ted Alexander
C: Luis Oropesa
1B: Quinn Morgan
2B: Cody Relaford
3B: Rob Beirne
SS: Eduardo Rosado
LF: Raymond Lombardi
CF: Ismael Reyes
RF: Preston Burkhart
Rotation
Ismael Torres
Hugh Luebbers
Orber Gutierrez
Bill King
Victor Encarnacion
Closer
Ted Alexander
Notable Departures: Ramiro Montanez, Darrin Burns, Olmedo Colon, Thomas Berra, Stephen Weaver, and Rafael Castillo
Notable Arrivals: Cody Relaford, and Preston Burkhart
Prediction: 2nd Place in the North. Possible Wild Card contender.
The Cuyahogas also feature 4 time all-star and 4 time silver slugger Delino Martinez. Sporting a career 179 HR and 544 RBI's, Delino is one of today's premier shortstops. Look for him to try and continue his streak of consecutive all star appearances this season as well. Cleveland's starting lineup also features a number of speedsters, featuring five guys with a rating in the 80's. It sure appears that NL North catchers are going to have their hands full trying to stop runners this season.
Prediction: 2nd Place in the North. Possible Wild Card contender.
Cleveland Cuyahogas
Cleveland is another interesting franchise in that they won the division in Season 3, and have always finished above .500, but appear to also be making a transition to rebuilding. Hector Unamuno was the big free agent signing of this past off-season. Leaving Cleveland and signing with the Washington D.C. Revolution for a reported 5y - $59 million deal. It goes without saying that Hector holds every club pitching record. For Cleveland to try and compete in the division following Hector's departure they are going to need Jeff Gload to try and live up to his billing as a "Baseball America" top 100 prospect. They will also have to rely on quality starts from James Shave and Pablo Sanchez.
Cleveland is another interesting franchise in that they won the division in Season 3, and have always finished above .500, but appear to also be making a transition to rebuilding. Hector Unamuno was the big free agent signing of this past off-season. Leaving Cleveland and signing with the Washington D.C. Revolution for a reported 5y - $59 million deal. It goes without saying that Hector holds every club pitching record. For Cleveland to try and compete in the division following Hector's departure they are going to need Jeff Gload to try and live up to his billing as a "Baseball America" top 100 prospect. They will also have to rely on quality starts from James Shave and Pablo Sanchez.The Cuyahogas also feature 4 time all-star and 4 time silver slugger Delino Martinez. Sporting a career 179 HR and 544 RBI's, Delino is one of today's premier shortstops. Look for him to try and continue his streak of consecutive all star appearances this season as well. Cleveland's starting lineup also features a number of speedsters, featuring five guys with a rating in the 80's. It sure appears that NL North catchers are going to have their hands full trying to stop runners this season.
Opening Day Lineup
C: Anthony Swann
1B: O.T. Wagner
2B: Geraldo Chavez
3B: Brian Tomko
SS: Delino Martinez
LF: Aubrey Goldman
CF: Gary Crosby
RF: Placido Ordonez
Rotation
Jeff Gload
James Shave
Pablo Sanchez
Dennis Mercker
Lonnie Garcia
Closer
Ted Crede
C: Anthony Swann
1B: O.T. Wagner
2B: Geraldo Chavez
3B: Brian Tomko
SS: Delino Martinez
LF: Aubrey Goldman
CF: Gary Crosby
RF: Placido Ordonez
Rotation
Jeff Gload
James Shave
Pablo Sanchez
Dennis Mercker
Lonnie Garcia
Closer
Ted Crede
Notable Departures: Hector Unamuno, Chili Wang, and John Dong
Noteable Arrivals: None
Prediction: Third place in the division. Hovering around .500 with a possible top 16 draft pick next season.
Noteable Arrivals: None
Prediction: Third place in the division. Hovering around .500 with a possible top 16 draft pick next season.
Buffalo Wings
Last but not least we come to the Buffalo Wings. After placing second in the division in Season 2, and having their pitching get decimated at the beginning of Season 3, they have been struggling to get back in contention ever since. Bufallo is also in a transition of sorts, having used to be one of the oldest, they are no one of the 4th youngest in the NL. They are not far off however, having placed 5 players on "Baseball America's" Top 100 list this year, with three of those coming in the top 20.
The Wings' rotation leaves a little something to be desired as they don't have an "ace," as they feature 3 starters with a control rating below 55, and only one above 80. The closer's role has been held firmly by Juan Perez since he was 21 year old rookie, but saves have been becoming scarce the past two seasons.
Look for Buffalo to try and rely on their hitting to overcome their deficiencies in pitching this season, but even this is going to have its own troubles. It appears that Brendan Green, Jon Peterson, and Brutus Fleming are going to have their hands full this season. For Buffalo to have any chance of competing those 3 are going to have to play at an all star level.
Last but not least we come to the Buffalo Wings. After placing second in the division in Season 2, and having their pitching get decimated at the beginning of Season 3, they have been struggling to get back in contention ever since. Bufallo is also in a transition of sorts, having used to be one of the oldest, they are no one of the 4th youngest in the NL. They are not far off however, having placed 5 players on "Baseball America's" Top 100 list this year, with three of those coming in the top 20.
The Wings' rotation leaves a little something to be desired as they don't have an "ace," as they feature 3 starters with a control rating below 55, and only one above 80. The closer's role has been held firmly by Juan Perez since he was 21 year old rookie, but saves have been becoming scarce the past two seasons.
Look for Buffalo to try and rely on their hitting to overcome their deficiencies in pitching this season, but even this is going to have its own troubles. It appears that Brendan Green, Jon Peterson, and Brutus Fleming are going to have their hands full this season. For Buffalo to have any chance of competing those 3 are going to have to play at an all star level.
Opening Day Lineup
C: Hamish Lemke
1B: Brutus Fleming
2B: Jon Peterson
3B: Quilvio Encarnacion
SS: Brenden Green
LF: Darren Sele
CF: Mitch Redmond
RF: Homer Knoblauch
Rotation
Nash Blank
Jacob Yoshii
Justin Diaz
Sherm Robinson
Elroy Aven
Closer
Juan Perez
C: Hamish Lemke
1B: Brutus Fleming
2B: Jon Peterson
3B: Quilvio Encarnacion
SS: Brenden Green
LF: Darren Sele
CF: Mitch Redmond
RF: Homer Knoblauch
Rotation
Nash Blank
Jacob Yoshii
Justin Diaz
Sherm Robinson
Elroy Aven
Closer
Juan Perez
Notable Departures: William Takahashi, Bill Kozlowski, Lawrence Fetters, Michael Lee, B.C. Saenz, Bobby Dunham, and William Tanner
Notable Arrivals: Hamish Lemke, Homer Knoblauch, Brutus Fleming, Benji Fernandez, and Nash Blank.
Prediction: Last in the division. Top 16 draft pick next season, possibly top 10.
Notable Arrivals: Hamish Lemke, Homer Knoblauch, Brutus Fleming, Benji Fernandez, and Nash Blank.
Prediction: Last in the division. Top 16 draft pick next season, possibly top 10.
All NL North
C: Matt West - Scranton
1B: Trevor Duvall - Scranton
2B: Jon Peterson - Buffalo
3B: Brian Tomko - Cleveland
SS: Delino Martinez - Cleveland
LF: Luis Silva - Scranton
CF: Gary Crosby - Cleveland
RF: Chuck Parker - Scranton
Rotation
Carson Redmond - Scranton
Ismael Torres - Milwaukee
Matt Carver - Scranton
Antonio Wallace - Scranton
Dante Atkinson - Scranton
Closer
Ted Alexander - Milwaukee
All Defensive NL North
C: Anthony Swan - Cleveland
1B: Trevor Duvall - Scranton
2B: Jon Peterson - Buffalo
3B: Ramon Yang - Scranton
SS: Eduardo Rosado - Milwaukee
LF: Luis Silva - Scranton
CF: Mitch Redmond - Buffalo
RF: Preston Burkhart - Milwaukee
C: Matt West - Scranton
1B: Trevor Duvall - Scranton
2B: Jon Peterson - Buffalo
3B: Brian Tomko - Cleveland
SS: Delino Martinez - Cleveland
LF: Luis Silva - Scranton
CF: Gary Crosby - Cleveland
RF: Chuck Parker - Scranton
Rotation
Carson Redmond - Scranton
Ismael Torres - Milwaukee
Matt Carver - Scranton
Antonio Wallace - Scranton
Dante Atkinson - Scranton
Closer
Ted Alexander - Milwaukee
All Defensive NL North
C: Anthony Swan - Cleveland
1B: Trevor Duvall - Scranton
2B: Jon Peterson - Buffalo
3B: Ramon Yang - Scranton
SS: Eduardo Rosado - Milwaukee
LF: Luis Silva - Scranton
CF: Mitch Redmond - Buffalo
RF: Preston Burkhart - Milwaukee
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