The Rocky Report: Part I

Part I: Playing for next year
By Rocky Pagnotta

I know I promised a story a little ways back on the all time worst franchise in the CWFLB (it was Sal, and the Blunted) but never got around to doing it. To make up for that I will do a 3 part story on what is shaping up to be the most competitive season in the history of the league. This season sees 9 of the 12 teams with realistic dreams of claiming 1 of the 6 spots come the post season. Along with the regulars like the Stars, DLB, and Topes, are some newcomers the Blunted and Satanists, throw in the hard charging Mob along with a resurgent Kitchen and you have the recipe for meaningful games in the dog days of summer.

Part 1: Playing for next year, and the year after that, and the year after that…….

The T-Baggers. 4-11 with a power ranking of 7. Of the 3 bottom feeders only the Baggers can claim this year to be better than the last. Despite a roster so young that as of today it has more reserve spots being used by true Minor leaguers than big league reserves, they are competitive. The baggers have already equaled last season’s win total and with the other 4 teams in the division fighting for playoff spots, the Baggers have a chance to be heard from down the stretch. For the first time in a long time there is hope in Bagger land that respectability is truly just a season away.

The Norris Slum Lords 5-10 with a power ranking of 6.5. The Lords fall from grace has been swift and punishing. Many reasons abound as to why this franchise has slid from playoff contender to bottom status, bad deals, bad karma, anti-Semitism and the list goes on, but maybe there is cause for hope here too. A week 15 win over the hated Mattrostars, some young SP’s in the fold, and a little restraint shown in not accepting every deal that is offered, have the Lords thinking ’09 is the year they can proclaim “Zeig Heil, Zeig Heil, how ya like me now”.

AC’s Gun Show 5-10 with a power ranking of 6.5. What can be said about this franchise? Rumors that AC himself wants out, leaving just the disgruntled and misled John Breig to carry the weight. Fewest points in the league, oldest average age of any roster in the league, pick up the has been's and cast offs of every legit and some not so legit teams in the league, trading away of future stars for minimal upgrades and flat out downgrades. If not for the expansion franchise tag this may have been the worst team in league history, and 2 years from now will probably own that title outright. They screwed up the draft spent 2 years trying to fox it, then screwed up the fix. The only bright side is………….Chase Utley is handsome in a hat.