The Brahma Bull isn't picking against Manny & the Zogs this year.
By Rocky Pagnotta
The 2009 CWFLB season is finally set to start. It has been another dramatic off-season for the league between all the rule changes, team re-locations and of course expansion, it is safe to say that the league has officially entered into a new era. With so much off-season chatter, trades, ripping and boasting one might wonder if a preview is necessary, but with 12 days til the season starts what else is there to do? So here it is a divisional breakdown of the 2009 teams and their respective chances coming in. This is harder than I thought it would be, parity the likes we have never seen has hit the league and I honestly feel 10 teams have a chance to make the playoffs and lucky breaks will decide the final two spots.
Mookie Wilson Sucks Division
The X-factor
The H Tree, Owner Peter English
"Sweet Pete English," younger brother of two-time champ Scott English is set to make a name for himself in the senior circuit of fantasy leagues now. There are a couple different routes an owner can take when entering an expansion draft and Pete definitely had a plan. Loading up on young players who were once top prospects and are now major league players seems to me to be the way Pete went. Names like Howie Kendrick, Brandon Wood and Chris Volstad seem like they have been around forever but all players are still under 26 (some by quite a few years) and may be primed to fulfill their once promising expectations. Throw in Jason Bay and Nate McClouth and the foundation is certainly there to build on. In the end this team will be judged mainly on how it does against the other expansion franchise and while the Snapdragons may win the battle of year one, The H Tree seem intent on taking the war. This team has a solid base of young talent and a couple high value trade commodities to possibly cash in on come the trade deadline. I like the long term outlook of the franchise but expect it to get out to a tough start. Projected 2009 record: 5-17
New Year, New Hope! Same Result?
Norris Slum Lords, Owner Carlo Cognata
The Lords start this season much like they have started every other one. A couple of big name off-season trades, a promising group of youngins set to make their stamp as elite players, and a shaky pitching staff. Having added names like Edinson Volquez and Franky Rodriguez to the staff certainly helps. The Lords are intent on making the leap from almost making the playoffs to actually making them, and on paper this looks like their best shot. Iannetta, Fielder, Pedroia, Holliday -- these are big time names to start on offense. If Volquez, Jiminez and Weaver can anchor the starting staff, K-Rod and Marmol will certainly take care of the back end. I like this team and feel this is the year the Lords fans will finally see post-season baseball, just don't expect to get the leaky faucet fixed. Projected 2009 record: 12-10, #6 seed in the playoffs.
Football camp starts soon
The E-Balls, Owner George Pastino
Coming off another fantasy football title, the 'Balls baseball fans are starting to get restless. One playoff appearance for the stick and ballers isn't gonna cut it against their pigskin brethren. Does the owner favor his men in tights as much as he appears to? The answer has to be yes. If you are a Yankee, chances are you will one day end up playing for the 'Balls, this years case in point is none other than the "Captain" himself, Derek Jeter. Gone from the locker room is the hot-dogging, fantasy point-producing Jose Reyes and in walks in the calming and average number at best-producing Jeter. Also in that trade were Matt Cain and Matt Garza; some much needed pitching depth, but will it be enough? Sorry to say, I don't think so. This team could get hot and flirt with the playoffs but the overall mix just isn't there. Don't worry though, George, football camp will be here before we know it. Projected 2009 record: 8-14.
Quantum Leaping?
Bashful Satanists, Owner Gregory Heck
No longer considered an expansion team, it is time for the Satanists to take the next step and actually make the playoffs. From their first year of existence this team has flirted with the post-season but has never actually crossed the threshold. No visible weaknesses on this team is a plus, a solid pitching staff, productive hitters, above average middle infielders, so what's missing? Nowhere was the word elite mentioned on this team and that is their downfall. Rollins is a great SS, but his shoulders are not broad enough to carry the team to the playoffs. In the end this team is average and while that will make you a tough match up week in week out, it will not make you a playoff team, it will just make you the best team to not make the playoffs yet again. Projected 2009 record: 11-11
Sophomore slides?
Limerick Lynchmob, Owner Jeff Wickersham
Much has been said recently about the return of the Lynchmob to their once perennial playoff spot, but can they live up to the hype? This team made it through expansion with all of its offensive talent in place. They reloaded their starting pitching depth and look poised to make a run. Soto, Votto, Sizemore, Pence, Verlander, Peavy -- the names are big and the numbers should be, so why don't I love this team? I am seeing sophomore slides and regression on some of the big names. Peavy has looked shaky at best in the WBC and what type of pitcher is Verlander? Don't get me wrong, I could very well be misguided and the 'Lords management could screw up the season and this team makes the playoffs, but for the purpose of this preview, and the way I see it on 3-24-09 the 'Mob will be staying home one more off-season. Projected 2009 record: 10-12
Cream of the Crop?
Hells Kitchen Herzogs, Owner Andrew Cooper
Is this team really cream of the crop material? I don't know. What I do know is that I am done picking against them. Every year I do, and somehow Cooper manages to pull everything together and make a run. Last year's run took him all the way to his first ever CWFLB title and the team is back. Breaking down the ins and outs of this team is pointless in the sense that we have done it at least five times already this off season, so we know the players, we know who underperformed (V-Mart) and who overperformed (Cliff Lee). This team could get out to it's customary 0-4 start and not recover, leaving the door open for the Mob to walk back into the playoffs, but history tells me they will respond. As an outspoken owner, Cooper takes and gives his share of grief but one thing is for sure every year the 'Zogs will make a run and as an owner you will look at his lineup and wonder how in the hell they were able to win one game let alone 13. Projected 2009 record: 12-10 #4 seed in playoffs
Back to the pack?
Daddy's Little Boys, Owner Scott English
No more Sexy Time, no more Big Papi, no more Nathan -- these aren't your Daddy's Daddy's. No team has undergone a bigger overhaul than the DLB, and while there is still elite talent scattered across the roster it certainly does not look as imposing as it once did. Billingsley and newbie Cueto will certainly have to perform behind Santana in order to keep Daddy in his lofty perch. The room for error became drastically smaller, but with one eye on the future and one eye on the job at hand, the DLB should be able to hold off the wolves for one more year. An injury or two to the offensive talent on this team could lead to trouble, but with a stable of pitchers and a shrewd GM, disaster will be averted. Look for the DLB to come back to the pack slightly but still remain on top. Projected 2009 record: 14-8, #1 or 2 seed in playoffs.
No comments:
Post a Comment