AL East

[Slyder]

Please disregard that first one I forgot that Philadelphia had been moved.

Here is the official AL East preseason whos gonna win thread.

The records are how the team did W-L wise last year.

[SteroidFREEbaseball]

I think I, Boston Red Sox are going to win. And Ill show you why

Line-up vs RHP w/DH
1) CF, Joey Gathright (L)
2) RF, Xavier Nady (R)
3) 3B, Connor Jackson (R)
4) DH, Jack Cust (L)
5) 1B, Mike Jacobs (L)
6) 2B, Todd Walker (L)
7) LF, Nelson Cruz (R)
8) C, Justin Huber (R)
9) SS, Aaron Boone (R)

Line-up vs LHP w/DH
1) CF, Joey Gathright (L)
2) RF, Xavier Nady (R)
3) 3B, Connor Jackson (R)
4) DH, Jack Cust (L)
5) LF, Nelson Cruz (R)
6) 1B, Mike Jacobs (L)
7) C, Justin Huber (R)
8) 2B, Todd Walker (L)
9) SS, Aaron Boone (R)

Bench
1) C, Jorge Posada (S)
2) 1B, Jared Sandberg (R)
3) SS, Ray Olmedo (S)
4) RF, Reed Johnson (R)

Pitching Staff

Rotation
1) SP, Freddy Garcia (R)
2) SP, Scott Kazmir (L)
3) SP, Dewon Brazelton (R)
4) SP, David Cone (R)
5) SP, Evan Miller (R)

Spot Starter
SP, David Bush (R)

Mop-up
1) SP, David Bush (R)
2) SP, Scott Elarton (R)

Middle Reliever
1) RP, Matt Capps (R)
2) RP, Todd Wellemeyer (R)
3) SP, David Bush (R)
4) SP, Scott Elarton (R)

Set-up
1) RP, David Riske (R)
2) RP, Jorge de la Rosa (L)

Closer
1) CL, Jason Isringhausen (R)



My team is totally different from last season. We have pitching 1-5 and they all are top guys. Plus we have a young powerful offence that should begin to do some damage in there 2nd season and 1st full season. We have the young 3 O in there Jackson, Jacobs and Cruz who should start hitting some over along with their Clean-up guys and team leader last season with 21 HR jack Cust. And with then X Nady should hit a few and hit a good average in the #2 hole and rookie Justin Huber has some pop too. Huber will start of slow i believe but will get use to the MLB level and begin to do some damage. We are hoping Joey hits like.290 and puts those legs to use. Our Bullpen is good i guess. That was a big problem last season. But I think i fixed it well. The only guy returning for the last years Pen is Jorge de la Rosa. Otherwise it is new. We moved our 2 good SP from last year, Bush an Elarton to the Bullpen and brought in Capps, Riske, and Isringhausen to be the big 3. We also brought up the talented Todd Wellemeyer from AAA and hope he does well. We are going to try and get 1 more guys to take Elarton spot because he is our main worry. We have 2 guys in mind that our great and trying to work out a deal now. We have 2 guys in the minors if we need them. CL, Ian Snell and RP, Jake Woods. These guys are real close to ready. You guys should expect a complete turn around from last season. And dont be suprise to see us on top. We will be in it to the end hopefully. And to remind you we still have one of the top Minor league systems and we have the 1st pick in the draft. We have now and future. Lets go Red Sox!!!

[Kingdom]

I don't think I've ever seen Mission lose in a sim since I joined this site, and that spans three sims, technically four if you count the last SBSL.

[CrazyEights]

Yeah...Mission makes it tough for anybody else to win. He always has my vote... no matter how tough the division is. He probably would have went to the Series last year if I didn't screw up.

[Raphictor]

The division is pretty much mine. I just don't see how people can compete with Gooden, Cain, McCarthy, Pedro, and that foreigner. That, plus a solid bullpen and an offense that is fully loaded with fully developed top prospect talent will make it nearly impossible to defeat the Cyclones.

[CrazyEights]

This division could compete with the NL Central for toughest division to win. The Wild Card WILL come out of this division, but that isn't anything new. Philly and Savannah have dominated this division since the league began.

[Slyder]

The division is pretty much mine. I just don't see how people can compete with Gooden, Cain, McCarthy, Pedro, and that foreigner. That, plus a solid bullpen and an offense that is fully loaded with fully developed top prospect talent will make it nearly impossible to defeat the Cyclones.

Usually it takes a year or two for the spects to get their legs under them in the majors.

Want an example?
Alex Morabito
2013 .274 ba/.330 obp/.414 slug (132 games played & got hot late or else it been closer to .240/.310/.370)
2014 .311 ba/ .371 obp/ .560 slug (slightly over 100 games played)

Want an example of a classic underacheiver?
Frank Collum
http://www.strike3sim.com/League/p177.html

Reason i didnt use this league is there hasnt been enough time to really judge. So I wouldnt expect those spects to just come out like world beaters just because they are highly rated.

[Raphictor]

I brought them up last season to help get their feet wet and they exploded. I don't expect many shortcomings from anyone, but even with a few bumps, I can back them up with someone else.

[Slyder]

The division is pretty much mine. I just don't see how people can compete with Gooden, Cain, McCarthy, Pedro, and that foreigner. That, plus a solid bullpen and an offense that is fully loaded with fully developed top prospect talent will make it nearly impossible to defeat the Cyclones.

Want an impartial opinion?

Catcher- Really weak
1b- Really Weak, unless you plan on playing Boggs there. Unless you rush Joyner
Up the middle youre probably as solid as anyone. But again youth COULD hurt you there as they take some major lumps in growing pains (See previous post).
3b- LaRouche is one of your few true power hitters who should be effective.
OF- Beyond Smitherman and Boggs you dont have much DEVELOPED RIGHT NOW.
Bench- is nearly non existant of bats that should provide more than .270 batting average.

Rotation- Yes its really good, by far your strongest aspect on the team.
Bullpen- Its good but I would be worried about weakness in control and movement, may or may not hurt you but if they are wild you are asking for trouble.

Much better results this year but if a team is patient and gets deep into that pen games not over. Plus you will likely have trouble scoring runs as I see at least 3 places in your lineup as near automatic outs.

[CrazyEights]

Slyder,

I usually agree with you on spects, but check out Matt Cain for example. He was underdeveloped when the season started, and I thought it was a mistake to bring him up to the Majors, but he developed close to his potential already. He had a decent year last year... so he should be even better this year.

[Kingdom]

Yeah...Mission makes it tough for anybody else to win. He always has my vote... no matter how tough the division is. He probably would have went to the Series last year if I didn't screw up.

It was destiny. If he played on, Zambrano would have had a career ending injury, ruining Savannah for years to come (cause Peavy would suffer from Zach Grienke Emotional Disorder and retire). So now, Savannah is primed for a dynasty.

[CrazyEights]

BTW...I didn't look at all of his spects when I made that statement...mostly the pitching. lol

[Slyder]

Slyder,

I usually agree with you on spects, but check out Matt Cain for example. He was underdeveloped when the season started, and I thought it was a mistake to bring him up to the Majors, but he developed close to his potential already. He had a decent year last year... so he should be even better this year.

His time will come, just not quite yet. I still see holes in the lineup and defensively that could hurt. 2nd place is not out of the question, I just dont think Mission will be beat THIS YEAR. And yes I have experience working with really rearlly young teams in sim leagues. Just look at S3SL Minnesota Twins I took 3 yrs rebuilding the whole thing to just now get in a position to where I am in the wild card hunt.

And unseen situations (injuries) could turn any team from playoff caliber to junk, just look what happened with SD. But this is why I wanted to do these :-D.

[SteroidFREEbaseball]

i got 2 votes besides myself that is sick just wait till i finish all my dealing. I have most likely 2 great rp coming my way and maybe a deal with my 1st rounder

[DiamondDave]

You still have a handicap with Mission against ya in that division