Post by Kansas Cyclones on Feb 14, 2014 16:51:37 GMT -6
I got a fantasy baseball subscription on a website this year and one of the features is you can input your leagues rosters into it and it will spit out your league's projected standings based off of their player projections. I ran with these projections and tweaked them slightly based off of depth, quality of owner, etc. and decided to write a brief summary of my own predictions. If I picked you to suck don't take it personal, it's all in good fun.
1. Tightwad Turtles (18-4)
Best Hitter: Mike Trout, OF
Best Pitcher: Chris Sale, SP
Best Categories: HR, Whip, K's, Saves
Worst Categories: SB and ERA
Overview: No surprise here, the Turtles will be the favorite to win the BDLP for the 3rd straight year. The only problem is, they have been upset in the 1st round of the playoffs in each of the last two years. Manager Tyler B. has the most career wins in the league but is 0-2 in the playoffs. Could this year be different? There is no doubt that the Turtles are the most talented and balanced team in the league. On offense they are led by Mike Trout, Carlos Gonzalez, and Robinson Cano. Chris Sale is projected to be the ace of the pitching staff, but guys like Mike Minor and Anibal Sanchez will compete for the top pitcher on the team.
Prediction: The Tightwad Turtles will finish the season with a 19-3 record and will finally win their division and will win the BDLP Championship.
UPDATE: I'm downgrading Turtles 1 win but they should still be the favorites to win the league. How ever injuries have to be a concern for Turtles. Aroldis Chapman was hit by a line drive and will miss 6 to 8 weeks. Mike Minor will miss most of April. Cole Hamels will be out until late April or early May and A.J. Griffin will be out a couple weeks as well. None of these injuries by themselves will prevent Turtles from winning the league but if this is a sign of things to come, Turtles might have to make some trades in order to win the Best Damn League Period.
2. Baltimore Orioles (17-5)
Best Hitter: Miguel Cabrera, 1B/3B
Best Pitcher: Felix Hernandez, SP
Best Categories: QS, Wins
Worst Categories: Saves
Overview: The Baltimore Orioles have been one of the most successful franchises over the last 2 years and 2014 shouldn't be any different. The Orioles will be led by Miguel Cabrera and Bryce Harper on offense. Their only real weakness is at shortstop. I'm not a big fan of Iglesias hitting wise so Yunel Escobar could finish the year as the starting SS. Felix Hernandes, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and Gio Gonzalez make for a nice Top 3 of a rotation. The Orioles went out and signed Jim Johnson this off-season but he's pretty much all the have closer wise.
Prediction: Baltimore plays in an easier division which will help them finish with the 2nd best record in the league. I expect the Orioles to win their division with a 17-5 record and they will be the favorites to play in the BDLP Championship.
UPDATE: The Orioles have lost Jose Iglesias for possibly the year but I don't think that was a big loss. Yunel Escobar might actually be the better fantasy SS anyways. Iwakuma will miss most of April it sounds like and Derek Holland will be out till mid-June so Baltimore does have a few injury issues.
3. Kansas Cyclones (16-6)
Best Hitter: Adam Jones, OF
Best Pitcher: Jose Fernandez, SP
Best Categories: Runs
Worst Categories: QS and Wins
Overview: I'm sure most will argue about this prediction but don't argue with me, this is what the projections showed so I'm going with it. Overall I feel pretty good about my team and think it's definitely my best team since the league started. The Cyclones went out and signed A.J. Burnett, Jose Reyes, Brandon Belt, and Austin Jackson and they really didn't lose anyone off a team who finished 2013 with a 12-10-1 record. Hitting wise the Cyclones aren't as talented as Baltimore or Tightwad but they have decent depth. Adam Jones, Jose Reyes, and Alex Gordon will most likely be the top 3 hitters. The young phenom Jose Fernandez is the ace of this team with Matt Cain and A.J. Burnett following behind. Sources say the Cyclones still plan on adding another pitcher before the season begins.
Prediction: Could the Cyclones be this years version of The Team? I know manager Adam S. hopes so. The Cyclones have shown steady improvement over the last couple years and 2014 could be the year when they put it all together. The key is not starting 1-5 like they have the last 2 years.
UPDATE: Since the last update, Cyclones have signed Jason Vargas to add a little depth to their pitching staff. They also traded Austin Jackson and a prospect for Cespedes and Matt Garza. They also have Yordano Ventura in the minor leagues. Ventura has been lights out this spring. This team is pretty balanced and pretty deep. Still think this is the year they finally make the playoffs.
4. Bay Area Bombers (15-7)
Best Hitter: Chris Davis, 1B
Best Pitcher: Cliff Lee, SP
Best Categories: QS and Whip
Worst Categories: Runs and RBI
Overview: Bay Area Bombers were one of the big spenders this off-season going out and signing Chris Davis for $17M and Cliff Lee for $10M. The Bombers are loaded at the corner infield spots with Chris Davis and Edwin Encarncion, but the rest of the hitters are nothing special. The health of Matt Kemp could be very important for this team. Cliff Lee, Adam Wainwright, and Madison Bumgarner would be the aces for most pitching staffs but Bay Area is lucky enough to have all 3. Bay Area is pretty deep pitching wise and it will really help them compete division title.
Prediction: I went back and forth between Springdale and Bay Area for this spot in the standings but I think Bay Area's division is a little weaker and I like them more hitting wise so I'll go with them.
UPDATE: Not much has changed with Bay Area. Not a surprise but Matt Kemp will start the year on the DL. Other then that they stayed pretty healthy through Spring Training.
5. Blackbeard's Blackbirds (13-9)
Best Hitter: Andrew McCutchen, OF
Best Pitcher: Clayton Kershaw, SP
Best Categories: Avg and QS
Worst Categories: HR and Saves
Overview: I think Blackbirds is really close to being a competitive team in this league. When you have hitters like Andrew McCutchen, Buster Posey, and David Wright you are on the right track. They also have Clayton Kershaw and James Shields to lead the pitching staff. Zack Wheeler and Gerrit Cole will be huge additions to this team as well. All those players I mentioned besides Shields are under contract for at least two years so this is a team to keep an eye on over the next couple years. Their big problem right now is depth. The Team showed last year that quantity at pitching is more important than quality. There's no doubt they have quality quys but they will need to add another pitcher or two if they want to compete for a playoff spot this year. If they do add depth, then Blackbirds should compete with BWS and Domingo for 3rd in the Indians division.
Prediction: I like the direction that this team is headed. They have $5m left to spend and have 6 empty roster spots on MLB roster so if they can add a sleeper early in the year then the playoffs are a real possibility for Blackbirds.
UPDATE: Blackbirds move from 8th to 5th. Not sure if it's due more to the moves Blackbirds have made or just the fact other teams ahead of them were hit with some injuries. But Blackbirds has been very active over the last month and ownership is definitely showing their fan base that they are all in for the 2014 season. Blackbirds have signed Phil Hughes and J.J. Putz and traded for JJ Hoover and Addison Reed since the last predictions. They are now the clear cut favorites to finish 3rd in the Indians Division in my opinion.
6. Kane County Cougars (13-9)
Best Hitter: Wilin Rosario, C
Best Pitcher: Max Scherzer, SP
Best Categories: Holds
Worst Categories: SB
Overview: The Cardinals really lack star power on the offensive side of the ball. Rosario will most likely be their best hitter in 2014. Nelson Cruz was signed this offseason and could add some pop to the lineup. I’m also interested to watch Alexander Guerrero to see how he adapts to MLB pitching. The Cardinals won last year because of their pitching staff and they will have to do so again this year. However the Cardinals will lose A.J. Burnett and Justin Verlander so I’m not sure they are as deep as last year. Max Scherzer, Doug Fister, and Andrew Cashner are three of the best pitchers this year on the staff.
Prediction: The Cards had a very good record last year finishing 16-6-1 and won the Cowboys division. I'm just not sold that they have the talent to repeat this year. With that said, I'm not dumb enough to think that they will be completely out of the race. Tom B. is one of the most active managers in the league when it comes to his daily lineup and he won't just settle for a mediocre season.
UPDATE: Since the predictions were posted the Springdale Cardinals owner has resigned. The franchise has changed their name to the Kane County Cougars. The Cougars have ran into some injury issues with their pitchers. Doug Fister left his last start after 1 inning and might not be ready for his 1st start of the year. Francisco Liriano is also battling an injury but is expected to be ready for Opening Day. And Patrick Corbin will miss the 2014 season due to TJ surgery. The injury bug has also hit a couple hitters. It sounds like Omar Infante could start the season on the DL. SS Stephen Drew is still not signed, Alex Guerrero was demoted to AAA so needless to say this hasn't been a good spring for the Cougars.
7. The Team (12-10)
Best Hitter: Ryan Braun, OF
Best Pitcher: Wade Miley, SP
Best Categories: K's and Saves
Worst Categories: OPS and Avg.
Overview: The Team shocked a lot of people last year by going 15-6-2 and got really hot during the end of the season and won the 2013 BDLP Championship. The Team loses Kris Medlen, Alfonso Soriano, and Mike Napoli but manager Curt H. has high hopes for the 2014 season. Ryan Braun will return this season and should be The Team's best hitter. Eric Hosmer also provides another big bat, and Brandon Moss is a good second Outfielder. The Team doesn't have any stud pitchers but they have a few solid guys. Wade Miley, Chris Tillman, and Jose Quintana are good 200 IP type guys and should be the leaders of the Team's pitching staff.
Prediction: It will be interesting to see how the new options rule affects The Team. The Team, Springdale, and Screamin will probably be the most affected by it due to their constant rotation of pitchers between the minor and the major league. The Team also seems to produce one or two big trades a season and most likely the results of those trades will determine if this team fights for a playoff spot or drops below .500. For now I'll predict a 12-10 record which will have them just outside of the playoffs.
UPDATE: Will drop The Team to 7th in the standings. Some minor injuries have worked their way into the pitching staff which you have to watch closely. Harrison will be out till late Arpil, Josh Johnson will be out 4-5 weeks, and Jeff Locke looks to be the odd man out in the Pirates rotation. Outside of that nothing has really changed for The Team so I still expect them to compete for a playoff spot.
8. Screamin Wannabes (11-11)
Best Hitter: Adrian Beltre, OF
Best Pitcher: Stephen Strasburg, SP
Best Categories: K's and Saves
Worst Categories: SB and Holds
Overview: Screamin is a tough team to judge. They have a lot of pieces that I like but they have no depth. The Wannabes was pretty much non existent this off-season and because of that they have a lot of work to still do. Adrian Beltre, David Ortiz, and Prince Fielder provide a good punch of offense and Screamin is loaded with their top 3 pitchers. Stephen Strasburg, Yu Darvish, and Jordan Zimmerman might be the best 1-3 combination in the league. However Screamin only has 19 of the 28 MLB spots filled. If they run into injury issues this team could be a surprise cellar team.
Prediction: With all that said, I would never pick Screamin's team to suck. I've been in a few leagues with John and all he does is win. He will find a way to compete for the playoffs in 2014.
UPDATE: Well Opening Day is less than 4 days away and Screamin still hasn't made any moves to improve his team this off-season. I'm going to downgrade Screamin 1 win and 1 spot in the standings. It also won't help that Yu Darvish is injured and will miss at least 1 start. Like I said before I'll never doubt the Wannabes but right now this franchise will have to "show me" that they want to compete in 2014.
9. Big Willie Style (10-12)
Best Hitter: Joey Votto, 1B
Best Pitcher: Jered Weaver, SP
Best Categories: SB and Runs
Worst Categories: Avg and Saves
Overview: Big Willie was one of the best teams in the league in 2012 but really struggled last year finishing 7-12-4. Their starters on offense are pretty good, led by Joey Votto, Hanley Ramirez, and Jay Bruce. BWS also went out and signed Ian Kinsler this off-season. The pitching staff has some good pieces but guys like Jered Weaver and Johnny Cueto need to stay healthy. Outside of Bronson Arroyo, Bud Norris was the only other pitcher on this staff to throw at least 155 innings.
Prediction: Like a lot of teams, BWS year will come down to his guys staying healthy. If they can, then I think he has the talent to make the playoffs for the 3rd straight year. I definitely think they will improve over their 7 win mark last year, but can they hold off Domingo and Blackbirds for the 3rd and final playoff spot in the Indians division?
UPDATE: Still think Big Willie has a decent chance of making the playoffs especially with the injuries Domingo has came down with. BWS has Kevin Gausman and James Paxton waiting in the minors. They both could be big call-ups for BWS playoff run. I'm going to move Big Willie ahead of Domingo due to Domingo's recent injuries.
10. Domingo Baseball Academy (9-13)
Best Hitter: Yasiel Puig, OF
Best Pitcher: Kris Medlen, SP
Best Categories: Avg. and Holds
Worst Categories: HR and RBI
Overview: DBA was in full rebuild mode last year. They were the worst team in the league by far, finishing with a 4-18-1 record. They will be young again this year but I expect them to be much more competitive. The additions of Joe Mauer and Ryan Zimmerman will really help them on offense, but it's DBA's young OF that I'm most excited about. Young studs, Wil Myers and Yasiel Puig, will be the faces of this franchise over the next 3 to 4 years. The pitching staff isn't great but Kris Medlen, Michael Wacha, and Jarrod Parker aren't a bad rotation. Their bullpen is also very solid with 3 closers and several setup men.
Prediction: I think Domingo will be one of the surprise teams this year. Kevin is a good fantasy baseball manager and he's been working hard to improve this franchise. I think they are still a year or two away from competing for a league championship but don't be surprised if they sneak into the playoffs this year.
UPDATE: I'm downgrading Domingo 1 win and 1 spot in the rankings. Domingo has lost Kris Medlen and Jarrod Parker for the season. Michael Wacha and Bartolo Colon are now his top 2 pitchers. Puig is also struggling with back problems and could turn out to be a bust this year. I'm still holding out hope that Domingo could be a surprised team but the injuries definitely hurt those chances.
11. Slippery Rock Sliders (9-13)
Best Hitter: Troy Tulowitzski, SS
Best Pitcher: Homer Bailey, SP
Best Categories: RBI and QS
Worst Categories: ERA and Whip
Overview: Through two seasons, Slippery Rock has the worst franchise record in the league at 13-30-3, but they were 0-7 before Tim C. took over as manager. The Sliders appear to have gone to the Team and Cardinals school of fantasy baseball as they have loaded up on starting pitchers. Slipper will enter the 2014 season with 14 starting pitchers on the roster. Homer Bailey, Justin Masterson, and Jon Lester will be the top 3 guys. Slippery should be at the top of the standings in QS, Wins and K's if he can figure out how to manage all of those pitchers. On offense Troy Tulowitzski is their star. Dustin Pedroia is a very good second baseman and Slippery went out and signed Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard this off-season.
Prediction: I think this shows how well balanced and competitive this league is. I have Slippery as the 11th best team but if everything goes right for him, I could see Slippery finishing above .500 and could even be a playoff team. The Sliders went 9-13-1 last year and really didn't lose anyone. If Pujols can stay healthy this year then you have to think this team is slightly better.
UPDATE: Not much change here besides Slippery's pitching staff is banged up. Jaime Garcia, Jon Niese, and Eric O'Flaherty all will most likely start season on DL.
12. Brooklyn Bashers (8-14)
Best Hitter: Hunter Pence, OF
Best Pitcher: Zack Greinke, SP
Best Categories: ERA and SB
Worst Categories: OPS and QS
Overview: Bashers was a playoff team in 2012 but finished 2013 with a 6-16-1 record. The Bashers went out and signed Justin Verlander, Jose Abreu, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Jhoulys Chacin and didn't really lose anyone to free agency. Zack Greinke, Justin Verlander, and Mat Latos are predicted to be the Top 3 pitchers on this team. The problem is they only have 6 SP's on their active roster, which is a little less than most teams. Hunter Pence and Shin-Shoo Choo are by far this team's best two hitters. Newcomer Jose Abreu could be their 3rd best bat. 3B seems to be a big weakness for this team. Nolan Arenado and Will Middlebrooks aren't terrible but they won't win you many games.
Prediction: I think this could be another long year for Brooklyn but with their additions of Verlander and Abreu, they should be slightly better than they were in 2013. They still are lacking a little on offense and I think they could add a SP or two to compete in K's, QS, etc.
UPDATE: Bashers remains in the 12th spot. They were already short handed pitching wise and now Feliz has been demoted to the minors, Cook will start year on DL, and Chacin and Latos are banged up. They also don't have any cap space to go out and add pitchers so we'll see if he can make some trades to add depth.
13. Montreal Expos (6-16)
Best Hitter: Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
Best Pitcher: David Price, SP
Best Categories: SB
Worst Categories: ERA and Whip
Overview: I'll be honest I was kind of surprised how low the software had Expos ranked. They have too many good players too struggle this much but they did finish 6-15-2 last year. They went out and signed Allen Craig, Jeff Smaradja, and Aramis Ramirez. Paul Goldschmidt is a stud and the Expos also have a pretty talented OF with Allen Craig, Yoenis Cespedes, and Carlos Gomez. Oh and lets not forget about Dominic Brown. I also like David Price, C.J. Wilson, Lance Lynn and Jeff Smardja pitching wise. I think this team has some talent. There are also rumors Expos is looking to deal some of his pitchers and catchers so that's something to keep an eye on before the year starts. It's unclear what Expos is looking for in return but sources say he's been in contact with a couple teams this off-season.
Prediction: Like I said earlier, I'm really hesitant to put Expos this low. I just don't see it but I'll trust the software for now. They only glaring weakness I see with this team is maybe depth?
UPDATE: When I originally posted these projections I said I was hesitant about putting Expos so low. Since then they have made some moves that have made them worse in my opinion and now I'm more confident in this prediction. I've downgraded their win total by 1.
14. Gronked (5-17)
Best Hitter: Giancarlo Stanton, OF
Best Pitcher: Shelby Miller, SP
Best Categories: OPS and HR
Worst Categories: K and saves
Overview: I think this team is ranked so low because they currently have little depth. Gronked has over $10m to spend and has 6 open roster spots so how they fill those will determine if this team is a cellar dweller or can compete for a playoff spot. Shelby Miller, C.C. Sabathia, and Matt Moore lead the pitching staff. Joakim Soria is currently this team's only relief pitcher so expect them to go out and add someone. Jason Kipnis will start at 2B. Jose Bautista and Stanton will be the big hitters in the OF. Ian Desmond was signed this off-season and will add more fire power to this offense. Gronked is loaded at SS and they don't have a Catcher so don't be surprised if they try to trade Desmond or Castro for a big name catcher.
Prediction: Gronked's team is hard to project right now and that is why they are predicted to finish last by the software. They currently don't have a catcher and only have 1 RP so that really hurts them in the projections. I plan on updating these predictions at least 1 or 2 more times before the year starts so don't be surprised if Gronked moves up a bit if they actually go out and sign people.
UPDATE: Nothing has really changed here besides Gronked has lost Beachy for the remainder of the season. Gronked still only has 1 RP and still doesn't have a catcher on the active roster. The good news is, Gronked has several minor league players who he could call up to improve his team, the only question is, will he do it? For now I will still keep Gronked at 14th but it's very close between them and Expos.
1. Tightwad Turtles (18-4)
Best Hitter: Mike Trout, OF
Best Pitcher: Chris Sale, SP
Best Categories: HR, Whip, K's, Saves
Worst Categories: SB and ERA
Overview: No surprise here, the Turtles will be the favorite to win the BDLP for the 3rd straight year. The only problem is, they have been upset in the 1st round of the playoffs in each of the last two years. Manager Tyler B. has the most career wins in the league but is 0-2 in the playoffs. Could this year be different? There is no doubt that the Turtles are the most talented and balanced team in the league. On offense they are led by Mike Trout, Carlos Gonzalez, and Robinson Cano. Chris Sale is projected to be the ace of the pitching staff, but guys like Mike Minor and Anibal Sanchez will compete for the top pitcher on the team.
Prediction: The Tightwad Turtles will finish the season with a 19-3 record and will finally win their division and will win the BDLP Championship.
UPDATE: I'm downgrading Turtles 1 win but they should still be the favorites to win the league. How ever injuries have to be a concern for Turtles. Aroldis Chapman was hit by a line drive and will miss 6 to 8 weeks. Mike Minor will miss most of April. Cole Hamels will be out until late April or early May and A.J. Griffin will be out a couple weeks as well. None of these injuries by themselves will prevent Turtles from winning the league but if this is a sign of things to come, Turtles might have to make some trades in order to win the Best Damn League Period.
2. Baltimore Orioles (17-5)
Best Hitter: Miguel Cabrera, 1B/3B
Best Pitcher: Felix Hernandez, SP
Best Categories: QS, Wins
Worst Categories: Saves
Overview: The Baltimore Orioles have been one of the most successful franchises over the last 2 years and 2014 shouldn't be any different. The Orioles will be led by Miguel Cabrera and Bryce Harper on offense. Their only real weakness is at shortstop. I'm not a big fan of Iglesias hitting wise so Yunel Escobar could finish the year as the starting SS. Felix Hernandes, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and Gio Gonzalez make for a nice Top 3 of a rotation. The Orioles went out and signed Jim Johnson this off-season but he's pretty much all the have closer wise.
Prediction: Baltimore plays in an easier division which will help them finish with the 2nd best record in the league. I expect the Orioles to win their division with a 17-5 record and they will be the favorites to play in the BDLP Championship.
UPDATE: The Orioles have lost Jose Iglesias for possibly the year but I don't think that was a big loss. Yunel Escobar might actually be the better fantasy SS anyways. Iwakuma will miss most of April it sounds like and Derek Holland will be out till mid-June so Baltimore does have a few injury issues.
3. Kansas Cyclones (16-6)
Best Hitter: Adam Jones, OF
Best Pitcher: Jose Fernandez, SP
Best Categories: Runs
Worst Categories: QS and Wins
Overview: I'm sure most will argue about this prediction but don't argue with me, this is what the projections showed so I'm going with it. Overall I feel pretty good about my team and think it's definitely my best team since the league started. The Cyclones went out and signed A.J. Burnett, Jose Reyes, Brandon Belt, and Austin Jackson and they really didn't lose anyone off a team who finished 2013 with a 12-10-1 record. Hitting wise the Cyclones aren't as talented as Baltimore or Tightwad but they have decent depth. Adam Jones, Jose Reyes, and Alex Gordon will most likely be the top 3 hitters. The young phenom Jose Fernandez is the ace of this team with Matt Cain and A.J. Burnett following behind. Sources say the Cyclones still plan on adding another pitcher before the season begins.
Prediction: Could the Cyclones be this years version of The Team? I know manager Adam S. hopes so. The Cyclones have shown steady improvement over the last couple years and 2014 could be the year when they put it all together. The key is not starting 1-5 like they have the last 2 years.
UPDATE: Since the last update, Cyclones have signed Jason Vargas to add a little depth to their pitching staff. They also traded Austin Jackson and a prospect for Cespedes and Matt Garza. They also have Yordano Ventura in the minor leagues. Ventura has been lights out this spring. This team is pretty balanced and pretty deep. Still think this is the year they finally make the playoffs.
4. Bay Area Bombers (15-7)
Best Hitter: Chris Davis, 1B
Best Pitcher: Cliff Lee, SP
Best Categories: QS and Whip
Worst Categories: Runs and RBI
Overview: Bay Area Bombers were one of the big spenders this off-season going out and signing Chris Davis for $17M and Cliff Lee for $10M. The Bombers are loaded at the corner infield spots with Chris Davis and Edwin Encarncion, but the rest of the hitters are nothing special. The health of Matt Kemp could be very important for this team. Cliff Lee, Adam Wainwright, and Madison Bumgarner would be the aces for most pitching staffs but Bay Area is lucky enough to have all 3. Bay Area is pretty deep pitching wise and it will really help them compete division title.
Prediction: I went back and forth between Springdale and Bay Area for this spot in the standings but I think Bay Area's division is a little weaker and I like them more hitting wise so I'll go with them.
UPDATE: Not much has changed with Bay Area. Not a surprise but Matt Kemp will start the year on the DL. Other then that they stayed pretty healthy through Spring Training.
5. Blackbeard's Blackbirds (13-9)
Best Hitter: Andrew McCutchen, OF
Best Pitcher: Clayton Kershaw, SP
Best Categories: Avg and QS
Worst Categories: HR and Saves
Overview: I think Blackbirds is really close to being a competitive team in this league. When you have hitters like Andrew McCutchen, Buster Posey, and David Wright you are on the right track. They also have Clayton Kershaw and James Shields to lead the pitching staff. Zack Wheeler and Gerrit Cole will be huge additions to this team as well. All those players I mentioned besides Shields are under contract for at least two years so this is a team to keep an eye on over the next couple years. Their big problem right now is depth. The Team showed last year that quantity at pitching is more important than quality. There's no doubt they have quality quys but they will need to add another pitcher or two if they want to compete for a playoff spot this year. If they do add depth, then Blackbirds should compete with BWS and Domingo for 3rd in the Indians division.
Prediction: I like the direction that this team is headed. They have $5m left to spend and have 6 empty roster spots on MLB roster so if they can add a sleeper early in the year then the playoffs are a real possibility for Blackbirds.
UPDATE: Blackbirds move from 8th to 5th. Not sure if it's due more to the moves Blackbirds have made or just the fact other teams ahead of them were hit with some injuries. But Blackbirds has been very active over the last month and ownership is definitely showing their fan base that they are all in for the 2014 season. Blackbirds have signed Phil Hughes and J.J. Putz and traded for JJ Hoover and Addison Reed since the last predictions. They are now the clear cut favorites to finish 3rd in the Indians Division in my opinion.
6. Kane County Cougars (13-9)
Best Hitter: Wilin Rosario, C
Best Pitcher: Max Scherzer, SP
Best Categories: Holds
Worst Categories: SB
Overview: The Cardinals really lack star power on the offensive side of the ball. Rosario will most likely be their best hitter in 2014. Nelson Cruz was signed this offseason and could add some pop to the lineup. I’m also interested to watch Alexander Guerrero to see how he adapts to MLB pitching. The Cardinals won last year because of their pitching staff and they will have to do so again this year. However the Cardinals will lose A.J. Burnett and Justin Verlander so I’m not sure they are as deep as last year. Max Scherzer, Doug Fister, and Andrew Cashner are three of the best pitchers this year on the staff.
Prediction: The Cards had a very good record last year finishing 16-6-1 and won the Cowboys division. I'm just not sold that they have the talent to repeat this year. With that said, I'm not dumb enough to think that they will be completely out of the race. Tom B. is one of the most active managers in the league when it comes to his daily lineup and he won't just settle for a mediocre season.
UPDATE: Since the predictions were posted the Springdale Cardinals owner has resigned. The franchise has changed their name to the Kane County Cougars. The Cougars have ran into some injury issues with their pitchers. Doug Fister left his last start after 1 inning and might not be ready for his 1st start of the year. Francisco Liriano is also battling an injury but is expected to be ready for Opening Day. And Patrick Corbin will miss the 2014 season due to TJ surgery. The injury bug has also hit a couple hitters. It sounds like Omar Infante could start the season on the DL. SS Stephen Drew is still not signed, Alex Guerrero was demoted to AAA so needless to say this hasn't been a good spring for the Cougars.
7. The Team (12-10)
Best Hitter: Ryan Braun, OF
Best Pitcher: Wade Miley, SP
Best Categories: K's and Saves
Worst Categories: OPS and Avg.
Overview: The Team shocked a lot of people last year by going 15-6-2 and got really hot during the end of the season and won the 2013 BDLP Championship. The Team loses Kris Medlen, Alfonso Soriano, and Mike Napoli but manager Curt H. has high hopes for the 2014 season. Ryan Braun will return this season and should be The Team's best hitter. Eric Hosmer also provides another big bat, and Brandon Moss is a good second Outfielder. The Team doesn't have any stud pitchers but they have a few solid guys. Wade Miley, Chris Tillman, and Jose Quintana are good 200 IP type guys and should be the leaders of the Team's pitching staff.
Prediction: It will be interesting to see how the new options rule affects The Team. The Team, Springdale, and Screamin will probably be the most affected by it due to their constant rotation of pitchers between the minor and the major league. The Team also seems to produce one or two big trades a season and most likely the results of those trades will determine if this team fights for a playoff spot or drops below .500. For now I'll predict a 12-10 record which will have them just outside of the playoffs.
UPDATE: Will drop The Team to 7th in the standings. Some minor injuries have worked their way into the pitching staff which you have to watch closely. Harrison will be out till late Arpil, Josh Johnson will be out 4-5 weeks, and Jeff Locke looks to be the odd man out in the Pirates rotation. Outside of that nothing has really changed for The Team so I still expect them to compete for a playoff spot.
8. Screamin Wannabes (11-11)
Best Hitter: Adrian Beltre, OF
Best Pitcher: Stephen Strasburg, SP
Best Categories: K's and Saves
Worst Categories: SB and Holds
Overview: Screamin is a tough team to judge. They have a lot of pieces that I like but they have no depth. The Wannabes was pretty much non existent this off-season and because of that they have a lot of work to still do. Adrian Beltre, David Ortiz, and Prince Fielder provide a good punch of offense and Screamin is loaded with their top 3 pitchers. Stephen Strasburg, Yu Darvish, and Jordan Zimmerman might be the best 1-3 combination in the league. However Screamin only has 19 of the 28 MLB spots filled. If they run into injury issues this team could be a surprise cellar team.
Prediction: With all that said, I would never pick Screamin's team to suck. I've been in a few leagues with John and all he does is win. He will find a way to compete for the playoffs in 2014.
UPDATE: Well Opening Day is less than 4 days away and Screamin still hasn't made any moves to improve his team this off-season. I'm going to downgrade Screamin 1 win and 1 spot in the standings. It also won't help that Yu Darvish is injured and will miss at least 1 start. Like I said before I'll never doubt the Wannabes but right now this franchise will have to "show me" that they want to compete in 2014.
9. Big Willie Style (10-12)
Best Hitter: Joey Votto, 1B
Best Pitcher: Jered Weaver, SP
Best Categories: SB and Runs
Worst Categories: Avg and Saves
Overview: Big Willie was one of the best teams in the league in 2012 but really struggled last year finishing 7-12-4. Their starters on offense are pretty good, led by Joey Votto, Hanley Ramirez, and Jay Bruce. BWS also went out and signed Ian Kinsler this off-season. The pitching staff has some good pieces but guys like Jered Weaver and Johnny Cueto need to stay healthy. Outside of Bronson Arroyo, Bud Norris was the only other pitcher on this staff to throw at least 155 innings.
Prediction: Like a lot of teams, BWS year will come down to his guys staying healthy. If they can, then I think he has the talent to make the playoffs for the 3rd straight year. I definitely think they will improve over their 7 win mark last year, but can they hold off Domingo and Blackbirds for the 3rd and final playoff spot in the Indians division?
UPDATE: Still think Big Willie has a decent chance of making the playoffs especially with the injuries Domingo has came down with. BWS has Kevin Gausman and James Paxton waiting in the minors. They both could be big call-ups for BWS playoff run. I'm going to move Big Willie ahead of Domingo due to Domingo's recent injuries.
10. Domingo Baseball Academy (9-13)
Best Hitter: Yasiel Puig, OF
Best Pitcher: Kris Medlen, SP
Best Categories: Avg. and Holds
Worst Categories: HR and RBI
Overview: DBA was in full rebuild mode last year. They were the worst team in the league by far, finishing with a 4-18-1 record. They will be young again this year but I expect them to be much more competitive. The additions of Joe Mauer and Ryan Zimmerman will really help them on offense, but it's DBA's young OF that I'm most excited about. Young studs, Wil Myers and Yasiel Puig, will be the faces of this franchise over the next 3 to 4 years. The pitching staff isn't great but Kris Medlen, Michael Wacha, and Jarrod Parker aren't a bad rotation. Their bullpen is also very solid with 3 closers and several setup men.
Prediction: I think Domingo will be one of the surprise teams this year. Kevin is a good fantasy baseball manager and he's been working hard to improve this franchise. I think they are still a year or two away from competing for a league championship but don't be surprised if they sneak into the playoffs this year.
UPDATE: I'm downgrading Domingo 1 win and 1 spot in the rankings. Domingo has lost Kris Medlen and Jarrod Parker for the season. Michael Wacha and Bartolo Colon are now his top 2 pitchers. Puig is also struggling with back problems and could turn out to be a bust this year. I'm still holding out hope that Domingo could be a surprised team but the injuries definitely hurt those chances.
11. Slippery Rock Sliders (9-13)
Best Hitter: Troy Tulowitzski, SS
Best Pitcher: Homer Bailey, SP
Best Categories: RBI and QS
Worst Categories: ERA and Whip
Overview: Through two seasons, Slippery Rock has the worst franchise record in the league at 13-30-3, but they were 0-7 before Tim C. took over as manager. The Sliders appear to have gone to the Team and Cardinals school of fantasy baseball as they have loaded up on starting pitchers. Slipper will enter the 2014 season with 14 starting pitchers on the roster. Homer Bailey, Justin Masterson, and Jon Lester will be the top 3 guys. Slippery should be at the top of the standings in QS, Wins and K's if he can figure out how to manage all of those pitchers. On offense Troy Tulowitzski is their star. Dustin Pedroia is a very good second baseman and Slippery went out and signed Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard this off-season.
Prediction: I think this shows how well balanced and competitive this league is. I have Slippery as the 11th best team but if everything goes right for him, I could see Slippery finishing above .500 and could even be a playoff team. The Sliders went 9-13-1 last year and really didn't lose anyone. If Pujols can stay healthy this year then you have to think this team is slightly better.
UPDATE: Not much change here besides Slippery's pitching staff is banged up. Jaime Garcia, Jon Niese, and Eric O'Flaherty all will most likely start season on DL.
12. Brooklyn Bashers (8-14)
Best Hitter: Hunter Pence, OF
Best Pitcher: Zack Greinke, SP
Best Categories: ERA and SB
Worst Categories: OPS and QS
Overview: Bashers was a playoff team in 2012 but finished 2013 with a 6-16-1 record. The Bashers went out and signed Justin Verlander, Jose Abreu, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Jhoulys Chacin and didn't really lose anyone to free agency. Zack Greinke, Justin Verlander, and Mat Latos are predicted to be the Top 3 pitchers on this team. The problem is they only have 6 SP's on their active roster, which is a little less than most teams. Hunter Pence and Shin-Shoo Choo are by far this team's best two hitters. Newcomer Jose Abreu could be their 3rd best bat. 3B seems to be a big weakness for this team. Nolan Arenado and Will Middlebrooks aren't terrible but they won't win you many games.
Prediction: I think this could be another long year for Brooklyn but with their additions of Verlander and Abreu, they should be slightly better than they were in 2013. They still are lacking a little on offense and I think they could add a SP or two to compete in K's, QS, etc.
UPDATE: Bashers remains in the 12th spot. They were already short handed pitching wise and now Feliz has been demoted to the minors, Cook will start year on DL, and Chacin and Latos are banged up. They also don't have any cap space to go out and add pitchers so we'll see if he can make some trades to add depth.
13. Montreal Expos (6-16)
Best Hitter: Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
Best Pitcher: David Price, SP
Best Categories: SB
Worst Categories: ERA and Whip
Overview: I'll be honest I was kind of surprised how low the software had Expos ranked. They have too many good players too struggle this much but they did finish 6-15-2 last year. They went out and signed Allen Craig, Jeff Smaradja, and Aramis Ramirez. Paul Goldschmidt is a stud and the Expos also have a pretty talented OF with Allen Craig, Yoenis Cespedes, and Carlos Gomez. Oh and lets not forget about Dominic Brown. I also like David Price, C.J. Wilson, Lance Lynn and Jeff Smardja pitching wise. I think this team has some talent. There are also rumors Expos is looking to deal some of his pitchers and catchers so that's something to keep an eye on before the year starts. It's unclear what Expos is looking for in return but sources say he's been in contact with a couple teams this off-season.
Prediction: Like I said earlier, I'm really hesitant to put Expos this low. I just don't see it but I'll trust the software for now. They only glaring weakness I see with this team is maybe depth?
UPDATE: When I originally posted these projections I said I was hesitant about putting Expos so low. Since then they have made some moves that have made them worse in my opinion and now I'm more confident in this prediction. I've downgraded their win total by 1.
14. Gronked (5-17)
Best Hitter: Giancarlo Stanton, OF
Best Pitcher: Shelby Miller, SP
Best Categories: OPS and HR
Worst Categories: K and saves
Overview: I think this team is ranked so low because they currently have little depth. Gronked has over $10m to spend and has 6 open roster spots so how they fill those will determine if this team is a cellar dweller or can compete for a playoff spot. Shelby Miller, C.C. Sabathia, and Matt Moore lead the pitching staff. Joakim Soria is currently this team's only relief pitcher so expect them to go out and add someone. Jason Kipnis will start at 2B. Jose Bautista and Stanton will be the big hitters in the OF. Ian Desmond was signed this off-season and will add more fire power to this offense. Gronked is loaded at SS and they don't have a Catcher so don't be surprised if they try to trade Desmond or Castro for a big name catcher.
Prediction: Gronked's team is hard to project right now and that is why they are predicted to finish last by the software. They currently don't have a catcher and only have 1 RP so that really hurts them in the projections. I plan on updating these predictions at least 1 or 2 more times before the year starts so don't be surprised if Gronked moves up a bit if they actually go out and sign people.
UPDATE: Nothing has really changed here besides Gronked has lost Beachy for the remainder of the season. Gronked still only has 1 RP and still doesn't have a catcher on the active roster. The good news is, Gronked has several minor league players who he could call up to improve his team, the only question is, will he do it? For now I will still keep Gronked at 14th but it's very close between them and Expos.