Projected Finish
1 Allyn Street
2 US
3 New England
4 Taxachusets
5 Wall Street
6 Connecticut
7 Hazardville
8 Klee's
9 Illinois
10 Maine
11 Burlington
12 Norwich

Overview:
WOW ... really tough to call this year in the NL. A bunch of OK teams.

The defending champion 89ers are clearly still the team to beat. The offense is good with Votto, Martinez and Ramirez raking. Picking up Iglesias to play SS and Greinke to be the stopper were big moves. But even this team has some flaws ... not great bottom of the order, end of the pen or bottom of the rotation. Still a shoe it to make the playoffs.

After that ... could go all sorts of directions.

I'm figuring that the Jarheads picked up enough pitching in the draft to muddle along. The offense is the story here. Acuna (was a good year to suck), Trout, Goldy etc ... yikes. Will be lots of 10-7 games. I'm figuring on Bill to manage his way to the top.

I wouldn't figure on being ok with jettisoning the likes of Kluber and Freeman, but Bruce has put together a contender in NE. Solid lineup with mostly no name guys, an ok rotation and an excellent pen. No shortage of closers for the Angels with Chapman, Dominguez and Will Smith. Don't fall behind the Angels.

This IS your mama's Chiefs. Not much pitching and 300+ HRs. If you like HR derby you will enjoy your games with Bud this year. Can they HR their way to the playoffs ... with Treinen saving 50 games. Sure ... why not.

Sand Bagger Joe says he's coming in 10th. No way a team with Kluber and Nola comes in 10th. Nuff said ... but combine that with the Barons making the playoffs last year with an inferior roster, what the heck Joe ... make a couple trades and go for it. It's there for the taking. Longoria tanking hurt for sure ... BUT not a bad team.

Everybody else is on the bubble! CT is decent ... don't like all of the LHed SPing ... and not enough on-base vs RHP ... BUT, not a bad team ... keeping Story was smart.

The Kegs don't have enough starting pitching or RPing, BUT not a bad team. One of the few teams that can't clobber LHPing.

The Klubbers will end up in the middle which is where they usually are ... an 81-81 Klubber team is indication that all is well and balanced in the world. Hamels down year, 2/3 Bumgardner and a pansy lineup vs RHP will ensure the FBN equator.

Illinois is the dark horse here. Close to the best rotation 1-5 with Corbin, Lopez, Boyd, Manaea and Sale. However, the written road instructions have left the Prairie Dogs road kill on many occasions. I just figure it'll be another disappointing road performance for the Dogs.

Maine and Burlington ... just not feeling it ... BUT not bad teams. I'll go with both being flawed at SS ... how's that. Of the two I like Maine better. Not a bad lineup. Micolas will help the Bucs, but I had to pick someone to come in 10 and 11 so this is my guess.

Ok,so that leaves Norwich ... rebuilding ... BUT not a bad team. The Navigators got a bit old so I figure Don will bail on Kershaw which will clearly put them in a bad spot since guys like Zimmerman, Cueto and Samardzija have all crapped the bed.

Bottom line ... just about anyone in the NL can make the playoffs. Usually I hit on about 80% of my predictions . not at all confident this year.

....click here to see projected team details for the National League

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Projected Finish
1 Milford
2 New Hampshire
3 California
4 Lake Wobegon
5 Hotlanta
6 Louisville
7 Yorktown
8 Arsenal
9 Urpaign
10 Baton Rouge
11 Alpharetta
12 Atlanta

Overview:
It's the story of three cities. AwesomeTown, GoodTown and CrapAssTown ... you guys that want everyone to be competitive ... LOOK AWAY!

AwesomeTown:
Milford, New Hampshire and California
Glen owns all of the housing in this town ... squatters rights. Others like Frank and I just visit now and then. I still need someone to explain to me how Glen wins a 100 games most years and then has two top 5 picks in the next draft! I claim that happens because Glen is the Pied Piper and rest of us are being let out of our clown car to our slaughter by his virtuoso BS. I allowed him to steal pick 3 from me just this year! I proclaim myself an idiot ... but it's a large club! Anyhow, enough of my whining. The Dogfish are awesome! Best starting pitching in the league and a monster lineup. This is the team to beat this year. Best starter in deGrom and best position player in Betts, etc,. etc.

Any other year, the Hogs might be the best team, but not this year. They are just a step below the Fish. Another total roster gut and now the Hogs have a fantastic top of the rotation with Scherzer and Verlander, a very solid lineup and good pen. Of course once again the team is old, so the Hogs will probably have to retool again in two years.

A couple of bad years, some good drafting and a little luck (Ryu, Bucholz) and the Dreamers are back in serious contention. After Snell the rotation is piecemeal but solid. Good lineup led by rookie Soto and excellent pen with nice closer setup combo Jeffress and Hader..

GoodTown:
Lake Wobegon, Hotlanta, Louisville and Yorktown

So I'm saying Milford, New Hampshire and California are pretty much playoff locks. After that any two of these four will round out the playoff field. The Whippets have a nice core with Lindor and Yelich. The rotation is a little light but not awful ... solid closer and setup guys.

I like the Possums on base with guys like Nimmo and Winker. The rotation gets a little squirrely after Happ, Urena and Paxton ... and the pen is not quite as awesome as in past but Janson, Kimbrel and Betances are still not a group you want to face when behind after 6.

Tony has done a good job building talent with the River Bandits. Just not sure they are quite ready for the next level. Patience with guys like Wheeler, Chapman and Suarez paid off. Nice mix of power and some solid SPing. The pen needs a little work.

The Admirals round out the bubble teams. Could definitely make a run at the playoffs. I'm just not keen on the lack of on-base vs RHP and the rotation outside of Buehler. Not bad but I have to see more before I get on board.

CrapAssTown:
Arsenal, Urpaign, Baton Rouge, Alpharetta and Atlanta

Is this an ugly parody of America ... the expansion of the poor and underprivileged?
Dante is the mayor of CrapAssTown! The Senators have nothing this year. This may be one of the worst teams ever. I've had some bad teams and I'd be proud of this one! He's got lots of #1 picks next year including what will likely be 1 and 2 in a theoretically great class so he should be good going forward. This year you can count on about 130 losses.

Alparhretta isn't much better, but at least the Ace's have Thor, Bryant and a couple other decent bats. However, they will likely lose well over 100 games and contend for the 2nd pick in the draft ... owned by Atlanta.

Hard to believe a team with Carpenter, Harper and Stanton could stink ... but you have to have pitching too. Urpaign has more pitching with Clevenger leading the way but the offense is anemic at best.

The Bullets have Rizzo and a lot of has-beens ... the retool in Baton Rouge is full on. So with Atlanta, Alpharetta and Baton Rouge the AL will likely pick 1-5 in the draft and maybe 22-24. So much for balance.

....click here to see projected team details for the American League

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE THIS YEAR!!