The preseason FBN tradition continues. Thanks Ed for all your hard work. AMERICAN LEAGUE Projected Finish
Overview: Louisville, New Hampshire and California will battle it out for also ran status while Lake Wobegon is my pick to round out the top five. Tony has done a real nice job building a deep and talented squad. The River Bandits are built well to withstand the 162 game schedule. The Hogs on the other hand are built better for the playoffs with the very good 1-3 rotation. However, the lack of starting pitching depth will likely cost them some games during the regular season. California is good but doesn't quite have the HR pop that the other three teams have; and their pitchers give up some long balls as well. The Whippets will score a lot of runs but after Strasburg, Hendricks and Hendriks the pitching is scarce. Should be enough to get them into the tourney. Hotlanta has some hitting but the pitching is bad. Alpharetta also has some hitting ... most teams do, but the pitching is also subpar. Arsenal, Yorktown, Baton Rouge, Urpaign and Atlanta are just not very good ... mostly because they don't have much pitching. This year it's all about the pitching ... or lack thereof. I'd be shocked if any of my top four don't make the playoffs. Lake Wobegon should, but could be challenged by Hotlanta or Alpahretta. The rest of the teams should hold onto their first round picks and beware of Dogfish bearing false idols. ....click here to see projected team details for the American League
Projected Finish
Overview: I think US and Taxachusets will bash their way into the playoffs. Both teams have a shortage of good pitching, but so does almost every other team in the NL except for Burlington, Illinois and the Klubbers. I am violating two of my rules here by picking Illinois and the Klubbers to make the playoffs. I will spare you my reasons for these rules other than to say that pretty much every time I've broken the rules it was a mistake. But I'm an optimist so I'll try again. As mentioned above both the Klubbers and Prairie Dogs have reasonably good pitching which should get them into the playoffs. We'll see. Connecticut, Norwich and Hazardville could all step into the void if violating Rules 3 and 4 once again comes back to bite me. They all have spotty starting pitching but enough offense to make it interesting. The final group includes Wall Street, Allyn Street, Maine and New England ... all in some phase of rebuild mode. I don't see any of them making the playoffs. Wanna know rules #1 and #2? ....click here to see projected team details for the National League GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE THIS YEAR!!
1) Milford
2) Louisville
3) New Hampshire
4) California
5) Lake Wobegon
6) Hotlanta
7) Alpharetta
8) Arsenal
9) York Town
10) Urpaign
11) Baton Rouge
12) Atlanta
Milford is clearly the best team and unless managed poorly will run away with the AL title again. The only question to be answered during the regular season is how Glen will manage once again to get at least two picks in the top ten in the upcoming draft without giving up anything more than the 24th pick in the draft and a guy who would be sitting on his bench during 2021.
1) Burlington
2) US
3) Taxachusets
4) Illinois
5) Klee's
6) Connecticut
7) Norwich
8) Hazardville
9) Wall Street
10) Allyn Street
11) Maine
12) New England
Burlington is clearly the team to be beat. Balanced offense and pitching. Stepped in it with Marte, Dozier and Garver. You have to love it when that happens. Nice draft to fill out the holes.
Rule #3: Never pick Klee's to make the playoffs.
Rule #4: Never pick Illinois to make the playoffs.
Rule #2: Never underrate the Jarheads.
Rule #1: Top secret ... can't tell you or I'd have to kill you.