My 2 cents '08 Less Filling Division

LESS FILLING CENTRAL

VFS- Since '04 when the VFS made the play offs there has been a constant drum beat 'The year of the Sioux'. That happened for Manager Justin Rabidoux in '07 when they wrestled away the Central Crown from PCM winning the Central with a 93-69 record. After defeating SPL in Rd ,1 they lost in the LFCS to DFW. For VFS to repeat on their '07 performance they will need '07 MVP Albert Pujols (.342ba, 113r 342b, 52hr, 136rbi) to put up similar numbers. The offense is also lead by SS- D. Jeter (.315ba, 113r, 352b, 12hr), 2Bman R. Cano (.329ba, 542b, 17hr, 91rbi) and C- J.Pasoda (.300ba, 262b, 25hr, 72rbi). The pitching staff took a hit when young pitchers Josh Johnson (8-3, 3.72era, in 17gs) and Nelson Liriano (9-5, 3.72era, 98ip, 132ko) will miss the entire season due to arm injuries. John Lackey (18-7, 3.354era) is coming off a great '07 will lead the rotation that also got help in the Draft in Rd 2 pick, Tom Gorzelanny. Closer duties will be in the hands of Bill Wagner (2-6, 2.96era, 35sv) again. Look for 3Rd picks Hideki Okajima & Tony Pena to get plenty of action. VFS need to get off to a fast start. If they can do that then they will contend again in '08.

NYK- In '07 all you heard was VFS winning the Division Crown that had been PCM for years. Well flying under the radar was the job that Mitchell Pak's NYK did coming in 2nd place just 6.5 behind VFS with a 87-65 record. For years the Knights have struggled in the NASBL but give credit to Manager Pak when NYK decided to build the team through the Draft. In '06 the drafted CFer Grady Sizemore (.303ba, 106r, 392b, 20hr) 3Bman Garret Atkins (.292ba, 93r, 412b, 21hr, 104rbi) and Billy Hall (.291ba, 108r, 4532b, 49hr, 134rbi). Then in '07 drafted pitchers Matt Cain (15-10, 5.33era), Takashi Saito (5-3, 1.88era, 37sv), Adam Wainwright (5-5, 4.30era) All 6 players were a big part of NYK success in '07. NYK were 3rd in team batting '07 and they will add 1st Rd pick OFer Matt Kemp who is a 5-tool player. NYK grabbed C/1B Jason Saltalamacchia in Rd 2. In '07 NYK only used 5 starters and look for the rotation to get tougher with the addition of Wainwright. If NYK can build on their '07 success then they should be in the running for the Central Crown again in '08.


PCM- While if you haven't heard by now, PCM missed the playoffs for the 1st time in 7 years. Even missing the playoffs Johan Santana (22-7, 3.23era) won the Cy Young award. Bronson Arroyo (18-11, 4.93era) had a big year, but were the only two starters with a winning record. Manager Bill Anderson knows to get back to old PCM form John Smoltz (10-15, 4.14era) who had a very unlike Smoltz season needs to turn it around. Another big factor has been the injury to HOF P- Pedro Martinez (5-10, 4.52era) will be limited again this season. All-time PCM saves leader Trevor Hoffman (185) will get some much added help in Bobby Jenks. CFer Tori Hunter (.276ba, 36hr, 93rbi) lead the offense and young power hitter Prince Fielder (.268ba, 21hr, 76rbi) who was 2nd on the team in RBIs, looks to have a breakout year. PCM will miss the production of Juan Rivera (.338ba, 292b, 17hr) who is out for the year. To help the offense PCM hopes 1st Rd pick 3Bman Kevin Kouzmanoff, 2nd Rd pick OFer Travis Buck will help carry the load.Look for PCM to be focused in regaining the Central Title back in '08.

GCG- To say that the years haven't been to kind for GCG would be a major under statement. Having stated that could '08 be the season the fans and Manager Jack Howard have been waiting for. After a few year's of some questionable 1st Rd draft picks like in '06 SS Jhonny Peralta, who has been released and '07 SS Scott Drew, granted the jury is still out on Drew, you have to give Howard credit for C Russell Martin & 2Bman Brandon Phillips
taken in the 2nd and 3rd Rd of the '07 draft. Last year they traded for 3B Miguel Cabrera who is one of the best young hitters in the league. In '08 GCG looks to have one of the Best infields in NASBL. With four '1's' in 3B Mike Lowell, 2B Brandon Phillips, 1B Kevin Youkilis, C Russell Martin. SS Yuniesky Betancourt is the lone '2' (gosh, what a loser--NOT). Now go back to the Draft when on Draft Day GCG traded the 1st overall to NJT for their 1st & 3rd. With the NJT pick GCG took Rookie sensation BJ Upton! Parlay that hitting & fielding with the pitching of Ben Sheets, Jon Garland, Mark Buehrle, 2nd Rd pick Brian Bannister and Zack Greinke and with relief help from Peter Moylan, Lee Gardner & Bob Howry, '08 will be the season the fan and Jack have been waiting for!!

LESS FILLING WEST
Before we start with each teams write-up, will this be this last year we see two HOF'ers in pitcher Roger Clemens and OF Barry Bonds? Granted it doesn't look good for them to return but after that dog and pony show in front of Congress with the 'Rocket' and Brian Mac anything is possible. Baseball has looked the other way for years when it has come to certain drugs and drug testing. How do you call it a random drug test if you give a player a 'heads up' in advance? Give me a Freakin' Break! Thanks for letting me vent.


DFW- '07 saw two big things return to DFW. #1 Barry Bonds came back from only having 45 at-bats is '06 and #2 DFW defeated SPR 4-2 in the NASBL World Series. (There was much rejoicing!) '08 provides two more big questions for DFW, 1- Can they repeat? and 2- Will this be Barry Bonds last season? Let's start with #2- Everybody in DFW hopes Bonds will hopefully come back for 1 more year. As for #1 repeating, it will be up to the heart of the Spurs in the likes of Bonds (.276ba, 28hr, 81rbi, 90bb in only 366ab's) C Victor Martinez (.361ba, 312b, 10hr, 62rbi) and DH Travis Hafner (.291ba, 322b, 41hr, 126rbi). Also the Spurs need to have RF Ken Griffey Jr to bounce back from a dismal '07 along with 1B Derek Lee, who hopes he can find his MVP numbers of '06. Pitching will be the big question as it always is. One NASBL manager was quoted "DFW always seem to piece to gather a staff", well when Manager Red Robbins heard that he replied, "I can't believe he said that", then after a few seconds said, "who am I kidding, he's right!" Veterans Greg Maddux, and Dave Bush will need help from Draft picks 1st Rd Jeremy Guthrie and 4th Rd Justin Germano to pick up the slack if DFW has any chance of repeating.


SPL- '07 SPL finish second in the West with a 91-71 record. After a 3 year absence from the playoffs SPL was the Wild Card team. Even though they were defeated in the playoffs by VFS, SPL has a lot of good things to look forward to in '08. SPL got things going in the off season in a 3 fer 1 trade which landed them OFer Ichiro Suzuki. Suzuki will join regulars C Joe Mauer (.338ba, 402b, 20hr, 82rbi), DH Paul Konerko(.305ba, 312b, 35hr, 104rbi) and 1B Mark Teixeira (.270ba, 412b, 27hr, 111rbi). 3B Troy Glaus belted 40 homers and Gold Glove 2B Orlando Hudson. 1st Rd draft pick 3B Alex Gordan won the MVP in the minors, don't be surprised if he doesn't repeat it at this level. Will this be the last year of HOF Roger Clemens? If it is then don't be surprised if Felix Hernandez doesn't follow him around everywhere he goes. King Felix (7-14, 6.52era) has already learn from Clemens in his rookie year to become the ace in .08. 2nd Rd pick Wandy Rodriquez and 3rd Rd pick Shaun Marcum look to join Jarrod Washburn, Nate Robertson and Boof Bonser to round out the rotation. If Justin Hampson and Pat Neshek can get the ball Closer's Rafael Soriano, then Manager Frank Pennylegion will have a lot to smile about this year.


MSU- '07 saw MSU finish 12 games over .500 at 87-75 to finish in 3rd in the West. Well manager James Bessinger was busy in the off season trading for some much needed lefty bats in 1B Carlos Delgado and RFer Bobby Abreu. With 3B David Wright (.307ba, 322b,, 21hr, 89rbi) SS Jose Reyes (.277ba, 110r, 272b, 163b, 15hr, 77sb & only 5cs) C Ivan Rodriquez (.277ba, ) and OFers Carlos Lee (.260ba, 81r, 31hr, 102rbi) Raul Ibanez (.275ba, 39hr, 99rbi) will provide MSU with a nice offensive punch. Added to that the gift MSU got in Rd 1 of the Draft when the hitting machine of Ryan Braun feel in their lap with the 9th pick. The pitching staff is lead by Derek Lowe (14-9, 3.81era) Josh Beckett (11-6, 4.36era), Jake Westbrook (15-10, 4.98era). Look for Cole Hamels (7-10, 6.08era) to improve on his rookie numbers. Draft picks P Kyle Kendrick (4th Rd) and Jason Bergmann and Andy Sonnanstine (both 5th Rd'ers) both should get a lot of work in the rotation. MSU secret weapon is Closer JJ Putz (6-3, 1.34era, 38sv) is coming off an outstanding FOY in '07. If Putz has another big year that means MSU will be in the play off hunt in '08.

TRY- The good news is '07 was a very successful year for TRY who finished with a record of 87-76. The bad news is they finish 4th in the South that saw every team finish over .500. Well 1st year manager Ken Anderson had a very busy off season. The 1st big deal Ken did was traded CFer Ichiro Suzuki to SPL for OFers Andruw Jones & Andre Ethier, and SS David Eckstein. The 2nd big deal was when Ken sent 2B Chase Utley, OFer Carl Crawford, and P Matt Capps to LVI for P Jered Weaver, LF Matt Holliday, and 2B Mark Ellis. TRY will have a different look this year with the new additions. On Draft day after selecting OFer Hunter Pence with the 7th overall pick should fit in nicely with Holiday, Jones & Ethier.
Ken then made his 3rd big trade when he traded with HHA to get the rights to Draft P John Maine who will be in the rotation with Jered Weaver behind the likes of ace Fausto Carmona and Brad Penny. If the pitching staff can overcome 2 big injuries to Chris Carpenter (15-7, 3.92era) and Closer BJ Ryan (7-4, 1.52era, 35sv) both who are out for the year, then TRY should be able to repeat their success of '07 and be a contender this year.