LDBA XXII Season Preview

The LDBA 22 season is upon us and it looks like it will be a good one.

Methodology: I received 10 ballots this time from teams in every division the Central Division returned the most ballots. Hooray for us!! Each team received a point value for their place in the standings with first place teams receiving one point for each first place vote etc. So the lower a teams score the better. Without much further ado here it is. Each division had a clear cut favorite according to our voters.

The four time defending champion Cougars are on the prowl again. Going into the trading period the Cougars were vulnerable for a fall in the standings, but GM Kyle swung numerous big deals to rebuild the Cougars over night. The Coug’s added Bagwell, Petitte, Remlinger & Sosa to the defending champion's roster. A strong draft paced by the selection of Albert Pujols & Roy Oswalt make the Coug’s even tougher.

The pitching is the Coug’s weakest in its championship run but is still formidable lead by Kevin Brown, Andy Pettite, Oswalt & Mike Mussina and a corps of solid but not dominating relievers, is the envy of most LDBA squads. The offense is the strong point of the team, lead by Pujols, Sosa, Bagwell and Bobby Abreu. Rookie 2Ber Jose Ortiz is a great draft pick. Rookie Jorge Julio might be the closer of the future.

The Dragonslayers are now among the LDBA elite paced by the steady brilliance of Owner/GM/Manager William Hines. The Dragonslayers have the horses to overtake the Cougars for first place in the division and the LDBA title.

The pitching staff is rock solid paced by the starting quartet of Daryle Kile, Al Leiter, Chan Ho Park and Roy Halladay. The bullpen is the best in Dragonslayer history paced by the lotto acquisition of Grade 21 XYZ lefty-closer Arthur Rhodes. Kaz Sasaki, Mike Lincoln, Norm Charlton and Mike Williams are there to set up Rhodes.

The Slayers offense is a potent bunch paced by 1B sacker Todd Helton, possibly the best pure hitter in baseball. Catcher Jorge Posada, OFer’s Burnitz, Berkman, C/1B Robert Fick and 2B Todd Walker add depth to the team. Berkman is a future MVP player.

Youngsters Corey Patterson, Milton Bradley and Luis Vizcaino look like future contributors to the Dragonslayers success.

Woody’s Millersville Mounties look to bounce back into playoff contention after last years less than satisfying showing. This team is a dangerous squad that is capable of competing with most LDBA XXII teams.

Ace starters Curt Schilling and Jon Leiber pace the pitching staff. Bartolo Colon, 50 year old El Dugue and Todd Ritchie complement the two aces. The relief squad is able and deep paced by youngster Jeremy Fikac, hard throwing Billy Wagner, Chad Bradford, Scott Strickland and future closer Jesus Colome.

The strength of this team is the offense led by the ageless Rafael Palmiero. Bret Boone coming off a career year is a dangerous hitter. Bernie Williams is great all round outfielder. Placido Polanco is a versatile offensive force. Juan Pierre is a sweet swinger that gets on base at a .379 clip.

The Mounties hope that draftees Dee Brown, Dustan Mohr, Larry Bigbe, and Gary Glover develop into competent major leaguers.

Bob Imparato’s Boston Braves look forward to another LDBA season with hope and pride. Bob is the LDBA’s most unique GM/manager but his Braves always compete. The Braves may not make the playoffs this year but watch for this team next year!!!

The pitching staff is paced by the two-headed monster of the ageless Roger Clemens(15 xyz) and the suddeningly mortal Pedro Martinez. Kelvim Escobar, stud youngster Jason Marquis, Tony Armas, and Cris Carpenter round out a good starting staff. Closer Mike Stanton, Curt Leskanic, Esteban Yan and the aforementioned Escobar & Marquis pace the bullpen.

The Braves offense is a bit weak but still possess run scoring ability. Jose Cruz Jr. finally tapped his vast potential and is the leader of the Braves offense. The favorite of baseball stat wonks everywhere Frank Catalanotto is a steady offensive force. Vlad "the Impaler" Guerrero seems ready to assume his place among baseball’s elite. Jeff Cirillo is a steady contributor. I’m sure Bob hopes that SS Nomar Garciaparra bounces back but unfortunately Nomar won’t contribute this LDBA season.

Perhaps the strength of this team is the youth that Bob has drafted the few years. Carlos Pena is a future MVP, starter Ryan Jensen is a sleeper, SS D’Angelo Jimenez is the steal of this years draft, Odalis Perez looks like a solid double digit LDBA pitcher, along with starters Joe Kennedy and Paul Wilson.

With an average GM this team would be a solid playoff contender, alas, the orphaned Beaver seems destined for the second division.

The Beaver’s pitching staff is impressive paced by one of the best young starters in baseball Tim Hudson (13 Y) and best elder statesman on the mound Tom Glavine (11) and the surprisingly effective Paul Abbott. The most impressive feature of this team is the bullpen lead by the stingy Felix Rodriquez (21 XY), Steve Kline (20Y), Steve Karsay and Jason Isringhausen.

The Beaver’s offense is the weak spot on this intriguing team. Edgar Martinez is still one of the best offensive players in baseball. Trot Nixon has arrived and is one of the great young players around today. Darin Erstad is coming off a disappointing season but is capable of bouncing back., however for LDBA 22, Erstad is problematic. I hate Carl Everett and so should you, but he has put up impressive numbers in the past.

Youngsters Marcus Giles and Felipe Lopez look like solid future contributors.

6. Connecticut Eagles 51 points

Newcomer Rich Groski brings his Bob Imparato inspired brand of LDBA-ball to the league this season. Unfortunately for Rich, the Eagles are faced with competing in the LDBA’s roughest division.

The pitching staff looks to be the Achilles heel of this team. Draftee starter Brian Lawrence looks to be the future ace of the staff. Pedro Astacio won’t help much this year but now that he is pitching in a non-Coors environment he should help the Eagles in the future. Youngster Erick Hiljus has great potential but only time will tell. Woody Williams is a capable workhorse. Darren Dreifort has great physical tools but seems to lack intestinal & testicular fortitude. The bullpen is potentially among the LDBA’s best but this year is average. Mariano Rivera is the BEST relief pitcher ever and Trevor Hoffman is not far behind. Corey Bailey caught lightening in a bottle last year but will be productive this season his future is cloudy at best. Danny Graves on the other hand should be a future closer for the Eagles.

Barry Bonds, what’s left to say? Any team that features Bonds will score runs, however, expect Bonds to be walked intentionally this year whenever possible. Rising stars Magglio Ordonez and Jose Vidro will assist Bonds. The Eagles need Jay Payton & Shane Spencer to lift their games for the future of this franchise.

The youngest team in LDBA history will take some bumps this year but hopes for a bright future abound in Monster land.

The Monster’s pitching staff is greener than the Amazon but GM Dave P has made some shrewd acquisitions for the future. Eric Gagne won’t do much this season but looks like a dominant closer for the Monster’s. Blake Stein has good stuff as does youngsters Nick Bierbodt, Dan Wright, Kyle Lohse, and Nate Cornejo. Rich Garces is huge but capable.

Offensively, the Monsters will scratch for runs but again are built for the future. SS Jimmy Rollins is a future all-star that will contribute this LDBA season. Sean Casey is the offensive star of this team, Casey lacks power but nonetheless is a quality major league hitter. Aaron Boone seems to have tapped some of his potential. The future of the Monsters is invested in youngsters Juan Encarnacion, Ruben Mateo, Eric Valent, Vernon Wells, Luis Rivas, Armando Rios, Alex Escobar and Ben Petrick.

This will be a long year for Monsters playing in the beastly LDBA East. 120 losses are not out of the realm of possibility.

1. Beaumont Golden Gators 11 points(9 first place votes)

The Gators are the clear-cut division favorite and on paper look formidable but questions remain about their on field performance.

The Gators have their best starting staff ever boasting three double-digit starters. Barry Zito (13 X), Wade Miller (13 Y) and Corey Lidle (12 YZ) match up with most any other three starters. Reuter, & Cone complement the top three. The bullpen although not as talented on papers as in years past is among the league’s best pens. Fox, Foulke, Nunez, Mecir and Weber should hold on to many leads, if they don’t walk too many hitters and keep the ball in the park.

Offensively, this a powerful squad capable of scoring runs in bunches. Gary Sheffield has been the franchise’s best player the last two seasons and looks to build upon his legacy as the franchise’s premier player. Newcomers Mike Piazza, Phil Nevin and Ellis Burks boost the team’s offense. Holdovers Brian Giles & Paul Konerko look to boost their power numbers and drive the team to its first ever playoff berth. Rookie SS Juan Uribe will contribute this season and in the future.

Youngsters Shawn Wooten, Brent Aberthany & Dave Coggin are important to the teams future success.

The Gators can win it all but past performances cast doubts upon this team’s LDBA XXII championship aspirations.

Question for y’all, how does a team trade one of the best sluggers in baseball history (Sammy Sosa) and still remain a viable championship contender? Well the Wrecking Crew has done just that. Despite trading Sosa, the Crew has a legitimate chance at LDBA gold.

The Crew’s pitching staff is a good outfit that can shut down many LDBA offenses. The undisputed ace of the staff is knuckler Steve Sparks(12Z). Sparks is assisted by surprising Miguel Batista(10/12), rising ace Brad Penny(9YZ) and work horses Hideo Nomo(7WX) and Jeff Suppan(6). The bullpen is the strength of staff featuring six relievers rated grade 10 or above. Mike DeJean, Ricardo Rincon and six fingered Antonio Alfonseca are the leaders of this group.

The Wrecking Crew will miss Sosa but not be scraping for runs. Newcomer 3B Aramis Ramirez is a rising star with good pop. Moises Alou is aging and injury-prone but still an offensive force. Jim Thome is a premier power source. Youngster Russ Branyan is this generation’s Dave Kingman, capable of prodigious clouts and awe-inspiring strike out totals. Miguel Tejada has established himself as a premier shortstop. Terrance Long is a decent power source and little Pokey Reese is among the best defensive players out there. Daryle Ward is going to hit 40 real life homers this season, giving Wronsky a future Silver Slugger winner.

I really like the Crew’s draft as they picked some excellent young players. Nick Johnson looks like a future all-star. Adam Dunn has scary power potential and Brad Wilkerson is a quality major leaguer of the future.

The Crew should make the playoffs this LDBA season and look like a LDBA XXIII favorite.

Second-year skipper Earl Foster’s has built a team capable of challenging for a playoff berth in LDBA XXII.

The Robins feature two aces; ageless Jamie Moyer (14z) is a master at changing speeds and winning games. Ross Oritz (13y) on the other hand throws gas and rings up K’s. These two starters are assisted by promising Eric Milton (8yz) , cagey vet’s Shane Reynolds (6z) & Kevin Tapani (5yz). The bullpen of Jason Grimsley (14y) , rubber armed Jeff Tam (14y), Paul Quantrill (12yz) and rookie Victor Zambrano (12xy) are a capable lot of serviceable relievers.

The offense will miss departed Jeff Bagwell and will have a hard time scoring runs. However, the Robins are not devoid of talent. Luis Gonzalez is the offensive star of this club. Vet Mark Grace will help Gonzo out. Rueben Sierra surprised us all by resurrecting his career in Seattle and will add his prowess to the Robins squad. 2B Luis Castillo is an on-base and stolen base machine. The Robins won’t have much help from Frank Thomas this season but hope for future production out of the Big Hurt.

Youngster SS David Eckstein will help the Robins this season and looks the Robins SS of the future. Rookie starter Jose Acevedo has the potential to produce 10+ grades in the future.

The Robins have better than average pitching but lack the offensive firepower to contend for the division crown this season.

John Ficarro is among the top five LDBA managers has his work out for him this LDBA XXII season. The Blues perennially make the playoffs but it appears the Blues playoff streak will end this season.

The Blues pitching staff this season is distinctly average but still has some quality arms available for duty. Brad Radke (8yz) is a premier starter and the class of the Blues staff. Frank Castillo, Omar Daal, Rat Rapp, David Wells and Kip Wells are decent if unspectacular starters. The bullpen is not very deep. John Reidling is the class of the pen but has limited innings available. Dan Plesac and Cliff Politte are around to help out.

The strength of this squad is the offense. Paul LoDuca seemingly came out nowhere to become an elite offensive catcher. Dmitri Young had a career year showing good power and plate discipline. Carlos Lee is a rising young star that is capable of producing a string of 30+ homer seasons. Corey Koskie is among the elite 3B in baseball today. Ken Griffey long the envy of most LDBA managers had another sub par season but is still a good player to have around. The enigmatic Derek Lee had a nice season last year, giving the Blues a capable 1B for LDBA XXII.

Looks like a down for year the Blues but they should return to the elite of LDBA in a year or two.

Prodigal owner Jim Kimnach returns to the LDBA with an underrated squad.

The pitching staff is the weak link on this team but seems have hope for the future. Mark Mulder looked like Cy Young last season putting together a 20 win season and rewarded the Express with a 14yz grade for 34 starts. The rest of the starting staff is good but not great. Jason Schmidt (7x), Jeff Weaver (7y) and promising youngster Dave Williams (7) are a good complement to Mulder. The pen maybe over looked but has some ability. Jeff Nelson looks the closer and is aided by the quartet of hard throwing Kyle Farnsworth, Pedro Borbon, Jeff Shaw & Dave Wallace.

This offense will score bunches of runs and batter some opposing pitching staffs into submission. Jason Giambi is one the best offensive performers today (too bad he sold out and went to Yankee land) clouting massive homers along with a discerning batting eye. Giambi is not alone Shawn Green boasts impressive power as does SS Rich Aurilia. Richie Sexson boasts the most pure power on this team and in all of baseball. Alex Ochoa has become a better than average major leaguer.

Future stars on this team are Ruben Mateo and Chris Michalak.

This team can and will surprise many this year by making the playoffs, either, as the Central champ or as a wildcard entry.

The Blue Devils surprised many last year by grabbing a playoff berth. This year they hope to repeat their success by again catching the rest of the league sleeping.

The starters on this team are not overwhelming but are deep, boasting seven starters with grade 6 or above. The ace of the staff is lefty Jarrod Washburn a hard thrower. He is assisted by Robert Person, Sean Lowe, and Ryan Dempster, bright star Juan Cruz, Adam Eaton and surprising Tanyon Sturtze. The bullpen may keep the Blue Devils from the playoffs featuring only three double digit relievers: Sean Lowe (10/11) Giovanni Carrara (8/12 and vet Jeff Fassero (11).

The Blue Devils offense features several premier performers in slugger Manny Ramirez, catalyst Derek Jeter, cagey vet Tino Martinez, and Jeff Conine. Catcher Damian Miller is a surprisingly effective offensive performer.

Promising youngsters Mark Quinn, Bobby Kielty and Matt Wise dot the roster giving Crossley Street hope for the future.

The defending Central champion Shamrocks appear to be in a rebuilding year but possess the ability to surprise a few teams this season.

The starting staff on this year's Shamrocks is not among the league’s best but still has some quality arms. Ramon Oritz aged two-three years this off-season but is a future 10+ starter. Youngsters Ruben Quevedo, Ben Sheets, Tim Redding & Bruce Chen offer hope for future LDBA seasons. If Sterling Hitchcock ever stays healthy watch out!!! The bullpen features ace closer Troy Percival, setup guys Tom Gordon, Braden Looper and Tim Worrell.

A powerful offense is the strength of this team. Alex Rodriquez just might be the greatest SS ever and is the main offensive weapon of the Shamrocks. A-Rod is assisted by 2B Ray Durham, Matt Lawton, Preston Wilson, Steve Cox, Mike Lowell and Javy Lopez.

The rest of LDBA better get their licks in this season, because next season the Shamrocks will return to the top of the LDBA.

Paced by the leagues’ best starting rotation Gary Witt’s Mojave Marauders look like the class of the West this LDBA season.

The Marauder starting four is fearsome boasting ace fire-baller Randy Johnson (16XY). Three pitchers that would be aces on every other team in the league back the Big Unit. Matt Morris (14YZ) bounced from arm surgery, Mark Buehrle (13 Z) is a young tough lefty and Javier Vazquez (13XZ) burst upon the scene with a stellar season. Randy Wolfe (8X) is an excellent fifth starter. Mojave’s bullpen is its best in recent memory, lead by overlooked Al Levine (17) and Cuban defector Denys Baez (17X). These two excellent reliever are aided by Randy Choate (12WY), Ryan Franklin (11YZ) and Gene (buy me a vowel) Stechschulte (8Y)

Mojave’s offense is not as able as some be will score plenty runs for this pitching staff. Eric Chavez is fast becoming an elite major leaguer. Jermaine Dye has the ability to win some games with his fearsome power potential. Fragile Jim Edmonds continues to produce. Catcher AJ Pierzynski produced a credible season in real life ball giving Witt a productive LDBA player at a position lacking in offensive production. Fernando Vina, Jose Hernandez, and Tyler Houston complement the offense of the team.

Mojave looks like the favorite in the West with the ability to win it all in LDBA XXII.

Nancy Willett’s improving Redbirds seek their first division title and second ever playoff berth in LDBA XXII. The strength of this squad is its tough pitching staff and a scrappy offense.

The Redbird’s starters are an excellent bunch led by ace Freddy Garcia (14Y). Garcia is now among the preeminent starters in all of baseball. Consistent 30 start pitcher Aaron Sele (13Z) is around once again as is the fully recovered hard throwing Texan Kerry Wood (13 WXY). Young vet Livian Hernandez is still around for 34 starts. This maybe the Redbirds best & deepest bullpen in the history of the franchise. Jose Mesa (17 XZ), otherwise known as Joe Table in many circles, is the closer on this years Redbird squad. Mesa is ably assisted by Paul Shuey (15 XY), "Everyday" Eddie Guardaro (12 X), Mike Myers (12 WX), David Lee (11 WY) and Steve Reed (11 Y).

The Redbirds offense is not overwhelming but should score enough runs for 90+ wins this season. Ivan Rodriquez is the best defensive catcher in baseball today and is a bonafide offensive threat when healthy. Doug Mientkiewicz had a good year at the plate and is a defensive force at first. Youngster Cristian Guzman is on the cusp of becoming an elite SS, at this point in time Guzman is an improving on-base machine with speed to spare. Raul Mondesi is adept at hitting taters and stealing bases. Scott Rolen who seemed on the verge of becoming an elite major leaguer a couple years back has regressed a bit, but this Hoosier has the talent to rebound. Other offensive stalwarts on this squad are: Jose Valentin and Marlon Anderson. Youngster Jacque Jones may be ready to break out with a quality season.

The Redbirds had an excellent draft plucking future Cy Young candidate Joel Piniero, powerful OF Jay Gibbons, sleeper Wes Helms, highly coveted Victor Santos (remember him Mr. Witt?), Scott Stewart, Willis Roberts and Joe Beimel.

The Redbirds and the Mojave Marauders are two evenly matched squads that will battle down to the wire for the West crown and LDBA supremacy.

3. Belleville Barons 34 points(1)

Not to be forgotten in the LDBA West are perennial contenders, the Belleville Barons. The Baron’s are always a divisional force and this season is no different.

The pitching on this season’s Barons squad lacks depth in the rotation but features a better than average bullpen. Rejuvenated John Burkett is clearly the Barons ace with a 13YZ rating. The rest of the rotation spots are held by less capable pitchers. Mike Mathews(9/12 Y) is the best of the lot with 10 starts. Vets Ishmael Valdez (5) & Sidney Ponson (4 Z) are around to help out. Draftees Bud Smith (7 YZ), Josh Tower (4Z) and Lance Davis (5) offer hope for future. The strength of this staff is a plethora of double-digit relievers. Mike Willett will look to Grade 17 relievers Todd Van Poppel & Dave Weathers for saves. Setup duties will be in the hands of lesser relievers: Jason Christensen, Danny Patterson, Jack Cressend, Travis Phelps and Jerrod Riggans.

The strength of this team is the usual high octane Barons offense. This is among the very best in the LDBA, paced by stars: Roberto Alomar, Larry Walker, Mike Sweeney, Bobby Higginson, Jeff Kent, Mike Cameron, Brian Jordan, Cliff Floyd, Vinny Castilla & Bubba Trammell. An imposing group for sure that will score some runs this season.

I really like rookie catcher Toby Hall’s chances to develop into a mini-Mike Piazza. The Barons are a dangerous team that all in likelihood will fall short of the division crown and possibly the playoffs because of its than stellar starting rotation.

The Raiders feature one of the LDBA’s true characters in GM/Owner/Field General/Groundskeeper/Equipment Manager Mark Garcia. Oh Yeah, this franchise has pretty good players too.

Like many LDBA squads, the Raiders pitching staff is the Achilles Heel of the team. The Raiders rotation is nothing to write home about this season but it does include some impressive young arms that offer hope for the future. AJ. Burnett right now is the Raiders best starter and looks like a star in the making. Burnett is assisted by youngsters; Brian Tollberg, Shawn Chacon, Brandon Lyon, Tony McKnight, Luke Propkopec and Scott Schoenweis. The bullpen is in better shape led by the underrated Bob Wickman and ancient Mike Magnante. Buddy Groom and Dave Veres will share setup duties.

Offensively the Raiders are in fine shape. Chipper Jones leads the pyrotechnic offensive display. Troy Glaus is now a perennial all-star 3B. In a stunning development the Raiders where able to pry Andruw Jones from the sleeping Beaumont Golden Gators in a blockbuster deal this spring, Jones is sure to produce for the Raiders. Fred McGriff, J.D. Drew, Garrett Anderson, Carlos Beltran, Ryan Klesko, Travis Lee add to an imposing offensive lineup.

Once the Raiders young pitchers develop this team will compete for the LDBA crown, unfortunately this season’s playoff hopes will be short circuited by a substandard starting rotation.

Ken Martin’s Gumsville Moonlights are in a rebuilding mode this season but hope to spring some surprises this season.

Greg Maddux is clearly the ace of the Moonlights staff, however, his running mates in the rotation won’t offer much help this season. Terry Adams moved from the pen to rotation and put together a solid season. The Moonlights continue to wait for Matt Clement to establish himself as a quality starter. The bullpen is deep and solid and may keep the team in some games this season. Bret Prinz has the best grade of the lot but with limited innings available. He is assisted by Jose Cabrera, Matt Herges, Uggie Urbina and flame throwing Armando Benitez.

Gumsville offense has some holes but still features quality performers. Carlos Delgado can thump with the best of them. Other players able to chime in are: Shannon Stewart, Marty Cordova, Lee Stevens and Orlando Cabrera.

According to many pundits draftee Alfonso Soriano has Hall of Fame potential, however, only time will here. The Moonlights will struggle this season but hope for a brighter future.

After a run of playoff appearances the wheels came off the Angels train last season, as a consequence the team is in a rebuilding mode.

Kevin Appier leads a thin pitching staff. He will be assisted by youngster Jason Johnson, vet Mike Hampton, Tim Wakefield, & Kevin Jarvis. The bullpen is virtually non-existent. Rudy Seanez, John Smoltz, Jay Powell and every day reliever Scott Sullivan are sure to see a lot of work this season.

Heller’s offense looks to reload with John Olerud, rising young slugger Torii Hunter, Ricky Gutierrez, Japanese import Ichiro, and Juan Gonzalez. Youngsters 2B Mike Young and Brian Buchanan are the Angels best young players.

The Angels will certainly struggle for wins this season but hope to at least beat the Vienna Angstmongers in the standings.

Doug Rippey’s has his best team ever this season and looks to jump into the first division of West this season.

The pitching is small in numbers but features three excellent starters. They are ace Joe Mays, draftee CC Sabathia and youngster Jon Garland. Rick Reed, Doug Davis and Jimmy Anderson round out the rotation. The bullpen is extremely thin but Jeff Zimmerman is capable of 30+ saves. Kerry Lightenberg is Zimmerman’s lone setup guy.

The offense is the strongest part of the Angstmongers team this season. Pat Burrell is a budding young stud capable of 50 homer seasons in the very near future. When healthy Jason Kendall is among the top receivers in baseball. Tony Womack, Steve Finley, Kevin Millar, Shea Hillenbrand, Jose Macias and injury prone Erubiel Durazo add depth to the teams offense. Jack Wilson has the ability to be the best defensive SS in the NL.

It looks like another long season for the Angstmongers but there is hope for improvement in the future.