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| NL West 1. San Francisco - My pick for best team in the league. Good pitchin, good hitting and this is the only team whose pitchers really beenfite fromt he other 8 guys playing that day. The defense on this team is insane and it was done without hurting the offense, and it will provde a massive boost to the pitching staff. The only team I've seen where the batters help the pitchers and the pitchers help on offense. 2. Arizona - Bottom of the rotation is suspect (when was the last time Tampa or KC produced decent pitchers? Never and maybe Cone would be the answers there I think.) but the top of the rotation is pretty darn good. Solid lineup too and the bullpen isn't anythign to be ignored either. Still, I'd say he has little chance of catching SF even with some injuries. 3. San Diego - This wasa tough spot to pick. I leaned toward Colorado, but this team put on an impressive showing in the WL so I'm going to place him third. He could easily place fourth but for now, the 3 spot is his. 4. Colorado - Promising young rotation but an extremely suspect lineup. Combine that with the launching pad that is Coors field and who knows what could happen. Colorado mayhave a better team than SD, but Coors hurts and SD had a great winter. Look for the 4 spot to provide motivation to the team and drive them higher. 5. Los Angeles - Once a juggernaut, now not likely to even be an 'also ran' this team has come under criticism for some of it's moves but they're still here and they're still plugging away. Still, this team has little to no star power and will be waiting for a few years to contend. My pick for worst record in the league. AL Central 1. Cleveland - Nash has the makings of a very solid young rotation in Buehrle (newly acquired), Moss and Lackey, rounded out by the solid Mike Mussina and Mark Redman as the #4 or 5 starter. While Urbina may be a questionable closer in some eyes, he is good for 30-40 saves every season. This lineup also has quite a bit of pop, with EIGHT players capable of 20hr's or more, though none likely to top 40 so a pretty balanced attack. From 2-5 it's a tough call, most of these teams have rotations that lack a dominant starter or a truly dominant hitter 2. Chicago - Chicago get's the nod at number 2, partly as a nod to his division title for 2002. Chicago's offense carried them in 02 in spite of mediocre pitching. For 2003, the pitching has gotten moderately better but the offense has taken a step backwards with a-rod gone and the big bat in the lineup The Big Hurt is 35 3. Kansas City - The Royals start off with two decent starters, Millwood and Kim and then taper off quite a bit. Kim's durability is a question, his stuff isn't. The lineup is probably the second best in the division, in fact, when healthy this team is probably #2 in the division, but questions abound around Kim, Higginson and Gonzalez regarding health and durability. 4. Detroit - Pretty nice pen with Percival and K-rod, but the rotation is very poor and the offense is full of suspicious characters. The more I look at this team's rotation, the more concerned I become. Kenny Rogers is his number one and he had a hard time finding a job this year until he realized he wasn't worth 3-4 million a year and signed on as minesota's #5. 5. Minnesota - Alas, poor twinkies. It could be a long season... though if Kris Benson returns to form and Ryan Dempster finally puts things together there could be some hope. The offense though has very little pop and doesn't do much of anything very well NL East 1. Philadelphia - A very good rotation with Clemens (an old ace), Hudson (a young ace), Lopez (a guy who has flashed ace potential in 02) and a very solid Johan Santana. He's also built a decent lineup with a core of Sosa, Garrett Anderson and Jeff Kent. Very good shot at the division as long as no one big is lost to injury. 2. Florida - This is a team with a lot of youth and potential, butit's youth and potential that is very, very close to being realized. Phelps had a breakout season last year (though he loses value since he's not likely to spend much time, if any, behind the plate) and Penny and Fogg are already solid young starters who canimprove a lot more. Doesn't have the muscle to catch Philly though without a misstep and with the other divisions being very strong, has little shot at the WC. 3. Atlanta - A team with some good potential if players such as Borchard and Lopez make the Leap and if Giambi has a breakout season. Not a great rotation, the 1-3 is ok, though lacking an ace, but the 4-5 is pretty suspect, especially after Livan blew up in the postseason last year. 4. New York - Recently arrived from Cleveland, this team reeks of potential with players such as Ben Broussard, Victor Martinez, Marlon Byrd, Hank Blalock in the lineup. Most of those players are elite prospects at their positions, but that's a lot of positions to be counting on prospects for. The rotation is a little stronger with Oliver Perez who had a breakthrough season last year, Ted Lilly finally out of the Big Apple and hard throwing Franklyn German. With a little luck this team could be third in the divison, with a lot, it could be seoncd. 5. Montreal - It always comes tothis doesn't it? Grant has had very little luck with his team, most recently losing David Justice to retirement. Grissom and Mientkiewicz will now need to carry the heavy offensive load on this team. The rotations is pretty weak with Terry Adams leading the charge with a 4.35 era last year. Oh well, at least they get 22 games in Puerto Rico! AL East As tough divisions go, this is the toughest. It's two power houses, Boston and Toronto could match up with any two in the league. This is also the only division without a team that's an automatic win when you play them. 1. Toronto - Dangerous rotation, dangerous offense, deep pen. The rotation has some age issues (3 pitchers on social security, though these guys rarely, if ever, show it) and JD Drew has consistency issues but that's about it. The lineup is extremely strong as is the rotation. The pen is excellent with Guardado closing the door, and foulke behind him (Foulke could possibly start too if needed). One other flaw, weak minor league system. I'm sure JB is crying about that. Might be the best team in the league. 2. Boston - No need to double check, yes, i've placed my own team second in my division even after seizing the AL East crown in 02. Why? Well, of the rotation, pen and lineup, 8 players are back from Last year (though several of the new ones are improvements) and 7 weren't in the database in 02 (some might not make it for 03). The addition of the likes of K-rod, Padilla, Walker, Winn and Holmes strengthens the team, but there are question marks. If Munoz, Gosling, Youkilis and especially Teixeira perform adequately (not great, but Well) then this team will likely have a good grasp on the divison lead. If they should flop, or not be in the sim, it will be a long season. If they should excel... it will be a long season indeed... for Toronto. Best minor league system in the league, bar none. 3-5 These three teams are very evenly matched. The order below is no more likely than any other. Barring tragedy in Boston or Toronto though I don't see any of them cracking the top 2. 3. Baltimore - A good rotation, but not great. Also a decent offene, but again, not great. A pretty good 'pen around Williams, Reed and Sauerbeck. This team has a few superstars but isn't remarkable otherwise (outside the pen). Fewer age/health quetion put this team ahead of the Yankees in these rankings and could be the difference maker in the regular season. 4. New York - Potentially the strongest rotation of the bottom three though with uncertainties, Brown has had age/injury issues and Contreras is, thus far, an unknown quantity. These unknowns and the potential age/injury issues around Thomas, Biggio and Williams make this team hard to project. With a little luck, this team is the strongest of the three, with a little bad luck, the Yankee Magic could shrivel to card tricks and sleight of hand... 5. Tampa Bay - Probably the weakest rotation in the division, but still very respectable. Without a doubt the Best 'worst' team in any division and could easily find himself in third place as opposed to fifth. AL West Another tough division. Anaheim is the defending IBC WS shampion, but then Brennan (formerly pittsburgh) moved to Seattle and suddenly Nick wasn't necessarily the toughest guy on the playground anymore. Only a full season will tell who's the real Big Man on Campus. 1. Anaheim Angels - In a tough decision, benefit of the doubt has to go to the defending champs. Yes, Mighty Morris is gone, but this team still has a pretty deep rotation (though no longer spectacular at the top and lacking the Ace presence which Morris brought). Smoltz is kick-ass in the pen (possibly the rotation?) and the lineup is prettty solid (though lacking a true leadoff man or any real speed). This team will try to mash you with Arod, Gonzo and Boone. Division title, King of the Mountain until he's unseated. 1a. Seattle - I actually like this team slightly more than Anaheim, but benefit of the doubt is easily swung by a Ring. Good rotation depth (where's the true ace?), very good pen depth, good bench depth (who wouldn't want Edgar off the pine?) This team does have some age questions (I expect Bonds to have issues this season especially with all the 'roids, I mean suplements, he takes) but has a pretty good farm system with some major league ready talent to call upon. WC contender, division title a definite possibility. 3. Texas - A team that has made huge strides in the last year. Probably the best rotation in the division and a pretty good pen to back it up. Offense can't match the teams in the top half of the divison though. Some very good prospects who could be ready very soon. If the big brothers stumble even a bit, this team could swoop in fast and hard and not look back. If both hold strong, it will be unfortunate to see this team in 3d place. 4. Oakland - Not sure what direction this team is heading in (doesn't look like up). This team had a very good draft but has taken some steps backwards since, especially in the rotation. A respectable Lineup provided McGriff stays healthy, but that's not going to be enough to play with the big boys in the West. I don't see a climb out of fourth unless somethign drastic occurs. NL Central A very deep division, while not as good as it once was having lost Brennan and Nils, it's still pretty deep with Cinicinnati and St. Louis leading the charge. 1. Cincinnati - Want to talk depth? This Lineup doesn't start to lose it until the #8 spot with Brandon Inge, Dye isn't a marvelous hitter but as a #7 he's pretty damn good and if he can fully recover from leg injuries then all the better. The rotation is also pretty strong. The Pen is a little top heavy, weighted toward Rivera, but the set-up and other guys aren't a real liability. Look for this team to sieze the NL Central and not look back. 2. St Louis - Another deep team, a better 7-8 than Cinci, but the reds have a better edge in the meat of the order. A good rotation, very young. If Carlos Hernandez really pulls it together, he could pass Cinci. Bullpen isn't as deep though, Graves as a closer is a concern but Koch is there just in case. Look for Aaron to take a good shot at the WC and possibly challenge Nate for the pennant. 3. Houston - Deep rotation to start with, though some question marks as far as consistency and injuries. Pretty good offense too, though not enough for this division. This team could take the pennant in several other divisions, but may find himself in 3d in the deep NL Central. If Nate or Aaron run into injury issues or if a few things break right, this team could definitely make the playoffs. 4. Chicago - Very respectable rotation, headed by Tim Hudson. Decent bullpen, pretty good lineup but may not crack .500 in this Very, Very tough division, which is a shame. 5. Pittsburgh - New GM has done a lot of wheeling and dealing so far, so this position may change. Right now, a lack of a solid Ace or fearsome slugger keeps this team well back of Chicago. 6. Milwaukee - This team is just plain God-Awful. It's been purged of a lame-duck GM, but will anyone dare to run it? If not, the IBC Commish will be taking on the challenge until such time as an appropriate replacement can be found. 120 losses. Easily. UPDATE - The Commish has indeed taken the helm and is working on navigating the team to where it has a strong young base, much like the MLB Indians. |