By: Alan Oldiges
Northern League
| Team | Batting | Pitching | Overall |
| Chicago Cardinals (109-53), 1st in Division, lost in NLCS
The Cardinals showed last season�s championship was no fluke, as they proved themselves to again be an elite team in the league. In fact, they had a better regular season in 2007 than they did in the previous year. Led by an amazing all-around pitching staff, Chicago yet again reached the NLCS, but couldn�t get by eventual champion Connecticut. Their two stud starters, Alfredo Aguilar and Luciano Alcaraz, undoubtedly led the staff, though their 3-4-5 starters and the bullpen wasn�t too far behind. The offense was solid as well, with Deangelo Alberti and Jonathan White doing as good a job as any to set the table for the middle of the order. With a fairly solid farm system, the Cardinals look to be dominant in the Northern League for quite a while. Team MVP: SP Luciano Alcaraz � 2.72 ERA, 22-7, 1.01 WHIP, 227 Ks |
A- | A | A |
| Detroit Bulldogs (105-57), 2nd in Division, lost in NLDS
After booting inactive owner Andrew Sasinowski, Anton Massey brought a breath of fresh air to the Detroit franchise and led the Bulldogs back to the postseason, something they had missed since they had reached the ABLCS in the league�s inaugural year. Many considered the team to have severely overachieved this year, with a record 17 games better than their Pythagorean Record, but you can�t blame them for doing so well. The team used a solid all-around game to win, with arguably no big superstars, outside of SS John Ploya. He led the team in homeruns, RBI, and stolen bases, anchoring the 8th best offense in the league. The pitching was equally as impressive, led by the 1-2-3 combination of Lorenzo Rodriguez, Alonzo Riojas, and Roy Hitchens � all of them sporting an ERA below 4. Team MVP: SS John Ploya � .296 avg, 26 HRs, 104 RBIs, 112 runs, 49 SBs, .864 OPS |
B+ | A- | A- |
| St. Louis Stallions (95-67), 3rd in Division
There�s no doubt what kept the Stallions out of the playoffs this year � their offense. The staff was nothing short of spectacular, with NL Triple Crown winner Joaquin Cavallo headlining a studly 4-man rotation, not to mention a bullpen with 5 relievers having ERAs below 4. The offense was led by Soester Award winner JJ Biro, Jr, whose stats are jaw-dropping - .364 average, 41 homeruns, 129 RBIs, 64 stolen bases, and a 1.108 OPS. If Daryll Fink can find some players to produce other than Biro and Aaron Tepper, the Stallions could be unstoppable in 2008. Team MVP: SP Joaquin Cavallo � 2.58 ERA, 24-5, 1.03 WHIP, 285 Ks |
B- | A+ | B+ |
| Minnesota Monarchs (70-92), 4th in Division
After a stunning 2006 campaign, in which the team finished 14 games above .500, the team took a step backward in 2007. The biggest factor was likely the aging of most of their players, though it did give room for some young guys to get a chance at the big league level. Though the season may seem like a disappointment, it was nothing to be ashamed of when you consider the team is only in its second year of existence. The pitching was adequate, with youngsters Rudy Lillibridge, Oscar Camarillo, and Ezio Mattimiro giving Monarch fans a glimpse of the future. The offense, though old, showed they could still get it done, with great balance between the speedy guys at the top of the order, and the heavy hitters in the middle. Team MVP: 1B Augustine Reyes � .308 avg, 25 HRs, 89 RBIs, 73 runs, 6 SBs, .869 OPS |
C+ | C+ | C+ |
| Indiana Eagles (52-110), 5th in Division
Another year, another disappointment for Ben Lapointe and the Indiana Eagles. After promising, yet again, to bring the franchise back to respectability, the much-maligned owner eventually gutted his team, culminating in a 26 game losing streak. Also, at one point during the losing streak, the team only had 8 position players, and was forced to use closer Randy Gasaway as their designated hitter. The season wasn�t all bad, though. Lifetime minor leaguer Alan Nale somehow pitched the ABL�s first perfect game, though ending the year with a 6.16 ERA. The team did show some signs of promise, with young prospect DeShante Louixville giving the few Eagles fans out there an ounce of hope. Team MVP: SP Fred Seifert � 4.46 ERA, 12-18, 1.44 WHIP, 142 Ks |
C | C- | C- |
| Connecticut Thunder (103-59), 1st in Division, ABL Champions
Fresh off a heartbreaking loss in the 2006 NLCS, the Thunder came out determined to get another chance. They ran out to the division lead, only to see the Boston Bears hold it until the final week of the season. Another team with a balanced attack, the Thunder got hot at the right time and were able to take home the championship. The pitching staff was well-balanced, with five capable starters in the rotation, and a solid bullpen led by closer Pedro Macedo and his league-leading 47 saves. The offense wasn�t the most explosive in the league, but they did enough to get the W, anchored by their 3-4-5 hitters of Alex Gomez, Arthur Locke, and Mike Sheffield. Team MVP: SP Ryan Levine � 3.05 ERA, 20-6, 1.06 WHIP, 260 Ks |
A- | A- | A- |
| Boston Bears (102-60), 2nd in Division, lost in NLDS
The Bears were the trendy preseason pick to win it all, but after a horrible collapse in the final week of the season, and a plethora of injuries, it was going to be tough for them to go all the way. Even with everything going against them, they put up a valiant fight before losing in five games to the Chicago Cardinals. The strong point of the team was clearly their offense, with a lineup widely considered the second-best in the league. With seven regulars hitting over .300, it was hard for pitchers to find any weak points in the lineup. The pitching, though, just couldn�t get it done. The bullpen had a big letdown from a stellar 2006 season, though the starters showed vast improvement. If not for three huge injuries toward the end of the year, their pitching may have been good enough to take them all the way. Team MVP: 1B Jay Walker � .329 avg, 40 HRs, 144 RBI, 101 runs, 30 SBs, 1.043 OPS |
A+ | B- | A- |
| Philadelphia Demons (68-94), 3rd in Division
Many people around the ABL also believed this to be the year Philadelphia would put up a fight to get into the playoffs. To Bryan Svec�s dismay, that wouldn�t be true. Young studs Marc Poles and Alejandro Dimaggio were just great at the top of the rotation, and Joseph Tedrow and Bert Wight weren�t too shabby either. Their bullpen (outside of Jesus Rivera and Juan Natividad), though, didn�t impress anyone, and their offense was lackluster. None of their regular starters was able to hit over .300, and only one had over 100 RBIs (1B Javier Munoz). Philadelphia couldn�t get to the postseason this year, but most Demon fans still believe they can get it done in 2008. Team MVP: SP Marc Poles � 3.17 ERA, 13-15, 1.13 WHIP, 241 Ks |
B- | B | B- | New York Bombers (66-96), 4th in Division
A team seeming to be going in the opposite direction of the Philadelphia Demons, they fought all year long for 3rd place in the division, with the Bombers barely losing out. With aging guys at many of their positions, owner Nate Engelwood will look to reverse the trend of worsening records since 2005. The pitchers just couldn�t keep guys from scoring for much of the year, with all five starters having ERAs over 5, and ending up with only two capable relievers by the end of the year. The offense was at least respectable, with Cody Wheeler and Marcos Vazquez keeping the team afloat. With one of the weakest systems in the league, though, Engelwood will find it tough to get New York back to its heyday early in the ABL�s existence. Team MVP: RF Cody Wheeler � .303 avg, 46 HRs, 114 RBIs, 106 runs, 7 SBs, .990 OPS |
B | C+ | B- |
| Cleveland Crusaders (35-127), 5th in Division
Well, the Crusaders did see an improvement from their record in their inaugural year, with 7 more wins than in 2006. There really isn�t much positive to say about the Crusaders, other than their lone bright spots on offense and on the mound � Chih Lu and Quentin Cave. The team�s overall ERA was a bloated 5.68. The offense had no hitters above .300, and an astonishing 5 below the Mendoza Line. The team does have a decent farm system (as they should), but even if they all develop, it�ll be hard for them to contend for a long, long time. Team MVP: 2B Chih Lu � .275 avg, 2 HRs, 47 RBIs, 75 runs, 53 SBs, .679 OPS |
D | D | D |
Southern League
| Team | Pitching | Batting | Overall |
| Las Vegas Scorpions (105-57), 1st in Division, lost in SLDS
The 2007 season will undoubtedly be looked at as a disappointment for owner Nick Alicea, not necessarily because they lost in the divisional round of the playoffs, but also that he lost to rival Colt �Milk Man� Ciccone and his Carolina Cobras. As the best teams always are, Las Vegas shows great balance throughout their entire team � with each of their pitchers having ERAs below 5, and each of their starters having batting averages over .300 (except for catcher Alberto Velasco, who was way behind with his .299 average). Their high-octane offense was clearly one of the best in the league, with 4 players having 100+ RBIs. Team MVP: 1B Alex Reyes � .357 avg, 35 HRs, 136 RBIs, 124 runs, 13 runs, 1.030 OPS |
A+ | A | A |
| Los Angeles Lions (98-64), 2nd in Division, lost in SLDS
After a thrilling battle with Las Vegas for the division last year, this time L.A. had to fend off Dallas just to get into the playoffs. Their starting pitching, clearly, led them to the postseason, with an amazing three pitchers with ERAs below 3. The 4th and 5th starters weren�t bad either, with ERAs still below 5. The bullpen wasn�t great, but still got the job done. The offense, though solid, wasn�t as good as the pitching. John Ward blasted 26 homers and drove in 104 runs, but his .220 batting average often killed many rallies. Team MVP: SP Dave Kopp � 2.76 ERA, 18-13, 1.02 WHIP, 279 Ks |
B+ | A | A- |
| Dallas Rattlers (93-69), 3rd in Division
Widely considered the biggest surprise of the year, Dallas saw great improvement from 2006, just barely missing out on their first playoff berth. Neither the offense nor pitching was particularly outstanding, though both were certainly solid. The pitching was balanced from start to finish, with only one reliever having an ERA over 5, and everyone else in the 4 to 5 range. The offense showed great promise for the future, with Jason Winans setting the table, and Rafael Medrano, Thomas Ullery, and Gerald Nestor driving everyone home. Team MVP: 3B Rafael Medrano � .356 avg, 35 HRs, 124 RBIs, 110 runs, 46 SBs, 1.022 OPS |
B | B | B |
|
Houston Outlaws (65-97), 4th in Division
Houston was a huge disappointment this year, after expecting to take the next step after an improved 2006 season. After giving up some important ML players for some more prospects, owner Kyle Borland prevented his team from staying on last year�s pace. The pitching was adequate, with a few guys over 5, but an all-around decent staff. The offense, though, was atrocious, with four players below the Mendoza Line. Only one player was able to keep his average over .300, and the team ranked in the lower half of most offensive categories. Team MVP: SP Thomas Birch � 3.56 ERA, 10-5, 1.24 WHIP, 71 Ks |
C | B- | B+ |
| San Diego Pelicans (51-111), 5th in Division
Recently departed Kevin Fogg seemed to catch a bit of heat early in his ownership of the Pelicans, but he quietly built a solid team. Their hitting, yes, is still absolutely horrible, but their pitching staff kept this team from falling into Cleveland-like mediocrity. Their highest average from a position player was only .288, and highest RBI total was only 66, all contributing to the worst offense in the league. There is plenty of help coming, though, from their minor leagues, and new owner Garrett Williams can be sure that his team�s future is bright. Team MVP: SP James Fisher � 3.72 ERA, 9-12, 1.38 WHIP, 120 Ks |
D | C | C- |
| Miami Talons (128-34), 1st in Division, lost in ABLCS
Well, what can we say about the Talons? You�d think they would slow down at one point, but they tied their own record from 2006 for most wins in a season, and Joey Gandolfo somehow got even better. The team ranks first in most major pitching categories, and in the top 5 in each of the major hitting categories. The Talons had the first .400 hitter in ABL history in Gonzalo Torres, and SL Triple Crown Winner Joey Gandolfo. Only one regular starter batted under .300, and an astonishing 8 players had 100 or more RBI. Each starter had an ERA under 4, and five of the team�s seven relievers had ERAs under 3. The season may have ended in disappointment, with another heartbreaking seven game loss in the ABLCS, but the Talons certainly have enough talent to get back to the top. Team MVP: SP Joey Gandolfo � 1.05 ERA, 34-1, .80 WHIP, 289 Ks |
A+ | A+ | A+ |
| Carolina Cobras (113-49), 2nd in Division, lost in SLCS
For owner Colt Ciccone, this was going to be the year. After suffering numerous injuries in 2006, he revamped the roster for 2007, sacrificing most of his farm system and draft picks to load up the major league team. It worked, for the most part, as his team jetted out to the second best record in the league and a berth in the SLCS. However, he ran into the buzz saw that is the Miami Talons, and he just couldn�t quite get over the hump. The Cobras� rotation was solid, with three great starters at the top of the rotation in Solorio-Finke-Dames, while the bullpen had three capable relievers who could hang on to most leads handed to them. The offense wasn�t necessarily explosive, but, led by Didier �Tits� Quintana, they still scored the 4th most runs in the league. Team MVP: SP Sebas Solorio � 3.15 ERA, 28-4, 1.06 WHIP, 232 Ks |
A- | A | A |
| New Orleans Colonels (67-95), 3rd in Division
This was the definition of a transition year, with the Colonels slowly improving their major league record, while inserting some of their young studs into the lineup. Next year could be the year New Orleans finally makes the leap into the postseason, with no other playoff teams in their future division, and 5 of their top 10 prospects waiting in AAA to make their splash. Their pitching was horrid this past year, but the hitting was respectable. With Jay Soester leading the way, and surprising SL homerun crown winner Alberto Ambriz cleaning up, the offense kept the Colonels respectable. Team MVP: CL Paul Erickson � 7.12 ERA, 3-11, 1.80 WHIP, 41 Ks, 21 svs/32 opps |
B | C | B- |
| Atlanta Sun Devils (49-113), 4th in Division
Most would be disappointed with only winning 49 games, but for the Atlanta Sun Devils, at least it was 10 more wins than in 2006. In reality, though, the franchise is in shambles, with a horrible team at the major league level, and only so-so prospects ready to come up. They only had one position player batting .300 in Carmelo Escudero, and only one pitcher with an ERA under 4, in Michael Taisho. No one in the rotation really stood out to make an impact other than Taisho, with Robert Pinnock the only other major threat on offense with his 31 homeruns. This team has really suffered from a lack of consistent ownership, and if Ben Philips doesn�t retain his job for next season, it could be more of the same down in Atlanta. Team MVP: SP Michael Taisho � 3.52 ERA, 8-17, 1.28 WHIP, 172 Ks |
C | C | C | Tampa Tigers (46-116), 5th in Division
The Tigers, like the Sun Devils, recently experienced a change in ownership, with well-liked Ty Heath leaving, and Cameron Norris stepping in. Neither side of the ball played particularly well this season, but it is all about the future for Tampa. The number one ranked system in the league (by OOTP), the future looks bright, as 7 of their top 10 prospects could potentially make the jump to the major leagues by next year. As for this past year�s major league team, none of the regular starters batted over .300, and none of the pitchers could muster an ERA under 4. Quite honestly, no one stood out on either side of the ball, as many of the current major leaguers are just stopgaps until the prospects are ready to come up. Team MVP: RF Primo Rizzo � .272 avg, 13 HRs, 71 RBI, 53 runs, 1 SB, .721 OPS |
C+ | C | C- |
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