Can she ruin another team please?....

New team in the AL, the Augusta Cushnoc started the season strong winning the franchise's first game of season eight. Since then they have dropped 5 straight and management was pulling their collective hair out trying to find out why. It seems that the ownership group hired a P.I. firm to follow the team and the result was shocking.

It seems that Paris Hilton has been vacationing in Augusta and seeing the need to keep warm during the cold Maine nights, decided to date a starting pitcher.....well.... pitchers.... well... okay.. she's dating the whole team. So the next time you go to a Cushnoc game, don't mind the stupid grins that the team has... just remember that Paris only stays in a relationship for about three months.... just in time for the stretch run....

League Leaders

ML Batting.....

AL HOME RUNS

1) Stephen Knoblauch (TOR) 8

2) David Tamura (NY1) 6

3) 3 tied at 5

4) 6 tied at 4

5) 8 tied at 3

AL RBI

1) Stephen Knoblauch (TOR) 15

2) Placido Armas (TAC) 15

3) Jose Tavares (CHI2) 14

4) 3 tied at 11

5) 2 tied at 10

AL Batting AVG.

1) Jose Tavares (CHI2) .571

2) Ralph Sellers (LV) .563

3) Rickey Ryan (TAC) .548

4) Nomar Welch (SFE) .538

5) Stephen Knoblauch (TOR) .483

NL HOME RUNS

1) Jack O'Brien (HOU) 4

2) Vasco Trajano (SAL) 4

3) 9 tied with 3

4) 14 tied with 2

NL RBI

1) Vasco Trajano (SAL) 11

2) Jack O'Brien (HOU) 10

3) Magglio Morales (CHA) 9

4) 5 tied with 8

5) 3 tied with 7

NL AVG.

1) Marino Moreno (SAL) .556

2) Jack O'Brien (HOU) .480

3) Charles Baeck (LAA) .462

4) Rob Thompson (BOI) .450

5) Bernie Rios (HOU) .450

NL West Preview - Season 7

Look For Helena to repeat as Division champs but the other teams are moving in a direction to be able to compete in the futre.


Helena - Emperors
Last Season: 93 - 69, Division Title
Ballpark: Kindrick Field


This organization knows nothing but winning. Three 100 win seasons, 6 Division Titles, and a World Series championship. The Emperors return almost everyone from last year with little offseason activity.

Offense was not a problem a year ago for Helena and should remain very consistent in season 7. They return Jason Zaun, Howard McCorley, Julio Saenz and Micah Lowery all who hit 30+ homeruns last year. Ozzie Cho returns behind the plate and Dion Durrington will leadoff again this year. The offense finished third in runs scored in the NL last year and should easily repeat that performance. This group also produced one of the top fielding percentages in season 6.

The pitching staff was average last year. Every member of the rotation will be back, which was a strong point of the staff. The rotation will need strong performances from Tony Sasaki and Domingo Montero. The bullpen was the problem area for the staff in season 6. Outside of closer Gene Seabol they struggled. Free agent Hector Rincon will look to add depth to the setup role but the emperors will need better performances from Juan DeRojas and Larry Bichette .

This is a very good team again this year and a 7th division title should not be a problem. The bullpen has the ability to do better than last year and if they do this team could be prepared for a deep playoff run.

Prediction: Division Title



Anaheim-Los Angeles - Conquistadores
Last Season: 71 - 91, Tied for 2nd in Division
Ballpark: Angel Stadium



The conquistadores had a disappointing season in year 6. Offseason moves were made to address issues but this team will have similar problems as they did in season 6.

The offense was rotten for Anaheim last year scoring the least runs in the NL. This run drought can be directly attributed to a lack of power hitting. A slugging % of .376 was the worst in the NL. Trade acquisition Bruce Henderson could add 20 HR and free agent signing Greg Fitzgerald should also help and at his price is a quality signing. The biggest improvement will be waiver claim Vladimir Acevedo who has multiple 30+ HR years. Andres Gomez and Orlando Posada will also be relied on but not as much as last season.

The rotation will be back from a very strong year. Stud Sergio Baptist will lead the way with Edgardo Mendoza and Bronson Wooten playing significant roles. This rotation has the potential to be dynamite, with prospect Tim Steenstra breaking into the rotation for the first time. Jumbo Campos had a good year closing and the bullpen blew only 11 Saves last year. With most of the bullpen returning expect the conquistadores to lean heavily on Pedro Lugo and Marcus Wolf.

This team has improved from a year ago and I would expect a .500 or better win %. Still I think their offense will struggle and unless their bats break expectations I do not see a playoff appearance for Anaheim.


Prediction: 2nd place in Division




Santa Cruz - Is Coming to Town
Last Season: 71 - 91, Tied for 2nd in Division
Ballpark: Vanigila Stadium


This has been a very troubled franchise for some time. 71 wins last year was a big movement in the right direction but going into the offseason a lot needed to be changed to get this team to winning ways. 11 Free agents will start the year with the ML club and 3 more have been promoted from the minors to give this team an overhaul in season 7.

Veteran Vladimir Aquino (free agent) should be the big addition to a struggling offense. Also look for quality “value” free agents Davey Diaz, Willie Robinson, and Tike Ray to have impacts. One of the few returners from last season will be Alan Charles who will play first base. All things considered the offense will be average at best this year. However, so great value signings leave this organization with lots of flexibility for the future.

The pitching staff could go through some rough patches this year. Closer Rod Fryman has never held the position on his own in his career and Wesley Powell is coming off a rough season 6. Felix Sung should add depth to the pen. Bobby Webster is a good call up and why he was in AAA last season you can only wonder. The bullpen will be the stronger part of the staff as the rotation has issues. Joaquin Valdez and Walter Hansen are great value signing this offseason. Junior Yang could eat some innings. But Bill Nelson and Vin Langston have had problems in starter’s roles in the past.

The way Santa Cruz has headed in the past has been troubling for fans. This offseason fans should feel good about. They overhauled their team while staying committed to growing from within. 70 to 80 wins this year would not be a stretch for this team.

Prediction: 3rd Place




San Diego - Beach Boys
Last Season: 67 - 95
Ballpark: Petco Park


The Beach Boys struggled last year, and produced only 67 wins. This offseason a couple of players have been promoted from within to help big club. Also two free agent signings will look to contribute. However, no major changes will leave this franchise in the cellar of the division.

San Diego batted a major league worst .244 last season. There is power potential in the lineup with returners P.T. Wells and Dave James. Look for Darrel Kline to have a productive first year in the league. Orlando Baez will need to improve from a season where he hit just .251. The poor offensive output is coupled with a NL worst fielding % with Ken Levis questionable in centerfield and Raymond Stevenson playing bellow average at shortstop.

The Pitching staff has lost reliever Chris Allen but brought in Joaquin Vasquez who should be able to give more innings. Fred Steele will step into the closers role after a brief stint in the majors last year. The rotation will be lead by Aaron Halladay and Pablo Oliva. The rotation is very suspect with a lack of stamina throughout and serious control issues. Rookie Bernie Gongora may or may not be ML ready and the signing of Ivan Gonzales to a $5 million dollar contract is questionable. (He has since been sent to the minors)

San Diego needs to improve if they want to compete with the top teams in this division. Every aspect of the game needs work and it should be tough season.

Prediction: Last Place

NL South Preview - Season 7

Another Division with little activity this off season resulting in little movement in the standings. The top of this division should stay very competitive all year but in the end Little Rock should be poised for another division title.

Little Rock - Anti-Clinton's

Last Season: 100 - 62, Division Title

Ballpark: Ray winder Field

The Anti-Clintons are coming off a 100 win season and a third straight NL South Championship. However, an early exit from the playoffs left a sour taste in the franchises mouth.

Little Rock’s offense struggled to score runs last season finishing 25th in runs scored at about 4.5 runs per game. Though a 100 win season was great management saw a need to add a impact bat this offseason and made it very clear they were going to do just that. In Little Rocks only major move this offseason Cy Young winner from last year Louis Nye Moved to Cincinnati for All Star Slugger Vernon Hubbell. The team brings back RBI men from last year Michael Ishida and Jose Alonso along with leadoff man Rod Cummings. The Addition of Vernon Hubbell is going to drastically alter the clubs offensive production.

Offense was the story this offseason but pitching was the corner stone of the 100 win year season 6. Little Rocks staff finished with a team ERA of 3.20 nearly 0.7 better than the next best team (Tacoma). The rotation loses Cy Young winner Louis Nye but returns four 10+ game winners from last year including Stuart Ramirez, Dave Sefcik, and Mario Connelly. The Bullpen will be just as deep as the rotation. Harvey Cardona blew just one save in 44 attempts last year. Setup men Victor Aven and Wes Brown should get Cardona more save opportunities in season 7.

Lack of a big time hitter held this team back last year. That is scary to think about since they won 100 games. The addition of Vernon Hubbell makes this team a World Series contender.

Prediction: Division title; Championship Run

Lousiville - Sluggers

Last Season: 96 - 66, Wild Card

Ballpark: Louisville Slugger Field

After missing the playoffs for the first time in franchise history in season 5 Louisville bounced back with a strong performance in year 6. This team is built for offense but the pitching staff stepped up last year to send this team to the postseason.

The offense returns three players who had 100+ RBI’s in seasons 6. All Stars Joe Ross, Henry Salmon, and Mitchell Brower should provide plenty of pop in the middle and the addition of Micah Hill makes this lineup very formidable. Al Espada will be the leadoff man again and provide diversity to a powerful offense. This line up should be terrifying for opposing pitchers.

Torey Chavez will be back from a career year and pitchers Junior Machado and David Gonzalez round out a better than average rotation. Though a true ace is tough to find in that group, if Chavez can repeat last year’s performance he could be that guy but control problems will slow him down. A good bullpen basically all returns anchored by Fireman award winner Corey Cookson. They will lean on veteran Jerry Hansen for setup duties.

This team should make the playoffs again this year and push Little Rock for the division title. In the end however Little Rock will be too much and Pitching uncertainty will keep this team under the Anti-Clintons for another year.

Prediction: Runner up in division; Wild Card

Mexico City - Red Devils

Last Season: 73 - 89

Ballpark: Foro Sol

A sub .500 season in Mexico City was a first for the franchise in season 6. Nothing really went their way last season struggling to get batters out on a consistent basis and struggling to score runs.

Lots of free agent signees on offense but none of them will significantly improve their offense from a year ago. Butch Barker will be the anchor in the middle of the order again this season and Dan Clayton should provide a good bat at SS. Besides Barker the offense really lacks explosiveness and should struggle this year.

The Rotation is full of 3 and 4 type starters. Clyde James and Quinn Flynn have the potential for more but did not show it last season. The bullpen mostly struggled last year. All Star Closer Barry Linton Moved on in free agency. Replacing him will be Jerry Rivers who blew 12 games in 49 SVO last year. The bullpen is full of average ML talent and the rotation is not much better.

Another sub .500 season may be in store for the Red Devils unless their rotation and bullpen play better than they did a season ago. Look for this team to show signs of success but over the whole season they just aren’t there yet.

Prediction: Third Place never really compete with top teams in division.

Houston - Colt 45's

Last Season: 64 - 98

Ballpark: Minuite Maid Park

Houston did not win 90 games for the first time in franchise history last year. They finished with a dreadful 64 wins. The offense was inconsistent last year and the pitching was horrendous letting up 238 HR over the course of the season.

The offense Has seen little change from last year. The Colt 45’s will still lean on stud CF Jack O’Brien. Henry Blalock has arrived in a very unexciting free agent signing class. The biggest news on the offense will be the promotion of 21 year old Kiko Mickinley to the opening day roster. Douglas Grebeck has been sent to AAA after a very good year for him last year where he had a .816 OPS. Another 20 HR’s in J.P Matos left via free agency. O’Brien will have to carry this offense if they want to get any production at all.

The pitching staff finished last season with a 4.78 ERA, Last in the National League. The rotation has no big time pitchers to speak of. The let veterans J.P Martin and Enrique Martin Walk this offseason and have added no legit Major league starters. They Brought up Jackson Helton to join the rotation and signed free agents Dean Green and Julio Pizzario neither of which are major league impact starters. Closer Francsico Marichal pitched well in save opportunities but only had 28 of them last year. This pitching staff is in for another tough year.

Houston will be lucky to get back to 64 wins this year. No significant moves this offseason leave this team in a state of limbo, the team is full of bellow average major league talent.

Prediction: Last Place