2008 CDBL SEASON PREVIEW "Your Mileage May Vary!" Predicted Playoff Teams: Aaron Division - Point Lomas Friars Paige Division - Springfield Isotopes Gehrig Division - Concord Minutemen Tiant Division - Dedham Destroyers AP Conference Wildcard - Manhatten Beach Mashers GT Conference Wildcard - Hong Kong Cavaliers #1 League Wildcard - Madison Muckrakers #2 League Wildcard - Albuquerque Maul WORLD SERIES PREDICTION - Minutemen over Friars ************************************************************************************************** Aaron Division - 1. Point Lomas Friars (Last Season: 63-99, 6th in Division) PLUSES: One of the best rotations in the majors, featuring Tim Lineceum, Scott Baker, Ervin Santana and Matt Cain. Brian Fuentes and Dan Wheeler lead a strong bullpen. The Friars may have the league's best pitching overall this year. Aubrey Huff, Evan Longoria and Magglio Ordonez leads a consistently good offense. MINUSES: While they have plenty of people who can hit 25-30 home runs, they lack a true cleanup hitter so there may be cases where they leave lots of people on base. OVERALL: A mighty pitching staff and a solid hitting lineup make Point Lomas a favorite to go deep in the playoffs. 2. Manhatten Beach Mashers (Last Season: 94-68, 2nd in Division) PLUSES: Ryan Ludwick is poised to have a monster season at the plate, and Brian McCann provides above average offense at catcher. Brad Hawpe will also provide some hitting. Justin Duchscherer, CC Sabathia and Joe Saunders will go toe to toe with any starter in the league. Grant Balfour and Billy Wagner will provide some lights out options at closer. MINUSES: The reliever depth gets depleted pretty quickly which could prove troublesome in the late innings. OVERALL: Year one of the post David Ortiz era should still see the Mashers competitive and post-season bound. 3. Dallas SuperSquad (Last Season: 78-84, 5th in Division) PLUSES: Roy Halladay and Chad Billingsley give the SuperSquad solid starters at the top of the rotation, and Jair Jurrjens is a solid 3rd starter. Carlos Delgado and Adam Dunn provide the power in the lineup, and Derek Jeter and Brian Giles are solid table-setters who should score plenty of runs. MINUSES: After Brad Ziegler the rest of the bullpen is merely "OK". After Dunn and Delgado the slugging ability of the lineup quickly drops off. OVERALL: Dallas has enough talent this year to challenge for a playoff spot. 4. Elk Grove Trout (Last Season: 96-66, Aaron Division Winner) PLUSES: Ryan Braun, Justin Morneau and Bobby Abreu form one of the most challenging hitting cores in the league. Matt Kemp, Brandon Phillips and Mike Lowell will add to the scoring. Jon Lester is a quality ace, and Brad Lidge and Roy Corcoran give the Trout options at closer. MINUSES: After Lester and Wandy Rodriguez, the rest of the starting rotation will struggle to compete with the rest of the rotations in the division. OVERALL: Some really nice hitting, it will be up to the pitching to determine how well the Trout do this year. 5. Arkham Investigators (Last Season: 85-77, 4th in Division) PLUSES: Adrian Gonzalez, Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano and Dan Uggla will make the Investigators a ball launching monster on offense. Dan Haren, Mike Mussina and Mark Buehrle form a solid rotation. MINUSES: Bullpen is pretty much non-existent, so having a big lead in the late innings will be key. OVERALL: Some serious pop on offense and some decent starters, Arkham may need to acquire a few relievers to make a run at the post-season. 6. Montreal Voltigeurs (Last Season: 90-72, 3rd in Division) PLUSES: Manny is still Manny and should put up an all-star season. Johnny Peralta is a solid hitting infielder and Hunter Pence is a promising young outfielder. Derek Lowe should re-enter ace territory this season, and Josh Beckett and Nick Blackburn are capable innings eaters. Jonathan Papelbon should rack up plenty of saves as closer. MINUSES: After Ramirez, Peralta and Pence, the rest of the hitting will struggle to score runs. OVERALL: The Voltigeurs have a few players that could make the all-star game, but it will be an uphill battle to make the playoffs. ************************************************************************************************** Paige Division - 1. Springfield Isotopes (Last Season: 72-90, 4th in Division) PLUSES: Dustin Pedroia could be a contender for MVP this season as one of the league's best middle infielders. Carlos Quentin will drive in plenty of runs in a career year. JJ Hardy and Jayson Werth will help the Isotopes be above average in offense. None of the starting rotation are likely all-star bound, but they should keep Springfield competitive in their games. Bobby Jenks leads a solid bullpen. MINUSES: More an issue for the post-season, but the Isotopes could face some trouble once they start facing elite starters when every game counts. OVERALL: It's been a while since the prime Barry Bonds era, but the Isotopes have rebuilt and are the favorites for the Paige division title. 2. Madison Muckrakers (Last Season: 95-67, Paige Division Winner) PLUSES: David Wright and Nick Markakis are sabermetric wunderkinds and should rack up the stats. Jimmy Rollins will compete for the stolen base crown, and Adam LaRoche will add to the offense. John Danks and Felix Hernandez can go toe to toe with any pitcher in the league. Francisco Cordero leads a deep and capable bullpen. MINUSES: The Muckrakers are 1 big bat and/or 1 solid starter away from being the division favorites. OVERALL: Madison has the talent to compete this year, and will contend for the division title. 3. DBL Fishbiscuits (Last Season: 61-101, 6th in Division) PLUSES: Albert Pujols remains one of the best hitters in the league, and Milton Bradley and Matt Holliday will help score plenty of runs. Edinson Voltquez, Ricky Nolasco, Paul Maholm and Todd Wellemeyer may not be household names but they form a strong rotation. No big names in the bullpen but the late inning leads should not be an issue to defend. MINUSES: After their big 3 hitters, not a lot of power on the team. OVERALL: DBL will be fun to watch, and it would not be a surprise to see them in the post-season. 4. Detroit Nain Rouge (Last Season: 69-93, 5th in Division) PLUSES: Joe Mauer continues to be the best catcher in the league, and Jack Cust can provide some thump in the middle of the order. MINUSES: Not a lot of other offense to be had, and the pitching will struggle to contain runs. OVERALL: Looks to be a rebuilding year for the recently relocated Nain Rouge. 5. Tualatin Thunder (Last Season: 73-89, 3rd in Division) PLUSES: Jim Thome and Miguel Cabrera form one of the best corner infields in the majors. Francisco Rodriguez is one of the better closers in the league. MINUSES: The rest of the hitting lineup is thoroughly mediocre, and the pitching staff is one of the league's worst. OVERALL: Thome and Cabrera will be fun to watch, but it will be an otherwise long season in Tualatin. 6. Brookeville Bandits (Last Season: 75-87, 2nd in Division) PLUSES: Adrian Beltre, Stephen Drew, Luke Scott have a little bit of oopmh in their bat. Scott Kazmir is a decent starter and Scott Olsen can eat up some innings. Scot Shields and Ryan Madson provide some options in the bullpen. MINUSES: Trading of most of their core players clearly signals a rebuild. Most players at their positions will be league worst. OVERALL: Rather than face a potential 83 win season and middle of the pack finish, the team's inaugural season is year 1 of a team rebuild. See you in 2010! ************************************************************************************************** Gehrig Division - 1. Concord Minutemen (Last Season: 73-79, T-3rd in Division) PLUSES: Scary good pitching rotation led by Johan Santana, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Ben Sheets. Jimmy Johnson and Russ Springer lead a deep and talented bullpen. Probably the best pitching staff in the conference. Jermaine Dye, Lance Berkman and Chipper Jones brings the hurt on offense for a loaded team that will score plenty of runs. MINUSES: The Minutemen are tapped out of 2009 draft picks to trade for any additional help down the stretch (not that they need any!) OVERALL: The Minutemen are built to win now, and should have a very good season. 2. Hong Kong Cavaliers (Last Season: 61-101, 5th in Division) PLUSES: Carlos Lee, Carlos Beltran and Jason Giambi lead an offense that should score plenty of runs. Bengie Molina could make the all-star team at catcher. While the starting rotation may not place any all-stars, they should prove a consistent performance. Mariano Rivera leads one of the strongest bullpens in the league. MINUSES: They are in the same division as the Minutemen. OVERALL: Should be a good season for the Cavaliers overall. Where exactly they wind up in the post-season remains to be seen. 3. Albuquerque Maul (Last Season: 96-66, Gehrig Division Winners) PLUSES: Brandon Webb and Roy Oswalt can duel with any starter in the league, and BJ Ryan leads a deep and talented bullpen. Grady Sizemore, Pat Burrell and Mike Jacobs are 30 home run threats, and Jose Reyes, Chone Figgins and Sizemore make the Maul one of the fastest teams in the league. MINUSES: The back half of the rotation will have trouble with the Minutemen of the league. OVERALL: While they may not have a lock on the division title like last year, the Maul should still contend for a playoff spot. 4. Topeka Stingers (Last Season: 85-77, 2nd in Division) PLUSES: Ryan Howard continues to be a beast in the middle and should jockey for the home run crown. Jorge Cantu and Josh Hamilton also provide some power. David DeJesus, Andre Ethier and Hamilton should combine to be one of the best outfields in the game. Ryan Dempster is an ace, and Adam Wainwright and Jamie Moyer add to the rotation. Jose Valverde leads several quality arms in the bullpen. MINUSES: The back end of the rotation could struggle to contain runs. OVERALL: Topeka has some talent to make some noise this year. It may depend on how well their 4th & 5th starters do. 5. Anchorage Gold Diggers (Last Season: 83-77, T-3rd in Division) PLUSES: Brian Roberts will likely have an all-star year in the infield, and Curtis Granderson provides some pop in the outfield. Jake Peavy is a solid ace in the rotation, and Chad Qualls and Carlos Marmol give the Gold Diggers some options in the bullpen. MINUTES: Not a lot of pop in the hitting lineup, and the back end of the rotation gets dicey pretty quick. OVERALL: Some quality players on the team, but it will take some strong team cohesiveness for them to rise in the standings. 6. Carlsbad Surfers (Last Season: 42-120, 6th in Division) PLUSES: Zack Greinke is emerging as a solid ace. Acquisition Joey Votto, Jacoby Ellsbury and Justin Upton will form a nice future core of hitters for years. MINUSES: Most of the pitching is dreadful, likely the worst in the league. OVERALL: It will be another rebuilding year for Carlsbad, put the pieces are in place for future division dominance. ************************************************************************************************** Tiant Division - 1. Dedham Destroyers (Last Season: 95-67, 2nd in Division) PLUSES: Prince Fielder, Geovany Soto, Mark DeRosa and Torii Hunter help form a lineup that has some strength in their bats. Cliff Lee will be a Cy Young contender, and Tim Hudson, Jeremy Guthrie and Gavin Floyd form one of the better rotations in the league. JP Howell and Kevin Gregg lead a capable bullpen. MINUSES: Could probably use another big bat in the middle to secure their place atop the division. OVERALL: Expect a strong season from the Destroyers. 2. Alphaville Cautions (Last Season: 90-72, 3rd in Division) PLUSES: Kevin Youkilis and Hanley Ramirez know how to walk and hit home runs, and are looking at all-star seasons in the infield. Nate McLouth, Randy Winn and Kelly Shoppach add to the offense. Rich Harden won't sell many jerseys this year but can get it done as the ace. Hideki Okajima and Brandon Morrow lead a solid bullpen. MINUSES: After Harden the starting rotation isn't much to write home about. OVERALL: Alphaville will be in the thick of things this year and will contend for a playoff spot, if not the division title. 3. Georgia Pines (Last Season: 82-80, 5th in Division) PLUSES: Cole Hamels and Shaun Marcum give the Pines some quality starters at the top of the rotation, and Joe Nathan will be an elite closer. Jason Bay should have a fine year at the plate, and Derrek Lee and Ryan Doumit add to the lineup. MINUSES: The rest of the pitching gets fairly average fairly quick, and the lineup could use another quality bat or two. OVERALL: Expect Georgia to win more than they lose this year. 4. Boston Bulldogs (Last Season: 87-75, 4th in Division) PLUSES: Vladimir Guerrero and Troy Glaus gives the Bulldogs some veteran power in the middle of the lineup. Lots of 20 home run power to be seen throughout. James Shields and Carlos Zambrano lead a competitive if thin rotation. Salomon Torres Jason Grilli give Boston some options in the bullpen. MINUSES: Could use another star pitcher or a few more relievers to be more competitive. OVERALL: 4th place isn't what it used to be - Boston finished 4th last year and still won 87 games. Could see a repeat. 5. Half Moon Bay Dragons (Last Season: 79-83, 6th in Division) PLUSES: Alex Rodriguez continues his hall of fame career, and is joined by fellow corner infield slugger in off-season acquisition Mark Teixeira. Johnny Damon and Ryan Theriot should score plenty of runs at the top of the lineup with one of the better hitting rosters in the division... MINUSES: ...and one of the worst pitching staffs. Seriously, they bad. OVERALL: Will be a fun team to watch, in a Nintendo R.B.I baseball kind of way. If their pitching could find a way to pitch, they could win the division ... but a more realistic outlook sees the Dragons out of the money this year. 6. Milwaukee Pilots (Last Season: 110-52, Tiant Division Winner) PLUSES: Chase Utley should have an all-league year in the infield, and Ichiro Suzuki is still one of the best table-setters in the league, getting on base and swiping a few. Joakim Soria could be one of the best closers in the league. MINUSES: After Utley, Suzuki and Soria, the rest of the roster is pretty bad. OVERALL: Milwaukee had the best record in the league last year, and the bill has come due in 2008. Still, they'll have several fun players to watch.