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LAST YEARS RECORD:93-69
LAST YEARS PREVIEW: Man the Toyotas laid an egg last season. Yep, that smell isn't from the catalytic converter. Its from last seasons 69 win season.The Toyotas Hitting (.251 BA ) and defense(126 errors) scrapped them.It was the 9th consecutive losing season and the Trenton fans are ready to riot. They want a winning season and have been wearing paper sacks over their heads at all the Toyota's Homegames.Not sure if these guys will ever play up to there ability. But they will have to show me one winning season before I jump on the band wagon. Again. PREDICTION:74-88
OUT: Philip Schultz , Nigel Hasegawa , Jimmie Ortiz , Freddie Long
IN: Damion Sasaki , Pat Clark , Rodrigo Merced
PREVIEW: Sandberg took exception to my prediction last year. And with good reason. The Toyotas shattered my prediction with a brashness only equaled by their colorful owner.Last years 93 win season was the Toyotas first winning season, since season 8. It was also their 7th division crown, the last one came in season 9. The Trenton Toyotas were powered by their pitching(3.89 team ERA) overcoming a pedestrian hitting team(.257 team BA) and a road kill defense(119 team errors,383 double plays,.981 fielding percentage).In the post season they escaped the first round by winning a game 5 against the #6 seeded Cincinnati RLD's.Then they were swept off the road by the Champs in the DCS. In the offseason Sandberg let Schultz and Hasegawa go to free agency and traded Ortiz to Madison. He then put Long on the waiver wire and he was claimed by *********. To fill in the gaps, Sandberg re-signed Sasaki from his AAA squad and the Madison trade brought in Clark and Merced. The Toyotas have improved the good pitching staff and lost a little offense.Sandbergs guys will have to back up last years winning season before the fans of Trenton can put the Paper Sack wearing days behind them. And if they can ,Sandberg will thump his chest and proclaim the Toyotas have arrived. I want to believe, but will be cautious in my prediction.PREDICTION:86-76
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LAST YEARS RECORD:88-74
LAST YEARS PREVIEW: My sleeper pick came thru with flying colors. Although they didn't reach my prediction of 90 wins . They did win the division and reach the second round of the playoffs, where they lost to the Kickapoos.The Muskies are for real and the fans in Madison have been tailgating and partying before every home game.It looks like the Muskies are standing pat and have only 55 million in salaries.Daddio will pick up some nice IFA's and still battle for the division. Madison could make the playoffs.PREDICTION:88-74
OUT: Craig Serrano , Vicente Azocar , Ken Walton , Jorge Posada , Rodrigo Merced
IN: Jimmie Ortiz , Eswalin Canseco
DADDIO'S PREVIEW: The Muskies are holding tight on their young core lead by 1B Billy Ensberg. Young arm Jesus James and Ramiro Pena will be the cornerstone of the rotation,while Carlos Sierra and Ariel Cerda lurk in AAA awaiting their Big League Debut. The suits in Madison were forced to make a few off season defensive changes; Juan Ruiz and his 45 errors per season will be shifting to third,freeing up Sanchez to move to right field. The Muskies picked up catcher Eswalin Canseco hoping to add some depth behind the plate after the loss of Vicente Azocar to FA. They continue to shop some young position players,hoping to transform them into a decent SS candidate. Losses Vicente Azocar (FA) Craig Serrano (FA) Ken Walton (FA) Rodrigo Merced (Trade) Gains Eswalin Canseco (FA) Jimme Ortiz (Trade) Glen Meadow (Trade)
PREVIEW: My sleeper pick from season 17 improved in season 18, but the NL was improved also. The wildcard race was tight and it came down to the last week. Even with a late push, Madison found themselves without a chair when the music stopped. Last year the Muskies had the 3rd best offense(.280 team BA) and a woeful defense(124 team errors).But suprisingly they did turn 456 double plays(3rd best).The Muskies did add a couple almost M L ready IFA's last year(Ariel Cerda , Willie Aquino) and they will be called up soon. In the offseason Daddio let Serrano,Azocar and Walton go to free agency. Then he released Posada outright and traded away Merced to Trenton. Now that the Muskies have 3 roster spots to fill, Daddio signed free agent Canseco and traded for Ortiz. This leaves one spot still open. It looks like Canseco was an upgrade in the catching core.And he traded an old guy for a youngun but this is pretty much the same team.If they can overcome the errors with runs scored they may make the playoffs.I think Daddio will promote some of his talent in AAA and this team will win the division.PREDICTION:91-71
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LAST YEARS RECORD:83-79
LAST YEARS PREVIEW: They pert near got a win for every million spent. Merry Christmas Hshack! But he really wanted the division as a present and just missed it. Then in the post season he was taken out in the first round by division foe Madison. But Hshack is a glass half full kinda guy so he was happy just to be in the playoffs again. The Bleacher Bums have been getting better every season and they go in the offseason with optimism.And at the time of writing there are still 2 spots open. With 17 million in cap space, hshack could sign some good free agents or make a trade for a few good players.Right now they are good team with the possibility to be very good.PREDICTION:85-77
OUT: Billy Connor , Endy Glynn , Timo Mahoney , Jimmie Gonzalez , Douglas Thomas , Len Carver , William Piper
IN: Yorman Javier , Vicente Iglesias , Virgil Ramirez , Marshall Winn
PREVIEW: Hshack's Chicago Bleacher Bums are stuck at 83 wins.Thats a good thing, at least they aren't sliding backwards. Extra base hits were the reason Chicago won as many games(258 doubles,31 triples)and they will need to improve on the pitching (4.70 team ERA,23rd overall) and defense ( 103 team errors, 20th overall) if they want to take the next step.The addition of 1st round draft picks Juan Fernandez and Dummy Knoblauch may help fix the defense in a couple years. In the offseason Hshack re-signed Jake Alston , Chien-Ming Chang and let Connor,Glynn,Mahoney,Gonzalez,Thomas and Carver go to free agency. Then he released Piper to finish the house cleaning. With 2 holes to fill, Hshack signed free agent Javier and Iglesias. Late last season Chicago promoted Ramirez and Winn and they should help out the rotation. The Bleacher Bums still have 18 million in cap space and could pick up some talent this season. If they do they will make this a 3 team race for the division title. On a side note, I hope Hshack stocks his minor leagues. The cupboard is bare!!PREDICTION:84-78
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LAST YEARS RECORD:59-103
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