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LAST YEARS RECORD:84-78
LAST YEARS 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.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
OUT: Kevin Martin , Geronimo Cruz , Craig Martin , Dewey Sabel , Rudy West
IN: Victor Torres
PREVIEW: I was right about a division championship for Madison. But I was opptomistic in my prediction of 91 wins. Good thing Daddio plays in the weak N L North. The Muskies won 84 games with good hitting (.275 BA-8th) average pitching (4.24 ERA-13th) and good defense (.984 FPct-12th). In the playoffs the Muskies were beaten by a tough Burlington team 3 Games to 1. In the offseason Daddio let K Martin and Cruz go to free agency then he released C Martin. He traded Sabel and West to Washington for prospects. With just a few roster spots to fill, Daddio traded for Torres. Madison still has a open roster spot to fill and perhaps Daddio will promote one of the prospects he aquired. Even without the promotion , the Muskelunges have alot of talent and it's just a matter of time before they go on a roll in the post season. They should win this division easily. PREDICTION:93-69
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LAST YEARS RECORD:69-93
LAST YEARS 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.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
OUT: Rodrigo Merced , Randy Finley , Pat Clark , Tony Quantrill
IN: J.T. Nichols , Danys Megias , Javier Veras
PREVIEW: Yep, The Toyotas failed to backup season 18's 93 win season. Trenton won only 69 games last year with terrible Hitting (.250 BA-28th) , a below average Defense (.982 FPct-23rd) , a below average Pitching (4.68 ERA-22nd). In the offseason Sandberg re-signed Alberto Ramirez , Arthur Griffiths , Jeff Terry , Nick McConnell and let Merced,Finley and Clark go to free agency. Then he waived Quantrill and he was claimed by the P-Dogs. Sandberg has some holes to fill so he signed free agents Nichols,Megias and Veras. History points toward a winning season but I'm not convinced. Predicting a Toyota season is like trying to catch a greased pig. Just when you think you've got it...you end up with mud in your face. I'll play it safe and predict.........More Mudd.PREDICTION:81-81
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LAST YEARS RECORD:67-95
LAST YEARS 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.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
OUT: Jason Ransom , Santiago Rodriguez , Jim Roundtree , Johnny Goldman , Brady Hamilton , Fausto Castro , Mario Raben
IN: Thom Wright , Trever Goodwin , Pat Clark , Freddie Long , Dean Hayes , Edgar Flores , Jeremy George , Joel Crane , Dan Evers , Brent Tollberg , Edinson Terrero
PREVIEW: I blew this prediction. The Bleacher Bums took a step back to 67 wins last year. Perhaps it was the decline of the Hitting (.258 BA-26th) which used to be pretty good. The Pitching (5.00 ERA-27th) is still near the bottom but the defense (.985 FPct-10th) made some gains. So not is all lost! In the offseason Hshack let Ransom,Rodriguez,Roundtree,Goldman,Hamilton and Castro go to free agency. Hshack has half his team gone so he needs many,many players.He signed free agents Wright,Goodwin,Clark,
Long,Hayes,Flores,George,Crane,Evers and Tollberg. Finally he grabbed Terrero in the R-5 draft. When I look at this team I keep thinking of the Oakland Athletics. The Bleacher Bums are a collection of so called roll players that have some very good abilities and some not so good. The trick will be to put them in the right position to play like a team. If Hshack can do this, he may have something here. Good Luck Chicago .PREDICTION:79-83
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LAST YEARS RECORD:58-104
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