AL East Preview

Richmond Whack-A-Moles (1st, 98-64)

Additions:
P Pat Martin (FA, Los Angeles)
P Edgardo Colon (FA, Atlanta)
3B Cesar Figureoa (FA, Nashville)

Departures:
3B David Eckstein (FA, Boise)
P Ray Cannon (FA, Arizona)
P Einar Marichal (FA, Charlotte)

Key Position Players:

LF Raul Rodriguez - Raul has been one of the best players in the league for some time now and he's key to Richmond's chances of winning the World Series for the third consecutive season.

DH Kordell Morandini - Kordell is one of the best hitters in the league. He had an OPS of 1.030 last season.

Key Pitchers:

SP Walt Jackson - Jackson has been a very consistent ace over the years. He's coming off another solid season and hopes to get back to 20 wins this season.

SP Hideo Zhang - He's the apparent heir to Jackson's throne. In his first full season last year he posted 13 wins and a 3.01 ERA. And he's just 22 years old.

Stock:
Steady


New York Rockstars (2nd, 98-64)

Additions:
1B Brooks Powell (Trade, Boise)
LF Danny Wagner (FA, Buffalo)
P Russell Jones (FA, Buffalo)

Departures:
P Carl Kraemer (Trade, Cleveland)
P Bret Wall (Trade, Pittsburgh)
P Craig Howard (Trade, Tampa Bay)

Key Position Players:

SS Russell Bieser - He's played every single game the last two seasons and is coming off his best year yet. He hit 27 HR's and led the team with 114 RBI's

LF Julio Limon - Was hoping to have a huge impact this year but suffered a major injury at the end of Spring Training. He's going to miss the first 3 months of the season with a bulging disk in his back.

Key Pitchers:

RP Wilfredo Gonzalez - Solid closer who saved 43 games last season and had an ERA of 3.62. He needs to have another good year for the Rockstars.

SP Andres Valdes - He's consistently got better year after year. Last season he won 19 games and the Rockstars are hoping for an even better year this season.

Stock:
Down (A little bit)


Jacksonville Tequila Drinkin' Barflies (3rd, 89-73)

Additions:
LF Brooks Nelson (Trade, Pittsburgh)
P Pete Munro (Trade, Pittsburgh)

Departures:
P Alan Coppolecchia (FA, Nashville)
2B Todd Michaels (FA)
3B Phil Lennon (Trade, Pittsburgh)

Key Position Players:

OF Danny Vernon - He's the team's best hitter. Last season he led the team in RBI's (106) and OPS (.904).

1B Wally Andrews - Powerful hitter who crushed 37 HR's last season.

Key Pitchers:

SP Cesar Johnson - Jacksonville's ace that needs to have a great season for the Barflies to catch New York and Richmond.

RP Roy Schilling - Schilling has been a great closer for years now, however last season wasn't his best. He was able to save 50 games but had an ERA of 6.30. He's looking to have a better year this season.

Stock:
Steady


Chicago Dogs (4th, 84-78)

Additions:
SS Olmedo Guzman (FA, Buffalo)
P Mark Hamilton (FA, Colorado Springs)
P Patrick Henry (FA, Richmond)

Departures:
P Heinie Sandberg (Trade, Durham)
P Al Perez (FA)
2B Jeff Holbert (FA, New York Knights)

Key Position Players:

LF Christy Brownson - Hit 40 HR's last season. The Dogs are counting on him to carry this lineup.

SS Olmedo Guzman - Guzman was the big FA signing this year for the Dogs and they need him to have a good year for the Dogs to catch the top teams in the league.

Key Pitchers:

SP Jose Torres - Torres will be getting the ball on Opening Day for Chicago. He's been consistent over the years. In each of his 8 seasons, he's won 10 games and only once had an ERA over 4.00

SP Jerome Tracy - Led the team with 15 wins last year. He's looking to have a breakout season in his third year in the league.

Stock:
Down


Prediction:

It should be another great race this season in the AL East. It could come down to the last game of the season again this year. I think Richmond will again edge out New York and Jacksonville for the division crown, but all 3 teams could be in the playoffs this year.