The number in parentheses is the teams' roster score upon which the predictions are based.
American League
North
1- St. Louis Redbirds (1385)- The Redbirds possess the highest rated lineup in the league. After leading the AL in runs scored last season by a wide margin, that's no surprise. Look for RF Ross Henley to have a breakout season.
2- Minnesota Mafia (1347)- The lineup and starting rotation are ranked in the middle of the AL, though the bullpen is surprisingly rated #1. In order to live up to that billing, RP George Walsh will need to build upon a very solid Season 25.
3- Scranton Wild (1336)- The rotation, offense and defense are about league average, though the bullpen isn't rated particularly well. The Wild should definitely improve upon last season's 67 win total, and will likely finish around .500.
4- Detroit Immortals (1280)- One of the lowest rated teams, the Immortals will struggle this season. The lineup is the lowest rated in the AL and the rotation is rated 14th. Its gonna be a long road before playoff baseball returns to the Motor City.
East
1- Philadelphia Stomp (1411)- The Stomp boast the highest rated overall roster in SP. The starting rotation is rated #1 as is the lineup, while the bullpen is rated #5. SP Quilvio Lee is still the most dominant starter in the AL. This team still isn't aging either. LF Eric Farrell is one of the early favorites for AL RoY. He could very well lead the Stomp in home runs at the season's end.
2- Norfolk Whiskey Jacks (1368) (WILD CARD #1)- The Jacks are one of the best regular season franchises in recent SP history, and the least successful playoff squads. The Jacks are currently riding an impressive streak of 11 consecutive playoff appearances, but only twice have made it to the LCS. They better get it done soon, because the window is starting to close. In fact, there isn't a single player on the Jacks roster who is under 30 years old.
3- Kansas City T-Bones (1346)- The $100M contract needed to retain the services of MVP RF Junior Chang meant that SP Ozzie Kim found his way playing in New Orleans as the team was unable to keep both. Kim will be a big loss to the depth of the rotation in KC, and this season's roster is the shallowest we've seen in KC in many seasons. Kim's departure to the Big Easy will likely be the key to KC just missing the playoffs.
4- Baltimore Revolution (1288)- The Rev are still in rebuild mode, with one of the weakest rosters in the AL, but it won't be long before this team is in the playoff mix once more. The very first wave of talent from a revamped farm system is starting to trickle onto the ML team and there is plenty more ML talent down on the farm. Season 26 will be another one in the cellar, but it'll be only another season or two before they are back to relevance.
South
1- Monterrey Gringos (1393)- Is the wait finally over? Its been 16 seasons since the Monterrey Venom made the playoffs powered by their murderers row offense. Monterrey boasts the second highest rated roster in the AL. Its a very balanced team as the starting rotation, lineup and bullpen are all also rated #2 in the AL in their respective category. This team doesn't just look good for this season either. With 20 of the team's 25 players under 30 years old, this season could be the start of many playoff appearances, and a annual rivalry with the likes of NL South power New Orleans. Viva Los Gringos!
2- New Orleans (1359) (WILD CARD #2)- As always, the Jazz didn't sit on their hands this offseason, making two major free agent signings in All Star CF Vic Bennett and veteran SP Ozzie Kim. While Bennett is an adventure defensively in CF, he carries a big stick that will add fireworks to the Jazz lineup.
3- Charlotte Legends (1353)- Charlotte has made it into the playoffs 5 of the last 7 seasons, and they certainly are in the mix this season. The starting rotation is rated #3 in the AL, while both the lineup and bullpen are above average. They do have the misfortune of playing in the deepest division in the AL right now though.
4- Houston Buushwackerz (1352)- The Buushwackerz have made the playoff for the last two seasons, and this season will be tougher still. The AL boasts a number of very good teams, and the South, in particular, is very deep. Houston is rated above average in starting rotation and in the lineup, but the bullpen is the strength of the team. The pen, led by RP Greg Meyers and RP Willie Fernandez are rated #3 in the AL.
West
1- Anaheim Pepper Pickers (1344)- The Pepper Pickers will be taking advantage of yet another season of the West being the weakest in the AL. The team is solid, with middle-of-the-pack rankings in both lineup and pitching rotation. The bullpen though, is stout, rated #2 in the AL. This team could really benefit though, from another bat in the lineup to protect the $110M-man, 3B Sherman Campbell.
2- Honolulu Ohanu (1295)- The Ohanu are clearly in the midst of a rebuild and should find themselves at the bottom end of the AL when the season wraps up.
2- Scottsdale Camels (1295)- The Camels have been the team that has been there to vulture away the division title in the West for the last few seasons. This season will likely be different. Unable to land their traditional 'veterans with something left in the tank' that they normally do this offseason, the Camels will likely also end up in the bottom of the AL.
4- Salem Blues (1270)- An absentee owner left only five position players on the ML roster forcing pitchers to play at DH and SS. An L15 to start the season, and the lowest rated roster in the league will likely leave Salem destined for another #1 overall pick in Season 27.
National League
North
1- Milwaukee Boys of Summer (1385)- A very talented roster in the field should overcome a very pedestrian pitching rotation. The overall roster is ranked #2 in the NL, while the lineup is ranked #1. 3B Howie Becker is an MVP in the making. The NL North will be a very close two horse race between Milwaukee and Iowa City.
2- Iowa City Badgers (1379) (WILD CARD #1)- More balanced than their rivals in Milwuakee. The Badgers have the advantage on the mound, with the #1 rated starting rotatioin in the NL, while the Boys have an advantage in the field. Either team is capable of winning this division. SP Hipolito Matos is one of the two pitchers in the NL that is capable of taking the Cy Young away from Pepe Sosa.
3- New York Mets (1340)- The loss of CF Vic Bennett was a big one. He'd been the face of the franchise going back 8 seasons to their time in Cincinnati. While there are a couple of very nice players on the Mets, the roster has many holes and is likely destined for another season of mediocrity.
4- Montreal Rockets (1339)- Its been 14 seasons since this franchise made the playoffs, and its very likely to become 15. While there are a couple of nice pieces on the roster, like RF Tom Bailey and 3B Alex Campos, there are many holes and the roster is rated toward the bottom of the NL.
East
1- Washington DC Generals (1379)- The 3rd overall most talented roster in the NL, playing in the weakest division. The team is also the most complete, balanced team in the NL, after Little Rock. Should be a lock for the playoffs, and is likely Little Rock's biggest threat to pull off the upset and win the pennant.
2- Pittsburgh Marauders (1313)- Oh how the mighty have fallen. Its been six seasons since Pittsburgh has been in the playoffs, including finishing in last place 4 times. To add insult to injury, due to a front office snafu, the team lost Victor De La Vega in the Rule 5 Draft. Its going to be a long season in the Steel City. The team's lone bright spot is young superstar 1B Karim Cornejo.
3- Chicago Gray Stockings (1306)- Roster has decent pitching and solid defense. They will struggle mightily to score though, with the 2nd worst lineup in the NL, despite above average team speed. Will give Cleveland a run to finish last in the division.
4- Cleveland Lake Shores (1298)- Its been 15 seasons since Ironman, and likely future HoF Matt Wolf wasn't behind the dish in Cleveland. There are alot of question marks in Ohio as this team seems caught between rebuilding and trying to contend. Kelton and Lohse form a credible 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation, but overall the team doesn't look to be competitive. The lowest rated lineup in the NL, combined with a sub-par bullpen put this team in line for a top ten draft pick next season.
South
1- Little Rock Mockingbirds (1401)- The reigning champs have also won 3 of the last 4 NL Pennants. They still have the most complete team in the league, and are the heavy favorite to win the pennant once more. Staff ace SP Pedro Castillo is one of the two pitchers who has any kind of realistic chance to take the Cy Young away from Pepe Sosa.
2- Richmond Rebellion (1345)- The Rebellion, led by 2B Luis Delgado, tout the NL's 2nd highest rated lineup. The rotation, while as a whole is actually rated as below average, is led by SP Brian Sasaki who is probably the best pitcher in the NL that nobody ever really talks about. They should be right in the mix for the Wild Card, but will likely just miss out.
3- Atlanta Soda Poppers (1338)- As has become the MO in Atlanta, the Soda Poppers will be a solid, though unspectacular team. Their roster slightly above average in both pitching and lineup, and the team will be in the mix for the Wild Card throughout the season. They will probably fall just short though.
4- Tampa Bay Bandits (1319)- New city. New brand. New results? Maybe. The roster is certainly improved. The Bandits could be the surprise of the NL. They'll be better than they have in a long time, and could be close to .500 by season's end. This team really isn't the caliber of a last place team, but the NL South is the deepest in the NL. The Bandits are heading in the right direction.
West
1- Los Angeles White Sox (1372)- The White Sox are going to surprise some teams this season. Once upon a time the LA Sharks were the dominant force in the NL West, winning the division 8 straight seasons. Ten straight seasons at the bottom of the standings were finally broken with a Wild Card berth last season. This team is very similar to Milwaukee. Its boasts an excellent lineup, rated #2 in the NL. The pitching is very suspect though.
2- San Diego Wiley Coyotes (1367) (WILD CARD #2)- You would think that with Pepe Sosa, if you kept making the playoffs he would eventually simply carry your team to a WS victory. That hasn't happened yet. Now, at 31 years old, you can start to see the end of that opportunity. As usual, the rotation after Sosa is solid, but nobody really jumps out at you as the #2 pitcher the team really needs. The lineup is excellent, rated #4 in the NL. If this team makes the playoffs again, watch out for Pepe.
3- Oakland Athletics (1346)- Unfortunately, the As seem to have fallen into the rut of a team that is always 'just good enough' but never a serious contender. The team is always competitive, and can slip into the playoffs, but isn't ever really considered a threat to make a deep run. This season looks to be more of the same, except with a rising Los Angeles team, it'll be much harder to make the playoffs this time around. Oakland is rated just above average in pitching and in the lineup.
4- Vancouver Tragedy Twins (1334)- The Twins, one of the powers in the NL traditionally, have been slowly eroding the last few seasons. They've missed the playoffs for three straight seasons, and this season's team doesn't have the look of a playoff squad either. The starting rotation is rated slightly below average, the lineup is rated about average while the bullpen is rated 14th. The West has become much deeper as well, and the Twins could very well find themselves with the franchise's first 4th place finish is 12 seasons.
PLAYOFFS
ALCS: St. Louis Redbirds defeat Philadelphia Stomp
NLCS: Little Rock Mockingbirds defeat Iowa City Badgers
WORLD SERIES: St. Louis Redbirds defeat Little Rock Mockingbirds
A LOOK BACK: Here is a refresh of the Season 25 SPN Preview... lets see just how wrong I was!
American League:
Correctly predicted 4 of 6 playoff teams, and 1 of the LCS participants, including the winner.
Overall Grade: B
North:
Prediction: St. Louis Redbirds (97-65)
Result: St. Louis Redbirds (104-58)
Grade: A-
East:
Prediction: Norfolk Whiskey Jacks (98-64)
Result: Norfolk Whiskey Jacks (94-68)
Grade: A+
South:
Prediction: Houston Buushwackerz (91-71)
Result: New Orleans Jazz (99-63)
Grade: C+
I was dead on with the Houston record (they finished 94-68 and made the playoffs). I just missed on New Orleans.
West:
Prediction: Scottsdale Camels (82-80)
Result: Scottsdale Camels (75-87)
Grade: A-
Wild Card:
Prediction: Philadelphia Stomp (93-69)
Result: Houston Buushwackerz (91-71)
Grade: C
Once again, I was spot on with the Houton record, and close with Philly's (they finished 88-74, but missed the playoffs). It was New Orleans, once again, putting the wrench in my calculations.
Wild Card:
Prediction: Charlotte Dukies (89-73)
Result: Kansas City T-Bones (93-69)
Grade: C
I was very close with the Charlotte wins (they acutally went 87-75, but missed the playoffs) but underestimated KC.
ALCS:
Prediction: St. Louis Redbirds over Norfolk Whiskey Jacks
Result: St. Louis Redbirds over Kansas City T-Bones
Grade: B-
Picked the winner correctly, but didn't even have the T-Bones in the postseason...
National League:
Correctly Predicted 4 of 6 playoff teams. Missed on both LCS participants.
Overall Grade: C-
North:
Prediction: Montreal Rockets (91-71)
Result: Iowa City Badgers (86-76)
Grade: D
Overestimated the Rockets, and underestimated the Badgers, and Matos. The Rockets did finish in 2nd place with a winning record of 82-80. Only reason I didn't get an F.
East:
Prediction: Washington Generals (92-70)
Result: Washington Generals (105-57)
Grade: C+
The pick was easy. The rest of the NL East is terrible. I was way off on my record though.
South:
Prediction: Richmond Rebellion (95-67)
Result: Little Rock Mockingbirds (98-64)
Grade: F
The Reb ended the season in 3rd, with a losing record. While I had Little Rock making the playoffs via Wild Card, they instead were the NL's #2 seed. Big swing and a miss on this one.
West:
Prediction: Los Angeles White Sox (84-78)
Result: San Diego Wiley Coyotes (93-69)
Grade: C+
My record prediction with LA was nearly perfect as they finished 82-80,and made the playoffs. The Coyotes, like they are every season, are unpredictable and really surprised me.
Wild Card:
Prediction: Atlanta Soda Poppers (92-70)
Result: Atlanta Soda Poppers (86-76)
Grade: A
Nailed it.
Wild Card:
Prediction: Little Rock Mockingbirds (90-72)
Result: Los Angeles White Sox (82-80)
Grade: C
I was very close with LA, and while I thought LR would make the playoffs, obviously grossly underestimated how good they were.
NLCS:
Prediction: Montreal Rockets over Richmond Rebellion
Result: Little Rock Mocking Birds over Washington Generals
Grade: F
Can you get an 'F-'? The teams I predicted weren't even in the playoffs.
World Series:
Prediction: St. Louis Redbirds over Montreal Rockets
Result: Little Rock Mockingbirds over St. Louis Redbirds
