Swami Naktap - Special to Cobbfather Post Gazette
NL West
Honolulu Haoles (101-61, 2nd place)
--Swami Naktap sees a team that will be living the aloha spirit in Hawaii, greeting opponents with what might be the leagues best pitching staff. Swami says that the Haoles are huge fans of Don Ho, and will just hang loose and just have fun all the way to a division title. But swami says that the race will be very close, as the rest of the NL West is very close in talent to Honolulu. Swami sees one weak spot on the Haoles that could cost them, and it is an everyday lineup that isn't quite as solid as Sacramanto or Vancouver's lineups.
Prediction: 98-64 - 1st place.
Sacramento Fighting Cornish Hens (101-61, 1st place)
--Swami Naktap would have picked the Fighting Cornish Hens to finish 1st this season, but the huge injury to elite setup man Mitchell McElroy helps put the Hens bullpen in the freezer section next to the larger edible fowl. Still, swami says that the acquistion of Moises Terrero changes the complexion of Sacramento, and gives the hens some cock fighting spurs that the lineup lacked last season.
Prediction: 97-65 - 2nd place
Vancouver Lumberjacks (88-74, 3rd place)
--Swami says these aren't the kind of lumberjacks you hear about in Monty Python skits, instead these are the kind that mow down opposing bats like chainsaws through twigs thanks to the arms of Tony Saunders, Odalis Diaz, Hiram Dong, and Calvin Pong. Swami says that if the lineup can match the pitching staffs production then 95 wins is a real possibility. These lumberjacks are definately ok.
Prediction: 95-67 - 3rd place
Las Vegas Hardways (73-89, 4th place)
--Swami Naktap says that Las Vegas definitely had it the hard way last season with three quality division opponents. Swami says that they won't have it any easier this season, but should still ante up in what might be the toughest division in the league. Swami sees the lineup equalling the outputs of the rest of the NL West, but sees the pitching staff having trouble keeping chips on the table.
Prediction: 78-84 - 4th place