Sunday, February 15, 2009

Season 4 Preview - NL East

Leon Jackson - Cobbfather Post Gazette
Shenaynay - Special Correspondent from the Psychic Friends Network

The NL East was perhaps the tightest division race in Cobbfather last season, and looks to be quite the race this season. Let's see what the crystal ball has to say about the NL East in Season 4.

NL EAST

4. Buffalo Bisons
Last Season: 87-75

Shenaynay’s crystal ball shows: a rancher gathering the Buffalo preparing for a stampede!

Gazette says: Last season, we gigged Buffalo on their pitching, and they turned out a very good staff. We'll not make the same mistake twice, at least about their pitching. We like their staff this season. We will possibly make the same mistake twice predicting them to finish 4th place. This is a tough division, all the teams are good, and someone has to finish last. And looking at their offense, we think it's just a little less potent than the rest of the division, and while their pitching is good, the rest of the division also has good pitching.

Psychic Friends Network prediction: 77-85, 4th place
Vegas Odds to win it all: 55-1

3. Hartford Snakes2
Last Season: 85-77

Shenaynay’s crystal ball shows: The spider morphs into a snake, even more deadly than before!

Gazette says: Your writer's eyes are starting to cross, because these NL East teams look very similar. Hartford has a pitching staff on the level of its division rivals, it is a very good staff. Offensively, the lineup features a lot of power, all though there a few guys in the lineup who are hit or miss, it will be either a home run or an out. When the bats are on, Hartford will be a tough team to beat, but could see some tough times when their hitters are swinging for the fences and not connecting. Make no mistake though, Hartford will be a solid squad this season.

Psychic Friends Network prediction: 82-80, 3rd place
Vegas Odds to win it all: 22-1

2. Dover Diamond Dogs
Last Season: 81-81

Shenaynay’s crystal ball shows: A cheesy rap video - it's Who Let the Dogs Out? Woof Woof.

Gazette says: The franchise who won the season 2 World Series title had an adjustment period in Season 3, as the new owner made the team his own. We see the team continuing to make progress under new ownership. The pitching staff features outstanding control across the board. The Dover hurlers will be tough to hit this season. The offense is good, but not outstanding, which is what keeps them from the top spot in the division rankings, but the pitching staff will be good enough to take them to a very nice record this season.

Psychic Friends Network prediction: 89-73, 2nd place
Vegas Odds to win it all: 20-1

1. New York Primetimers
Last Season: 87-75

Shenaynay’s crystal ball shows: Prime Time is here for New York.

Gazette says: New York took steps forward last season, with a nice improvement of record, and thanks to the team being active in offseason moves, we see the progress continuing. Pitching wise, like the other NL East teams, New York's staff is very good, definitely playoff caliber. What sets New York apart from the other teams in the division is its offense. New York has the best offense in the division, and we look for another year of great production from their lineup, on the way to a division title.

Psychic Friends Network prediction: 93-69, 1st place
Vegas Odds to win it all: 10-1

UP NEXT: AL East