National League
Overview:
--The National League has become very competitive lately, with old guns Sacramento, Nashville, Jackson, and Dover having to make room for teams like Rochester, Buffalo, and Cincinnati. While Rochester may have been the dominant regular season squad the last few years, that dominance hasn't equated to playoff success. They certainly have the horses to make another run this year, but so do several other senior circuit squads, and there are more than a few teams that are young and improving and may do some damage as well.
Projected Cy Young:Vasco Serra - Rochester Rolling Rocks
Other Contenders: Raul Escobar (ROC), Paul Junge (DOV), Greg Maduro (SAC), Pepper Boyer (ROC), Paul Wirth (NAS), Alberto Beltre (HON)
Projected MVP: Bill Everhart -Rochester Rolling Rocks
Other Contenders: Dan Carter (ROC), Rondell Burks (DOV), Buddy Poole (NAS), Brian Taylor (SYR), Marvin Mays (CIN), Quinton Allen (CHR)
Projected Fireman of the Year: Billy Cox - Nashville Mayhem
Other Contenders: Sammy Felix (SAC), Del Campos (CIN), Rick Beltran (JAC)
Projected Rookie of the Year: Yamid Montanez - Los Angeles Lunatics
Other Contenders: Jaime Davis (CIN), Glenn Acquilino (LA), Chip James (SJU)
Top Five Rotations in the National League
1. Rochester Rolling Rocks
2. Nashville Mayhem
3. Honolulu Haoles
4. Sacramento Fighting Cornish Hens
5. Jackson Rockets
Top Five Lineups in the National League
1. Rochester Rolling Rocks
2. Sacramento Fighting Cornish Hens
3. Syracuse Sycophants
4. Nashville Mayhem
5. Dover Diamond Dogs
Top Three Offseason Free Agent Signings
1. Rondell Burks - Dover Diamond Dogs
2. Paul Wirth - Nashville Mayhem
3. Elvis Leon - Charleston Chew
Four Teams on the Rise:
1. Honolulu Haoles
2. Cheyenne Chiefs
3. Los Angeles Lunatics
4. Charleston Chew
Two Teams on the Decline
1. San Juan Chinchillas
2. Jackson Rockets
Six prospects who could make a difference if called up this season
1. Vasco Unamuno - Buffalo Bisons
2. Carlos Hernandez - Cheyenne Chiefs
3. Ismael Ortiz - Cincinnati Red Stockings
4. Eddie Merritt - Honolulu Haoles
5. Skeeter Brewer - Nashville Mayhem
6. Chip James - San Juan Chinchillas
Projected finishes, by division:
NL North
Rochester Rolling Rocks - 103-59
Syracuse Sycophants - 85-77
Trenton High Tide - 73-89
Ottawa Renegades - 68-94
NL East
Dover Diamond Dogs - 91-71
New York Primetimers - 86-76
Buffalo Bisons - 85-77
Cincinnati Red Stockings - 76-86
NL South
Nashville Mayhem - 97-65
Jackson Rockets - 92-70
Charleston Chew - 84-78
San Juan Chinchillas - 65-97
NL West
Sacramento Fighting Cornish Hens - 95-67
Honolulu Haoles - 89-73
Cheyenne Chiefs - 81-81
Los Angeles Lunatics - 76-86