AL West

Colorado Springs Micheladas (AL) dyuen View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Infield

Cota is a very good hitter, but a bit below average behind the plate. Bonilla platoons well with Cota as Bonilla hits lefties very well and is at least average behind the plate. Edwards is in AAA, but is major league ready. He hits for power and average, although is eye is below average. Also, Edwards is a very good fielder at firstbase, a good fit in the #6 spot in the lineup. Lloyd is a solid power hitter. His fielding is more geared toward thirdbase; however, he is adequate at secondbase too. Rookie Anderson plays the hot corner and is more than ready. He hits with power and average and fields his position extremely well. Cambridge does a little bit of everything from shortstop. He hits for a little average, a little power, and has a little speed. An average fielder his throwing accuracy is a slight concern, but overall a real nice player to have in the lineup. Price is a good back-up and as a shortstop can play just about any position.

RATING: 7.5

Outfield and DH

Davis is a rock at Dh, he provides more power and is a terror against righties. Jenkins has a little pop to his bat, but can hit for a very good average, make contact and has a good eye with average speed. Brown is a good hitter with a great eye and a little speed. He is also an excellent fielder which bodes well for centerfield. Izquierdo is a platoon player who hits lefties very well has power and speed and fields very well too. Hawkins and Shibata are both solid hitters with very good speed.

RATING: 7

Starting Pitching

The rotation is absolutely lights out. Lead by veteran Smith, all of them have excellent stuff. Delgado’s stamina will shorten his pitch count, but he is certainly capable. Diaz doesn’t have the best control, but is isn’t wild. Alomar and Buchanan round out a talent group.

RATING: 9

Bullpen

And the talented pitching continues. Aquino and Webster are solid long relievers. Aquino can start and even Webster can make spot starts. Glanville, a starter, has moved into the bullpen. He is joined by Sanchez and closer Farley. All can pitch and all can pitch for multiple innings.

RATING: 8.5

Overall

A solid lineup compliments an awesome pitching staff. Another divisional title is in sight. However, Colorado Springs relies heavily on the long ball and may have problems in larger ball parks which require runs to be manufactured…in the playoffs, no such problems will bother them in the regular season. Forecast 100 wins

Helena Sky~Walkers (AL) meech11 View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Infield

Lowery is a solid hitter who calls an excellent game. However, he needs a battery mate. Ozuna has always hit and now he is becoming more durable, which only spells bad news for American League pitchers. Flanagan is a prototypical #2 hitter with a dazzling glove at secondbase. Wheeler also has a great glove and can provide a little hitting off the bench or to spell a starter. There does not appear to be a thirdbaseman at this time. Should another player be used there, no one but the shortstop has the arm strength. Ramrirez is a marvelous young player. However, at 20 his defense and durability have yet to develop. His future is bright and he can hit at the majors, but he may have been rushed into the big league.

RATING: 7

Outfield and DH

Ramirez is a monster hitter and can even play several positions in the field. Michaels has blazing speed and a solid glove in leftfield. Fernandez has a centerfielders glove in left and can hit lefties very well. Price is the veteran and provides a solid bat in centerfield, his range is beginning to slip a little, but Fernandez is an excellent defensive replacement. Franco, in rightfield, has out of this world speed and a solid bat, though he has some issues with the strike zone. He too is an excellent fielder.

RATING: 8

Starting Pitching

Cornejo has great stuff and hit his stride last season with a 2.99 ERA, expect more of the same. Graham is a solid workhorse who eats innings. McDonald and Thompson just continue the parade, while Terrereo and Schneider vie for the #5 spot.

RATING: 8

Bullpen

The bullpen is well armed and rock solid. Led by Garcia and Armas, this group can protect any lead or on the occasion when needed, hold a game together to give the team a chance to comeback and win too.

RATING 8

Overall

The pitching is superb. The team is full of youth and hope. However, because they are so young, the team still suffers from durability issues, especially in the infield. Helena will either have to rest starters regularly are risk running them down over the course of the season. Additionally, there is a shortage of leftside defense on the infield as well, which jumps out all the more when considering the excellent fielding skills of almost all the other positions. A strong contender for a playoff spot with an even brighter future. Forecast 94 wins

Salt Lake City Mule Deer (AL) bhbgew View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Infield

The Mule Deer have two catchers who can hit, while Schilling has a ton of power, Blasco is a more balanced hitter for righties or lefties. However, both are mediocre behind the plate. Firstbase finds two young power hitters in Infante and Suarez. However, while both clobber lefthanders, each is middle of the road against righties. Gutierrez and Rose provide to young and solid secondbasemen as well, both are balanced solid hitters, while Gutierrez brings a very good glove too. Shortstop finds another young talent in Brendan Edwards. He already has a solid bat and excellent speed. He is a little less than one might hope for in the field at SS; however, some of that is do to youth and the future may well see him develop into the position. Thirdbase finds no one home. It remains to be seen who the Mule Deer will play at the hot corner as they lack a true 3B on the roster.

RATING: 5

Outfield and DH

Holtz and O’Brien big bats, but are more of a threat against lefties. Mailman is a more balanced hitter. Probably there are extra infielders and one of the two 1B would seem a solid choice to play at Dh. In the field, Holtz, O’Brien, and Mailman are all good corner outfielders, but there is no true CF. The Mule Deer pitchers maybe the ones to suffer for this shortage.

RATING: 6

Starting Pitching

The Mule Deer have no shortage of good young starters. There is no need to name them, the are many they are young and they already have major league capability…which is only going to get better in future seasons. In addition, the Mule Deer have still more strong young arms down on the farm as well. It is always nice to have options.

RATING: 6.5

Bullpen

The pitching doesn’t end with their starters. The Mule Deer have collected a group of young and capable relief pitchers as well. Also like their starters, the farm has a number of up and coming arms as well. Whether one identifies closer and other roles or just turns the whole bullpen lose on opponents, this group is up to the task.

RATING: 7

Overall

This team is generally young and growing. They are still having to fill in spots, but the future is bright in Salt Lake City. However, for this season, the Mule Deer may still suffer some growing pains in part do to lacking in the field and see innings extended and some unearned runs which will prove costly. Forecast 77 wins

Tucson Tools (AL) tony23 View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Infield

Polanco is a capable catcher as a hitter and middle of the road behind the plate. James should make an adequate tandem with Polanco as he possesses similar skills. Hoover is one the best firstbasemen in all of Mordecai. Bradford, a Rule V pick-up, provides a decent bat at secondbase, though his fielding is more suited to thirdbase. Lyon is a mediocre hitter with a good glove at thirdbase. Nunez (another Rule V) is also a mediocre hitter, though at shortstop that can go farther; however, his range is suspect for a shortstop. Hukata was signed early as an International Free Agent and sent to the big leagues. However, he isn’t ready, while he can hit, his fielding and durability will keep him from having a significant overall impact. Additionally, having spent the franchises entire prospect budget; this team, with the #4 pick and high amateur scouting, will not be in any position to sign badly needed players for the farm from this season’s draft class.

RATING: 6

Outfield and DH

Olmedo provides the best bat at left field, though it is middle of the road at best. Zoltan and Lindsay can hit lefties and Zoltan has a very good glove for a leftfielder. Javier has an excellent glove, very good speed and is a terror against lefties. Tracy is a solid rightfielder with a canon for an arm. The team does not appear to have anyone who stands out to be the DH.

RATING: 4

Starting Pitching

Jones is a solid pitcher and easily the #1 guy in Tucson. Langston has decent stuff, but can’t find the plate. The same can be said for Wheat. Valdivia is a fair pitcher who lacks quality pitches. Delaney can compete against righthanders, but doesn’t have clue how to deal with lefthanders. Sveum pitches batting practice at the major league level. Unfortunately, there isn’t much on the farm either. A sever lack of pitching in a hitters park such as Tucson is catastrophic.

RATING 2

Bullpen

The bullpen is an assortment of mostly mediocre pitchers who generally have lots of stamina, which is vital as the starters generally won’t last to the 5^th inning. Haynes and Hardy will be effective and Haynes has some potential to start as well.

RATING 3

Overall

Hoover is a monster and there are a few hitters to help him, but the is almost no pitching. With no pitching and poor fielding, this team will give up 1500 runs, which is a recipe for disaster. They simply can’t generate enough runs to counter the absolute lack of pitching. Forecast 43 wins