AL Preview

Springfield Isotopes 

Offensive Overview: 

The Isotopes are built right up the middle. 2 of the top 4 2b in the game (Cano, Pedroia), Reyes at SS, Salvi Perez at the dish and Cespedes and Granderson manning CF. The outside could be a concern. Belt has never lived up to his former top prospect status and struggles to keep his job every year. Aramis Ramirez and Ryan “1-N” Zimmerman spend as much time on the DL as off it. The Isotope outfield is stretched thin, relying on Coco Crisp or Ben Revere to man a starting spot. Also of note, there is virtually no positional flexibility which might become a numbers crunch if any injuries linger. 

Projected Offense: 

Isotopes are built on speed over power. Without any 30+ HR boppers (although the potential for a couple is there) and only Cano for a true middle of the order RBI producer, this team will need to get on base often and swipe some bases to carry the offense. 

X Factor: 

Jose Reyes: A 2nd round pick just 2 seasons ago, injuries have kept Reyes from being a fantasy force. Already listed DTD with the dreaded sore hamstring, Reyes needs to keep on the field and out of the training room. If he does, he has a chance to rejoin the top tier of SSs in the game. 

Pitching Overview: 

Isotope pitching is back end heavy. Solid closing options in Rex Brothers and Glen Perkins also include Huston Street, who is dominant for the short stretches he actually stays on the mound and off of the DL. SP could be intriguing. Verlander is still the opening day SP, but is coming off of a season that was, frankly, a total disaster. Similar to Verlander is Matt Cain, whose 2013 is one he would like to forget. Wainwright will be a star, but where this staff will go will depend on 3 question marks: Jake Peavy, Marco Estrada and Ervin Santana. This is a group with solid ERAs, but could struggle for QS and K/9. 

X Factor: 

Justin Verlander: coming off of a season long nightmare (by his standards), if he returns to his 2012 form, the Isotopes will have a serious 1-3 
Yakety Sax 

Offensive Overview: 

The Sax are strong around the edges. Trumbo, Miggy Cabrera, Bautista and Harper give this team a very solid core down the lines. Up the middle is a bit of another story. Aaron Hill is the 3rd best fantasy option at 2b and Andrus will score a bunch of runs. However, Rendon is still fighting with Danny Espinoza for a spot on the Nats and there are no other options to be found on the roster. 

Offensive Production: 

Opposite of the Isotopes, this is a team meant to mash. Outside of Cabrera and Choo, OBP could be an adventure. High K bashers Trumbo, Cuddyer and Rasmus will drag on the OBP and Andrus, despite 620 trips to the plate last season, only walked 56 times. The Sax will be trying to slug their way past teams with HRs and SLG. R totals will likely be on the lower side and SBs might be a punt stat. 

X Factor: 

Michael Cuddyer: After being in the HR Derby last season as a guy pushing 40, he will have to show that he isn’t the next Konerko. He went from being an All Star to a Bench Star in less than 1 year after age finally won out. 

Pitching Overview: 

Another team with strong RP, led by STL CP Trevor Rosenthal, who could be the next major star at the position. Romo and Robertson will likely have solid seasons with monster K/9 rates. Sax starters are a question mark. Dan Haren has went from all star ace to clinging to a #5 spot in the rotation. Zach Wheeler went on the prospect roller coaster between Vegas (AAA) and the NYM and Sonny Gray went from a solid #3 to suddenly the guy in OAK. Garza and Tillman will chew up some IP, but QS might also be a bit of a problem for this staff. 

X Factor: 

Danny Salazar: This kid could be the real deal. Just 24 years old, he came up and looked the part last season. He’ll be on a dreaded innings count no doubt, but he could be a breakout. 

Royal Rooters 

Offensive Overview: 

As expected from the autodrafter, the Rooters have a bit of an eclectic bunch of players. 7 players with 1b eligibility will definitely be cause for some trades sooner rather than later. As of now, this is a team that might have some problems at the plate. The corners are a strong suit, which shouldn’t be a shock with that many guys at 1b, but there are some studs. Votto, AGon, Encarnacion, Napli and Cuban import Jose Abreu will provide the offense for this team. The OF probably needs a rework. Crawford and Corey Hart are oft injured, Leonys Martin bats near the end of the order (although with profar out til may/june, he might move up to 2 behind Andrus) and BJ Upton has nowhere to go but up. 

Offensive Production: 

R, RBI and OBP will be an issue for this team as it stands right now. With few top of the order players, that is probably to be expected. Martin batting 2nd (or even leading off) while Profar is out would be a big help. Other than OBP machine Joey Votto, not many guys will consistently be on base. 

X Factor: 

Jose Abreu: this guy has been a story of spring. As Sox fans (like me) know, high money free agents are a bit of a rare breed in recent years, but Abreu has been extremely impressive. He might struggle initially, but he has the tools to be .290/30/90 for the next decade on the south side. 

Pitching Overview: 

Yet another team that will generate some saves, provided Frieri actually keeps his job and Chapman isn’t traumatized after being used as a human target dummy. While not having the flashy guys, this staff has some really solid SP. While offensively this is a work in progress, the guys on the mound will be a pretty decent staff that will pressure the opposition while the offense works out the kinks. 

X Factor: 

Aroldis Chapman: After having his face broken, he might need as much psychological healing as physical. It is hard to come back after taking one like that and not be a bit gun shy. Some guys have never recovered from it.

DL All Stars 

Offensive Overview: 

This probably won’t surprise anyone that has played in the other 2 versions of this league, but the DLAS are built around the best infield in the league. The top 2 SS in baseball in mega stars Troy Tulowitzki and Hanley Ramirez, 2012 NL MVP Buster Posey behind the plate, 100 R machine Ian Kinsler at 2b, and Cardinals past and present with Pujols and Allen Craig at 1st. When baseball prodigies Manny Machado and Jurickson Profar return it’s an impressive mix of youth and veteran talent. The outfield is much less of a known commodity, but it is where this team will either continue the DLAS run or finally have the house of cards fall. No pressure, OF guys. I am staying true to the formula that has won back to back league titles: big money veterans, gambling on bounce back seasons (Hamilton in ‘12, Hanely in ’13) and huge upside young guys (Trout in ’12, Jose Fernandez in ’13). In fact, returning players from previous DLAS: Pujols (’13), Freese (’12), Hanley (’12, ’13), Tulo (’12, ’13), Hamilton (’12, ’13), Garcia (’13), Ryu (’13), Liriano (’13), Archer (’13), Sale (’13), Weaver (’12). 

Offensive Production: 

For all purposes, the DLAS are punting steals. With 12 players on offense projected for 75+ R, 6 players projected for 90+ RBIs and power from 5 former league MVPs, the DLAS will try to slug their way through the season. 

X Factor(s): 

Cheating a bit here with my own team, but calling out just 1 X Factor didn’t seem fair when really there are 3: Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and Matt Kemp. It’s not at all reaching to say the fate of these 3 players will determine my season. Some major “Ifs” here, but IF they stay healthy and IF they play to their abilities and IF they meet or exceed projections, the DLAS will be a scary offensive team. 

Pitching Overview: 

And then there is pitching. In a development that should shock exactly no one, the DLAS staff is quite a mundane bunch. Other than the injury plagued June andand down the stretch last season, the DLAS never have much luck on the bump. Despite having a host of opening day starters (CC, Liriano, Sale, Weaver, Teheran) there are more questions than answers here. K/9 and SV will be a train wreck. K/9 might languish in the high 7s, low 8s. Saves I’m not even trying to compete in. CC is transitioning from a thrower to being a pitcher (his velocity is down from 94-96 in ’12 to 88-91 this season), chris archer will be shutdown in September (again) and Liriano is absolutely going to miss starts on the DL. 

X Factor (s): 

Cheating again as there are really 2 major X factors on the DLAS staff: Rick Porcello and Julio Teheran. Teheran is the opening day starter in ATL by default rather than skill (the 3 other options – Beachy, Minor and Medlen – are on the DL or out for the season), and Porcello has been a major tease showing remarkable stuff followed by 8 ER in 2.1 IP. If I hit on youth again, as was the case last season, this staff could be solid. Even if I win 5 batting stats a week I have to find a way to pull out 2 pitching stats somehow or it doesn’t matter if I am the 1926 Yankees on offense. It won’t mean anything. 

Evil Empire 

Offensive Overview: 

The Empire is strong outside in. Freeman and Beltre is one of the best corner combos in the league. A very solid OF with RBI machine Jay Bruce and great contributors Jayson Werth and Desmond Jennings. Will Venable gets lost playing in the baseball death valley of San Diego but should have a quality season. Up the middle is a concern for the Empire, as Daniel Murphy doesn’t really do all the much at 2b, Alexei Ramirez might end up hitting 8th on the South Side and Jedd Gyorko doesn’t have much offensive help around him. 

Offensive Production: 

In many ways this team is very similar to the DLAS strategy. The Empire might lead the league in HRs and will knock in a ton, but SB will be few and far between. OPB might also be a bit low as free swingers Ramirez, Gyorko, Moss, Venable, Murphy and Todd Frazier whiff too often and take too few walks. The Empire will try to brute force their way through the season, which is something that worked for them last year. 

X Factor: 

Brett Gardner: He is in a bit of an interesting situation in NY right now. Soriano, Beltran and Ellsbury have locked up outfield slots (although Soriano should give up the glove and just DH) and Gardner seems to be in a 5 man outfield rotation with those 3 playing all over and DHing as well. Ichiro is also in the mix. Gardner won’t be hitting leadoff again (Ellsbury will be the top liner for the Yanks) and will likely end up in the dreaded 8 or 9 hole. Having 100-120 less ABs won’t help his value. 

Pitching Overview: 

A very interesting group of pitchers for the Empire. This team is extremely CP heavy, but that might be a good thing considering the job security inherent to the position. Balfour almost lost his job in Oak before moving to TB. Nate Jones throws 100 mph, but has exactly 0 CP experience. Tommy Hunter is still moving from SP (where he was a bust) to CP. Addison Reed and Bobby Parnell should do a pretty solid job, however. SP might be something to watch. Minor is out and might remain that way until May. Tim Lincecum is transitioning from power pitcher to crafty veteran and Gio Gonzalez is a WHIP killer. Lots of pressure on the reliable Kuroda and Yu Darvish (and his neck issues) to be the stars of the rotation here. 

X Factor: 

Lincecum: No longer a big K power pitcher, if he hits his targets and gets ground ball outs he could be good in SF. The park is pitcher friendly and he has a very good defense around him. If he doesn’t, he might end up throwing BP in games again and will likely be a quick waiver wire casualty for the Empire.