2012 CDBL Season Preview "Your Mileage May Vary!" Predicted Playoff Teams: Aaron Division - Manhatten Beach Mashers Paige Division - Brookeville Bandits Gehrig Division - Albuquerque Maul Tiant Division - Georgia Pines AP Conference Wildcard - Arkham Investigators GT Conference Wildcard - Carlsbad Surfers #1 League Wildcard - DBL Fishbiscuits #2 League Wildcard - Anchorage Gold Diggers WORLD SERIES PREDICTION - Bandits over Pines ************************************************************************************************* AARON DIVISION PREVIEW - Predicted order of finish 1. Manhatten Beach Mashers (Last season: 97-65, 2nd place) - The Mashers have one of the strongest rotations in the league led by CC Sabathia and a deep bullpen led by Fernando Rodney. Offense is "OK", led by the 30-home run power of Chase Headley. Would not be surprised to see them acquire an additional bat or two during the season. Even without trades they are the pre-season favorite to win the division. 2. Arkham Investigators (Last season: 102-60, Aaron Division Champs) - Lots of home run power, with potent bats of Adam LaRoche, Jason Kubel, Wilin Rosario and others. Pitching is strong as well, with ace Bronson Arroyo leading the rotation and Jim Johnson leading a strong bullpen. Arkham will push the Mashers all season for the division pennant and the final match up between the two teams may end up being in the post-season. 3. Elk Grove Trout (Last season: 86-76, 4th place) - Ryan Braun could contend for MVP honors with a strong season, and Matt Kemp and Scott Hairston should have good season. The rotation is capable, although no starter from the Trout are likely all-star bound. Jason Motte and Grant Balfour lead a strong bullpen. The Trout should have a winning season, and will be in the wild-card race. 4. Dallas SuperSquad (Last season: 78-84, 6th place) - After a disappointing last-place finish in 2011, the SuperSquad are looking to rebound. Josh Willingham, Corey Hart and Aramis Ramirez are a power trio, and several players are capable of swiping a base. RA Dickey is a legit ace, and the rest of the rotation is (mostly) capable. Bullpen may be a bit of a weak spot. Still, Dallas is in for a better year than last year. 5. Montreal Voltigeurs (Last season: 80-82, 5th place) - Jason Heyward and Mark Teixeira will help drive the offense, as will Hunter Pence. CJ Wilson and Jonathan Niese lead a decent rotation, and the Voltigeurs have some options in the bullpen. While they may be predicted to be 5th, if they gel together they could finish in the upper half of the division and contend for a wild card spot. 6. Point Lomas Friars (Last season: 89-73, 3rd place) - Albert Pujols will be the lone bright spot on the offense this year (at least until he's traded for picks or prospects). Pitching staff will be one of the league's worst. Still, the Friars will be at or near the front of the line to land an impact player in the 2013 draft. ************************************************************************************************* PAIGE DIVISION PREVIEW - Predicted order of finish 1. Brookeville Bandits (Last season: 92-70, 2nd place) - As good as the Bandits were last year, they will be even better this year. Brookeville will have one of the league's top offenses, led by Adrian Beltre, Paul Konerko, Aaron Hill and Buster Posey. They will also have one of the league's best pitching staffs, with the rotation led by Mat Laos and Stephen Strasurg, and the bullpen helmed by Tom Wilhelmsen. The Bandits could be looking at triple digit wins and the division title, so get your hopes way high! 2. DBL Fishbiscuits (Last season: 102-60, Paige Division Champs) - Winning the division last year, the Fishbiscuits have enough talent to make another run. Robinson Cano, Prince Fielder and Matt Holliday are a power trio who could all be all-stars. Matt Cain and Gio Gonzalez lead a strong pitching staff. The Fishbiscuits have a few options in the bullpen, but may want to grab an extra reliever or two during the season. It will be tough catching the Bandits this year, but DBL is in line for a playoff spot. 3. Tualatin Thunder (Last season: 58-104, T-5th place) - A lineup with both Miguel Cabrera and Mike Trout will score some runs. Ryan Ludwick and Cody Ross will help the Thunder to an above-average offense. Ace Madison Bumgarner and Yovani Gallardo lead a strong rotation, and Jonathan Broxton and JJ Putz lead a deep bullpen. It will not be a shocker if Tualatin finishes the season with a wild card playoff spot. 4. Madison Muckrakers (Last season: 58-104, T-5th place) - Edwin Encarnacion and Alfonso Soriano will provide a lot of pop in the lineup, but the hitting gets pretty thin pretty fast after that. Pitching will be strong, with a rotation led by Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee, and Joe Nathan and Rafael Betancourt anchor a solid bullpen. If Madison can take advantage of another team's hitting fire sale during the season they could see their post-season chances improve. 5. White Rock Phantoms (Last season: 66-96, 4th place) - With the #1 pick this year, the Phantoms acquired franchise hitter Bryce Harper, who joins Jay Bruce and Joe Mauer as hitters to watch. The rotation is full of innings eaters who will depend on plenty of run support to win games. Aroldis Chapman and Huston Street lead a strong bullpen. If the team really comes together they might make a run at a wild card spot. 6. Eagle Rock Robbers (Last season: 85-77, 3rd place) - Committing to the tank, Nelson Cruz and Dustin Pedroia may be the lone bright spots in the lineup. Pitching is likely to be league worst. All the better to grab that #1 overall pick in 2013. ************************************************************************************************* GEHRIG DIVISION PREVIEW - Predicted order of finish 1. Albuquerque Maul (Last season: 96-66, T-Gehrig Division Champs) - Tying for the division title last year, the Maul are in line to make another run at the pennant. Mark Trumbo, Ryan Zimmerman, Freddie Freeman and Jose Reyes lead an above average offense. The Maul's real strength is the pitching, which should be conference best. Jered Weaver leads one of the league's best rotations, and Rafael Soriano leads one of the league's best bullpens. The Maul will be playoff bound, but the season will have to be played to determine what seeding they get for the post-season. 2. Carlsbad Surfers (Last season: 96-66, T-Gehrig Division Champs) - Also tied for the division title last year, the Surfers are back to contend. Andrew McCutchen, Curtis Granderson and Pedro Alvarez lead a strong offense. David Price could contend for a Cy Young award this year, and Zack Greinkke and Josh Johnson help round out a rotation to contend. Jonathan Papelbon and Santiago Casilla lead a strong bullpen. All the pieces are in place for another post-season run. 3. Anchorage Gold Diggers (Last season: 84-78, 4th place) - The Gold Diggers will count on Billy Butler and Yoenis Cespedes to drive the offense. Ben Zobrist should score plenty of runs as a table setter. Hiroki Kuroda is an ace leading a solid rotation, and Anchorage have a few options in the bullpen. The Gold Diggers may not have has much talent as the top two teams in the division, but they should still have a winning record this year and have a shot at a wild card. 4. Topeka Stingers (Last season: 70-92, 5th place) - Josh Hamilton could contend for MVP honors this year, and Jose Bautista and Mike Napoli should generate some offense in injury shortened years. Johnny Cueto is in for a good year as a starter, and the rest of the rotation will keep Topeka competitive. Ernesto Frieri leads a competent bullpen. While the Stingers are not pre-season favorites to win the CDBL title, they will also not be a bottom dwelling team. 5. Hong Kong Cavaliers (Last season: 69-93, 6th place) - 1B Chris Davis is starting to come into his own this year, and Carlos Beltran and Jarrod Saltalamacchia will contribute to the offense. Clayton Kershaw is a perpetual ace, although after Homer Bailey the rest of the rotation is a bit "meh". Sergio Romo leads a half-decent bullpen. Hong Kong could have some all-stars this year, but face an uphill battle to make the post-season. 6. Concord Minutemen (Last season: 96-66, T-Gehrig Division Champs, 2011 CDBL Champs) - Tied for the division championship last year, the Minutemen battled their way through the playoffs to win the 2011 CDBL Championship. Concord went all-in last year, so this year the team will likely struggle. Still, title banners fly forever. ************************************************************************************************* TIANT DIVISION PREVIEW - Predicted order of finish 1. Georgia Pines (Last season: 91-71, 3rd place) - Georgia should run away with the pennant this year, featuring the likes of Adam Jones, BJ UPton and AJ Pierzynski on offense. Adrian Gonzalez will also contribute some runs. Justin Verlander, Jake Peavy and Cole Hamels lead the best rotation in the division, and Joel Hanrahan and Carlos Marmol lead a strong bullpen. The Tiant division is Georgia's to lose this year. 2. Boston Bulldogs (Last season: 99-63, Tiant Division Champs) - Giancarlo Stanton is in line to have a monster season at the plate, and the combo of part-timers this year of David Ortiz and Brandon Moss will drive in plenty of runs. David Freese could make the all-star team. James Shields will have a nice year in the rotation, but Boston will struggle to match up with the Georgia starters. The bullpen is a bit no-name and may struggle to contain late inning runs. The division title is likely out of reach, but Boston should be in the wild card hunt. 3. Alphaville Caution (Last season: 93-69, 2nd place) - Between Garrett Jones, Ike Davis and Josh Reddick, the Caution should score a few runs this year. Matt Harrison can match up with any ace, but the rest of the rotation is comprised of mostly part-timers. David Hernandez leads an "OK" bullpen. Competing against Georgia this year will be tough, but the Caution should finish in the middle of the pack. 4. Half Moon Bay Dragons (Last season: 58-104, 5th place) - After cratering last year, the Dragons are looking to bounce back. Adam Dunn can mash, and Nick Swisher and Trevor Plouffe should contribute on offense. Lots of low batting average with some home run power hitters on the roster. AJ Burnett and Ryan Dempster are quality starters, but the rest of the rotation will hope to eat some innings. Bullpen is a bit thin, but if things click for the Dragons they can always acquire a few extra arms during the season. 5. Dedham Destroyers (Last season: 75-87, 4th place) - Offense will struggle to score runs this year - it is quite possible no one hits more than 20 this year. Austin Jackson and Shin-Soo Choo are ideal table setters, getting on base and swiping a few, but will likely see themselves stranded on the base paths a lot this year. Tim Hudson is a bright spot on an otherwise below average pitching staff. Dedham may make a run at the 95-loss club this year, but may need to offload some talent to do so. 6. Milwaukee Pilots (Last season: 24-138, 6th place) - Hitting triple digit losses easily last year, the Pilots may be in for another rough season. Still, they have Paul Goldschmidt's season to look forward to. Pitching will be league worst, and the Pilots hope to nab a #1 pick in the 2013 draft.