2000 CFOD PREVIEW 10 (Simulated) Years Strong! "Have pitching will travel." "It's about time!" "Predicted finish not a likely indicator of future outcome." MANTLE DIVISION - 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Mechan Syndicate -- 1999 TEAM MVP: 2B Roberto Alomar, .355 avg, 41 homers, 44 stolen bases, 178 runs scored. STRENGTHS: The Syndicate have moved out of Coors Field, where they obliterated practically all of the team records for offense, setting no less than 6 records. This will result in a slightly-less-than-astromonical run rate, but plenty of runs will still be score.d Roberto Alomar returns at 2nd base to continue his all-league performance, as will Barry Bonds, who may have his best season ever. Throw in 1B Rafael Palmeiro, OF Shawn Green and young 3B Eric Chavez, and the offense will not miss a beat in spacious Olympic Stadium. Chan Ho Park should have a good season as the ace starter, and Darren Dreifort is decent in the rotation. WEAKNESSES: Other than Park and Dreifort, the other pitchers in the staff will not perform all that well, bringing the team pitching below the league average. OVERALL: The Syndicate will continue to win how they've won in the past: By scoring more runs than their opponents. With this offense behind him, Park should win 20. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Springfield 'Topes -- 1999 MVP: Bernie Williams, CF, .341 avg, .564 slugging, 29 homers, 134 runs STRENGTHS: The 'Topes have a bonafide ace in Kevin Brown (although his '99 season would indicate differently). Thus Frank Castillo and Andy Pettitte are able to pitch lower in the rotation which could help their W-L column. They've also amassed a nice collecction of hitters, with 2B Jose Vidro having a breakout season. Last year's team MVP (and all-CFOD CF) Bernie Williams will put up another great year, as will OF Luis Gonzales. A nice surprise for Springfield is Jorge Posada, who will have a lot of pop from the catcher spot this year. WEAKNESSES: Tino Martinez's days as a top power hitting 1B may be over. Kevin Brown put in a rather disappointing year in '99, something the 'Topes can't afford in 2000. OVERALL: The 'Topes have the horses to contend in 2000. If Kevin Brown can rebound from a mediocre 1999 season, the 'Topes just may grab the pennant. 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Toronto Towers -- 1999 MVP: 2B Edgardo Alfonzo, .392 OBA, .557 slugging, 36 homers, 113 runs STRENGTHS: The Towers have the strongest hitters of anyone in the middle fielding positions. The Towers have not one, but two all-star quality catchers in Charles Johnson and Ivan Rodriguez. Their double-play combo is all-star Edgardo Alphonzo at 2B and emerging hitter Miguel Tejada at SS. Playing center field is longtime leadoff hitter Kenny Lofton, who may not be the top tablesetter he was 5 years ago, but is still quite good. Latroy Hawkins could turn out to be a top closer. WEAKNESSES: Brian Anderson would be a decent 3rd pitcher in a rotation, but he's going to have trouble dueling with Kevin Brown. Much of the pitching staff is batting practice fodder (but then again, so is the pitching staff of much of the rest of the division!) OVERALL: Toronto is strong at traditionally weak hitting positions. But can they overcome their lack of quality pitching to post a winning season? After their 107 loss season last year, things can only get better. 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Charlottesville Squids -- 1999 MVP: Sean Casey, .365 batting average, 27 homers, 111 runs, 115 RBI STRENGTHS: Lots of hitters packing the lineup. Sean Casey may have been team MVP last year, but this year Gary Sheffield will control things, putting in a monster year in the outfield. Casey is back as well, although he'll be somewhat hobbled by injuries. Dean Palmer mans the 3B slot, with plenty of homers (and strikeouts) to provide. Luis Castillo is one of the top leadoff hitters in the league, doing everything a leadoff hitter needs to do: Get on base, steal 2nd, and score runs. Ryan Dempster has stepped up his game to emerge as a legitimate staff ace, and Bob Wickman can close games with the best of them. WEAKNESSES: Last year's hitting staff featured many of the same stars with the same stats, yet scored a below-average 781 runs for the season. The Squids carried over hardly any pitching from last year, and ended up having to fill out their staff with lots of scrubs. As such, their pitching isn't going to remind anyone of the Smiley-Guzman-Nagy rotation of their '96 championship season. OVERALL: It's been rough for Charlottesville since their 1996 championship year. The past 3 years have seen their record go from 56 to 63 to 73 wins. Expect further improvement this year, possibly even a winning record. 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Angry Candy -- 1999 MVP: Chipper Jones, 3B, .613 slugging average, 52 homers, 148 RBI STRENGTHS: The Candy (formerly known as the Reservoir Dogs) have the best corner combo in the league, with all-CFOD 3B Chipper Jones and 1B Todd Helton, who could make the all-CFOD team himself. OF Bobby Abreu will also have a good season, not putting up 40 homers but getting a .500 slugging average anyways. WEAKNESSES: No real ace pitcher, with Scott Elarton, Orlando Hernandez and Jim Parque duking it out for "ace" honors. If they have to end up playing a past-his-prime David Cone, the team ERA could be one of the worst in the league. OVERALL: Jones and Helton will be a sight to see, but winning the pennant by 11 games like they did last year will be a tall order. 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 San Francisco Shriners -- 1999 MVP: Sammy Sosa, 47 homers, 117 runs scored, 129 RBI STRENGTHS: Since Sammy Sosa blew into town, the Shriners have had a good run in the late 90's, culminating in a playoff appearance in 1998. Sosa will once again put up some stellar numbers. Longtime 2B Eric Young still does the job, getting on base and stealing them. Sosa gets some support in the lineup with OF Carl Everett, who will contribute another 30 homer, 100 RBI season. 1st round draft pick Glendon Rusch anchors the rotation. John Rocker and Kerry Lightenberg should have a good handle on the 9th inning. WEAKNESSES: After Sosa, Young and Everett, the lineup gets a little thin. Mark Gardner and Denny Neagle are servicable in the rotation, but the #4 & #5 starters will be a little scary. OVERALL: They'll always have 1998, but this might be a re-loading year. KOUFAX DIVISION - 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Cincinnati Rock -- 1999 MVP: Kevin Millwood, 3.10 ERA, 247 innings pitched, 20-7 record STRENGTHS: Last year Kevin Millwood and Bartolo Colon were two of the best pitchers in the league (each making the all-CFOD team) This year? These guys are 3rd & 4th in the rotation. Who supplanted them? Al Leiter, who will have an all-star year, and long-time Sluggers ace Curt Schilling. The hitting lineup revolves around 3B Troy Glaus, who could blast 50 homers this year. 1B JT Snow will put in another good year vs righties, and off- season acquisition Terrance Long could surprise. WEAKNESSES: Other than uber-innings reliever Scott Williamson (who also made all-CFOD last year), relief pitching is a little thin. And other than Troy Glaus, none of the hitters will strike fear into the hearts of the opposing pitchers. OF Carlos Beltran looks to regress this year, which is a blow for a team in need of sluggers. OVERALL: Last year the Rock made it to the world series, so obviously nothing short of a championship will be disappointing. Still, their top 4 starting pitchers are going to carry Cincinnati a long ways. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Zippys -- 1999 MVP: Derek Jeter, SS, .339 average, 33 homers, 150 runs scored STRENGTHS: This team revolves around Derek Jeter. Jeter posted an all-CFOD season last year, scoring 150 runs. This year? Probably about the same. Joining Jeter is a pair of slugging outfielders, Geoff Jenkins and Carlos Lee, who can hit the longball, get on base, and drive in runs. Joining the outfield is JD Drew, who continues to improve at the plate and it's only a matter of time before Drew is a perennial all-star. Last year workhorse Jamie Moyer pitched his way to 19 wins and an all-CFOD nod. That apparantly didn't impress Zippy management enough, as Moyer was let go during the off-season. In his place is a bevy of high quality relievers, 5-6 guys who could close for the team. WEAKNESSES: A 1999 Jamie Moyer performance would really go over well this year, as the staff ace (behind a half year's worth of rookie superstar Barry Zito) is Jeff Weaver, who doesn't leave people quaking in their boots. The lack of starting pitching also means the excellent bullpen is going to get a workout week in and week out. OVERALL: The Zippys have not been half-bad the last couple years. Maybe this is the year they make it to the playoffs? 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Oregon Wet Sox -- 1999 MVP: Nomar Garciaparra, .358 average, .647 slugging, 41 homers, 144 RBI STRENGTHS: Has there ever been a year where the Wet Sox have not boasted a lineup of superstar hitters? Nope, and 2000 is no exception. The core of the lineup has changed from last year. Larry Walker was dealt in the off-season, but taking his place is CF Andruw Jones, who should have an even *better* season than the 30 homer, 100 run season he had last year. Jeff Bagwell will put in his usual stellar season. And of course, there's Nomar Garciaparra, who had a monster 1999 at shortstop. This year? Maybe a few less homers, and a few more doubles, but another super season. The trio of Mike Mussina, Rick Reed and Aaron Sele can go toe-to-toe with any rotation in the league. WEAKNESSES: Mike Redmond & Rolando Arrojo aren't quite up to Mussina's standards, and relief pitching is hard to come by on the team, which is suprising considering they have a 3-year streak of winning the fireman of the year award. Mark McLemore's play at 2nd won't measure up to his teammates, and may be a good candidate for replacement down the line. OVERALL: The Wet Sox won 93 games last year and made the playoffs. This year's team is just as good. 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Hillsborough Regulators -- 1999 MVP: Jason Giambi, 30 homers, 126 runs, 121 RBI. STRENGTHS: Look no further than the fellow above. It's Giambi time! Jason Giambi is primed for a breakout year. Other than veteran Barry Larkin, nobody will remember the names of the rest of the hitters, but they're guys who will quiety slug .470 with a .360 on base average. Lots of RBI opportunities for Giambi. The Regulators have a solid core of relievers, led by Danny Graves and Trevor Hoffman. The 8th & 9th innings won't be a problem for these guys... WEAKNESSES: ...but there are the other 7 innings to worry about. Rich Helling and Garret Stephenson are the top two starters for the team, but won't remind anyone of Pedro. The other hitters in the lineup might get jealous that Giambi gets all the attention. OVERALL: The Regulators might just have the best hitting lineup in the division. Their pitching is a little mediocre, but it's a consistent mediocre. No 10 ERA pitcher to blow every start. Might we see a return to the '91-'92 years, when the Regulators ruled the roost? 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Somerville Sluggers -- 1999 MVP: 3B Robin Ventura, .335 average, 38 homers, 130 runs, 146 RBI. STRENGTHS: This is Manny's team, and Manny doesn't like to disappoint. Ramirez has a bit of the injury bug this year, but that won't stop him from knocking in 40 homers with plenty of RBI's. Last year's MVP, Robin Ventura, was let go after the season. Taking his place and moving over from SS is Tony Batista, who should be good for 40 homers too. In the off-season the Sluggers acquired two young hitters, Paul Konerko and Mark Quinn, both who can slug .500 by hitting doubles & homers. The Sluggers can piece together a staff ace by putting together young & injured Carl Pavano with old and injured Alex Fernandez. Bob Howry and Mike Fetters will give Somerville some firepower in the 9th inning. WEAKNESSES: To get Mark Quinn, the Sluggers dealt longtime ace Curt Schilling, who's presence will be missed. After Fernandez/Pavano, the rest of the rotation are mainly innings-eating journeymen. OVERALL: It used to be that the Sluggers would put up Mark Grace, Barry Larkin, Curt Schilling and Robin Ventura and get a winning season, maybe capture the pennant and make the playoffs. But these stars of yesteryear were getting a little long in the tooth, and have found employment elsewhere. In their place is a core of young & hungry talent. Will the Sluggers win 93 games like they did in 1999? Perhaps not, but they'll be close, and they've managed to reload their roster to ensure many winning seasons for years to come. 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 Boston Brewins -- 1999 MVP: OF Jermaine Dye, 34 homers, 109 runs scored, 105 RBI STRENGTHS: Jeff Cirillo was acquired in mid-season last year, and is returning as the Brewins' best hitter. Cirillo isn't the typical "slug 40 homers with 146 strikeouts" 3B type, but rather gets a high slugging percentage by hitting lots of doubles. Mike Lieberthal made the all-star team as a catcher last year, and should put up good numbers again. No one will accuse David Segui of being an elite first baseman, but the vet will hit for average and hit lots of doubles (see a trend here? The league record for team doubles is 371, might the Brewins break that record?) Getting the doubles-happy lineup's support is a rather strong starting rotation. Mike Hampton, Livan Hernandez and Mike Sirotka could be aces for many a team, but have the first three spots in the rotation. Armando Benitez will resume closing duties again (fireman of the year?) and will get support for last year's fireman of the year, Roberto Hernandez. WEAKNESSES: The Brewins had high hopes that 1st round selection Albert Belle would be the spark their offense needs, but Belle has announced this is his last year of baseball, before embarking on a career as a public relations consultant. The lack of punch in the lineup (the hitters may very well post the worst slugging average in the league) will hurt run production. OVERALL: The Brewins have a great pitching staff, but the lack of home run hitting will hurt. Then again, if the Brewins are in contention in the middle of the season, they may be able to pick up a few sluggers to help the cause. RUTH DIVISION - 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 California Coneheads -- 1999 MVP: OF Juan Gonzalez, 45 homers, 107 runs, 141 RBI STRENGTHS: Just about everything. Last year's champs have gotten *stronger*, believe it or not. 1B Frank Thomas, catcher Mike Piazza, 3B Scott Rolen. An outfield of Jermaine Dye, Darren Erstad, Sammy Stewart *and* 1999 MVP Juan Gonzalez. There are very few holes in the hitting lineup, which is far and away the best in the league. Pitching? With Randy Johnson's usual year, he could go 35-0. Tim Hudson and Randy Wolf are both young hurlers who could win big. Derek Lowe, Mariano Rivera and Keith Foulke could close for any team. No holes here either. WEAKNESSES: That really bad draft spot they'll get after they paste the rest of the league. But with so many stars packed onto a single team, will their egos get along? To get Randy Wolf they traded all-star 2B Ray Durham, so this year they'll make due with vets Bret Boone and Damien Easley. OVERALL: California has always been a dominant team. This year may very well be their best yet. But will they be able hold together all of those egos for a three-peat? 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Paxtang Pitbulls -- 1999 MVP: Carlos Delgado, .613 slugging, 58 homers, 123 runs scored, 156 RBI STRENGTHS: The amount of talent in the lineup in the late 90's has been downright scary. Carlos Delgado was good in 1999, but he might be even better in 2000. Shortstop Alex Rodriguez actually underperformed last year, but should bounce back with the usual 40 homer season. Same with outfielders Brian Giles and Ken Griffey Jr. Next to the Coneheads, nobody features a better offense. Last year pitching was a problem, with nobody stepping up to be an ace. This year, signee Darryl Kile hopes to regain the 19 win form he had for the team way back in their championship 1997 year. Javier Vazquez and Chuck Finley fill out the rest of the rotation. Closing duties are in capable hands, with Rob Nen and Billy Koch duking it out for the 9th inning role. WEAKNESSES: They're in the same division as the Coneheads. Frequent managerial turnover in the past several years has caused some underperformance with the team. OVERALL: With Delgado, ARod and the rest, the Pitbulls probably have a lock on the Ruth/Young conference wildcard. What will happen when this team collides with California in the playoffs? 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Topeka MooseDogs -- 1999 MVP: Richie Sexson, 42 homers, .589 slugging percentage, 123 RBI's STRENGTHS: The reclamation projects come back to give big dividends. "Rocket" Roger Clemens was picked up in the draft last year (in the *2nd* round!), and is back to his ace form. Sophomore Kris Benson builds on his impressive 15-12 1999 season with another good year. Jamey Wright and Adam Eaton round out a solid rotation. Reclamation project Bobby Higginson returns to his star ways, smacking homers and driving in runs. Last year's MVP Richie Sexson might not hit 40 this year, but he'll hit plenty. Jason Kendall is healthy again and will provide an all-star year at catcher. WEAKNESSES: They're in the same division as the Pitbulls and Coneheads, so intra-division wins will be hard to come by. OVERALL: The MooseDogs won 82 games last year, and this year they should improve. The playoffs are not out of the question. And with projects Shane Reynolds and Vinny Castilla on the roster, they might have even more reclamation projects winning them games next year. 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Carolina Lightning -- 1999 MVP: Mo Vaughn, 37 homers, .490 slugging, 109 runs scored. STRENGTHS: Jim Edmonds rode the pine for much of last year after being drafted by Carolina. Now that he's used to the weather, Edmonds will get a much larger role, and should be the centerpiece of the team. Joining him in the outfield are sluggers Ellis Burks, Glenallen Hill and rookie Pat Burrell, who is a future all-CFOD'er. Big production from all the outfield spots. Last year's MVP Mo Vaughn is good for another season, and the Lightning will get a Jeff Cirillo-esque season out of 3B Mike Lowell. 2B Craig Biggio was a strong leadoff hitter for Carolina last year, but is somewhat hobbled by injuries this year (but when he plays, he's good). While he struggled mightily last year, Tom Glavine is still the man on the mound, and should make up for last year with a vengence. Robert Person is capable in the #2 slot in the rotation. The Dave's, Veres and Weathers can both close. WEAKNESSES: Playing in the strongest division in the league won't do wonders for the batting record. Tom Glavine's 6-18 record last year is cause for concern. If he does that again, kiss playoff hopes goodbye. OVERALL: It's been a lean several years, but the Lightning have got enough talent massed this year to make some noise. 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 San Diego Termites -- 1999 MVP: OF Steve Finley, .539 slugging, 33 homers, 113 RBI. STRENGTHS: Lots of veteran sluggers. Jeff Kent and Steve Finley are once again the core of the lineup, each good for 30 dingers and lots of runs driven in. SS Omar Vizquel will get on base and score runs. Mike Sweeney hit 16 homers and drove in 87 runs last year, but should hit 30 this year. Larry Walker was acquired from the Wet Sox in the off-season. He's injured for quite a bit this season, but when healthy he'll provide his usual 900 OPS. Jeff D'Amico was the 1st pick of the draft, and in his injury-shortened season he'll give a good outing on the mound. David Wells is a workhorse pitcher who will solidify the rotation, and a combo of Brian Tollberg and Steve Sparks will fill another spot in the rotation. Felix Rodriguez and Gabe White make the 9th inning a non-issue. WEAKNESSES: Lots of the players are on the older side, so they might get a little sleepy during night games. OVERALL: The Termites crashed hard last year, posting the league's worst record. Can they go from first to worst to somewhere in between? 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 Miami Mangos -- 1999 MVP: Kevin Young, .516 slugging, 27 homers, 98 runs scored, 95 RBI. STRENGTHS: The Mangos have not had a good track record with young pitchers, so when Randy Wolf showed some promise, he was shipped off for 2B Ray Durham, who is an all-star who can get on base and score runs. Andres Galarraga was picked up in the draft to replace last year's MVP, Kevin Young, who was let go in the off-season. Galarraga's health is back, and should be good for 30 dingers. Freddy Garcia didn't quite avoid the Mangos injury curse, but will provide a half-season of quality starting pitching. Brad Radke and Hideo Nomo were acquired in the off-season, providing much needed innings in the rotation. Curtis Leskanic and Jeff Tam are a solid duo in relief who will help out in the 9th. WEAKNESSES: The Mangos have lots of solid hitters, but very few superstar sluggers. The lack of an ace will also hurt in this talent-heavy conference. OVERALL: The Mangos have had it much, much worse. Last year they scored some runs, gave up some runs, and called it a season. It's probably more of the same in 2000. YOUNG DIVISION - 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Park City Climbers -- 1999 MVP: Pedro Martinez, 19-5, 2.15 ERA, 234 2/3 innings, 353 strikeouts STRENGTHS: Pedro, Pedro, Pedro! Pedro has been the best pitcher in the league the past several seasons, and this season will be no different. Woody Williams and Paul Abbott are not too bad either. Last year's team was sabotaged by lack of offense, but this season will be different. This year the lineup is packed with sluggers. OF's Garrett Anderson, Preston Wilson , Jay Buhner, 1b Jim Thome, and 3B Phil Nevin are all capable of smacking 30 homers and driving in 100 runs, and most positions in the lineup will hit at least 20. WEAKNESSES: James Baldwin and Pete Harnisch are not quite up to Pedro's standards (but then again, who is?). The Climbers were also picked to win their division last year, but finished 5th with a losing record. OVERALL: With an improved offense and Pedro being Pedro, there's no possible way Park City will lose the pennant. Or is there? 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Seattle Moshers -- 1999 MVP: 1B John Jaha, .506 slugging, 34 homers, 101 RBI's. STRENGTHS: Magglio Ordonez continues to improve, and the team's offense now revolves around him. Ordonez will hit for average, smack 30 homers and even steal some bases. OF Tim Salmon is healthy and will put in his usual 30 homer, 100 RBI season. The rest of the roster consists of platoon hitters who will make the sum of parts greater than the whole. Greg Maddux was king of the league in the early 90's, and should be good for another ace year in 2000. Gil Heredia, Aurelio Lopez and Kevin Appier should give Seattle an above average rotation. Paul Shuey and Turk Wendell should be competitive in closing duties. WEAKNESSES: The core of the team is very, very *old*. This may very well be Seattle's last hurrah before everyone retires. Greg Maddux had a mysteriously abysmal year last year, which cost Seattle a playoff spot. OVERALL: The hitting is there, the pitching is there. Can Seattle put it together for one last go? 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Sacramento Fish -- 1999 MVP: Vladimir Guerrero, .568 slugging, 40 homers, 125 runs, 147 RBI STRENGTHS: The Kids are alright. Sacramento's youth movement paid off last year with a playoff appearance for the first time in ages. Leading the charge was Vladimir Guerrero, who put up a 2nd team all-CFOD season. If anything, Guerrero is *better* this year, and may be the best outfielder in the league. Being "merely good" is OF Ben Grieve, who will hit 30 dingers and drive in 100 runs. 3B Adrian Beltre has taken his game up a notch and could slug .500. Amazingly, geezers Todd Zeile and Brady Anderson may see significant playing time. 1999 1st overall selection Rick Ankiel will not disappoint, and is emerging as a legit staff ace. Jose Jimenez could potentially save 30 games. WEAKNESSES: After Rick Ankiel and part-timer Bruce Chen, the starting pitching gets a little thin. OVERALL: The Fish proved they could win last year. Can Guerrero help take Sacramento the next level? 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Brookfield Brouhaha -- 1999 MVP: Joe Randa, 3B, .374 on base, .504 slugging, 102 runs scored. STRENGTHS: The '00 edition of the Brouhaha features a monster middle of the batting order, with 1B Edgar Martinez and OF Richard Hidalgo likely to put up 40 homer, 120 RBI seasons. Jeffrey Hammonds hits for average and will slug .500. Put Chuck Smith and Tomokazu Ohka together and you've got a staff ace. WEAKNESSES: After Ohka and Smith, the starting pitching gets a little thin. Greg Vaughn will provide homer power but strikes out an awful lot. OVERALL: They've got a couple of all-star hitters, but will need some more starting pitching (just like everyone else) to move up in the standings. 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 San Francisco Piazza's -- 1999 MVP: David Justice, .468 slugging average, 20 homers, 88 RBI STRENGTHS: The Piazza's have a nicely balanced offense this year. The tablesetters are 2B Delino Deshields and rookie SS Rafael Furcal, both who will get on base, steal tons of bases and score tons of runs. The RBI men are OF David Justice, who should have his best season in years, OF Moises Alou, who should come back nicely from his injury-plagued 1999, and veteran 1B Fred McGriff, who has been slated to hit 30 homers a year since the league's inception. Kazuhiro Sasaki might be one of the top closers in the league. WEAKNESSES: The pitching at the tail end of the rotation will have a hard time keeping the ball in the park. Likewise, other than Sasaki the relief pitching talent is a little thin. OVERALL: The Piazza's have been trying to recapture that 1995 magic. They may not make it to the world series, but this year will be a big improvement over 1999. 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 Arizona Thunder -- 1999 MVP: Mark McGwire, .718 slugging, 76 homers, 150 runs, 177 RBI STRENGTHS: Last year McGwire put up one of the best if not *the best* season by a hitter, setting a new home run record in the process. McGwire's back (for part of the season), and is still a source of power. This year the offense revolves around Johnny Damon, who will get on base, hit doubles, steal 2nd, and score runs. In fact, quite a few Thunder hitters are focused on base stealing, including Roger Cedeno, Mike Cameron and Pokey Reese. WEAKNESSES: McGwire has a major injury bug this year, robbing Arizona of their primary power source. After McGwire, no one is capable of knocking out 30 homers. The pitching staff may also be the worst in the league, with nobody really standing out as an ace, and quite a few putting in potentially scary batting-practiceesque seasons. OVERALL: It's been a great couple of years, but 2000 is going to be a rebuilding year. Johnny Damon will be fun to watch, though.