2008 CFOD Preview "You Mileage May Vary!" Mantle Division Preview #1 -- Mechan Syndicate (Last Year: 86-76, 3rd place) As shocking as it sounds, the strength of the Syndicate this year is pitching! Ryan Dempster, Dan Haren, Scott Baker, Zack Greinke, and Gavin Floyd is one of the deepest starting rotations in the majors. Ramon Ramirez, Grant Balfour and Jesse Carlson lead a solid bullpen. David Wright and Adam Dunn bring big bats, while Nick Markakis hits for average and gets on base. OVERALL: Great pitching, and just enough hitting to win the division. #2 -- Angry Candy (Last Year: 112-40, 1st place) After dominating the regular season last year, the Angry Candy look to do the same in '08. Kevin Youkilis, Chase Utley and Chipper Jomes all hit for average and power, and Mike Cameron provides a little bit of extra pop. Mariano Rivera, the most successful closer in CFOD history, looks to have a great season for the Candy. James Shields figures to be the ace. OVERALL: The Angry Candy won't have the same dominating season they did last year, but have enough talent to compete for the division again this year. #3 -- Springfield 'Topes (Last Year: 61-101, 6th place) 2B Dustin Pedroia should be able to scare up plenty of runs this year, hitting for average and power. Raul Ibanez, Jorge Cantu, Nate McLouth and Adam LaRoche will all help the 'Topes generate a lot of runs. Mark Buehrle will anchor the pitching staff, although after Tim Hudson and Jorge Campillo the rest of the rotation gets a little thin. Scott Downs and Dennys Reyes are many among a deep bullpen. OVERALL: Some nice hitting, and the 'Topes may be a starting pitcher or two from seriously competing for the division pennant. #4 -- San Francisco Shriners (Last Year: 67-95, 5th place) The Shriners have some pop this year. Aubrey Huff, Jason Bay, Adrian Gonzalez, and Hunter Pence can all hit the long-ball. Brian Roberts is a more than capable table-setter, and Rich Aurilla and Jason Kubel add depth to the lineup. With all of the run support, Johan Santana is an early candidate for the Cy Young award. The rest of the pitching staff is "OK" ... it's easier for Shaun Marcum to be a good #2 or #3 starter than the ace. OVERALL: Great hitting and Johan Santana will make the Shriners competitive this year. A few more pitchers may be needed for the Shriners to move up in the standings. #5 -- Arlington Arthropods (Last Year: 92-70, 2nd place) The Arthropods have a murderer's row of hitters in '08. Jose Reyes, Prince Fielder, Curtis Granderson, Manny Ramirez and Brian McCann will make the Arthropods one of the highest scoring teams in the big leagues this year. While overall the pitching is "OK", no starter stands out, other than Justin Duchscherer, who will not be able to put up workhorse-like innings. The relievers are numerous, but none will compete for fireman of the year. OVERALL: Awesome hitting, but the Arthropods' fortunes will rise and fall according to how much talent they can wring out of their pitching staff. #6 -- Bakersfield RamJets (Last Year: 84-78, 4th place) The hitting is a little weak this year. Derrek Lee and Miguel Tejada will help generate some runs, but overall the RamJets will struggle to score runs. John Lackey is a decent starter, but the pitching will struggle to win games. OVERALL: With such a competitive division, it will be difficult for the RamJets to win games this year. Koufax Division Preview #1 -- Cincinnati Rock (Last Year: 100-62, 2nd place) Ryan Braun and Carlos Quentin will put up all-star RBI numbers, while Mark DeRosa and BJ Upton will excel at scoring runs. Roy Oswalt, Carlos Zambrano and Josh Beckett lead a strong starting rotation. Carlos Marmol should have a stellar year at the closer role. OVERALL: Some nice hitting, and some nice pitching. The Rock should have a good year. #2 -- Boston Brewins (Last Year: 55-107, 6th place) Andre Ethier, Justin Morneau, rookie Evan Longoria lead a group of hitters who will not be threats to win the home run derby, but hit for average and do everything but hit the long ball. Shane Victorino can get on base and swipe a few. Chad Billingsley should have a good year as the ace of the pitching staff. Jesse Litsch and Paul Maholm will also be solid starters. Francisco Cordero is the marquee name amongst the bullpen relievers, which are deep for Boston this year. OVERALL: Boston has reloaded from their last place finish of 2007. They'll be contenders. #3 -- Missouri Mudfish (Last Year: 101-61, 1st place, 2007 CFOD Champions) Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton will be Missouri's dynamic duo, powering the offense. Stephen Drew gets his power via triples and anchors the shortstop position. Troy Glaus and Ty Wiggenton provide additional thump. Brandon Webb is a legit staff ace, and old man Randy Johnson should have a good year in the rotation at age 44. After those 2, the starting pitching trails off fairly quickly. Joakim Soria is a capable closer, but the relief pitching gets dicey after that. OVERALL: Good hitters, but the pitching staff beyond Webb, Johnson and Soria may make a repeat championship for Missouri a difficulty. #4 -- Somerville Sluggers (Last Year: 99-63, 3rd place) Grady Sizemore can do it all, get on base and hit the long-ball. Magglio Ordonez still has his hitting touch, hitting for average with plenty of doubles. 1B Carlos Pena can also be counted on to drive in runs. Roy Halladay is a hoss, and could contend for the Cy Young award. John Lannan and Aaron Cook add to the rotation. Leo Nunez and Brad Ziegler anchor a capable bullpen. OVERALL: Good hitters, decent pitchers, the Sluggers could do well this year. How well may depend on how the rest of the division fares. #5 -- Hillsborough Regulators (Last Year: 75-87, 5th place) Alex Rodriguez has a new home, and with Alfonso Soriano and Matt Holliday, should help provide some punch to the lineup. Jimmy Rollins should score plenty of runs at the top of the order with his speed. Felix Hernandez is growing into the ace roll, and Hernandez and Ubaldo Jimenez should win some games for the Regs. But the rest of the staff is iffy. Chad Qualls and John Grabow are good relievers, but the rest of the bullpen isn't. OVERALL: Good hitters, but the lack of pitcher depth could hurt Hillsborough's chances of contending this year. #6 -- Oregon Wet Sox (Last Year: 81-81, 4th place) The hitting lineup for the Wet Sox certainly won't remind folks of the Jeff Bagwell and Larry walker era. Joey Votto is the team's best power source, and he'll be lucky to crack 30 home runs. Jacoby Ellsbury can swipe a base or 50, but will need to work on his walk rate to be an elite table setter. Jon Lester should do well as the team's ace, and Billy Wagner leads a better than average bullpen. OVERALL: Oregon may finish higher than 6th this season ... but it will depend on how much offense they can get out of their no-name lineup. Ruth Division Preview #1 -- California Coneheads (Last Year: 89-73, 2nd place) Ryan Ludwick is emerging as an all-star slugger. Carlos Lee, Geovany Soto, Jason Giambi and Rick Ankiel (!) also give the lineup some oomph. Ben Sheets, Cole Hamels, Ricky Nolasco and Scott Kazmir give the Coneheads a scary-good starting rotation, and between Takashi Saito, Jose Arredondo and Craig Breslow, the 9th inning won't be a problem in 2008. OVERALL: The Coneheads should be back to their dominating ways in 2008. #2 -- Paxtang Pitbulls (Last Year: 95-67, 1st place) A-Rod may be gone, but Miguel Cabrera is on board to take his place. With Cabrera, Lance Berkman, Torii Hunter and JJ Hardy should help score some runs. Derek Lowe, John Danks and Jake Peavy lead a deep rotation, and Joba Chamberlain should be equally comfortable in the rotation or in the bullpen. OVERALL: Lots of talent, and will give California a run for its money this year. #3 -- Miami Mangos (Last Year: 80-82, 4th place) Hear me out, sports fans: Here's why Miami will do well this year. Their batting lineup of Ian Kinsler, Vernon Wells, Jody Gerut, Brad Hawpe and Melvin Mora hit for average, get on base, and get their power every which way but the home-run. This should result in better than average run production. On the pitching side, Matt Garza is a decent ace, and Nick Blackburn, John Maine and the rest of the starters are "decent". The relievers are no-name but should be effective. OVERALL: A dark horse candidate to make some noise this year. #4 -- Topeka MooseDogs (Last Year: 81-81, 3rd place) Hanley Ramirez continues to impress and is one of the league's few 5-tool players (not to mention he plays shortstop!) Johnny Damon, Mark Teixeira and Aramis Ramirez will also knock in the runs. Jamie Moyer, Rich Harden and AJ Burnett lead a veteran rotation, and Francisco Rodriguez leads one of the best and deepest bullpens in the league. OVERALL: If any of the top three falter this year, look for Topeka to move up. #5 -- Austin Bridge Bats (Last Year: 65-97, 6th place) With a new team name and location, the Bridge Bats hope to turn things around. Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell can knock them in, and Garrett Atkins and Jhonny Peralta will contribute to a lineup that should score runs in bunches. Mike Mussina will make his bid to be #1 in wins amongst all CFOD pitchers this year, and Armando Galarraga and Adam Wainwright add to the rotation. Joe Nathan is an elite closer, and has plenty of backup. OVERALL: Some nice arms and bats this year. Should be fun times in Austin! #6 -- San Diego Termites (Last Year: 74-88, 5th place) Derek Jeter joins the veteran hitting lineup which includes Jermaine Dye, Carlos Delgado and Jack Cust. Ray Durham and Carlos Guillen add to the lineup. The pitching will be interesting, as the starting pitching is either injury prone or ineffective, but the bullpen corps is deep and excellent. If they have the lead in the 7th inning, they should be able to win. OVERALL: Some nice talent, but San Diego may not have the starting pitching to contend in the Ruth division. Young Division Preview #1 -- Seattle Moshers (Last Year: 84-78, 1st place) With Tim Lincecum and CC Sabathia, the Moshers have 2 legitimate Cy Young contenders. Matt Cain, Kyle Lohse and Greg Maddux round out one of the best rotations in the game. Brian Fuentes and Jim Johnson lead a deep and capable bullpen. On the hitting side, David Ortiz is the standout, but folks like Placido Polanco, Mike Young and Ryan Doumit will score enough runs to win many games. OVERALL: Great pitching, and just enough hitting to make Seattle the favorite to repeat as division champs. #2 -- Park City Climbers (Last Year: 79-83, 2nd place) Park City is the land of the 20 home-run slugger this year. Milton Bradley, Alexi Ramirez, JD Drew, Paul Konerko, Jim Edmonds and Mark Reynolds will each contribute a little pop. Catcher Russell Martin can hit, grab the walk and anchor the defense. Cliff Lee and Ervin Santana are 2 boss pitchers, but the end of the rotation may be a bit iffy. Cory Wade and Roy Corcoran anchor a decent bullpen. OVERALL: Decent hitting, decent pitching. Park City will contend for the pennant this year. #3 -- Brookfield Brouhaha (Last Year: 62-100, 6th place) Jeremy Guthrie and Hiroki Kuroda may not be household names, but they pitch well enough to keep Brookfield in the game. Brad Lidge and Kerry Wood are a dynamic 1-2 reliever punch that should rack up the saves. The hitters won't be at the top of any kid's baseball list, but folks like Brandon Phillips and Brian Giles can get a few runs in, and Brookfield's whole is always greater than the sum of its parts. OVERALL: Some nice pitching will make Brookfield competitive this year. #4 -- San Francisco Piazza's (Last Year: 77-85, 3rd place) Joe Mauer, Ichiro Suzuki and Bobby Abreu head up the lineup for the Piazza's. Veteran Jim Thome still has some pop left his his bat, while Jose Guillen and Casey Blake add to the roster. Daisuka Matsuzaka and Jair Jurrjens are bright spots in the rotation, but opposing hitters may feast on the tail end of the rotation, along with much of the bullpen. OVERALL: San Francisco's got some players, but their lack of pitching depth will hurt. #5 -- Rocklin Thunder (Last Year: 63-99, 5th place) Dan Uggla and Carlos Beltran are great hitters and could make the all-star team, but the rest of the lineup is pretty limpy. Which is a shame, as Edinson Volquez, Joe Saunders and Mike Pelfrey help form a better than average rotation. Jonathan Papelbon is one of the best closers in the league. OVERALL: Some nice pitching, but too much bad hitting will hamper Rocklin's hopes this year. #6 -- Oregon City Pioneers (Last Year: 72-90, 4th place) Vladimir Guerrero has been a mainstay in Oregon City for years, and still is in 2008 (although he may be a half step slower). Xavier Nady is another decent hitter, although the rest of the lineup suffers after those two. Ted Lilly is their best starter, but the overall rotation couldn't be considered among the best in the league. Bobby Jenks and Jeremy Affeldt give the Pioneers options at closer this year. OVERALL: A lack of hitting and starting pitching may hurt the Pioneers' chances this year.