NL South Preview

El Paso Nachos -- (Formally Oklahoma Society (100-62))

Winning 100 games only placed the Nacho's in 2nd last season. Earning them a Wild Card bid. The Nacho's have a spectacular rotation featuring one of the best pitchers in the Big Leagues. While their line-up isn't weak, it isn't amazing either. The Nacho's are well balanced with youth and vets.

Chad Lamb. Remember that name. In his rookie year he pitched 198.2 innings with an amazing 2.31 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP, winning 16 of 21 decisions. He is the Ace of this staff at age 22. After Lamb comes 27 year old Geoff Rolen who won 13 games last year with a 3.58 ERA. The back of the rotation is solid but neither of the other 2 returning SPs are anywhere near the level of Lamb or Rolen. Last years closer Al Flores is eligible for arbitration this year but should be resigned.

Larry Carver is the teams leader at 2b. He, like Lamb, is only 22 years old and won last seasons 2b Silver Slugger award. Cookie Wilkinson is the teams starting CF, although he can play anywhere on the field. Wilkinson has electric speed and stole 78 bases last season. Dwight Lewis the teams vet leader at SS is back again this season and is hoping to improve upon his 65 RBI's from a year ago. Ryan Carr is another 22 year old 2b palying for the Nachos. He will most likely get the start at 3b again this year.

Even with so many star young players, El Paso's Farm System is not dried up. SS Daniel Dunham is one of the teams top prospects and will undoubtly see time at the ML level this season. At AA Chico Morales is a solid RP prospect and Rick Owens is still a tweener between LR and SP. Although once you get past their AA Team there is a lack of ML prospects.


Memphis King Lawlers -- (96-66)

Last years 4th place team. Yes, that is right 96 wins put Memphis in 4th place. The team is returning most of the same players this year. When I look at this team the Pitching is my biggest concern.

Enrique Carrasquel Is the teams #1 pitcher. He is only 26 years old and is around to stay in Memphis. Last year he logged 214 innings. Homer Conigliaro and Angel Tavarez are both back as the 2 and 3 starters. They are both young guns and will be staples of the Memphis rotation for years to come. The back of the teams rotation is solid but nothing spectacular. Rumor has it that Memphis may be looking to add another arm in the rotation if the price is right. Don Wynn returns as the closer. The Season 1 All-Star converted on 47 of 51 save opportunities last year.

The Lawlers Line-up is young. They aren't spectacular yet, but if this group of guys can stick together. Wow! Edgard Sanchez, Achilles Cohen and Felipe Moreno are their 1b, 2b and SS. Moreno is by far the oldest at 29. The team also has LFJimmie Pichardo who is only 24 and still getting better.

At AAA Memphis has Delino Moss a very young (20 years old) SP with lots of room to grow. At AA the team has its #1 Prospect in SP David Kim. Kim is a well rounded 4 pitch pitcher and could eaisly be pitching for their ML team at some point this season. Vin Velazquez is another top canident to be playing at the ML level at some point in the season. Control is the name of the game for Velazquez, his impressive control and stamina give him the possibility of starting some games in the Big Leagues. Deivi Alomar of their Rookie League has a possibility of playing in the Big Leagues one day also.


Texas Cow Pies -- (108-54)

Last seasons World Series winner over AL Champ the Iowa City Black Lightning. This team is overall very solid and should again be amongst the top of the NL contenders.

The teams rotation doesn't have any true Ace. But what they do have is 5 well rounded pitchers. Torey Fernandez may not be the teams Ace today but he is the Ace of tomorrow. The 21 year old won 20 games in 25 decisions with a 3.12 ERA in his rookie season. 24 year old Greg Regan is their #2 of the future. He is a hard throwing Palmballer and is looking to improve on his 5.11 ERA of last season. Darrin Cole, last years closer is also back. But the job might not be his for long as the team also boasts two sub 22 year old RP's that are very capable of closing out games, Brett Borders and Derek Harris.

Ted Wilson is up for arbitration this year, expect him to get a nice deal from the Cow Pies. Last years NL MVP hit 50 HRs and drove in 159 RBI to go along with his .342 batting average. And at only age 25 he has plenty of productive years ahead. After Wilson there is a drop off in talent in the line-up, Warren Martin returns at 2b and 1b Walker Beirne should be back, like Wilson he is up for arbitration. The team boasts 2 solid power hitting C's in Dwight Ennis and Gregg Fonville, neither are great pitch callers and would thrive in a DH role in the AL. It wouldn't surprise me to see either of them end up in the AL if the deal is right for Texas.

In AAA the Cow Pies boast Jose Rosado a hard throwing righty with a wicked Cut Fastball/Slider combo. The teams #1 prospect is 3b Francisco Torres of AA. Expect him to get a shot early in spring training to prove himself as the teams potential starting corner infielder. Bruce Gibbons is a solid RF currently playing High A ball. He may never be a star but should get a chance to play in the Big Leagues. The same thing can be said about Louis Parnell the teams starting RF at Low A.


Florida Sun City Over The Hill Gang -- (Formally New Orleans Bourbons (96-66))

A wild card team last season Florida would be thrilled to do so again. The team only has 2 starters returning but has some very nice position players.

Jerry Liniak is the teams Ace. With only him and Johnny Bollea under contract for this upcoming season, Florida has some work to do to win 90+ again. Out of the pen the team has super star setup man Denny Hukata and Roberto Sanchez to pitch the eighth before sending in closer Joey Hogan. The team also has Pat Edwards in Long Relief and word is that he will get a shot in the rotation early.

The teams line-up lives and dies with Philip Cashman. Last season NL Rookie of the Year and Silver Slugger in CF returns at a young age of 22. He hit .346 with 40 HRs and 124 RBI. Trey Evans returns in the Outfield as do Willie Petkovsek and John Miller. Del Wasdin is the current C but Juan Henriquez is on pace to overtake him in the near future.

In the minors the teams AAA squad is ripe with starting pitching talent. Rafael Moya, Christy Williams and Timo Zheng all have real possibilities of getting a crack at the ML Rotation this season. Frank Wells will also be pitching in the Majors soon rather then later. Dee May is a power hitting 1b and also could see ML action this season, the same thing goes for Sean Hampton. At AA the team has Gary Gallagher, a solid pitching prospect. The biggest knock on him is he is only a three pitch player and some in the organization aren't sure how that will translate into an ML starter. Wayne Anderson at Low A is another intriguing prospect. This team is loaded in pitching prospects, so much you'd think they'd have to move a few in the near future.


Prediction:

I'm going with the Cow Pies to win the division again. But don't count out the Nacho's. They are a solid club too and with Chad Lamb anything is possible. Both of these teams should make the postseason. Coming in third I'll take Florida and Memphis in 4th. I see all these clubs being .500 or better.