Here we go!

And another season is upon us! With the season in its third week of play we have already had a flurry of trades including top talent and a few teams take off to start the year. Let's take a quick look back at what has already transpired in Season 5 and also a look forward as to what the season holds:

The Free Agent Period saw a few stud players change teams. The Philadelphia Black Lightning went into overdrive signing 3 type A free agents, including starting pitcher Joe Cohen, who signed a 50 million dollar deal over 4 years to come to Philly. Philly also signed Alex Arnold a power hitting rf to take the place of currently injured Chris Lyons who is still recovering from an ACL tear suffered late last season. The teams third signing was Jarrod Collins who alreadly blew out his elbow this year and Tommy John surgery is not out of the question.

In their quest to repeat as Division Champions the New York Evil Empire signed 2b T.J. Stark to a 20.6 million dollar deal over 2 seasons, which included a 5 million dollar signing bonus.

The Burlington Black and Blue Brachiosaurus went big on last years silver slugger AL at 1b in Nick Philips. Nick signed a 61 million dollar deal over 4 seasons. Don't expect Nick to come anywhere near last years power numbers playing in Burlington though.

On to Trades, the biggest trade of the season so far was approved by the Commissioners Office just a short while ago. The trade was between the Florida FlyTekks and the Salem Witch Doctors. The FlyTekks continued their rebuilding project acquiring Stewart Wells a projected RF but sources within the organization say he can play numerous positions and are unsure where he will end up once with the Major League team. Also coming over in the deal was Corban Walters one of the top starting pitching prospects in the League. He is still 2-3 years away from the Majors but there is no doubt he will be a force once he reaches his potential. P.T. Abbott was also acquired and is slotted as the teams #3 starter this season. While Florida got some incrediable talent in this deal it didn't come cheap. The team sent Ace Chad Lamb, who is still improving and Galahad Dale another top line starter. I would have to say both teams got solid deals here, although trading Lamb is tough. Florida saved around 10 million in salary room in this deal too so I give them a small nod, I am not sure anyone else could have (or would have been willing to) offered them as much as they got from Salem. This trade does give Salem quite the rotation which should continue to pay off.

Burlington has also made a plehrea of deals this season. Two including superstar ML talent. The team first acquired Jimmie Lugo from Minnesota Conspiracy for Greg Walker the oft traded pitcher who is now with his 5th Franchise and a few other players to help even out the salary difference. According to GM japheth007 "Greg Walker is going to be nice and happy in Minnesota!"

Burlington also acquired Philip Cashman the ultra-talented ss from Nashville Nerd Herders for Major League cf Peter Elster a super fast contact hitter with good eye, Eugene Garcia an all around talent who was Burlingtons top pick a year ago and Wilt Pagnozzi, who is listed as Nashville's #2 starter this year.

I would have to say Burlington gave up a lot to get both. I think the Walker for Lugo deal was a more effiecent deal but both make this team more then a pitching ballclub and should help improve their road record this season in their bid for a Wild Card spot. Minnesota got a stud starter in Walker, it just breaks down to whether you would like to have a great everyday player or a great every 5 day player. And to each his own there. Nashville got 3 really good players in return for Cashman, again as with Florida I am not sure anyone else could or would beat that offer.

The season is into its third week of games and a few teams have set themselves out above the rest. In the AL the Montreal Royals have started out 12-2 and lead the AL North by 4 games, the Salem Witch Doctors have also started out 12-2 and lead the AL West by 3 games, The Philadelphia Black Lightning have started off 13-1 and lead the AL East by 7 games. In the NL South the Charlotte Heavy Petting Zoo have started out 12-2 to lead the divison by 4 games.

A Look Towards the Future:

Divison Predictions:

National League

North:
Syracuse SkyRockets
Minnesota Conspiracy
Portland Hippies
Pittsburgh Pranksters

East:
New York Evil Empire
Dover Devils
Atlanta Crackers
Louisville Long Balls

South:
Little Rock Jaeger Bombs
Charlotte Heavy Petting Zoo*
Florida FlyTekks
Nashville Nerd Herders

West:
Boise Spudchuckers x
San Diego Zonkeys*
Fresno Griz
Colorado Mountain Goats

American League

North:
Montreal Royals
Salt Lake City Polygamist
Trenton Generals
Cincinnati Sinners

East:
Philadelphia Black Lightning x
Burlington Black and Blue Brachiosaurus
Boston Puritans
Hartford Yellow Jackets

South:
Jacksonville Dolphins
Iowa City I Wanna Score More*
Tampa Bay Waves
Houston texans

West:
Salem Witch Doctors
Tacoma Amber Flashlongs*
Helena Grizzlies
San Jose Enchiladas

----------------------------
* - Wildcard Winner
x - Homefield Advantage

Playoffs

National League

Division Play-in Series

(3) Little Rock v (6) San Diego
Little Rock in 4

(4) New York v (5) Charlotte
Charlotte in 5

Divisonal Championship Series

(1) Boise v (5) Charlotte
Boise in 5

(2) Syracuse v (3) Little Rock
Little Rock in 7

National League Championship Series

(1) Boise v (3) Little Rock
Boise in 7


American League
Divison Play-in Series

(3) Montreal v (6) Tacoma
Montreal in 3

(4) Jacksonville v (5) Iowa City
Iowa City in 5

Divisonal Championship Series

(1) Philadelphia v (5) Iowa City
Philadelphia in 4

(2) Salem v (3) Montreal
Salem in 5

American League Championship Series

(1) Philadelphia v (2) Salem
Philadelphia in 7

------------------------------------------------

World Series

(1) Philadelphia v (1) Boise
Philadelphia in 6

Philadelphia Black Lightning (AL) zhawks View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Rumors:

Sources close to the clubs say the Pittsburgh Pranksters and the Philadelphia Black Lightning have been talking about a deal including lf Walter Miller, although neither club has made any offical word of these talks.

Word is clubs keep calling about 2b Larry Carver but Flordia keeps saying no.

Sources within the league say the Philadelphia Black Lightning have been rumored to be taking offers for Ed Donovan. The team denies the reports saying "We feel very comfortable with where we are as a Franchise at the moment."



**Rumors (whether true or not/whether about your team or not) can be sent to the WIS sitemail inbox of zhawks or emailed to zhurdlez@gmail.com, if there are enough participents hopefully the few of us posting on the blog I think we could some good stuff up here whether true or not, I am sure indiansrck27 wouldn't mind getting a few in his inbox either, but I don not want to speak for him. Thanks!**