AL North Preview

Montreal Royals -- (Formally the WIC KC Photogs (69-93))

The Montreal Royals are a team that needs a few more players to make any noise this season. The team has a fairly solid starting rotationbut after that are very lacking. Their position players are not up to ML caliber. That being said a starting rotation is key and with 2 top tier pitchers anything is possible.

Donzell Cosby is their Ace. He went 13-16 last year with a 4.94 ERA. Cosby is looking to be a bit more competitive this year, but it is possible he could be solid trade bait for a contender at age 33. Cosby's partner in crime is 24 year old Pat Politte. The Royals hope that Politte can become more then the #4 starter he was last season. Politte is the player that the Royals are building their team around and should have a better season then his 8-10 record of last season.

The one bright star in the teams line-up is LF Andy Clayton. Clayton is a power hitting stud and should be able to be a force in his first full Major League season. After Clayton the Royals are very thin in their rotation but they are also young. Chris Costello is their young SS and should be a solid player for years to come. Costello hopes to bat better then his .221 average this year and 8 HRs.

In the Farm system the team does have SP Harpo Norton. Norton is the teams most ML ready player and should see work in the Bullpen early on. Jason Levine is the starting 1b for their AA team and should also see a quick call-up to the majors. His power hitting and eye should vastly improve their offense.

In their Rookie League the team has 2 very solid SP's that could either see ML time for them this season or be serious trade bait for a team that is rebuilding. Rookie League Cy Young Winner Eric Drew is a stud at age 21 and while he isn't starting for their ML club just yet, he is well on his way. Also Omar Vargas is their #1 prospect and the better of their 2 RL pitchers. Vargas will be a force when he makes it to the ML, whether it be with the Royals or another team.


Hartford Whalers -- (Formerly the Detroit Losers (80-82))

The Hartford Whalers finished 2nd in the North last season and is a team that is looking to do a bit more this year. The team needs to find a top of the rotation starter if they would like to do anything more then compete. The line-up is pretty solid. But a solid line-up can only take you so far.

The teams returns last years #1 Pitcher. But that's not saying much. Sid Jenkins is that player and he is not an ML #1. Last season Jenkins went 1-3 in 7 starts with an ERA of 6.07. He could be useful as a back of the rotation guy, but Hartford needs to find a better #1. The teams best returning pitcher is Frankie Monroe. Monroe was the talk of a possible trade to Scranton last season but the trade fell through shortly before the deadline. While Monroe is on the downside of his career he still had a solid S1. He started 32 games, going 17-6 with a solid 3.16 ERA. Hartford needs another year like last season out of Monroe.

Hartford sports a very solid 2b in Charlie Quinn who last seaon hit .262 with 39 HRs and 114 RBI. Quinn is one of the teams top two bats along with SS Roland Rivers. Rivers hit .276 last season and at 25 is still looking towards his best days in the ML. Also LF Clyde Mullin is looking to improve on his S1 stats. He hit 31 HRs, but only knocked in 81 runs due to a lack of baserunners ahead of him. Mullin also needs to work on his hitting for average and improve on his .255 average of last season.

Looking towards the future and dipping down to their farm system Hartfords AAA team looks a little bare with really no ML ready talent. Marvin Magnusson is their best prospect at this level and while he isn't ML ready right now, he could be seeing time at some point this year. Kris Barkett is a solid prosepct also. The same could be said for their AA team. At their High A level the first prospect that jumps out is Closer Victor Baez. While Baez is only 22 he should be a solid relief arm sometime in the future for Hartford.


Buffalo Wings -- (Formally the Milwaukee Brew Crew (102-60))

Last years 1st place club in the North has been taken over by a new owner and moved to a new city. Only time will tell if the move from Wisconsin to New York was a good move.

The Wings are a solid club. Starting with their rotation where they are not only talented but young. The teams Ace is 33 year old Jerry King. King lead the team to the playoff's last season with a 21-7 mark and a 2.79 ERA. The teams #2 starter is 23 year old Roger Osborne, who struggled at times last season and is hoping to improve on his 5.52 ERA from last year. In the bullpen this year their looks to be a battle brewing for the Closers role. Last years incumbent, Hipolito Saenz is coming off an All-Star year, but at age 34 some within the organization believe he may be past his prime. Those within the organization that don't believe Saenz has much left are pushing for 24 year old Roscoe Anderson to get the job.

The teams pitchers are by far the teams strength. It's line-up is solid but not sensational and if the club is to repeat last seasons 100 win feat, they will once again have to rely on their pitching. The teams top offensive threat is 25 year old 2b Vladimir Calvo. Calvo is the teams leader on the field and is still improving his game. After Calvo the team really lacks any proven bats and it is something the organization has said it will look into during the winter meetings.

Onto the Farm System, where The team finds its first bat ready for the big leagues in C/DH Bosco Swann. Swann is a power hitting player and could immediatly impact the teams line-up. After Swann there aren't any other impact players in their AAA level. On their AA level the story is different. Karim Wilfredo is a possible star in the future, while he isn't ML ready just yet he could get a call up this year if things don't go as planned. Also Damaso Peron and Greg Davidson are two other solid prospects that could either be trade bait or work their way up the Buffalo System. The teams top prospect at their AA is a pitcher from Nampa, ID Mario Key. Key is a hard throwing righty with a 4 pitch selection. Key is a top prospect in the nation and at only 21, he has lots of room to grow.


Milwaukee Badgers -- (Formally the Cleveland Naps (78-84))

The Badgers are short on pitching. And what pitching they do have is not that great. Javier Sanchez is the teams #1 starter to start the season. He is young and could blossom into a top of the rotatoin guy, but for now he is more suited as a #4 or 5 pitcher.

The team brings back talented C Tom Harper. Harper is hoping to have more of an offensive impact this season and improve upon his 19 HRs. Alex Arnold the teams returning LF is the teams middle of the order hitter. Last year Arnold hit 42 HR's but lacked a solid AVG. If the team can get him more protection he could easily have a much superior year. The teams 2b Benny Trinidad is the teams All-Around best player. Last year he lead the team with 48 HRs and a .331 avg.

Their isn't much immidate help via Milwaukee's Farm System. The teams first ML prospect is in High A. Doc Coleman is a solid pitching prospect, but it is still uncertain whether he is a LR or a SP. The team also has RF Bill Franklin who is a solid prospect but is still a few years away from hitting in the big leagues. Willis Lewis is at Low A and could make an impact sometime in the future in the Big Leagues.


Prediction:

I'm going with the Wings to win the division this year. They are by far the best team in my opinion. Things might change after the Winter Meetings and Free Agency. But for now Buffalo is the pick.