AL East Divisional Preview

Predictions:

1. Philadelphia
2. New York
3. Charleston
4. Chicago

Philadelphia

Key Players Added : Candy Thomas and Joe Campbell
Key Players Lost : Duffy Curtis, Tommy Campbell, P.T. Gryboski and Victor Melo
Key Transactions : A seven players trade including Thomas, Campbell and Gryboski plus 2 minor trades to make space on my payroll.
Rookies expected to contribute: None.

After a great season 9, Owls are expecting to repeat this season and hopefully do much better in playoffs.

Arrival of Candy Thomas and Joe Campbell added to the return of MVP and ROY Haywood Bryant at first base, RBI machine Miller Kotsay at second and All-Star catcher Darrell Dyer, should lead the offense to an even better season than season 9, where they finish 4th in Hr and Avg and 1rst in RBIs and Runs.

With the return of everybody, from 2 times Cy young award winner Domingo Servet to season 8 FOY Ismael Rios,
pitching shouldn't be a problem and we can expect this team to repeat last season success where they finish 1rst in WHIP and 3rd in ERA.
Of course all that will be possible if everyone stay healthy.

Big changes, big expectations.

Charleston

The Charleston Cougars will be rebuilding this year after letting Aaron Downing and Chico Duran depart via free agency and gaining Type A compensation picks in return. The Cougars will continue to rely on Jared Stricland to anchor the pitching staff, and hope to see continued improvement from relievers Patrick Lamb and Andre Fauquhar. Rule 5 selection Bernie Timmons and Alving Rivera will also contribute to the staff. On the offensive side, Freddie Upshaw and Steve Meadows will lead the way. Young players such as Lefty Griffin and and Greg Padden may make their major league debuts this seasion. Overall, the Cougars are likely to struggle this year and are likely to finish in the bottom half of their division.

Chicago – out of the country


New York

Key players added: Norman Borders, RP

Lost: none, I think/hope

FA signing: Borders

Rookies expected to contribute: just some bullpen arms, and pinch hitter types

Outlook: The Red Storm were good enough to get to the playoffs in season 9, they merely tried to stay as good this year.