American League East
Seal Beach Athletics (94-68) Owner: Bill Crissman
2007: (See 2004 and 2006) Once again the Seal Beach Athletics rolled through the playoffs in route to capturing their 3rd LCSB title in 4 years. The A’s were led by league MVP Manny Ramirez who knocked in a whopping 143 rbi’s and slugged over .700. Derek Jeter anchored an impressive up the middle defense and Jonathan Papelbon nailed down a league high 35 saves for the A’s. Despite holding the division lead for virtually the entire season, the A’s grip was broken loose but the red-hot Menace in the season’s final week. This late season stumble actually created a favorable playoff situation for the reigning champs and Seal Beach capitalized on it. 2008 will present the toughest challenges yet for the A’s as they look to make it 4 of 5 and start the new LCSB the same way the old LCSB ended.
Strengths: Those hoping for a little variety in your LCSB AL East will be disappointed. This 2008 team is better than all A’s teams prior and is by the LCSB Time’s estimation the best team in the entire league. Pitching? The best. Hitting? Darn close if not the best. Defense? Top notch. Add Papelbon to the mix and this team is just plain silly. The bench is deep and provides a great degree of line-up flexibility. This team is an offensive juggernaut and with the pitching added in it has to be one of the 10 best in LCSB history.
Weaknesses: None. But for the sake of filling space it could be pointed out that the A’s hitters have their share of double plays on their cards and that the middle relief group is a little soft.
2008: As good as this team is they have two major obstacles to overcome: the Strat Gods and the Cerritos Big Guys. Virtually every monster team in league history has gone down in post-season flames (a few at the hands of the Athletics themselves). As the 2004 Orbits and Clippers, 2006 Big Guys, and the 2007 Thunder and Menace can attest, having the best team not only doesn’t guarantee anything, but can almost be a curse. Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door are the Big Guys and they’re looking to avenge their early ouster from the 2006 playoffs (and have the team to do it). The A’s are a playoff lock at this point and the season will be little more than jockeying for playoff position and divisional bragging rights. Prediction: 100 Wins
2009: There is no imminent collapse awaiting this near dynasty Seal Beach ball-club but the core players are getting up there in age and this 2008 version is likely the pinnacle group from this impressive run. The Athletics have already traded their 2009 first round pick to bolster the ’08 squad (but when you can pick MVP types in the 14th round that may not matter). Hanley Ramirez, Victor Martinez, Travis Buck, Fausto Carmona and Matt Garza can by themselves provide the basis of a competitive team even when the Jeters and Mannys are gone.
Cerritos Big Guys (63-99) Owner: Scott Bobic
2007: Sometimes smacking your kids around is the best thing you can do for them. The Big Guys sucked it up and removed themselves from the playoff race in 2007 by trading away some big-time (and aging) players like Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Mariano Rivera and Kenny Lofton. Oh, nope, check that - they still have Kenny Lofton. Nonetheless, the one year, self-imposed remodel has revitalized the Big Guys far beyond even what the most optimistic of Cerritos supporters could have hoped. When the dust had settled, not only had the older guys been shipped out but in doing so they brought in some of the best young talent out there, including their dynamic 1-2 punch of Josh Beckett and Justin Verlander.
Strengths: Picking the strengths on this squad is like sitting in a pub in Ireland and trying to decide what kind of beer to have. The CBG offense will be centered on the best 3-4-5 hitters in the league: Big Papi, ARod and Curtis Granderson. The offense as a whole has great on-base, power and speed and will score a ton of runs this year. The Beckett-Verlander 1-2 punch the league’s best as well and they are followed by solid back rotation guys like J. Guthrie and Tim Wakefield. The Cerritos defense is outstanding and includes gold glove winner Orlando Cabrera at shortstop and Ichiro 1(-5) Suzuki in centerfield. The Big Guy bullpen is definitely an asset and they’ll be closing games with one of the most reliable guys out there, Joe Nathan.
Weaknesses: This team is built and ready to go. There are a few platoons that could be problematic and an unequal distribution of power throughout the line-up but this is nit-picking at best. The Big Guys are built top to bottom and can win in any environment.
2008: The Big Guys and the A’s are going to have a 7 month long ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ type heavyweight beat-down for the AL East crown. Both teams are playoff locks, and 2008 will be more of a divisional battle between these two ball-clubs than anything. Assuming the Big Guys do make it, the Beckett-Verlander combination in the play-offs will be a major force and will give Cerritos a considerable advantage over virtually all of their playoff opponents. In a calculated move, CBG management moved the club out of Boston and has made pitcher friendly Edison Field their new home stadium. This ballpark change, though seemingly insignificant, will prove to be a major factor when the playoffs come around and will allow CBG’s multi-faceted offense to thrive. Prediction: 100 Wins
2009: The 2008 Big Guys are backed by a few career years and probably are not expecting to return this level of powerhouse team to the field in 2009. The Big Guys do though have an offense and pitching core they can count on, and the management team will put the pieces around them if they are not already there. The acquisition of Josh Beckett cost the team three 1st round picks (including their 2009 1st) and the majority of the team is in the upper half of their likely career span. The 2009 season should produce another contender but the team may have to find themselves smacking the kids around again in 2010.
Key Trades:
12/11/2007 - The Big Guys trade away their #1 (2008) to the Steamers for J. Guthrie
12/6/2007 - The Big Guys trade the BlueSox #1 to the Clippers for O. Cabrera
12/5/2007 Cerritos acquires J. Beckett and Cleveland's #13- #16 picks for Big Guys #1, #2 and and the Dragons #1
10/31/2007 - Cerritos trades their #4 & #8 to Anaheim for T. Wakefield
10/30/2007 - CBG sends Daniel Cabrera and John Buck to the Menace for J. Speier, S. Downs and Scott Proctor
2/27/2007 - Blue Sox acquire Randy Johnson from the Big Guys for C. Janssen, Kirk Saarloos and the Blue Sox #1
San Diego Clippers (71-91) Owner: Scott Curtis
2007: More so than most, the Clippers had to be disappointed with their 2007 campaign. The line-up featured major power from top to bottom, a solid rotation and a good bullpen… but some ingredient seemed to be missing and the team suffered through month after month of mediocrity. Whether that missing ingredient was a player on an in-house manager we will never know. Although predicted by some in the pre-season to win the division, the Clips cut bait near the trade deadline and shipped out some veteran players for younger players and draft picks. The Clippers made the best they could out of a bad situation and now have a competitive squad filled with solid young guys that will keep the club afloat for years to come.
Strengths: As usual, San Diego will hit the ball. This line-up may not be the equal to the Clipper softball teams of years past, but this Clipper team has solid, run-producing players up and down the line-up. The pitching staff is led by the reliable John Lackey, and he’ll be followed by Eric Bedard and Joe Blanton. The addition of Hideki Okajima to the San Diego bullpen adds a great degree of stability and the relief corps should be a strength the Clips can count on. More than anything, the re-emergence of the previously exiled management team will prove to be of greatest benefit to this ball-club in 2008.
Weaknesses: What will keep this Clipper team out of contention will be the absence of superstar cards in a division that is full of them. The team has very good hitting, solid pitching and bullpen, but in no facet are they great and the competition this year will be fierce. The back of the rotation is a bit suspect and the Clips could very well end up hitting into more double plays than any other team in the league.
2008: The Clippers are right on the cusp of the playoffs and at worst should find themselves in possession of the 1st overall AL pick in 2009. Finishing 2nd in this division would be asking a lot of this team and is only realistic if management reverses course and makes a major investment to try and win it now. Prediction: 85 Wins
2009: If this team stays on course it could very well end up being the division winner in 2009 and beyond. San Diego has been steadily amassing a pile of top prospects over the past couple of seasons and their time to shine is near. In addition to the already proven Robinson Cano, Ian Kinsler, Eric Bedard and Casey Kotchman, now come Adam Jones, Brandon Wood, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jarod Saltamacchia, and Brandon Morrow. The core of Vlad, Bobby Abreu, Miguel Tejada and Vernon Wells is still intact; if they bounce-back the 2009 Clippers could very well be the team to beat in the East.
Key Trades:
12/6/2007 - The Big Guys trade the BlueSox #1 to the Clippers for O. Cabrera.
10/28/2008 - Interleague deal: The Clippers get B. Abreu and O. Cabrera from the Coyotes for C. Delgado, J. Moyer, and B. Zito
7/29/2007 - The Clippers acquire C. Kotchman, A. Beltre, Glendale's #2, & #4 picks from the Orbits for R. Clemens, J. Dye, M. Lowell, M. Izturis, A. Otsuka, M. Morse, and San Diego's #13 & #14 picks
12/5/2006 - San Diego trades Ted Lilly, Jason Isringhausen, the Clippers #1 & #5, Steamers #2, and BlackSox #2 to Glendale for Barry Zito, Roger Clemens, and Akinori Otsuka.
Anaheim Menace (98-64) Owner: Larry Dahlia
2007: The Menace won an American League high 98 games last season only to be upset in the first round of the AL playoffs by the Oak Hills Warriors. That 2007 Menace team was likely the best thus far produced and its creation and ’07 regular season dominance cost Anaheim considerably in terms of future talent. Not only did some of the expensive cards expire at the end of the season, but many of the team’s key players struggled through down years and the ’08 returns will be a bit off course.
Strengths: The Menace have a solid group of offensive players that can be counted on to put together usable cards year-in and year-out. Virtually every position is manned by a high caliber, reliable talent. Throw in the Timo Perez ringer action and this offense should be scoring its share of runs this year. The defense is above average with a 3 at short in M. Young and a 2/3 combo of Grudzielanek and Kendrick at 2nd, a rangy OF featuring Tori Hunter and Gary Mathews Jr., and a gold glover at the hot corner, Eric Chavez. If the Menace can make it to the 9th with a lead they’ll have one of the best closers out there to try and nail down the win, J.J. Putz.
Weaknesses: The 2007 Menace featured a lights out rotation with big time players like Mussina, Liriano, D Bush and Ervin Santana. Unfortunately, the 2008 staff will feature those exact same pitchers (minus Liriano). Aside from J.J. Putz, the bullpen is nowhere to be found and can’t be counted on to bail out the starters. The Anaheim offense is indeed solid but is lacking the dominant hitter cards needed to score every game and on every pitcher.
2008: The playoffs are probably out of the question for the Menace this year given the lack of quality starting pitching and the virtually non-existent bullpen. The offense, defense and Putz should produce a fair share of W’s and the Menace should find themselves competing for the LCSB consolation prize: the #1 overall draft pick in 2009. Prediction: 75 Wins
2009: Not only could they land the #1 overall, but Anaheim has already acquired an additional 1st round pick (SBA) from a draft day trade. The rebuild though is weighing mostly on the veterans having rebound years (Hafner, Santana, Chavez, Bush). Howie Kendrick was brought in as part of the rebuild and his improved defense at 2nd gives in just his sophomore season gives the Menace a big boost going into 2009.
Key Trades:
12-8-2007 - Seal Beach acquires T. Buck from the Menace for M. Thames & the A's #1 (2008)
10/31/2007 - The Menace trade J. Posada & their #6 to the Orbits for S. Baker & H. Kendrick.
10/30/20007 - Cerritos sends Daniel Cabrera and John Buck to the Menace for Justin Speier, Scott Downs and Scott Proctor.
8/2/2007 - Pacific trades E. Santana, M.Teahan, & B. Kielty to Anaheim, for D. McGowan, M. Cabrera, B. Corey, Anaheim's #4.
6/6/2007 - Culver City sends David Bush, Francisco Liriano, and Greg Norton to Anaheim for Carlos Lee, Jose Contreras, Pat Neshek, and Anaheim's 1st round in 2008.
Denver Dragons (74-88) Owner: Greg Hamburg (Formerly the Twin Cities Dragons)
2007: It looked at the beginning as if 2007 was going to be another Cinderella season for the Dragons but right around the all star break the clock struck midnight, the slipper fell off, and the Dragons plunged downhill in a hurry. This franchise has put the pedal to the metal year after and in 2007 the effects finally started to show. The highlight for the Dragons could be having two players go for 80+ steals (Carl Crawford and Chone Figgins). As soon as the season was finished ownership decided it was time for a change and a new management team was brought in to help rebuild this storied franchise.
Strengths: Chone Figgins, Gary Sheffield, Carl Crawford, Ivan Rodriguez and Hideki Matsui make up what should be a healthy offense. Kevin Gregg turned in a surprise performance and should make for a solid closer.
Weaknesses: Unfortunately for the Dragons, this team has some pretty big holes. The pitching staff is really weak and is probably in need of a total overhaul. The bullpen has a couple bright spots but will get hit hard on most nights.
2008: This could end up being a pretty rough year for the Dragons. Even though the Denver offense can score, the pitching staff is thread bare and will likely never give the offense many chances at winning. Prediction: 65 Wins
2009: The new management has already started what could by a multi-year rebuild process by bringing in young players like Billy Butler, Jon Lester, Asdrubal Cabrera and John Danks. If the Dragons continue to cash in their veterans and stick with drafting top notch prospects they’ll soon be back in shape and competing once again for AL East supremacy.
Key Trades:
12/4/2007 - The Athletic's trade J. Lester, their #1 & #5 picks to Twin Cities for A. Rowand and the Dragons #9 & #12 picks.
Official 2008 AL East Prediction:
1. Seal Beach Athletics
2. Cerritos Big Guys
3. San Diego Clippers
4. Anaheim Menace
5. Denver Dragons
Notes: The A’s and Big Guys are within an eyelash of each other but the A’s depth on the bench and in the rotation win out. The Clippers could make a legitimate run at the final playoff spot will need a big investment to really compete in the playoffs. The Menace are paying the price for the 2007 run and have an outside chance at the #1 overall pick in the draft. Denver’s season will be painful but they knew the job was dangerous when they took it and look already like have this team bac