The Jenkins Division
Predicted Order of Finish
- North Bay
- Grand Rapids
- Hamilton
- Langley
Of all the division, this division is the least volatile. The only two teams in the running are North Bay and Grand Rapids. Hamilton and Waterloo (for once) has some talent and therefore hope in the next coming years.
North Bay
For the first time in league history, the Trappers did not make it to the league finals, being ousted in the first round by the Beaconsfield Pathfinders. This year the Trappers are favored to win this division but making the finals is of great concern.
Strengths: North Bay features the strongest offense in the league. Cabrera, Cano and Holliday make up a trio of All Stars and they are supported by some above average bats in A Rod and Dunn. Their pitching staff is helped by one strong arm in Santana … but not much else. If they team gets anywhere it’s going to be because of their ability to plainly outscore the opposition.
Weaknesses: The pitching staff is not like it used to be with Johnson and a younger and less injured Santana. Although Lilly makes for a fine #3 starter, as a #2 he is a significant downgrade. The final three of Floyd, Rodriguez and Greinke all make fine #5 starters… but three of them are two too much. The bullpen is also a glaring hole which usually can be fixed in the draft but North Bay is not too heavy on top selections. Uribe and Pence remain their two biggest weaknesses in their lineup, and when all is said and done, that is not too bad.
Overall: This could be a tough transition for the Trappers. Although there are some solid youngsters with the bats Trapper management is hoping that Greinke and Floyd can get back to their promise. If North Bay wants to make it to the finals, they will need to add another arm to the mix.
Grand Rapids
If there is a team that could easily take down the Trappers this year, it’s the Grand Rapid Reformers. The Reformers never seem to jump out at you with star power but there is rarely any weakness in their lineup.
Strengths: When Josh Beckett goes down with one of his worst years, one would think that would spell disaster for your team. However the Reformers have three other solid pitchers in Lester, Danks and Myers. On the back end of their rotation one finds youngster Romero and the veteran Zambrano. This team will go as their starting pitching goes. On the offensive front the main punches are going to come from Werth, Uggla and Cruz. Thus far their pen in the best in the division, but that is not saying a lot.
Weaknesses: Offensively their biggest hole is at firstbase with the injury to Kendry Morales. The best thing about this is that it’s the position most easily to replace to look for Grand Rapids to move quickly to fix this problem. The bullpen needs shoring up and a few more platoon players and all will be will in Michigan.
Hamilton Splitterz
Hamilton has been in the thick of the fight these past two years as the BDB Wildcard team, once making it to the finals, and this past season being outed in the first round by the eventual Champions, the Tri Color. Last season Hamilton, knowing they had a chance at the title leveraged some of their future for the present. This season they will begin to pay the price of this run at the playoffs.
Strengths: Soto, Gonzalez, Ramirez and Ethier… the Hispanic French Connection remain this team’s offensive threats. Josh Hamilton and his MVP performance are gone supplying the Splitterz with their best starter in Kershaw. Wainright is also gone, in his place stands Billingsley. Hudson provides some youth and hope for next season. Besides these guys, hope will remain in the off years of Sandoval and Kubel is only for a season and that Stubbs will become the star many have predicted.
Weaknesses: No hitting at second, third nor in the DH position, the latter being the easiest to remedy. The back end of the rotation is pretty unspectacular with Morrow and de la Rosa. Morrow remains an interest pitching one of the finest performances in BDB last season. The pen is a complete mess and will need a full makeover in order to go anywhere.
Overall: When one thinks of the Splitterz, one has to be reminded of the great US General, George Patton who’s standing command was never to retreat. It’s this same mantra that resides in the Hamilton ownership ironically enough in Dutch owner Jordan Spoelstra. Look for the Splitterz to be fast and furious on the trade front and have them look no further than next year as a year in which they will be back in the hunt. There is plenty of youth on the team to bounce back that there is no need for a major overhaul here. No chance at contending in 2010 … however this statement will at least spark another two to three wins out of this team
Langley
It’s been a long time since anything good was written about the Royals however as Bob Dylan reminds us… “The times are a changing”
Strengths: All those draft picks are starting to develop a very young and talented pitching core. Buchholz, Sanchez, Kennedy, Hughs, Pelfry are all beginning to pay big league dividends. The offense is a two player lineup, MLB Rookie of the Year in Buster Posey and Super Uber Shortstop Troy Tulowitski. Both players look to improve their solid stats with a full year of playing time.
Weaknesses: Still plenty to speak of. Although their pitching prospects are paying dividends, their hitting prospects are barely going to be able to be used as trade bait. The outfield of Fowler, Snider an LaPorta are all easily replaced and may all need to ride the pine for the seasons. Barton, although somewhat productive, is not the right option at first.
Overall: It will be interesting to see what owner Mike Sambrook will do with this team. It is near impossible to build a championship team from the farm system… as the difficulty of having the hitting and pitching combine to be great is pretty limited. Look for Sambrook to not be afraid to trade if the deal warrants it. He is sitting on some good stock such as Matt Weiters so do not be surprised if he takes in more picks and young talent.
