Another night drinking with the scouts at the Barleymoe

  Tonight Elijah Craig is joined by Jose Cuervo, John Jameson, Uncle Val and Evan Williams

Elijah: Fellas, last night I had George, Jack, Johnny and Tito give me a preview of the National League. Tonight I want you guys to preview the American League. Uncle Val what can you say about the American League West.

Uncle Val:Last season the West won 246 out of division ball games; coming in second in the National League and fourth in all divisions. Santa Cruz won last season and probably has the most potent batters. San Francisco which had the best run differential in the division last season probably has the best pitching staff. If you were to ask me who the ace of the Colorado staff is I couldn't tell you. The Stickballers first three starters are all about the same; none of them aces but all of them studs. In Colorado you are always going to score so with them it's going to be about the pitching. The Islanders are going to pray that the young pitchers are better this year than they were last year. Only Santa Cruz and Honolulu have much money to spend in free agency. I'm sure the Scream will find a nugget to sign and I'm sure the Islanders will do their usual Tuesday Morning thing.

John J.: Tuesday morning have we've been drinking that long?

Uncle Val: No. The Islanders love to sign free agents after the rule five draft when the prices are lower. In my notes I always write them down as Tuesday morning not the Honolulu Islanders.

Elijah: How do you think they will finish the season.

Uncle Val: Giants, Scream, Stickballers, Mornings

Elijah: John we will give you time to sober up. Jose will you give me a report on the  National League East?

Jose: I'm happy to give you the run down. tmfran's Empire has won 6 out of the last 10 division titles. During that decade they have vanquished Rampage and Argonughts; been victorious over Stars and Steamers.How they will fair against Bandits we will just have to wait and see. Last year's run differential was very close between Boston and the Jacksonville team. Boston's team is solid but the Bandits are probably a little bit better depending on what the Beaneaters do in free agency. The Blue Hens have the second and third best bats in the division and the top two starters.

Elijah: Are you telling me that the Blue Hens have replace the ewoks in the battle to defeat the empire?

Jose: Maybe this year only but I have the Blue Hens, followed by the Empire, Beaneaters and the Bandits with none of the four winning fewer than 78 games.

Elijah: Evan what can you tell  me about the American League North?

Evan: Well the rebuild in Fargo is in its second season. The last time they had a rebuild in that franchise it only took 3 years. Season 35 100 wins, season 36  77 wins season39  83 wins.Season 53   98 wins season 54   69 wins. So maybe other franchises can have a little fun for a little while. Boise won the division last season but their run differential was 71 runs lower than Ottawa's. If the Bytowners can figure out how to become hometowners (home record 37-44, away 49-32) things could change this season. Ottawa's pitching is really strong certainly in the top five of the Stickball league. The Bytowners bats are lead by Phil Searle and Alex Otanez.  Boise has to two best hitters in the division: Rey Jung and Sherman Naquin. Boise also has good pitching depth so if the Bytowners don't play better in Lynx Stadium this could go down to the last week of the season. In Toledo second baseman Carson Beliveau and Donald Miles we give veteran leadership to a young team that has really stepped up it's scouting department in last few seasons--Adrian O'Connor and Furio Betemit.

Elijah: The order of finish please.

Evan: Ottawa, Boise,Toledo and Fargo.

Elijah: John can you do the South? Are you recovered?

John: Yea, I got this Elijah. Oh these people are trying to confuse me. Last season Jacksonville was in the National League, this year in the American League; and now there's a Jackson team. Which one am I doing Elijah; this would be hard even  if I were sober.

Elijah: It's Jackson , John, the old Monterrey team.

John: Okay I got this. Last season the old Monterrey team ran rough shod over this division with a run differential of 281. It was the only franchise in the division with a positive run differential. The Duoz  should be more of a challenge this season with a super strong bull pen. The two Texas teams have some really nice players but need a few more to compete. The shining light in San Antonio is left fielder Dan Brown. Look for Charles Banks to fill the Crawford boxes with baseballs as he win the National league rookie of the year. Order of finish: Herd, Duoz, Rustlers and Dropouts.

Elijah: John that was awful damn coherent for somebody who claimed to be drunk.

John: We all have our little games we play. I had a nephew who told me he never knew I drank until he saw me sober one time. The uber I called is here we better go.