National League South Pre-Season Analysis

  This may be the most competitive division in our league. All four franchises  have won the division in the last four years. The run differential last year between the division winner and the other teams was 63 runs. Whether that was an injury, a breakout bat, or a young pitcher on the rise; there wasn't much to separate these teams. this season should be no different.

El Paso franchise     owner bwb53    46 season in this league         3,828 wins

  The Marty Robins are in a transition between a robust power hitting team lead by Louis Bowker, who hit 49 home runs last year, and a young pitching staff. The power doesn't come from just Bowker, Carson Belliveau,Tuck Forrest and Andre Evans all crushed more than 29 homers last season. The young pitchers are lead by Clyde Dickerson, Alex Ashley, Melvin Richardson, and Garrett Holliday.
 The Robins have over 30 million to spend in free agency and are ready to compete in this division.


St. Louis franchise    owner usibjc      17 season in this league        1,456 wins

  A minus 41 run differential shouldn't be hard the Kaisers to over come this season.
  A power house run scoring machine with a young core of Moe Ledsma, Julio Cepedes, Jason Williams and Paco Ayala, augmented by veterans Al Floriman and Barry Purcell should score more than enough runs to cover the run differential.
  A rotation of Lopez, Loux, Palmiero, Stack and Herrera stands firm in the new season. The question in St Louis is whether the 20 plus million, to spend in free agency, allows for the shut down bull pen that leads to a pennent.


Charlotte  franchise     owner trapapoodle   at least 11 season in this league at least      881 wins


  The Trapper has won more than two franchises in this league. After three teams I figured it was better if he confessed to how many different franchises and seasons he played in this league. Once I have the information I will be more than happy to publish the number of wins he has. Obviously we are a stronger league with a guy who is willing to come and pick up difficult franchises. KUDOS TO THE TRAPPER.
  This season the Trapper seems to be relying on his pitching staff.  Slim Stewart, Pat Carter, Randy Johnson and Aneury Benitez will lead a pitching staff that closer Javier Alvarez will save. The hitters will be led by Faustino Gonzalez, Bebe Wong, Noe DeLeon and Ted Korecky and reinforced in the field by gold glove short stop Jesse Hammond.

 Memphis  franchise      owner kblack2778   one season in this league                      87 wins

  The most improbable of seasons. An 18 run differential led to a division championship. A 38 run change, from season 45 to season 46, was the difference between second and first place.
 Memphis seems more than happy to be led by several young studs.  Royce Howell, Clyde Amaya, Marcus Roth and Brian Knapp will lead a lineup lookin g to crush pitching staffs.
 Mark O'Connor and Rich Mateo will lead a rotation backed by several shut down relievers.