Another night drinking with the scouts at the Barleymoe

         Tonight Elijah Craig is joined by George Dickell, Jack Daniels, Johnny Walker and Tito.

Elijah: Fellas I thought tonight we could give a little preview of the upcoming season.

Tito: Free agency isn't even over. How can we be expected to make prognostications on a season that doesn't start for another 10 days.

Elijah: Tito I love to have you here but you got to know accuracy, relevance, and truth have nothing to do with our gatherings here at the Barleymoe.

George: Yea, if we can't upset one owner each meeting then we have waisted our time.

Elijah: Jack what do you think of the National League West?

Jack: As you know the NL west tied for the division with the most out of division wins last year with 263. That is going to be a pretty difficult goal for this group of owners this season. From what I can see so far Seattle is still loaded and still has 35 million to spend on free agents. I think Las Vegas has better starting pitching but unless my calculator broke, pimpbotlove  has used up his budgeted payroll. Vancouver has 26 million left to reinforce Hansel Fiers on the mound. The Dukes have 55 million left to spend. They very quietly are building up a strong group of arms on their staff, so most of that money will probably be spent on bats.

Elijah: Jack it's early but order of finish?

Jack: Same as last year.

Elijah: George what say you about the National League South.

George: Last season the NL South also had 263 out of division wins and I think they will top the 263 victories...

Tito: You just have to mess with Jack don't you George?

George: We are here to drink, talk, and have fun. What is more fun than sticking it to the Lynchburg lunatic.

Elijah: Could you please just give us a round up of the teams. 

George: As I was saying, I think Santa Fe has the best hitting. The 23 million they have left in their budget could provide a really good bullpen which seems to be their main weakness. El Paso has Max Campos and Vic Ingram at triple-A and they should really help out the Marty Robins. St. Louis has a steady group of ball players. They don't flash or sparkle but they play hard and win as a team. The defending Champs can go as far as the G's can take them (Enrique Gamboa-RF and Fausto Gonzalez-3B). The Rats have the least amount of money left for free agents with 7 million, all the other teams all have over 20 million.

Elijah: Order of finish please.

George: Charleston, Santa Fe, St.Louis and El Paso.

Elijah: Tito, you have the National League East.

Tito: The East is going to be tough this year Elijah.  Right now all four teams have between19 and 23 million to spend on free agents. From what I see Hartford will score the most runs with their loaded lineup. The pitching is almost as good. vdaino inherited a good strong group when he took over that franchise and he has a winners reputation so he should make it close. San Juan is always to tough and usually over looked in the preseason. mike1184 is laying the foundation of a dynasty like he had in seasons 32 through season 38 when he never won fewer than 100 games. The Augusta franchise went through  three owners last season, so joekendall, who is already committed to season 56 , is rebuilding around Theodore Cohen and Vic Mesa.

Elijah: How will they end up?

Tito:Hartford, Pawtucket, San Juan and Augusta.

Elijah: What do you know about the National League North , Johnny.

Johnny: This once proud division had the worst  out of division wins last year with 225. However the division has some of the best young talent in the minor leagues. Toronto has Stolmy De Paula  ready to bust into their lineup. Peter Donald heads up the staff that has a rock solid bull pen. Ryu and Sosa will provide plenty of runs for the Shamrocks. The Metro Transit Authority is in a rebuild. dherz_263 has done a remarkable job of drafting top pitchers so with this New York franchise it just a matter of time. I think the Detroit and Chicago franchises are good but not playoff bound this year. Both have talented lineups and some good starting pitching and are challenged in the bullpen. All 4 teams have a lot of money to spend on free agents so the situation in the north is fluid; and could change with each free agent signed.

Elijah: The order of finish please.

Johnny: Toronto,Chicago squeezing past Detroit  after they promote Angelys Alvarez and Francisco Chavez late in the season and New York,