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Willie Mays Division
The four teams in the Mays division are Anchorage, Calgary, Portland, and Vancouver.
1. Anchorage
Anchorage has one of the worst rotations in the league. Four C3s with 16 outs and one C2 with 17 outs is nothing to be particularly proud of. John Rocker is a good reliever, but not amazing for a closer, and the rest of the pen isn't great.
Their lineup is solid, with 2001 ARod leading the way. Abreu, Thomas, and Sweeney are three more solid OB10s, and Durham is a speedy OB9. The last four hitters are two OB8s, each with three homers, and two OB7s with power. The lineup is relatively fast with 3 speed As and only one speed C. Fielding is good overall (C+9, IF+8, OF+5), although the bench catcher is only C+4.
The lineup is good, but unlikely good enough to compensate for the starting pitching.
2. Calgary
Calgary's rotation has three starters with high controls, although two of them only have 14 outs on the chart. The other two are both C3s with 16 outs. Not an overwhelming rotation, but not a bad one. Gabe White is a top 10 reliever in the league, and Rhodes would be a closer on several teams. Rodriguez is solid as a third bullpen arm.
The lineup features several misprints, with the OB10 Andruw Jones promo leading the way (yes, I play with the cards as printed). The OB9 error Hammonds card is a slugger with a lot of power in the middle of the lineup. Matt Stairs and Scott Rolen add power and Will Clark is another OB10. The only hole in the lineup is Mirabelli, but subpar hitting is a fair tradeoff for a C+8, especially for a player who is one of my luckiest cards historically. Starting fielding values of C+8/IF+9/OF+6 are very good, but during the 20% of games started by the backup catcher, Petrick's awful C+2 will definitely allow runners to run wild.
Overall the team should be interesting to watch, and one of the more fun teams to root for if you are like me and love the absurd Jones misprint card.
3. Portland
Portland has a strong top of the rotation, anchored by 2000 Kerry Wood. Cone, Ashby, and Moyer are solid #2, 3, and 4 starters, respectively. The bullpen has no true stud but some depth to it.
The lineup is led by Carl Everett as the only OB10, but Berkman, Dye, and Hubbard each add some power from OB9. Sexson and Batista both add power at lower OBs. The two non-C players without power both bring speed As to the table, so the lineup is well-balanced with the exception of Hernandez, but his C+8 will be very useful. IF+8 and OF+4 are both decent. The bench has Hanley Frias as an OB10, which helps the lineup a bit on Stocker's offdays.
I think Portland is pretty balanced overall.
4. Vancouver
Vancuver has a very deep starting rotation overall, with one C6, two C5s with 15 outs, one C4 with 16 outs, and one C3 with 17 outs. All five pitchers can keep them in a game, although two are only IP5. The bullpen is decent but not great.
The lineup features three OB10s, two of whom have power. No one else in the lineup is particularly strong, but there is no major hole either, as the weakest OB hitter (Flaherty) still has 3 homers on his chart to go with his C+8, and the weakest chart (Castillo) brings along an OB9 and speed A. The infield is a little low overall (IF+6) and the outfield is standard (OF+4).
Using Nilsson as a DH allows him to sub in for Flaherty on catcher offdays. Pat Burrell is a decent bat who will fill in at DH on those days, and also will sub in for 1B, LF, and RF on their respective offdays, which should see his playing time hit close to 50%.
Post below with who you think wins the Mays division.
Bob Gibson Division
The Gibson division has Boise, Las Vegas, Sacramento, and Salt Lake City.
1. Boise
Boise's rotation is led by Bret Saberhagen, perhaps my all-time luckiest card. Juan Guzman and Jon Lieber are decent #2 and #3 starters, but Rigdon and Escobar are not great at the back of the rotation.
The bullpen is very good, with three C6s leading the way, although Leskanic is only 14 outs. Eddie Guardado as the 4th reliever is still very useable.
The lineup is strong as well, with 4 OB10s, two of whom are 18+ HR. Vidro and Cox are both solid OB9 hitters, and both OB8 hitters have 18+ homer power. No one in the lineup is lower than OB8. The fielding scores are C+7, IF+7, OF+3, which seems below average for the league.
If the top 3 starters can post good numbers, this team should go pretty far.
2. Las Vegas
Las Vegas has a very mediocre rotation, as their ace is a C5 with 15 outs but only an IP5. The rest of the rotation are three C3s with 16 outs and a C2 with 17 outs, so the rotation won't be winning many games themselves. The bullpen is led by C6 15 out Nelson and C5 16 out Swindell, and is deep, with the next three pitchers all being usable.
The lineup has two OB10s, Kent (one of my favorite 01 cards) and Santangelo. Glaus and Galaragga both add solid power from their OB9s. This is one of the fastest teams, with 6 speed As and 3 speed Bs in the starting lineup. Fielding is good at C+7, IF+10, OF+5.
I can see Las Vegas going either way, depending on if the bullpen and lineup can outweigh the rotation.
3. Sacramento
During my draft, Sacramento's pick came up multiple times after runs on starting pitching that depleted a full tier of pitchers, and it shows, as they didn't draft their first starter until late. As a result, their rotation consists of 4 C3s with 16 outs, and one C5 with 14 outs.
They do have the best closer in the league in Billy Wagner, and strikeout king Benitez as their setup man. Borbon and Groom both represent upgrades over any of their starters as well.
The lineup has three OB10s, but also three OB7s. Matt Williams has a lot of power from his OB7. The team has four speed As, but also two speed Cs. C+11, IF+9, OF+5 is great fielding all around.
Sacramento is a decent team, but their lack of starting pitching makes me question their ability to win in the league.
4. Salt Lake City
Chan Ho Park is a decent #1 starter, and #2-5 are useable. The bullpen has two C6s, and several more good pitchers. No one in the pen or rotation is amazing but there realyly are no major weak links.
The lineup has three OB10s, all of whom guys who rank among some of my favorite cards (01 Bagwell, 01 Ichiro, 00 Vizquel). Piazza as a DH adds some OB8 power, and also allows for solid hitting when Eusebio has offdays. Defense is C+7, IF+8, OF+5, decent.
Let me know in the comments who you have winning the Gibson division.
Sandy Koufax Division
The Koufax division consists of Albuquerque, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, and Tucson.
1. Albuquerque
Albuquerque has relatively weak starting pitching, although Halama is another favorite of mine. Their bullpen makes up for this a bit with Zimmerman and Hoffman being among the top relievers in the league, and Brocail's C4, 17 outs, no double on chart another top reliever. Mecir is better than many teams' 2nd reliever, but is only the 4th best reliever in the stacked bullpen.
The lineup features 4 OB10s, although two of them are speedsters without homers on their charts. Todd Helton is one of the best 00-01 hitters, and Charles Johnson and Jose Canseco add a lot of power. The lowest OB in the lineup is OB8. Albuquerque is fast as well, with four speed As and five Bs. Fielding is solid with C+6, IF+11, OF+3.
Dave Hansen is an OB10 off the bench who subs in for around 30% of games.
Overall, Albuquerque looks to be a good team, as long as their starters don't put them in too deep of a hole early in the game.
2. Oklahoma City
The lineup has two OB10s, both favorites of mine, Chipper Jones and Brian Giles. Two OB9s and two OB8s add some power, and the only real lineup hole is Mark Loretta. Four speed As means the team may run a bit. C+6 is below average, but IF+11 is great and OF+4 is decent.
The bench has three-position Jeff Blauser as well as backup catcher Eli Marrero, who has great arm, speed and chart, but is only OB4.
3. San Antonio
San Antonio's rotation is led by Jeff D'Amico, who is a great pitcher aside from his C3. The rest of the rotation is not amazing but not bad.
In what seems to be a trend for the Koufax division, the bullpen is excellent. Mariano leads the way, but Keith Foulke is one of the best setup men in the league, especially at IP2. Mike Jackson could close for most teams as a C6 with no doubles on his chart, and Grimsley is great for a 4th reliever.
The lineup has OB11 Delgado, one of the best hitters in the league. He doesn't have much protection though after OB10 Bernie, although Fullmer and Guillen both bring some power from OB8s. Singleton and Davis are OB7 and OB6, respectively. Fielding of C+9, IF+9, OF+5 is pretty good.
4. Tucson
Tucson boasts ace Randy Johnson, who is the likely strikeout leader. His OB3 could get him in trouble, but with 18 outs and IP8 he is one of the best starters in the league. Armas is a good #2, and #3-5 are not amazing but not bad.
The bullpen joins the other three teams in the division as having good bullpens. During my East preview, I was wondering where all the good bullpens were, and it seems like this division is the answer. Robb Nen is arguably the second best reliever in the league. Williamson and Mantei are both good, Alfonseca is decent, and Wasdin is good outside of the homer on chart.
The lineup is led by two OB10s, and has no one below an OB8. Gant and Ward provide power, although three hitters don't have homers on their own charts. Sefcik is the only speed A, and the defense is not great at C+6, IF+8, OF+2.
As with last time, please leave division winner and wild card predictions in the comments.
Next up I'll post results through 40 games for each team, hopefully in the next day or two.
I'm gonna guess Calgary, Salt Lake City, and Albuquerque. Portland for the best record of the remaining teams.
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