Sat Mar 18, 2023 1:09 pm
Season preview
The season starts on March 19th--here is a preview of the participants. The 4 teams with the highest payroll form the east--the teams with the lowest payroll will play in the west and the remaining 4 teams will comprise the central. The teams referenced are in the order of the payroll going into the season, not a prediction
East
New York Yankees: Owned by MFL536 with 9 championships, the Yankees have the highest payroll in the league. The Yankees have the big 4--Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams and Mariano Rivera. Don Mattingly and Danny Tartabull along with Paul O'Neil add offensive power while Jimmy Key, David Cone and Andy Petite lead the starting pitching. Steve Farr and Steve Howe supplement Mariano in what looks like a very strong bullpen. The Yankees will be able to use up to $1.5 million in the mid-season draft.
Atlanta Braves: Atlanta was the first team selected in the team draft by YCBill. YC is a 30 time champion in Strat land. Led by the big 4 of Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and Steve Avery and supplemented by relief pitchers Mark Wohlers and Greg McMichael, the staff will likely be stingy in allowing runs. The offense will be led by Chipper Jones, Fred McGriff and David Justice. The Braves will be able to use up to $1.5 million in the mid-season draft.
Montreal Expos: Led by Fench33 who has managed 298 mystery teams capturing 10 championships, the Expos will be led stongn starting pitching provided by Pedro Martinez, Dennis Martinez and Ken Hill. The Expos have an impressive outfield featuring Moises Alou, Marquis Grissom and Larry Walker. The Expos have a strong bullpen with John Wetteland and Ugueth Urbina. The Expos will be able to use up to $1.5 million in the mid-season draft.
Houston Astros: Burley Norseman returns managing the Houston Astros. The Astros had the most quality starting pitching available of any team selected. Burley has been active making trades trading for Billy Hatcher/Jack Armstrong giving up Darryl Kile. He then flipped Billy Hatcher along with Pete Harnich and Donn Wall for Jason Giambi. The Astros will likely have a strong offense led by Craig Biggio, Derek Bell and Jeff Bagwell along with Jason. Burley has managed 20 mystery teams making the playoffs 8 times. The Astros will be able to use up to $1.5 million in the mid-season draft.
Oakland Athletics: Led by Rickey Henderson, Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco and Dennis Eckersley, the Athletics will be led by Generationnm1 who has won 32 mystery championships. The Athletics acquired Pete Harnisch from the Astros to lead the starting pitching staff which features Dave Stewart and Bob Welch and a strong bullpen with Rick Honeycutt and Jim Corsi. The Athletics will be able to use up to $2.0 million in the mid-season draft.
Cincinnati Reds : Nol15736 has led 25 90s mystery teams capturing 2 championships in this set and 4 overall. The Reds have a strong keystone with Barry Larkin and Brett Boone. Strong starting pitchers led by Jose Rijo, John Smiley and Tom Browning received a boost when Darryl Kile was acquired from the Astros. The bullpen includes Rob Dibble and Jeff Shaw will provide closing duties for the Reds. The Reds will be able to use up to $2.0 million in the mid-season draft.
San Francisco Giants: JJB92 chose the Giants who have the potential to have a strong middle of the lineup consisting of Barry Bonds, Kevin Mitchell and Matt Williams. Starters Bud Black, John Burkett and Bill Swift lead the rotation while Rod Beck will provide closing duties. JJB has led 35 teams delivering 6 championships. The Giants will have some additional flexibility at the mid-season draft with $6 million dollars in funds to supplement the roster.
Texas Rangers: Bigdinkent who has led 245 mystery teams with 25 of them winning championships. The Rangers will likely have a very impressive offense led by Juan Gonzalez, Ivan Rodrigues, Rafael Palmeiro, Rusty Greer, Will Clark and Julio Franco. Kevin Brown takes on the role of stopper while Jeff Russell will be closing games. The Rangers will also have $6 million to supplement their roster in the mid-season draft.
Cleveland Indians: PDBaileyfl has led 70 mystery teams and captured 4 championships. Having perhaps the most impressive starting lineup, the Indians feature Kenny Lofton, Omar Vizquel, Brian Giles, Manny Ramirez, Albert Belle and Jim Thome and Omar Vizquel which appears to be an all-star team. Starting pitching will be led by Rick Sutcliffe, Charles Nagy and Dave Burba. Jose Mesa will likely be the closer and the Indians will have $7 million to invest in additional players for the second half of the season.
Seattle Mariners: Led by potential superstars Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Randy Johnson and Edgar Martinez, the Mariners will be led by NewGuy1912 with his second mystery team. The Mariners also have Jay Buhner and Tino Martinez to supplement the offense. The bullpen features Jeff Nelson and Mike Jackson and the Mariners will have $6 million to enhance the roster.
St. Louis Cardinals: Manilacone has captured 15 championships in the Strat world and will be leading his second team in the 90s mystery set. The Cardinals have an impressive outfield---Bernard Gilkey, Jim Edmonds, Ray Lankford and Brian Jordan. Jose DeLeon and Bob Tewksbury will lead the starting staff while Lee Smith handles the closer role. The Cardinals will have an impressive $15 million to invest in players in the second half of the season.
Minnesota Twins: A very interesting strategy play, Drabb9529 leads his 32nd mystery team, 1 which captured a championship. The Twins have an impressive core led by Kirby Puckett, Chuck Knoblauch, Kent Hrbek and Shane Mack. The rotation will include Brad Radke, Kevin Tapani and Scott Erickson. The Twins will be able to invest $22 million in additional players for the second half of the season.
Here are some of the free agents who will can be added for the second half of the season for teams with sufficient funds
Roger Clemens
Nomar Garciaparra
Mike Piazza
Tony Gwynn
Cal Ripken Jr.
Darren Daulton
Mo Vaughn
Carlos Delgado
Curt Schilling
Mike Mussina
Trevor Hoffman
Tom Henke
Bryan Harvey
The league promises to be an interesting one. In season two, the teams remain the same but the owners will all take over a different club as we answer the question of "what could have been".