NL North Preview

Seattle Spectacular Views

Coming off a World Series appearance in Season 2, most observers felt that Seattle would stand pat in the offseason and attempt to keep its core veterans together for another deep postseason run. Fans and pundits alike were proved wrong when perhaps the biggest trade of the offseason was announced. Starting pitcher, Moises Lopez, an All Star last year was moved to the Minnesota Lakers in exchange for right hander Mendy Nichting. The move was seen by fans largely as a salary dump. Within hours of the trade local talk radio switchboards were lit up with irate callers.

“It’s complete bullshit,” one caller remarked, “you’re a die hard fan and you feel the sting of just missing out on a title, and then they pull this stunt—to a division rival no less!”

Some in the clubhouse seemed shocked by the news. Veteran third baseman Brooks Riley put it best,

“You can’t replace a guy like Moises, he’s one of those ‘glue guys’ that holds a team together.”

He did stop short, however, of calling it a mistake.

“We’ve got a job to do on the field, and management has a job to do building the team. Management has done a good job thus far building the squad, so we believe there’s a plan in place.”

Despite the offload of Lopez, Seattle is largely seen by many as the perennial NL favorites this year, and it’s based on a pitching that that is still solid from the starters to the pen. Javier Lunar becomes the unquestioned ace on the staff and Gil Mattes, and Piper Franco figure to continue their growth this year. Jeff O’ Rourke should be strong this year even if he doesn’t return to his anorexic 0.80 WHIP and 0.78 ERA form.

“That pitching staff they’ve assembled is amazing,” says ESPN’s John Kruk. “It’s a lineup that as a slugger you don’t want to face because they have the ability to make you look silly.”

Having one of the league’s most expansive ballparks doesn’t hurt either. As Kansas City hitting coach, Sal Clayton remarked,

“Safeco is where fly balls go to die.”

With an offense that hit only 121 home runs a year ago, Seattle is going to need every of inch of Safeco to help keep opponent’s fly balls in the yard.

Kansas City Bush Leaguers

Coming off a 95-67 finish last year the Bush Leaguers have reason to be confident. “We can play with anybody,” says Bush Leaguer third baseman Gaylord Nance who hit 16 home runs and drove in 77 as a rookie. “I don’t think anybody is going to want to come to our field and play us this fall.”

While the Bush Leaguers may have their work cut out for them to catch Seattle in the NL North, there is reason to be optimistic. Super prospect Erik Andrews starts in right field from the outset this year after a rough transition from AAA to ML ball a year ago. As a rookie Andrews hit only .208 and looked befuddled by breaking stuff. With 4 home runs and a .357 average in Spring Training this year it appears Andrew’s struggles are behind him. A .300-25-100-100 breakout season is not out of the question this year.

“I feel much more comfortable, like I belong this year, you know?” Andrews said.

While young talents like Nance and Andrews will be counted on to produce runs, the real determining factor this year on how much Kansas City can push Seattle will be the pitching staff. Mac Perry, a two time All Star, has established himself as a top flight pitcher, but has yet to pitch 200 innings in a season due to recurring shoulder trouble—something that scares the daylights out of Bush Leaguer fans. Veterans Phillip Barr and Brandon Nagy will be counted on to go deep into games again last year. There is some doubt that Barr and Nagy can duplicate last year’s efforts.

“They pitched wonderfully last year, perhaps a bit over their head. I think a midseason acquisition of a starter is a must if they are going to stay in the NL North race,” an unnamed NL scout noted.

Help for the pitching staff may come from a midseason acquisition, or it may come from a source closer to home. Word from winter ball is that AAA pitching prospect Kelvin Sveum has been “popping the glove” as one scout put it. If Sveum is ready in August, Kansas City may have just enough arms to win the NL North race.

Minnesota Lakers

While the winter was dominated by headlines about Laker catcher Benji Tavarez’s various run-ins with the law, including a nightclub fight in St. Paul, and his Cadallac Escalade caught doing 105 MPH in a 60 MPH zone just outside of Bloomington, the spring mercifully brought new life and headlines for Laker fans.

“The savior is here,” remarked Laker pitcher Hawk Beckwith.

Indeed, the arrival of Moises Lopez adds a new dimension to the Laker’s pitching staff; a powerful 1-2 punch when teamed with Season 1 NL All Star Olmedo Jose. Fans sense a change in the air as well. Season ticket sales spiked 8% the week the Lopez deal was announced.

“Minnesota now can get back to where they were in Season 1, when they made it to the World Series,” ESPN’s Peter Gammons remarked, “to get Lopez for what they did was quite a coup.”

With a change at General Manager (Misty3 replacing Cantarski) some changes were expected but not on this scale. Lopez wasn’t the only acquisition to the pitching staff, with Misty3 picking up big left hander Edge Payton in an earlier deal. With Scott Casey, Stu Cosby, and Gerald Jensen all selected in the Rule 5 draft expect a change at third base for the Lakers as well. It’s been an absolute battle all Spring with both Casey and Cosby raking the ball. Casey was assumed to be have the upper hand as he was regarded as the more complete hitter, however most expect “The Cosby Show” at third base this year, as Cosby has slugged 5 home runs (including two 450+ foot bombs in Peoria) while sporting a .382 average.

The fact CBS Sports, ESPN, and The Sporting News pick Minnesota to finish last in the division this year hasn’t weighed on the club.

“Minnesota will continue to struggle with strikeouts and lack of speed on the basepaths,” Sporting News columnist Tony Andino said. “I don’t see this as a team that has the skills and mentality to win close and tight games, something they will encounter a lot against a great bullpen like Seattle.”

Lopez himself explained his thoughts on the situation,

“Having been on a top team, I don’t think we are that far away man. I really don’t. I like what I see in the clubhouse. This team is really tight, and I think we’re going to gel and surprise some people down the stretch.”

It remains to be seen whether Minnesota is a top team but there is no doubt change has come to Minnesota, change that is so significant it keeps even Benji Tavarez off the front of the Minnesota sports pages—at least for the moment.

Madison Mmmhmmmm

Nobody was more active in the free agent market then the Madison Mmmhmmm. At this point, Mmmhmmm season ticket holders probably couldn’t pick the starting infield out of a police lineup. The roster has undergone a major overhaul from Season 2, as Rockies08 attempts to mold the team in his own image.

“There’s no doubt who’s in charge of this team now,” says starting pitcher Howie Ramirez, one of the lone holdovers off last season’s squad.

Ramirez and others are stoked about bold moves that make the squad from Madison an immediate contender in the NL North. While the spending spree has made Madison players and fans excited, many rivals question the long-term soundness of moves, especially the long term deals that Madison inked with aging players.

“Maybe (they) should invest in AARP,” Jacksonville GM JasonGuru joked.

“It’s like the Democrats took over the Mmmhmmm front office and decided to print money,” Tacoma GM, Aaron Clarke cracked.

While the financial prudence can be debated, there is no doubt that Madison has established a powerful lineup that will be in the top five in most offensive categories. Fernando Trajano, Alberto Alvarez and Buddy Rivers lead a lineup that should slug 250+ home runs and 900+ RBI this season. If young prospects like Mike Shields and Hideki Suzuki are ready for the big show this year the offense could very easily be the class of the NL. Defensively, Suzuki will have to make the difficult transition from the infield to outfield this year so expect some occasional bouts of chaos in the outfield.

With a unique blend of youth and experience, players know the time is now to deliver after management revamped the team and expectations are high.

“Anything less than a division title would be a failure,” Alvarez says.

Look for Alvarez to again feast on left handed pitching and leave behind his disappointing Season 2 home run total of 35. What is a bit of an unknown is whether he can return to be the player who jacked 53 home runs in Season 1.

“One thing is for sure,” Rivers says, “it’s gonna be one helluva a dogfight in the NL North this year.”


Aaron Clarke, Senior Writer