PHILADELPHIA HEADHUNTERS

Philadelphia HeadHunters

Slowing building towards the future

I'll be happy with a .500 year here in Philly. The focus with the team is work on the future. I hope to field a competitive team and continue to build the farm system. Philly will be a contender soon, so this is just a fair little warning to the rest of the National League North. Those where just some of the words that the philly manager fritz44 said early this week Without further ado, let’s introduce you to your Season 9 Philadelphia HeadHunters:

Offense

C Endy Hemingway (36 years old)/ Tanyon Strong (33 years old) - Hemingway will see action against the right handers while Strong will start against left handers. Strong is a better hitter but lacks the defense capablities that Hemingway can provide.

1B Rudy Adams (28 years old) - Adams is nothing put a pure power hitter and nothing else. Last season Adams had 31% go over the fence with his 23 homeruns. Adams numbers from last season where .248/.341/.525.

2B Curtis Palmer (28 years old) - Palmer really had himself a very nice rookie season and will be really looking to improve with those numbers this season. It depends where he's put in the order he could get around 100 RBI's this season . Last year he went .282/.350/.481.

SS Sean Cepicky (29 years old)- The Russian Wizard Sean Cepicky isn't really going to scare anyone with his bat but his great glove would be a welcomed addition to any team. Cepicky already has 20 great plays during his three year career. Gomez hit .262/.330/.302.

3B Pedro Alvarez (27 years old) - Alvarez only had 141 at bats last season but he made such a great impression with the Headhunters managers that it looks like he will get a starting spot this season. He just went over the plate apperances to be considered a rookie last season, so no shot at the Rookie of the Year award for him. Last year Alvarez hit .333/.405/.489.

CF Sammy Aguilar (29 years old) - Aguilar had his best season last year setting career high in games played, at bats, runs, hits, doubles and walks. With last seasons number Aguilar earned himself a nice 3 year, 22 million dollar contract extension. Aguilar hit .288/.378/.472.

LF Bruce Melfi (26 years old) - Melfi has to be one of the best rule 5 draft picks from last season as he had a very nice rookie year for the Headhunters. At 26 years old you should see his power numbers improve this season and with the team having more trust in him, the RBI numbers should also improve. Melfi hit .291/.352/.511.

RF R.A. Donavan (27 years old)- It was a mixed bag for Donavan last season, he improved his average by 30 points but saw the rest of his numbers hit all time lows. The team has to expect more from someone making just over 4 million dollars this year. Donavan last season hit .285/.329/.460

Coming off the bench will be defensive outfielder and main pinch runner Albert Jimenez (24 years old), fifth infielder Wally Henson (28 years old) and big power bat rookie Jose Toca (25 years old).

Pitching

SP1- Al McKinley (28 years old) - McKinley is still looking for his first winning season which it looked liked he had a shot at it last season until sorness in should hurt his season. The secret to McKinley's success will need to be hit the hit totals down has he losses control at times during a game.

SP2- Sammy Goya (35 years old) - Goya was signed last season to be the staff ace and in a way he was as he had double digit win total for the third straight year but saw his ERA jump to 4.66 as well. The team will really need him to get another 10 victories this year if they are looking to get to the .500 mark.

SP3- Aaron Hodges (30 years old) - Hodges played for the Los Angeles Galaxy minor league system last season before being traded to the Headhunters. The team is really taking a chance on him this season as he really struggled with his short stint in the majors last year.

SP4- Junior Guerrero (32 years old) - Guerrero led the team in victories last season with 13 and fell short one inning from pitching 200 innings pitched as well. At the age of 32 Guerrero is really taking advantage of being able to play in the majors after spending so long in the minors.

SP5- Keith Donovan (37 years old) - Injuries have really hurt Donovan during the late part of his career. He's gone 17-18 the last two season but his ERA is still low enough that if he can stay healthy you could do some real damage against some teams this season.

Closer- Philip Price (35 years old) - After losing his closer job in Washington last season the Headhunters brought him as he was thinking he could put this team over the .500 mark.

CINCINNATI HIGHLANDERS

CINCINNATI HIGHLANDERS

A New Hero of the League

The Highlanders did something that they have only been able to once before in the last eight years and that was to dethrone the Brave Vawts as the American League East division champions. The pressue will be one him this year to repeat that preformance as Vawt will probably be out for revenge this year. A quick exit in the playoffs really showed the battle the Highlanders went through last season but it should be expected for the team to make the playoffs once again even if they don't win the division. Without further ado, let’s introduce you to your Season 9 Cincinnati Highlanders:

Offense

1- SS Hong-Jin Wanatabe (21 years old)- Rookie Wanatabe could see a big rookie year as he's got the hitting and the speed to be a great lead-off hitter in the league. If the team could get over the defense problems he could have, he could start alot of games at shortstop.

2- CF Rob Carlson (32 years old) - Carlson has really shined the last couple of years but I don't think anyone expected 131 runs scored season from last year. Carlson will get around 20 homeruns again this season but for him to get 100 RBI's again he will need a good lead off hitter infront of him. Carlson numbers from last season where .283/.351/.483.

3- DH Shawn Long (22 years old) - This just shows you how much hitting talent Long has that the team would give him the number three spot in the lineup at the tender age of 22. You could probably see Long hitting close to 50 homeruns this year. Last year he went .310/.405/.604.

4- 1B Max Gomes (27 years old)- Gomez has saw his numbers improve every year and he didn't disappoint with almost hitting 50 homeruns and his first season with more then 100 RBI's. Gomez hit .303/.352/.652 but the 37 walks from last could be a concern for the team.

5- RF Jorge Rojas (24 years old) - Rojas is just another young powerful hitter that really makes this lineup scary for any pitcher that has the face them. 47 homeruns and 116 RBI's in your sophmore season really has the Highlanders giddy with excitement over what you could produce has he gets older. Last year Rojas hit .268/.354/.565.

6- LF Matt Reagan(28 years old) - It doesn't matter where Reagan finds himself in the lineup, goes goiong to find a way to produce. With five straigh 40 homerun, 100 RBI's season he really shouldn't expect anything less from him this year. Reagan hit .261/.327/.598.

7- 3B Carlos Martin (25 years old) - If there is one thing that Martin can do, it's hit homeruns. If there wasn't already a great DH on the team Martin would fill that role and excel at it. The low average and walk totals could be a concern for the team but the RBI's will offset those low totals.

8- 2B Quilvio Hernandez (22 years old)- Hernandez could be the next big rookie to come out of the Highlander system and if he can live up to his minor league numbers expect some big power numbers to come from him.

9. C Gus Abe (28 years old) - Abe is just another big power bat that but he could have trouble hitting for any kind of average. Abe also will be a big help to the pitching staff as he's one of the best game callers in the league.


Pitching

SP1- Harry Morales (24 years old) - Morales is very young to be an ace already but he's the best pitcher on the staff and the workhorse. Expect another winning season from Morales but you should see his ERA be lower then 4.93 he had last season.

SP2- Fausto Gonzales (23 years old) - After pitching a couple games last season in the majors, Gonzales was able find his way into the starting rotation this year. Expect some up and down numbers from Gonzales but with the offensive protecting he should have a winning season.

SP3- Lewis Robertson (29 years old) - Robertson has really struggled as a starter through out his young career but after getting sent down to the minors for most of the year it looks as if Robertson will be given another chance at the rotation again.

SP4- Ralph Middlebrook (27 years old) - THe former Rookie of the Year as never came close to matching his rookie numbers and for many fans in Cincinnati this could be a make it or break it year for Middlebrook. I believe he will have a bouce back year and earn his 6 million dollar salary.

SP5- Tracy Bowie (31 years old) - Bowie as never been the same since have surgery on his elbow a coulpe seasons ago but he does provide a reliable arm that should be able to keep the Highlanders in some games.

Closer- Donne McClellan (29 years old) - If you want any shot of beating the Highlanders this is not the guy you want to see in the late innings because it will mostly mean the end of the game. McClellan set a career high is saves last season with 41 and was able to keep is ERA under 3 for the third straight year.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

Kings of the North

The Bucks began last season looking for there third straight National League North division title and got it after a tough battle with the New Britain Fisher Cats. The season ended for the second straight year in the National League Championship series to the Stars. To that end, the Bucks saw there offense take a small dive in numbers but the pitching staff really pick up and took up some of the slack. Without further ado, let’s introduce you to your Season 9 Milwaukee Bucks:

Offense

1- RF Tomas Olivares (29 years old)- Olivares really struggled last putting career low numbers in just about every catergory last season. Olivares scored 86 runs in 140 games, with 33 stolen bases and a .252/.324/.364 line. I would expect Olivares to normal range of a .300 average with around 100 runs scored this season.

2- CF Orber Sierra (26 years old) - Sierra is probably one of the best number two hittes in the league. Sierra should improve on his numbers last season where he hit .289/.367/.501 and fell just just six homeruns from having a 30/30/30 season. Being part of the All-Star wouldn't be out of the question this season.

3- 2B Sal Moore (28 years old) - With the numbers that Moore has been putting up for the last four season it was only natural that the Bucks offered him a contract extension and making just under 10 million dollars for the second five years. Last year Moore saw his numbers hit hit all time highs, he went .298/.377/.536 and with a league leading 84 stolen bases.

4- LF Danny Harding (26 years old)- Harding is just another young big offensive player for the Bucks and the scary thing is that he's just now hitting his prime. Harding numbers fell last year but with the numbers he put up during season seven it would have been hard to repeat. Harding hit .260/.342/.630 with another 50 homerun, 30 stolen base season.

5- C Guy Williams (37 years old) - You have to wonder how much longer Williams has got in those 37 year old knees but he just keeps finding a way to put up great offensive numbers year after year. Last year Williams hit .274/.351/.492 and getting his eigth straight year with at least 30 homeruns.

6- 1B Julian Hartley (32 years old) - Hartley bounced back last season after a very disappointing year during season seven. Hartley hit .279/.356/.484 but I could see his career numbers beginning to fall this season.

7- 3B Nicholas Lowe (23 years old) - With the way that the Bucks have been turning out young players for the last couple years I wouldn't be suprised to see Lowe has a shot at the Rookie of the Year award.

8- SS Heinie Miller (29 years old)- Miller for years has been known for his defense and with some power but low hitting average. All that changed last season when Miller had his best season hitting .276/.353/.433 with career highs in hits, doubles and RBI's.

The bench will be filled by veterab LF/RF Manny Vanguri (only 2 homeruns during his first season coming of the bench), CF Ted Huffy (main defense player who hit .360 last season) and rookie 2B Vin Welch.

Pitching

SP1- P.T Ramirez (31 years old) - Ramirez saw his best season last year and has turned into a reliable ace for the team. With the teams offensive it's easy for Ramirez to just pitch and not worry if he gives up a couple runs a start.

SP2- Raymond Walton (30 years old) - Walton really took a big step last season with only 12 wins and a career high in losses with 11. The team is expecting better numbers from him this season if they plan on repeating as National League North champs again.

SP3- Emmanuel Navarro (34 years old) - The best thing about Navarro is that he seems to get better with age. Navarro really seems to a perfect pitcher if you can keep him under six innings a start and with a good bullpen his win totals should still be high.

SP4- Joaquin Diaz (35 years old) - Diaz comes from St. Louis and will had another veteran arm into the rotation and with this team Diaz could put up career high in wins.

SP5- Vern Buckley (24 years old) - Last year Buckley proved that he could pitch for this team and with the veterans pitching in front of him the Bucks are expecting some bigs things from him in the future. Buckley could see about 10 wins this season but his ERA could be a little high as he's prone to giving up the long ball.

Closer- Jim Nathan (28 years old) - Nathan was given the closer role last season for the first time in his career and he responded with 31 saves but it wasn't easy as his 4.27 ERA made the late innings exciting at times.