2012 Wildcard Blue Jays Team Preview

Wildcard Bluejays in a Nutshell: This one time league champion has also suffered from more than its fair share of injuries. Wildcard Bluejays (WB) will start the year at a disadvantage but will look to get healthy and make a run.

Offense: Once led by Philly duo 1B Ryan Howard and 2B Chase Utley, Wildcard will now have to rely on the likes of OF Andrew McCutchen and power hitter Jose Bautista for support as Howard and Utley recover from injury. 3B Adrian Beltre, 3B Brett Lawrie, SS Jhonny Peralta, and OF Adam Lind are capable of helping that effort but OF Jeff Francouer as well as the unproven OF Brett Jackson, OF Wil Myers, Rule-5 pick SS Zack Cozart, and top catching prospect Devin Mesoraco may not be up to task. WB has some good pieces to work with but finding depth at 2B and SS would be a good idea.

Pitching: Throughout the seasons, Wildcard's biggest strengths has usually been related to its impressive pitching. This season is looking no different with SP CC Sabathia, SP Cliff Lee, and SP Dan Haren. SP Ricky Romero, SP Mike Leake, and SP Henderson Alvarez should give good stats as pitcher oba Chamberlain attempts to make a comeback sometime in 2012. Prospect SP Jarrod Parker and potentially Hector Rondon could see their MLB debut in 2012. Armed with three legit closers, WB will look to have some of the best relief stats in the league.

Draft: WB will have to decide if it wants to retain Rule-5 pick Zack Cosart, which might be an okay ideal as free agent SS pickings appear to be slim. WB has the 9th pick in the draft so selecting someone like Cory Spangenberg (SD - 2B) or Kolton Wong (Stl - 2B) as both should move fast might be sound selections. Looking hard at someone like Jed Lawrie (Hou - SS) in the latter rounds might be appropriate as well.

The prospect draft for WB will likely feature attempts to find future replacements for aging players. Picks like Donavan Tate (SD - OF), Yorman Rodriguez (Cin - OF), or Cheslor Cuthbert 9KC - 3B) could be on the docket.

2012 Jackie Treehorn Team Preview

Jackie Treehorn in a Nutshell: Another former champion, Jackie Treehorn (JT) has a lot of weapons to use but has been unable to put it together these last few seasons. This is a team that has a lot of then and now stars that makes it a force to deal with in the league.

Offense: Led by new Angels 1B Albert Pujols and speedster OF Carl Crawford, JT's lineup has a multitude of talented players. 2B Brandon Phillips and SS Starlin Castro provide consistent production up the middle while 1B Paul Konerko, OF Shane Victorino, and OF Corey Hart have shown impressive numbers over the years. Youngsters OF Brandon Boesch, 3B Mike Moustakas, 2B Neil Walker, 2B Danny Espinosa, and 1B Matt LaPorta seek to find consistency in their thus far short careers while the dynamic C Buster Posey looks to rebound after missing most of 2011. Adding depth at OF, 3B, and SS are the only short comings in this offense as long as they stay healthy.

Pitching: Over the years, starting pitching has been the largest deficiency on this team. SP Ian Kennedy was impressive last season and the oft-injured SP Adam Wainright and SP Edinson Volquez have all the talent in the world. SP Justin Masterson and SP Vance Worley provided capable stats in 2011 but one has to doubt Worley's lackluster stuff. Younsgter SP Drew Pomeranz and SP Luke Hochevar are very capable as is the nomadic Edwin Jackson. Both Brandon McCarthy and Tim Stauffer throw in pitcher friendly parks but possess no upside whatsoever. Closers Heath Bell, John Axford, and Rule-5 pick Javy Guerra should be put up worthy saves stats. There is a lot to like here but adding some talented pitching would be a worthwhile.

Draft: Armed with the 8th overall pick, there could be hope to see an impact pitching prospect on the board (Bundy, Vizcaino, Bauer, Garrit Cole, or Wily Peralta). Drafting someone like Martin Prado (Atl - 3B,OF) in the 2nd round to help the young Moustakas might also be a good idea.

Though prospects have not been Jackie Treehorn's forte, the team has selected some good ones in the past with Posey, Moustakas, and Castro. An arm like Matt Harvey (NYM - SP), Kyle Gibson (Min - SP), or Anthony Ranaudo (Bos - SP) could be possibilities.

2012 Chevy Chase Coopers Team Preview

Chevy Chase Coopers in a Nutshell: The 2005 league champion has been trying to repeat that success with little success ever since. Chevy Chase Coopers (CCC) was runner-up a few years ago but has been mostly on the outside looking in. Can this team get back on top? It does have some pieces to get there if everything goes as planned but it will be a tough journey ahead to get there.

Offense: Chevy Chase Coppers has spent the past few years rebuilding its offense with additions like 1B Eric Hosmer and OF Brett Garnder has helped. Those players have supported top catcher Brian McCann as well as talented infielders Richie Weeks and Jose Reyes. OF Jason Werth produced less than he has in the past but remains valuable as does OF Cameron Maybin. Youngster 1B Anthony Rizzo and Dexter Fowler have yet to show fantasy relevance but remain worth the time. Former aging stars Chipper Jones and Lance Berkman will need to be replaced and the entire offense lacks offensive depth would could pose a big problem if injuries occur and that is a likely reality with Jones, Reyes, and Weeks rostered.

Pitching: CCC features some very talented pitchers with Tiny Tim Lincecum, Miami ace John Johnson, and Cubs frontline starter Matt Garza. On top of that, Chevy employs Braves arm Jiar Jurrjens, former Red Sox hero Josh Beckett, as well as youngsters Derek Holland, Phil Hughes, and Rick Porcello. Alexi Ogando remains an intriguing player but starters Colby Lewis and Ryan Dempster are nothing more than inning eaters and have no fantasy upside. Relievers JJ Putz, Andrew Bailey, and Frank Francisco are all slated to serve as closers though Rafael Soriano had a forgettable 2012 season. CCC might do well to sacrifice some pitching depth for offensive depth and dumping Dempster, Lewis, and Soriano for offensive FA might be a possible avenue.

Draft: Chevy has been successul in past drafts and will hopefully repeat that success this time around. Finding a heir to Chipper Jones with one of the many 3B prospects would be a great investment though the team might have to trade up to acquire someone like Sano, Arenado, or Rendon. Keeping Rule-5 Francisco is likely since he's predicted to close for the Mets, which will leave CCC with 2 picks in the pre-season draft.

In the prospect draft, CCC will probably look for needed impact bats that could be a few years ago. Yankees farmhand OF Mason Williams or Oswaldo Arcia (Min - OF) could fit the mold though it might be hard for Chevy to turn down an arm.

2012 Beer & Brat Brigade Team Preview

Beer & Brat Brigade in a Nutshell: Last season, many thought that Beer & Brat Brigade (B&BB) was one of the favorites to win the league but the injuries, inconsistency, and inactivity was ultimately the team's doom. 2012 will hopefully see a revitalized B&BB that finally see its stars shine.

Offense: B&BB has no glaring holes in its starting lineup. The team has good depth at most positions with excellent depth at catcher with Joe Mauer, Alex Avila and prospect Gary Sanchez. 2B is filled with Dustin Pedoria and Howie Kendrick as well as SS with Hanley Ramirez and Ian Desmond. At 3B, the team owns Ryan Zimmerman with Hanley Ramirez likely getting hot corner eligibility during the season. Yankees Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher are there to play 1B while the excellent Matt Kemp, Hunter Pence, and BJ Upton man the outfield spots. If there was one inconsistency here, it would be a lack of depth at OF and owning 3 above average catchers might be a luxury this team can't afford. Still, a legit and powerful offense.

Pitching: In addition to the offense of B&BB, this team does have some two formidable arms in its ranks in stud SPs David Price and Mat Latos. SP Jeff Zimmerman and new Pirate AJ Burnett will attempt to put up big numbers in 2012 as will fellow starters Randall Delgado, new Cubs starter Travis Wood, and maybe Aroldis Chapman. Prospects SP Manny Banuelos and Jenrry Mejia could see time in the majors this season while Rule-5 pick Eric Surkamp might help some if kept. Relievers Jonathan Papelbon has found a new home in Philly but B&BB will have to rely on current non-closers Jonathan Broxton and Jake McGee for numbers in 2012. The staff features some talent but lacks proven commodities and the relief core could use some help as well.

Draft: Beer & Brat Brigade cost cash in its chips in the draft and go for players that will help him win now. Finding another closer in the draft from Oakland, Houston, or Baltimore would tremendously but Darvish, Cespedes, Vizcaino, and Wily Peralta might be good additions.

The prospect draft for Beer & Brat Brigade has always been an adventure as evidence from the Pat Venditte selection a few years ago. But the team is known for taking risks on talented and somewhat obscure prospects that seem to work out. So, lesser known prospects like Oscar Tavares (Stl - OF), Andrelton Simmons (Atl - SS), or Rymar Liriano (SD - OF) might be right up this team's alley.

2012 B-Chad Team Preview

B-Chad in a Nutshell: The B-Chad team lacks star power but has a lot of quality depth. Yet to make a huge impact in the league, the team could surprise many with a good showing in 2012. This is the type of team that can easily beat a stronger team if it got hot.

Offense: The loss of stud C Victor Martinez is a big loss for this team as it will look towards C Ryan Lavernway as a replacement. Most people seem to be waiting on a MVP caliber season from OF Jay Bruce as the versatile 35 year old Michael Young should prove valuable, utility Ben Zobrist is always useful, and the under-appreciated SS Erik Aybar and OF Matt Joyce. After that, B-Chad rosters many young players that are hoping to take the next step in 1B Brandon Belt, OF Dominic Brown, 3B Lonnie Chisenhall, OF Jose Tabata, 1B/OF Yonder Alonso, OF/1B Kyle Blanks, and uber-prospect SS Manny Machado.

Pitching: Power-lefties SP Madison Bumgarner, SP Matt Moore, and SP Martin Perez should provide considerable support to aging vet SP Tim Hudson as wellas Braves teammates SP Brandon Beachy and SP Mike Minor. Young starting arms SP Brad Peacock and possibly SP/RP Antonio Bastardo could help with the effort. Closer Joel Hanrahan, Rule-5 draft pick Joe Nathan, and young relievers Addison Reed, Kenley Jansen, as well as Jon Venters could give B-Chad the corner of the market on relief stats. Though young, this is a fine grouping of arms. B-Chad will hope that the young arms perform and will continue to pick up pitchers that will help solidify the team.

Draft: Unlike most teams, B-Chad will likely have one pick in the pre-season draft with the likelihood of the team R5 closer Joe Nathan. Selecting someone to help the team right now instead of a prospect could prove fruitful. So, the possible selection of foreign import Yu Darvish (Tex - SP) or Yoenis Cespedes (Oak - OF) might make sense. Prospects Nolan Arenado (Col - 3B) or Danny Hultzen (Sea - SP) might fit B-Chad's preferences.

The prospect draft will likely center on prospects with power potential. An infusion of power bats like Matt Davidson (Ari - 3B), Bobby Borchering (Ari - 3B), or Christian Yelich (Mia - OF) could fit nicely on this team.

2012 Lovable Losers Team Preview

Lovable Losers in a Nutshell: As knowledgable as the owner of Lovable Losers (LL) is, the team just hasn't been able to get over the hump despite its best efforts. There are some impressive pieces on this team but LL currently lacks the depth regularly perform.

Offense: The LL offense is lead by perennial MVP candidates 1B Adrian Gonzalez and 2B Robinson Cano. After that, the biggest contributors are likely OF Austin Jackson, OF Andre Ethier, SS Alexi Ramirez, and veteran OF Ichiro Suzuki. Ichiro is 38 and a shell of his former self but good for steals and runs. The warty Mark Reynolds and Garrett Jones provide some power potential but aren't world beaters by any means. Adam Dunn has been horrible since arriving in the AL and one can only hope for a rebound. In addition, the combination of utility player Ryan Roberts, OF Angel Pagan, 1B Brett Wallace, and OF Melky Cabrera pretty much serve as interchangeable role players that could possibly be replaced on the FA market. SS Dee Brown and 1B Ike Davis are youngsters with some promise but this team needs more youth infusion.

Pitching: Lovable Losers rosters some legit MLB arms and has seemingly hit on a few youngsters as SP Michael Pineda and SP Jamie Garcia were impressive at times last year. Fellow youths SP Jordan Lyles and SP Wade Davis were less dominate in 2011 but still possess good upside. Vets SP Jake Peavy and SP Max Scherzer have been inconsistent but still have game changing ability while SP Brett Anderson will be lucky to see the field in 2012. Meanwhile, Rule-5 pick SP Matt Harrison has some talent but the available players in the draft will likely have more value. LL has made strides here will look to make the same for the future.

Draft: Other than a catcher, Lovable Losers will look for some impact players. Being able to nab one of Bundy, Bauer, Vizcaino, Peralta, or Hultzen would be icing on the cake though LL did swap picks with Tenth Man Out. One of the three OF prospects Gary Brown (SF - OF), Jonathan Singleton (Hou - OF/1B), Bubba Starling (KC - OF), and Sterling Marte (Pit - OF) would all be a great offensive compliment. Adding a catcher like Yasmani Grandal (SD - C), Derrick Norris (Oak - C), or Travis d'Arnaud (Tor - C) might be a wise investment investment as well.

The prospect draft will like likely mirror the same philosophy. University of Connecticut star George Springer (Hou - OF) will move quickly and might be a good get while Jose Hernandez (Mia - SP) is a projectable young arm worth looking at.

2012 Rank Rascals Team Preview

Rank Rascals in a Nutshell: Rank Rascals (RR) has probably been plagued by injuries over the years more than any other team in the league. Elite players that once had been counted on for a full season of production have seen their numbers virtually split in half in some cases. Injuries, in this case, have proven basically impossible to predict and even harder to adapt to.

Offense: The bats on this team are sparked by OF Josh Hamilton, OF Matt Holliday, as well as Indians Carlos Santana and OF Shin-Soo Choo. After those four, things get complicated. Future Hall-of-Famer Alex Rodriguez and Kungfu Panda Pablo Sandoval's production has come into question as is the production of the warty OF Carlos Quentin and OF Logan Morrison. Astros 2B Jose Altuve and OF JD Martinez were a pleasant surprise in 2011 while the jury is still also out for OFs Joe Benson and Jerry Sands. Infielder Taylor Green lacks upside while the surprising OF/1B Mark Tumbo looks to learn 3B. Rule-5 pick SS Stephen Drew fills a required SS spot and plays in a hitters park. Not a bad group but lacks potential on the bottom end of the spectrum.

Pitching: SP Clay Buchholtz and SP James Shields are leaps and bounds better than the rest of the staff with the possible exception of Astros SP Wandy Rodriguez and SP Bud Norris. SP Juan Nicasio and SP James McDonald have talent but haven't been able to harness it. Elite closer prospects Daniel Bard and Neftali Feliz will be moved to SP which leaves Rank's bullpen with Ryan Madson and Kyle Farnsworth as the only two closers.

Draft: This is a fairly balanced team but there is a lot to be addressed. Rank Rascals has the 3rd pick in the pre-season draft and the 3rd in each of the prospect rounds. If SP Yu Darvish lasts to the 3rd pick, RR could go that route though the team was burned by Daisuke Matsuzaka a few years ago. Once again, the theme could be to select prospects for the future so Profar, Lindor, Franklin, Hamilton, Sano, Arenado, Castellanos, Middlebrooks, or even starters Bundy, Bauer, and Hultzen could be in play here. But don't count out Matt Dominguez (Fla - 3B), Z. Cox (Stl - 3B), Wily Peralta (Mil - SP), and Tyler Skaggs (Ari - SP) in the latter rounds.

The prospect draft for RR could be all over the place as there are needs at offense and pitching. Look for the team to likely select the best player available at a position needed like Carlos Martinez (Stl - SP), Taijuan Walker (Sea - SP), AJ Cole (Oak - SP), Jean Segura (LAA - SS), or a faster moving prospect like Vinnie Catricala (Sea - 3B), Mike Olt (Tex - 3B), Cheslor Cuthbert (KC - 3B) in the later rounds to help sooner.