2015 Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Team Preview

Evan Longoria (TB - 3B)

Summary:   Semper Ubi Sub Ubi (SUSU) was a surprise contender last season as it suffered some down season from players that are capable of better numbers.  The team lacks power potential and features a fairly large gap in pitching.  If those problems are addressed, look for SUSU to continue its contending ways.

Offense:  SUSU's offense is led by the diminutive though productive 2B Jose Altuve.  Altuve was on the market during the last preseason but SUSU decided against trading him and that decision turned out to be a good one as Altuve managed 56 SB and .341 batting average and ranked as the 5th best player in the game in 2014.  After Altuve, things get a little more lackluster with the surprising OF JD Martinez and 3B Evan Longoria, who is consistent but hasn't up put star numbers.  Speedster outfielders Billy Hamilton and Bret Gardner represents some of the best speed potential in the game while super-utility man 2B/SS/OF Ben Zobrist remains a valuable asset despite finding himself on a new team this season.  Disappointments OF Jay Bruce as well as SS Jean Segura will need to rebound to 2013 numbers for SUSU to continue to be a contender and WS Champ Brandon Belt will need to get better in order to remain rosterable.  Youngsters C Mike Zunino, OF Domonic Brown and OF Jorge Soler remain impressively talented and will be counted to tap into that talent at some point this season.  Prospects OF Clint Frazier and OF Raimel Tapia had nice minor league seasons and are must holds moving forward.  SUSU will need more than most to go right in order to remain productive as it will be hard to count on a guy like Martinez while the the likes of Bruce and Segura squander. Speed is not an issue for this team though power may be as no player registered more than Longoria 91 RBIs last season.  Potentially finding some power potential and getting some insurance at 3B and potentially hedging its bets at catcher with someone like Christian Betancourt (Atl - C), JT Realmuto (Mia - C) or Kevin Plawecki (NYM - C) might be smart here.

Pitching:  Going into the season, no pitcher is hotter than ace and WS MVP Madison Bumgarner but after the lefty SUSU's next best starter was Danny Duffy last season.  The team's most likely next best pitcher is flamethrower Andrew Cashner but his injury history hampers that projection.  Starters Michael Wacha and Chris Archer would likely be the next arms in line though Wacha experienced a decent sophomore slump while Archer did improve his K/9 ratio.  Speaking of K/9 ratio, teammate Jake Odorizzi and his 9.3 K's per game cemented him as a keeper though youngsters Rubby De La Rosa and UK alum James Paxton will need to step it up in the new season.  SUSU possesses some of the best relievers in the game with closers Mark Melancon, Addison Reed and Kenley Jansen, who is now out 8 to 12 weeks as he recovers from foot surgery.  Prospect Tyler Glasnow is close to being big league ready and the lack of legit starters makes Rule-5 selection Kohl Stewart a likely must keep.  As previously mentioned, after Bumgarner the rest of SUSU's starters fail in comparison which doesn't bode well.  Finding high-caliber arms on contending teams or those on the cusp of production will be key to SUSU's future success or failure.

Draft:  SUSU often demonstrates the strategy of drafting the best player available (BPA) and tends to learn towards players that are close rather than those it might wait on to be big league ready.  With that being said, this team will likely still have to choose between addressed it apparent lack of power and its lack of pitching.  Look for SUSU to address the rare power player in that scenario and try its best to fill its pitching holes later through other avenues.

Prediction:
RD 1:  Steven Souza (TB - OF) - New starter is an intriguing power/speed combo at 6'4/225
RD 2:  Brett Cecil (Tor - RP) - Currently the potential Toronto closer
RD 3:  AJ Cole (Was - SP) - Proved to be ready for MLB, all he needs is an opportunity
RD 4:  Braxton Davidson (Atl - OF) - 2014 1st RD pick has highly projectable frame and bat
RD 5:  Kohl Stewart (Min - SP) - R5 Keeper
RD 6:  Raimel Tapia (Col - OF) - Keeper

Prospect Draft:
RD 1:  Renato Nunez (Oak - 3B) - Hit 29 HRs last season, arguably best 3B prospect available
RD 2:  Amed Rosario (NYM - SS) - Mets just waiting on him to progress before calling him up
RD 3:  Monte Harrison (Mil - OF) - 2014 draftee with true 5-tool ability as he matures

2015 Third Day Team Preview

Zack Wheeler (NYM - SP)

Summary:  A lot of things went wrong for Third Day's (TD) players last season but some surprising play from some unlikely sources will make this team fun to watch. On top of all that, if the youth of this team comes through then this team could really be something to see going forward.

Offense:  To be honest, TD's offense probably should have been better last year as it is fairly
talented but was inconsistent.  Outfielder Adam Jones and 1B Victor Martinez were head and shoulders the best bats on the team with new Blue Jay three-bagger Josh Donaldson and 20/20 Brian Dozier, who continues to surprise, as likely the next best.  Martinez, the 7th best player overall in 2014, has since torn his meniscus and will miss 4 to 8 weeks, making him questionable for the start of the season. On top of that, Martinez loses catcher eligibility this season and is 36 year-old.  After those four, the next highest ranked bat is catcher Jonathan Lucroy at 104 overall, which isn't to say this team is lacking talent.  First baseman Billy Butler and  OF Jason Heyward find themselves on new teams though they and 2B Jason Kipnis failed to build on past potential while 1B/3B Chris Davis suffered an untimely suspension for Adderall use and the talented SS/2B Jurickson Profar missed last season opting against shoulder surgery but is now slated to have surgery and could miss all of 2015.  Amazingly, the versatile SS/OF Danny Santana 6th best offensive player last year while fellow Twin OF Oswaldo Arcia may of had a power breakout in 2014. Arismendy Alcantara looks more like a future utility guy while on the Cubs though 3B Jake Lamb may or not start the season in the majors but along with Raul Mondesi, Jr. and uber-prospect Byron Buxton remain very talented.  If Jones and Donaldson repeat, TD's offensive hopes seems to swing on the output of Heyward, Kipnis, Butler, Profar, and Davis while Martinez heals.  Dealing the aging and now hurt Martinez to a contender might be a smart move and a potential steal though the risk might outweigh the return.  Still, there is a lot to like here and age doesn't seem to be an issue, minus Martinez.

Pitching:  Like it's offense, the pieces are there for TD to have a successful staff if all goes right.  The dynamic Chris Sale remains amongst the top AL arms, NL ROY Jacob deGrom looks poised to avoid a sophomore slump while fellow Mets teammate Zack Wheeler has all the talent as long as he is healthy.  Pitcher Shelby Miller partly suffered the aforementioned sophomore slump last season but will look to correct that on the Braves.  The biggest bump in the road is Tyler Skaggs, who will be out all season and will have to face TJ surgery but that losses would be lightened if the likes of the underrated Henry Owens finds himself in Boston, top draft talent and TJ surgery healer Lucas Giolito debuts in Washington, and Arizona bound Archie Bradley find themselves pitching in the majors this season.  The gambles continue with TD's relievers Ken Giles and Kevin Quackenbush who are currently closers in waiting but are seemingly on the cusp of closing.  Getting some help from some quality MLB pitching while it waits on the great arms of Owens, Giolito, and Bradley would help this team, which makes Rule-5 pick Anibal Sanchez a fairly safe keep.  Also, the possible ascension of Giles and Quackenbush to 9th inning duties would surely help as well.

Draft:  With the 2nd overall pick in both drafts, it will be smart to presume TD goes high upside with many of its picks while some slight lean towards pitching.  Assuming Carlos Rodon is previously selected, the young Texas flamethrower Tyler Kolek would be a logical selection with the 2nd pick. If offense is the choice, OF Alex Jackson, SS Nick Gordon and Korean SS Jung-ho Kang as potential options.

Prediction:
RD 1:  Tyler Kolek (Mia - SP) - See above (Josh Beckett clone?), scored an 80 fastball from BA
RD 2:  Michael Taylor (Was - OF) - Many are calling him a big sleeper and is very projectable
RD 3:  Bradley Zimmer (Cle - OF) - Nice pedigree and college bat should move quickly
RD 4:  Jake Marisnick (Hou - OF) - Physical specimen came on late last year, nice ballpark
RD 5:  Anibal Sanchez (Det - SP) - R5 Keeper on good team will help solidify young staff
RD 6:  Henry Owens (Bos - SP) - Keeper

Prospect Draft:
RD 1: Nomar Mazara (Tex - OF) - Likely the best bat available and hard to pass on
RD 2: Gilbert Lara (Mil - 3B) - Projectable international signee with Juan Gonzalez comparisons
RD 3: Andy Ibanez (FA - 2B) - Cuban import may become the best 2B prospect in the game

2015 Wildcard Bluejays Team Preview

Matt Cain (SF - SP)

Summary:  Wildcard Bluejays (WB) spent the majority of last season stuck in rebuilding mode and that trend looks to continue in 2015. Aging veterans remain a mainstay on this team and potential clog as it awaits a youthful rejuvenation that may partly arrive as-soon-as this season.

Offense:  WB's 2014 team offense was almost solely led by slugger 1B/OF Jose Bautista, who had a nice bounce back season and was the team's only 100 RBI bat.  Bautista (age 34) joins faded stars 1B Ryan Howard (age 35), 2B Chase Utley (age 36) and 3B Adrian Beltre (age 36) as the former nucleus of the this once dominant aging team.  Howard was somewhat productive last season but is a shell of his former self and led the league in strikeouts. Fellow Phillies teammate Utley remains rosterable but was not impressive and its unlikely both he and Howard play more than 150 games again this season.  Utley and seventeen-year vet Beltre are both in contract years which may help in the short-term but both are in the twilight of their great careers with Beltre the better of the two.  With his apparent relapse, the storybook tale of OF Josh Hamilton is close to being over as his 32 year-old body has not aged well though when healthy he can be quite good and AL champ OF Alex Gordon (age 31) probably has a few more years of fantasy production.  Catcher Travis D'Arnaud passed his 1st test of full-season action though the same cannot be said of 1B Jon Singleton who will need to improve.  The good news for this team is that there is some help waiting in the wings.  Shortstops Francisco Lindor and Addison Russell remain highly talented and close to the majors with the possibility that Lindor starts the season on the opening day roster.  Prospect backstop Jorge Alfaro remains a talented asset, 2B Eddie Rosario looks to be the logical heir to Utley and young outfielders Hunter Renfroe as well as Austin Meadows ooz upside.  The team's biggest boon is 3B Kris Bryant, who many see as the #1 prospect in baseball, could make an impact this season.  Rule-5 Draftee 1B/OF Chris Carter and his power figure to be valuable going forward and likely a must keep with Howard and Singleton as question marks.  If all goes well, Bryant and Lindor start the season as opening day starters.  If not, WB will need to acquire a vet shortstop like JJ Hardy or Jhonny Peralta to keep Lindor's seat warm and rely on Beltre at least one more year while moving on from Howard or potentially Utley in a trade.

Pitching:  Like this team's offense, its pitching staff has seen better days though it has a better chance at a rebound.  At age 36, Cliff Lee's best days are likely behind him as he couldn't stay healthy last season though he still has some value in the open market.  WS champ Matt Cain still has ace potential but was injured for much of last season.  Jarrod Parker is recovering from TJ Surgery and is on target for a mid-season return while new Red Sox hurler Rick Porcello remains a capable counterpart to a potentially healthy Cain.  Dallas Keuchel was one of the brighter stories from 2014 and both Bluejays Aaron Sanchez and Marcus Stroman proved to be talented in relief and starting, which Sanchez as a potential closing candidate.  Young arms Eddie Butler and  Danny Hultzen should finally have a full-season this year with the same possibility of JO Berrios, who was excellent in the minors last season.  The selection of Dan Haren (34) over Wily Peralta (25) and his 17 wins as keeper is somewhat controversial though Haren might yet prove valuable.  If Sanchez doesn't close, Huston Street remains the team's only closer which will leave WB looking for relief help.  Trading Lee would help this team some and a good seasons from Cain and Porcello would go a long way.

Draft:  Armed with the 1st overall picks in both drafts, WB has some excellent options.  NC State ace Carlos Rondon is likely the strongest selection here with HS arm Tyler Kolek (Mia - SP) a close second.  On the offensive side, Cuban Yasmany Tomas (Ari - 3B,OF) might be a good selection as could be Nick Gordon (Min - SS) and Alex Jackson (Sea - OF).

Prediction:
RD 1:  Carlos Rodon (ChW - SP) - Already MLB ready and a potential ace in the making
RD 2:  Dalton Pompey (Tor - OF) - MLB ready top of the order hitter with a lot of speed
RD 3:  Manuel Margot (Bos - OF) - Speedy slick-fielding outfielder with some nice pop
RD 4:  Chris Carter (Hou-1B,OF) - R5 Keeper hit 37 homers last year and is a good fit for this team
RD 5:  Hunter Renfroe (SD - OF) - Keeper
RD 6:  JO Berrios (Min - SP) - Keeper

Prospect Draft:
RD 1: Yoan Moncada (TBA - SS) - The Cuban import is too talented to pass up in any draft
RD 2: Derek Fisher (Hou - OF) - Like Renfroe, a fast moving southern college bat
RD 3: Ryne Stanek (TB - SP) - Keeper

2015 Hair of the Dog Fred Team Preview

Prince Fielder (Tex - 1B)

Summary:  After a brief hiatus, Hair of the Dog Fred (HODF) has returned to the league and he has come back at a good time.  This is the likely the start of the teams believed to be bonafide contenders in 2015.

Offense:  HODF features a fairly balanced offense in terms of power and speed.  Leading the way is 40 homer beast Nelson Cruz who had his beast season as a 33-year-old and speedster SS Jose Reyes.  Veterans SS Jimmy Rollins, 1B David Ortiz as well as OF Michael Cuddyer continue to defy father time and should have a little bit left in the tank.  Ortiz's heir apparent 1B Paul Goldschmidt had a good season considering his injuries while contemporary 1B Prince Fielder suffered a season ending injury, which makes his presence a potential difference maker this season.  Utility man 2B/3B/OF Josh Harrison likely had a career year last season that will be hard to repeat though 3B David Wright has undergone a severe power outage this is concerning and the same thing could be said about 1B/OF Mark Trumbo.  Cuban import Leonys Martin represents an intriguing skill set of speed and pop while tease 2B/3B Brett Lawrie and C Miguel Montero find themselves on new teams.  Rule-5 pick C Wilin Rosario, who is rumored to get time at 1B, is a fine pick as is playing the wait-and-see game on 2B/SS Wilmer Flores.  HODF's offense is capable of holding its own and will have to do just that.  While there is a large veteran footprint on this team and some potential slumps, all seem to be worthy at this point but counting on them too much could be dangerous.

Pitching:  Armed with aces Johnny Cueto and Jon Lester, HODF forms a very viable duo atop the rotation with ace in name only RA Dickey continuing to be serviceable.  Gio Gonzalez, an ace on many teams, looks to build on his impressive 2014 season while Jose Quintana and Roenis Elias are interesting options to hold onto until something better comes around.  Starters Kris Medlen, who has a new team, and AJ Griffin will only be available during the 2nd half of the season so that will limit HODF's potential starting off.  Prospect Matt Wisler has risen up rankings and the potential of pitching in San Diego can go a long way.  While HODF does roster two relievers, Joe Nathan's leash is shorter than its ever been and Dellin Betances, who has competition for 9th inning duties, has not been guaranteed the closing gig.  HODF has a lot of talent atop of the rotation but is limited in its overall production so adding some more sure bets would be smart.

Draft:  With most of the top prospects likely gone, HODF would likely look to select player that will help it contend now rather than later.  Relievers Joe Nathan and Dellin Betances are not sure things as closer but Luke Gregerson (SD - RP) firmly has a grip of the closer job in Houston.  Outfielders Michael Taylor (Was - OF) and Dalton Pompey (Tor - OF) might also be possible picks.  Look for HODF to look a potential prospect selections later in the draft.

Prediction:
RD 1:  Luke Gregerson (Hou - RP) - Questions at closer make him a nice selection here
RD 2:  Melky Cabrera (ChW - OF) - Forgotten bat that can really produce for a contender
RD 3:  Brandon Nimmo (NYM - OF) - Young prospect bat is starting to grow up
RD 4:  Aaron Blair (Ari - SP) - Big college righty moving quickly with nice K:9 ratio
RD 5:  Michael Gettys (SD - OF) - Projectable HS bat with an advanced approach
RD 6:  Wilin Rosario (Col - C) - R5 Keeper

Prospect Draft:
RD 1:  Kodi Medeiros (Mil - SP) - 12th pick in draft, hard throwing HS lefty should only get better
RD 2:  Austin Wilson (Sea - OF) -  Keeper
RD 3:  Dorssys Paulino (Cle - SS) - Keeper

2015 Mexico City Aztecs Team Preview

Javier Baez (ChC - SS,2B)

Summary:

Offense:  MEX's team is led by prime slugger OF Giancarlo Stanton, who if not for a gruesome facial injury likely would have been the NL MVP last season.  All-Star SS Troy Tulowitzki was also on pace to be NL MVP before a hip injury ended his season early while fellow teammate OF Carlos Gonzalez's season was also cut short by a knee injury though both have superstar ability.  Former-MVPs OF Ryan Braun and 1B Joey Votto both were never 100% last season and it showed though another former-MVP in 1B Justin Morneau had a rejuvenated season on way to the 2014 NL batting title.  AL Champion catcher Salvador Perez was a Top 10 player at his position, backup Alcides Escobar was the 5th best shortstop in the game, and OF Lorenzo Cain had a breakout campaign.  Veteran 3B Aramis Ramirez at age 36 remains a productive player when active while his heir apparent 3B Nick Castellanos will need to improve before taking the reigns.  Cuban OF Rusney Castillo remains an intriguing but unproven asset and the inconsistent yet talented 2B/SS Javier Baez could be a bust or boom player. Prospects SS Carlos Correa is recovering from a broken leg but remains a phenom and OF Josh Bell possess attractive power potential. While this group of bats is very capable, they have failed to stay healthy when it matters.  With the volatility of Baez, adding a reliable 2B would be advantageous though one never knows when of MEX's stars will go down.

Pitching:  The pitching staff of MEX is led by former Cy Young award winner Felix Hernandez who at age 28 has a lot more bullets in the gun.  Fellow Cy Young award winner Zack Greinke remains very productive while starter Jared Weaver remains a worthy #1.  The electric arms of Yordano Ventura Carlos Martinez, though not the biggest guys, should both be members of their respective rotations while lefty Alex Wood should also be in the rotation as well as off his innings limit this season.  2014 Rule-5 pick Lance Lynn was a smart keeper last season and MEX is hoping Clay Buchholtz can repeat past performances as he is just a year removed from being an All-Star.  Hurler Yovani Gallardo finds himself on a new team which may influence his stats somewhat while prospects Robert Stephenson and Alex Reyes work on their crafts in the minors for likely the majority of the season.  Closer Neftali Feliz should be good to go in the 9th inning though reliever Francisco Rodriguez has yet to sign with a team, either to setup or close, and him getting closing duties is paramount.  There is a lot to like regarding MEX starters and the gamble on Buchholtz seems worth the cost.  The real weakness in this staff looks to be its lack of closers which will need to be remedied.

Draft:  While there are not a ton of holes here, there are some including the lack of proven closers as well as depth at second base.  This does not mean that these issues will be addressed in the draft but if potential candidates fall they may get scooped up.

2015 Jackie Treehorn Team Preview

Matt Garza (Mil - SP)

Summary:  Jackie Treehorn (JT) had its best regular season in league history though it was unable to claim another championship as it upset in the semi-finals.  Still, there is a lot to like about this team as it propensity of getting numbers from some surprising sources.  Look for JT to continue its contending ways moving forward.  

Offense:  JT's offense is led by Cuban masher 1B Jose Abreu, who was the team's bounty in the 1st round of last season's pre-season draft. Outfielders Carlos Gomez and Charlie Blackmon are borderline 20/20+ candidates with some question on wether Blackmon will be able to repeat.  World Series champ C/1B Buster Posey ranks amongst top catchers and 3B Kyle Seager was one of the most improved players in the league last season.  Speedster OF Ben Revere was a Top 70 fantasy talent while fellow-outfielder Kole Calhoun was a borderline Top 100 talent last season. Infielders SS Starlin Castro and 2B Kolten Wong both had creditable seasons with Wong ending the year on a high note.  First basemen Eric Hosmer, who is better than he played last season and just signed an extension, as well as 1B Matt Adams, who now has 1B all to himself for the full-season while catcher Matt Wieters works to recover from TJ surgery.  Prospect Mookie Betts was excellent in his 1st MLB trial but will likely lose 2B eligibility next season as he is slated to be in a outfield.  Aside from Abreu and maybe Gomez, there isn't a ton of star power here though Seager might enter that tier at some point.  Finding of drafting some insurance at shortstop and third base might be smart avenues.

Pitching:  Ace Adam Wainwright is the obvious anchor of JT's pitching staff with Jeff Samardzija, who will be pitching for his third team in two years, as logical next best.  Hurlers Homer Bailey and Matt Garza need to once again pitch to their talents while the surprising Matt Shoemaker remains unlikely to repeat last year's crazy success.  Like Samardzija, starter Ervin Santana finds himself on a new team this season while youngster Tyson Ross finally tapped into his impressive potential with his 9.0 K/9 ratio.  Rule-5 pick Mike Fiers is a possible keeper and prospect arm Alex Meyer is very close to contributing on a MLB basis which will be a nice boon for this team.  JT also features some nice closers in Greg Holland, Hector Rondon and Joaquín Benoit which should help contend in saves on a weekly basis.  JT's pitchign staff has some nice highlights and rosters some capable inning eaters but adding a few MLB worthy arms would benefit this team greatly.

Draft:  With the inconsistency of Castro from year-to-year, drafting someone like Jung-ho Kang (Pit - SS) with the final pick in the 1st RD makes a lot of sense as he is slated to start from day 1 and has the power potential worthy of investment.  If Kang is not the selection, Tim Anderson (ChW - SS), Michael Taylor (Tor - OF), Dalton Pompey (Tor - OF) or arms Kyle Freeland (Col - SP) and Touki Toussaint (Ari - SP) might be possible picks here.

Prediction:
RD 1:  Jung-ho Kang (Pit - SS) - Korean import playing SS right away and intriguing power potential
RD 2:  Justin Masterson (Bos - SP) - Playing for a contender, year removed from an All-Star season
RD 3:  Kendry Morales (KC - 1B) - Healthy, powerful and received big contract from AL Champs
RD 4:  Brandon Finnegan (KC - RP) - 2014 1st RD draftee made impact in majors, future starter
RD 5:  Eduardo Rodriguez (Bos - SP) - Projectable lefty prospect with a good future for Red Sox
RD 6:  Mike Fiers (Mil - SP) - R5 Keeper

Prospect Draft:
RD 1:  Yoan Lopez (Ari - SP) - New Cuban signee throws hard and should move quickly to majors
RD 2:  Adam Walker (Min - OF) - Keeper
RD 3:  Mitch Nay (Tor - 3B) - Keeper

2015 Tenth Man Out Team Preview

Xander Bogaerts (Bos - SS)

Summary:  After ending the regular season in 2nd place, Tenth Man Out took advantage of an upset in the semifinals to win yet another championship and become the only 3x league champion.  With no clear weakness in either offense or pitching, TMO will once again be amongst the team favorites to raise the trophy yet again in 2015.  

Offense:  TMO is once again led by future hall-of-famer Miguel Cabrera, who led the team in RBI's despite being injured late in the year.  Rice University alum 2B/3B Anthony Rendon has begun to finally realize his potential while talented teammate OF Bryce Harper will look to stay healthy in order to do the same.  Slugger 1B Anthony Rizzo remains a valuable contributor and 2B Robinson Cano, who saw a dip in his production, continues to be a producer.  Cuban import OF Yasiel Puig one of the more exciting in the league while fellow OF Starling Marte has legit 20/20 or better potential.  An off-season trade landed TMO 3B Nolan Arenado, a gamble that might pay off, and C Yadier Molina, who should help stabilize the backstop position.  2014 surprise OF Corey Dickerson will be hard pressed to repeat last season while former uber-prospect SS Xander Bogaerts seems to be still finding his way.  It is not a secret that Rule-5 pick SS Chris Owings will be dropped during draft time and farmhand SS JP Crawford will be to be the only in-house prospect to start the season.  This is a nice and talented group of bats with some crazy upside though less sure things than TMO has had in past seasons. Potentially finding a backup SS, a contingency plan for when Rendon loses 2B eligibility and a young talented outfielder if Dickerson slumps might be all this team needs.

Pitching:  In a head-to-head league, sometimes all a team would need is 2014 #1 fantasy player ace Clayton Kershaw.  Of course, after Kershaw there is understandably a dip with 2014 breakout Garrett Richards as the team's next best starter.  Perennial Cy Young candiate Cole Hamels may argue that he is next best starter though that may take a trade to a contender for that to be true.  Breakout hurlers Sonny Gray and Jake Arrieta, with his 9.6 K/9 ratio, will be counted on coming though once again while Doug Fister should do fine as long as he plays on a winner to subsidize his low K numbers. Former prospects Garrit Cole and Carlos Carrasco finally capitalized on their immense potential and it looks like TMO will give lefty Mike Minor a mulligan on a poor 2014 season.  Prospects Daniel Norris finally made his debut last season and will look for more while former Sooner Jon Gray looks to be on the fast track to the majors.  Closers Cody Allen and Craig Kimbrel are two of the most safe 9th inning options in the game though finding a closer of the future would help if one goes down.  At the start of the 2014 season, TMO had a problem with a lack of front-line starters but did an excellent job finding capable replacements with some upside.  This season's pre-season staff looks a little more rosy though the team will still be counting on a few unproven arms to get back to the championships.
Draft:  TMO will be drafting from a position of strength as it has no real glaring hole.  Still, finding high-yield and fast-moving pitching might be a desire here with LSU alum Aaron Nola (Phi - SP) as the potentially highest ranked arm available with Evansville lefty Kyle Freeland (Col - SP) a possibility too.  If offense is the selection, Jung-ho Kang (Pit - SS), Dalton Pompey (Tor - OF), or Michael Taylor (Was - OF) could be players for this pick.

Prediction:
RD 1:  Aaron Nola (Phi - SP) - LSU product will move fast and has potential to be a top arm
RD 2:  Derek Hill (Det - OF) - 1st RD pick dubbed top HS bat in last year's draft
RD 3:  Forest Wall (Col - 2B) - Potentially the most offensive minded 2B prospect
RD 4:  Sean Newcomb (LAA - SP) - Big powerful lefty was 1st RD draft pick last season
RD 5:  Austin Hedges (SD - C) - Yadier won't be around forever, Hedges amongst top C prospects
RD 6:  Max Fried Atl - SP) - TJ surgery didn't stop him from Atlanta wanting him in trade

Prospect Draft:
RD 1:  Gabriel Guerrero (Sea - OF) - Vlad's nephew and one the most impressive bats available
RD 2:  Reynaldo Lopez (Was - SP) - One of the fastest prospect movers, 80 fastball score from BA
RD 3:  Francellis Montas (ChW - SP) - Underrated with strong frame and upper 90's stuff

2015 Beer & Brat Brigade Team Preview

Taijuan Walker (Sea - SP)

Summary:  After finishing 6th last season, there is a lot of internal movement and shifting for Beer & Brat Brigade.  While that shuffling is not necessarily a bad thing, it makes predictions for Beer & Brat Brigade (B&BB) more difficult than teams.  The teams has the makings of a legit contender but until that happens it will remain the Dan Marino of the MLB Dynasty League.

Offense:  The 2014 season was actually a down season compared to past years with OF Hunter Pence as the teams best overall player.  Fellow outfielders Matt Kemp, who experienced a nice rebound, and Yoenis Cespedes both finished as Top 50 fantasy players last season though find themselves on new teams in more pitcher friendly stadiums.  Shortstop Ian Desmond was far and away B&BB's best infield producer though it can count on one more year from SS Hanley Ramirez as he transitions to the outfield.  Former AL MVP 2B Dustin Pedroia hopes to have a resurgence in 2015 while slugger 1B/OF Branson Moss finds himself as B&BB's 3rd player hitting in a new offensive environment.  Catcher Wilson Ramos remains a nice holdover from last season though teammate 3B/OF Ryan Zimmerman had his worst season as a pro and will move to 1B thus taking away his hot corner eligibility in the future.  Rule-5 selection 1B Kennys Vargas might be a diamond in the rough with some of B&BB's positional uncertainty.  Teammate prospects OF Joc Pedersen and OF Alex Guerrero will likely make an impact at some point this season though Guerrero will likely see time in the infield.  Second baseman prospect Devon Travis, who also finds himself on a new team, will hope to find his way to the majors and the same can be said for farmhand Gary Sanchez who seems to be toiling in the minors.  Top prospect SS Corey Seager was an excellent selection in last year's draft and could see time at shortstop and/or third base when he reaches the majors.  While there is still a lot of talent here, B&BB's bats had faded of late and might need some infusion.  There is a lot of internal movement and positional transition that could cause enough instability to be a problem though the tea lacks star power all are young enough to still produce.

Pitching:  Unlike B&BB's long-standing propensity for offense, pitching hasn't always been this team's forte.  Ace David Price is owner of the best arms in the league and fellow #1 Mat Latos moves to a hitter haven to a pitcher palace, though he will need to stay healthy. The next most proven pitcher is Jordan Zimmermann who earned an underrated 14 wins last season while Drew Smyly and Danny Salazar pitched well over a limited amount of innings.  Prospect Taijuan Walker remains an overlooked dynamo while CJ Edwards is on the cusp of being productive.  Former-1st round pick Kyle Zimmer has been oft-injured but still possess great stuff.  Speaking of stuff, Aroldis Chapman has seemingly fully recovered from a gruesome injury will help a lot.  Co-closer Jonathan Papelbon is good enough to produce while it appears the team has found an asset in the talented Jenrry Mejia as a full-time reliever.  Much like B&BB's offense, there is still some uncertainty here but adding some high-upside arms might be a great investment for B&BB
  
Draft:  With the 7th overall selection, B&BB would do well to select someone with some upside that can help soon.  Targeting a arm here might be a good choice and assuming Rodon and Kolek are off the board, top Yankees prospect Luis Severino looks the best pitcher available followed by the polished Aaron Nola (Phi - SP) and the electric lefty Kyle Freeland (Col - SP).  If offense is the selection here, Korean infielder Jung-ho Kang (Pit - SS) or MLB capable outfielders Steven Souza (TB - OF), Dalton Pompey (Tor - OF), and Michael Taylor (Was - OF) are all possible picks.

Prediction:
RD 1:  Luis Severino (NYY - SP) - High upside arm that can hit high 90's with fastball
RD 2:  Tim Anderson (ChW - SS) - Fast mover and great contingency plan if Seager moves off SS
RD 3:  Lucas Sims (Atl - SP) - Very underrated prospect arm with a lot of projection
RD 4:  Colby Rasmus (Hou - OF) - Probably easiest 20 homers available in the draft playing in Hou
RD 5:  Nick Williams (Tex - OF) - Big time talent, crazy bat speed, power potential
RD 6:  Kennys Vargas (Min - 1B) - R5 Keeper

Prospect Draft:
RD 1:  Tyler Beede (SF - SP) - 1st round Vanderbilt talent drafted in right organization
RD 2:  Tyrone Taylor (Mil - OF) - Keeper
RD 3:  Courtney Hawkins (ChW - OF) - Keeper

2015 Slimedog Team Preview

Manny Machado (Bal - 3B)

Summary:  In a dream world, Slimedog's (SD) pitching would equal its offense and this team would contend.  While that is the idea, it is not yet a reality though with the pieces on board it not an entire fantasy either.  Look for this team to continue to add and make moves to improve as it climbs back up the ranks.

Offense:  SD's offense has steadily progressed to be quite capable.  Outfielder Mike Trout is the consensus #1 fantasy player, OF Michael Brantley broke out in a big way last year to finish as the 6th best player in the game, and an off-season trade brought OF in Justin Upton to form an impressive trio though Upton's numbers may fade slightly playing at Petco. Infielders SS Elvis Andrus and 3B Manny Machado will be counted on for a lot this season and must stay healthy to make that a reality. Outfielder Christian Yelich will be someone to watch to see if his power develops and 1B Freddie Freeman is believed to be one of the one of the more consistent bats in the game.  The same off-season trade that brought in Upton also netted SD 2B/3B Jonathan Schoop which is a fairly large gamble considering his near .200 batting average.  Prospects 3B Maikel Franco had a cup of coffee last season but hopefully can improve and SS Rosell Herrera looks like a worthy keeper.  SD will be forced to find a catcher prior to the beginning of the season so catchers like Yasmani Grandal, Jason Castro, Christian Betancourt, Derek Norris, or Russell Martin might be possible additions.  This team's offense has a great core but not a lot of depth that will need to be addressed. Still, the quality is there for this offense to be amongst the best in the league if healthy.

Pitching:  Once again, SD's biggest weakness is its pitching staff but help may soon be on the way. Ace Stephen Strasberg is on pace to continue his dominance and 2013 NL Cy Young winner Jose Fernandez as well as Matt Moore should return this summer from injury if all goes as planned.  In the meantime, SD will lean heavily on its Asian trio of Masahiro Tanaka, Hisashi Iwakuma and Hyun-jin Ryu as well as impressive hurlers Alex Cobb and Chris Tillman.  Starter Jesse Hahn and his strikeout ratio make him an intriguing case to watch as will be the dynamic Dylan Bundy, who will be reportedly ready for spring training, and talented starter in-waiting Kevin Gausman.  Closer Trevor Rosenthal remains the only pure reliever on the team but does have some questions marks with his late season struggles.  Pitching prospects Hunter Harvey, a former top draftee, teen phenom Julio Urias, as well as the fast moving Braden Shipley and Jameson Taillon, who recovering from TJ surgery,  should all be in good for the season.  Rule-5 pick is a borderline keeper though playing in San Diego can't hurt.  So, even though there more question marks on this staff than SD would like, there is a lot to like here in the future. Finding a few closers of the future would do wonders with this team rather than basically forfeit a stat every week.

Draft:  With SD's hole at catcher while holding the #6 pick, it might make a lot of sense to target the top catching prospect from last year's draft in C/OF Kyle Schwarber as the polished Indiana University product should move very fast.  With SD's remaining selections, look for high-upside picks and potentially some player to help this team's lack of depth.

Prediction:
RD 1:  Kyle Schwarber (ChC - C,OF) - Fits team need while continuing drafting high-upside players
RD 2:  Touki Toussaint (Ari - SP) - A projectable arm that hits the high 90's out of HS
RD 3:  LaTroy Hawkins (Col - RP) - Not a long-term option, but serviceable for some saves
RD 4:  Bubba Starling (KC - OF) - Highly projectable, tools, and still very young, potential still there
RD 5:  Robbie Erlin (SD - SP) - R5 Keeper
RD 6:  Braden Shipley (Ari - SP) - Keeper

Prospect Draft:
RD 1:  Franklin Barreto (Oak - SS) - Nice bat and a ton of speed at a valuable position
RD 2:  Clint Coulter (Mil - OF,C) - The move to OF doesn't effect his impressive bat
RD 3:  Trayce Thompson ChW - OF) - Keeper

2015 Chevy Chase Coopers Team Preview

Jacoby Ellsbury (NYY - OF)

Summary:  Instead of a tale of two cities, this is the tale of one city.  Chevy Chase Coopers (CCC) suffered incredible betrayal from both his offense and pitching staff after winning the championship just one season prior.  Still, the talent is still there for now and it could come back as this team attempts to contend while rebuilding.

Offense:  It was nice to see future Hall-of-Famer 1B Albert Pujols healthy again as he improved on the prior season while registering 100+ RBIs and will be back for more during his 35-year-old season.  Joining Pujols on the plus side, were the consistent outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury and Jayson Werth (age 35) as all three were Top 50 performers.  Catcher Brian McCann finished as a Top 10 talent in down year for catcher but after that, the good news ends and the bad news begins.  2B/3B Daniel Murphy, OF Alex Rios and 1B/3B Pedro Alvarez, who will likely lose 3B eligibility this season,  all suffered from very down seasons.  SS/2B Asdrubal Cabrera finds himself on a new team which may provide a spark to his production while the slick-fielding SS Andrelton Simmons is still young and somewhat promising.  The one-sided Rajai Davis can help with steals but is predicted to be a backup for much of the year.  A potential saving grace might be the powerful prospect 3B/SS Miguel Sano, the hot hitting OF Albert Almora and the excellent Rule-5 bat OF David Dahl make for a nice potential future.  After being the champ in 2013, it might be nice time to attempt a rebuild by moving Pujols and Werth for some more youth.  If done correctly, this team should have the talent to not miss a beat.

Pitching:  If you think CCC's offense betrayed this team, the main culprit lies mostly on its pitching staff.  What was once a team build on talented arms, former staff aces Justin Verlander and Tim Lincecum had crazy horrible seasons leaving youngsters Julio Teheran and Tanner Roark as this team's only Top 100 starters.  Starter Phil Hughes had a nice renaissance in Minnesota and the same can be said for lefty Scott Kazmir in Oakland.  Rounding out the starters are Ian Kennedy and tease Francisco Liriano who are both capable of worthwhile stats.  Something CCC has going for it is that the team has three viable closers in Koji Uehara, Glen Perkins and Steve Cishek which will give it the edge in saves during most head-to-head matchups.  There is some potential that prospect arms Noah Syndergaard and Sean Manaea make an impact this year because this team could really use the infusion.  If Verlander and Tiny Tim can make a comeback then maybe this team can too?

Draft:  CCC has the 3rd overall pick in both drafts and it since their is no clear choice here, it might make sense to select the best player available and hope some of this team comes back strong.  Betting that Carlos Rodon is already gone as well as high-upside HS arm Tyler Kolek leaves Yasmani Tomas as the fastest mover and closest to making an impact.  OF Alex Jackson, SS Nick Gordon and Korean import SS Jung-ho Kang might also be possible selections here.

Prediction:
RD 1:  Yasmani Tomas (Ari - 3B,OF) - At 24, unproven but very talented and fits future team needs
RD 2:  Kyle Freeland (Col - SP) - College lefty was electric in the minors last season
RD 3:  Blake Swihart (Bos - C) - Brian McCann is aging fast and Swihart and his bat is a good pick
RD 4:  Michael Conforto (NYM - OF) - Oregon State bat has power and control from left side
RD 5:  Gareth Morgan (Sea - OF) - Big and powerful, look for this guy to hit them long and far
RD 6:  David Dahl (Col - OF) - R5 Keeper is one of the best prospect bats around

Prospect Draft:
RD 1: Adrian Rondon (TB - SS)  - Worthy #1 international prospect and keeps with past strategy
RD 2:  Eloy Jimenez (ChC - OF) - Keeper
RD 3:  Rafael Devers (Bos - 3B) - Keeper

2015 Loveable Losers Team Preview

Devin Mesoraco (Cin - C)

Summary:  After finishing the 2013 season with the best overall record, Lovable Losers (LL) came back down to Earth during 2014 with an 8th place finish.  A smart trade was what the doctor ordered and with some potential moves this team might find itself back in contention for the long haul.  

Offense:  LL's offense recently benefited from a off-season trade the netted the team it's top performer 3B Todd Frazier who along with the other player coming over C Devin Mesoraco had breakout seasons last year.  1B Adrian Gonzalez led LL in RBI production with 100+ though the team had 2B Ian Kinsler, OF Lucas Duda, and 1B only Edwin Encarnacion finished with more than 90 RBIs.  LL has lot of speed with 2B Dee Gordon, now a full-time starter, SS Alexi Ramirez and OF Austin Jackson all producing 20 or more steals.  Masher OF George Springer produced nice numbers after his call-up while fellow OF Angel Pagan, who is serviceable, is only slightly above replacement level. Prospects SS Daniel Robertson is on a new team but has a lot of talent as does uber-prospect 3B Joey Gallo, who may not be able to stay at 3B, and the underrated OF Jesse Winker should put up good numbers in the coming seasons.  There really isn't a lot to dislike here other than maybe an upgrade over Pagan as a backup as well as lack of depth at SS and 3B.  While there aren't many stars on this team, there might be some stars on the horizon.

Pitching:  While offense doesn't seem to be lacking, starting pitching is another story.  Coasting on the coattails of ace Max Scherzer worked 2 year ago but caught up to LL last season.  Former Cy Young winner Jake Peavy going back to NL and a pitchers park to boot helps as would a rebound from CJ Wilson, who is more capable than he played in 2014.  Getting Michael Pineda back from injury and pine tar issues will go a long way and looking for Trevor Bauer to improve looks like a smart bet.  The apparent loss of Hiroki Kuroda going back Japan hurts and will be a big void to fill, one likely not able to be filled by the mediocre Tommy Milone, who was the team's worst pitching holdover from last season.  On the other hand, the team is armed with 4 current closers in Sean Doolittle, Drew Storen, Jake McGee, and Rule-5 pick Fernando Rodney, which help week-to-week though setup guys Tony Watson and Jordan Walden could be replaced with proven starters.  As long as the health of LL's closers holdup, look for this team to invest in pitching if not in the draft during the pre-season.  If productive starters are found and the current arms on this team produce, which is easier said than done, watch out.

Draft:  While the biggest weakness of this team is currently starting pitching, that might not be the direction it goes with 5th overall pick.  As aforementioned, the team also lacks star power which could be found in young slugger OF Alex Jackson.  Prospects Rodon, Kolek, Tomas, and Gordon would accomplish that feat to but all are presumed to be gone by this pick.  Look for LL to address his pitching issues a little later.

Prediction:
RD 1:  Alex Jackson (Sea - OF) - 6th overall pick form draft, dynamic 5-tool potential
RD 2:  Wily Peralta (Mil - SP) - At age 25 and with 17 wins last year, he would help stabilize staff
RD 3:  Orlando Arcia (Mil - SS) - Underrated SS with pedigree and pop, could be a big steal here
RD 4:  Hunter Dozer (KC - 3B) - Quickly becoming MLB ready and would fit with Gallo shifting
RD 5:  Fernando Rodney (Sea - RP) - R5 Keeper
RD 6:  Daniel Robertson (TB - SS) - Keeper

Prospect Draft:
RD 1:  Grant Holmes (LAD - SP) - Fireballer Dodgers prospect that has a lot of hype
RD 2:  Jario Beras (Tex - OF) - Big time talent with a big projectable frame
RD 3:  Ritchie Shaffer (TB - 3B) - Keeper

2015 Ragin Cajuns Team Preview

Matt Holliday (Stl - OF)

Summary:  Ragin Cajuns (RC) comes into 2015 looking to improve on this team's past performances with promises of stability and production, a feat that may be hard to justify but not impossible.  Improvements in offense and solid pitching staff will help this team go a long way.

Offense:  The offense of RC is considered quite top-heavy with the dynamic OF Andrew McCutchen at the top and 35 year-old OF Matt Holliday ranked as this team's 2nd best bat. RC got an outstanding full-year from fellow OF Marcell Ozuna while the team rosters catchers in spades with Yan Gomes and C/1B/3B Carlos Santana and Evan Gattis.  SS Erik Aybar provides a consistent presence but lacks the upside to be star while 3B Pablo Sandoval, 2B/3B/OF Martin Prado and OF Wil Myers will all have new teams to start the season. OF Shin-Soo Choo had a down year last season and will look to rectify that in 2015 while it will be interesting to see how Gregory Polanco does in first full-season of play.  Fresno State power bat OF Aaron Judge has a ton of potential while fellow Mountain West Conference player DJ Peterson is one of the more polished 3B in the minors and both should move fairly quickly.  Rule-5 draftee Rougned Odor is a nice keeper at 2B especially with Prado predicted to lose 2B eligibility after this season.  Aybar is good enough to keep SS warm while RC works to find a fantasy star at shortstop and as long as Holliday remains productive, he will remain valuable but he is likely on the tail end of his career.  With that said, this offense is close and might be more productive than many think in the future.

Pitching:  Long been an the Achilles Heel of this team,  the pitching staff of RC is quickly earning a name for itself.  AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber will remain a mainstay of this team as he joins ace Yu Darvish as the top arms of this team.  New Padres starter James Shields should get a boost playing in Petco while it will be interesting to see if Taiwanese hurler Wei-Yin Chen and Collin McHugh (age 27), and his strikeout per/game ratio of 9.1, can repeat their successes from last season. Young arms Jimmy Nelson and Andrew Heaney look poised to be rotation members this season as the team looks towards Patrick Corbin and Matt Harvey to come back from injury and contribute at some point this season.  Prospect and Stanford Cardinal Mark Appel is moving quickly and may be a worthy call-up this season at some point.  Closer David Robertson should remain an asset in the 9th inning on a new team though the jury is still out if Sergio Romo will close once again this season. Age isn't an issue with this staff but there is a lot volatility here as RC will hope that Chen and McHugh repeat their success while it waits on Corbin and Harvey to get well in addition to Nelson and Heaney auditioning for full-time rotation duty.  So, adding some starting and relief depth might help hedge some bets along the way.

Draft:  With Rodon, Kolek, and Tomas off the board, Nick Gordon (Min - SS) likely falls into RC's lap to fill the lack of future star power at shortstop.  If Gordon isn't the pick, then Korean import SS Jung-ho Kang might be the selection here as he's already MLB ready.  Fast-moving lefty Kyle Freeland (Col - SP) and Alex Jackson (Sea - OF) are also potential picks.

Prediction:
RD 1:  Nick Gordon (Min - SS) - Likely best prospect available, valuable position, and pedigree
RD 2:  Santiago Casilla (SF - RP) - Ended last year as closer, will he be SF closer?
RD 3:  Steven Matz (NYM - SP) - Catapulted up prospect lists and rightly so
RD 4:  Michael Foltynewicz (Atl - SP,RP) -  Traded to Braves, throws 100 mph as a starter
RD 5:  Rougned Odor (Tex - 2B) - R5 Keeper plays a valuable position with some punch
RD 6:  Aaron Judge (NYY - OF) - Keeper

Prospect Draft:
RD 1:  Trea Turner (SD - SS) - Trade to Washington makes bat more valuable in future
RD 2:  Victor Reyes (Atl - OF) - Projectable frame and bat could leap up prospect rankings
RD 3:  Ryan McMahon (Col - 3B) - Keeper