2017 Tenth Man Out Team Preview

Mookie Betts (Bos - OF)

Draft Prediction:
RD 1: Ian Anderson (Atl - SP) - Top arm taken in 2016 draft and is a nice system
RD 2: Cionel Perez (Hou - SP) - Touted as lefty Carlos Matinez or late Yordano Ventura
RD 3: Corey Ray (Mil - OF) - 2016 1st rounder, excellent dual threat potential
RD 4: Yohandez Mendez (Tex - SP) - Really exploded onto the scene last season
RD 5: Max Keper (Min - OF) - Keeper
RD 6: Yadier Diaz (LAD - OF) - Keeper

Prospect Draft:
RD 1: Ariel Sandoval (LAD - OF)
RD 2: Isreal Soto (Mia - OF) 
RD 3: Michael Matuella (Tex - SP)

2017 Third Day Team Preview

Draft Prediction:
RD 1: Robbie Ray (Ari - SP) - If he can lower his ERA his Ks will take off
RD 2: Shawn Kelley (Was - RP) - Looks 1st up for saves chances in Was
RD 3: Jose Bautista (Tor - OF) - Rule-5
RD 4: Gilbert Lara (Mil - 3B) - Keeper
RD 5: Derek Fisher (Hou - OF) - Keeper
RD 6: Kyle Tucker (Hou - OF) - Keeper

Prospect Draft:
RD 1: Oswaldo Hernandez (FA - SP)
RD 2: Daniel Gossett (Oak - SP)
RD 3: Lucas Erceg (Mil - 3B)

2017 Slimedog Team Preview

Wil Myers (SD - OF,1B)

Prediction:
RD 1: Kyle Lewis (Sea - OF) - Many believe his was the best bat in the 2016 draft
RD 2: Erik Fedde (Was - SP) - Bargin after recovering from TJ surgery
RD 3: Dexter Fowler (Stl - OF) - Peaks and valleys but productive nonetheless
RD 4: Amir Garrett (Cin - SP) - Former basketball player could prove worthy here
RD 5: Braxton Garrett (Mia - OF) - A young capable bat that could be special
RD 6: Jason Heyward (ChC - OF) - Rule-5

Prospect Draft:
RD 1: Yanio Perez (Tex - 3B)
RD 2: Michael Gettys (SD - OF)
RD 3: Mitchell White (LAD - SP)

2017 The Lovable Losers Team Preview

George Springer (Hou - OF)

Draft Prediction:
RD 1: Tony Watson (Pit - RP) - Slated to close for the Pirates 
RD 2: Drew Pomeranz (Bos - SP) - Plays on a winner and should do well with arsenal
RD 3: Francisco Rodriguez (Det - RP) - Rule 5
RD 4: Franklin Kilome (Phi - SP) - Keeper
RD 5: Trent Clark (Mil - OF) - Keeper
RD 6: Garrett Holmes (LAD - SP) - Keeper

Prospect Draft:
RD 1: Jorge Ona (SD - OF)
RD 2: Bryan Mata (Bos - SP)
RD 3: Joe Palumbo (Tex - SP)

2017 Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Team Preview

Billy Hamilton (Cin-OF)

Summary: While Semper Ubi Sub Ubi (SUSU) remains a contender it will have to likely rely on veteran players as it waits on young players to get seasoned and major league ready. Still, this team has it lightning in a bottle before. 

Offense: Other than Jose Altuve (Hou-2B), SUSU's bats might not have anymore elite stars but it does have some young players that could grow into that role. Veterans Jay Bruce (NYM-OF) and three bagger Evan Longoria (TB-3B) are likely the next closest thing this team has to be sure things other than the fact that Billy Hamilton (Cin-OF) will run and run fast so steals won't be a problem. Yasmani Grandal (LAD-C) finally had his breakout year and world champ Ben Zobrist (ChC-2B,OF) who lost some position eligibility and former world champ Brandon Belt (SF-1B) actually seems better than he showed in 2016. Something to look forward to is a healthy JD Martinez (Det-OF), Jorge Soler (KC-OF) who is slated to finally get full-time work, and Andrew Benintendti (Bos-OF) who many consider to be the top overall prospect in the game. After that, things get young with Clint Frazier (NYY-OF) on a new team with a new hair cut, Reimel Tapia (Col-OF) who got his cup of coffee in 2016, Ozhaino Albies (Atl-SS) who is being groomed for the 2B job in Atlanta, Michael Conforto (NYM-OF) whose sophomore year wasn't quite what he expected while heavy bat prospects Austin Riley (Atl-3B) and Garrett Whitley (TB-OF) get more reps on the farm. SUSU will need to add a full-time shortstop but it is building in the right direction and could be a potent sect very soon. 

Pitching: Unquestionably, the best arm here belongs to Madison Bumgarner (SF-SP) but he can't do it alone which leads to Chris Archer (TB-SP) Kenta Meada (LAD-SP) and Aaron Nola (Phi-SP) who all averaged more than a K per inning.  Next up is Jake Odorizzi (TB-SP) and Tanner Roark (Was-SP) who can be very good but not elite. Rule-5 pick Tyson Ross (Tex-SP) though can be elite at times and youngster Tyler Glasnow (Pit-SP) has been labeled that for years. The starters are little top heavy and will need to some help from its effective bullpen Kenley Janson (LAD-RP), Mark Melancon (SF-RP), Edwar Diaz (Sea-RP), and Alex Colome (TB-RP). Lots of saves and Ks coming from this group but this team might need some more fine tuning throughout the season. 

Draft: SUSU will need to bide its time as it waits for its fine young players to join its ranks in the majors which might push them to add some play now players. The most intriguing player here looks to be Ryon Healy (Oak-3B) as SUSU might find a Mark Trumbo clone with a little more refinement. 

Prediction:
RD 1: Ryon Healy (Oak - 3B) - Big bopper was dynamite in only 82 ABs
RD 2: Albert Pujols (LAA - 1B) - Hit 31HRs and 119 RBIs at age 36, good when healthy
RD 3: Fernando Rodney (Ari - RP) - Hate him, love him he'll close wherever he goes
RD 4: Tyson Ross (Tex - SP) - Rule-5 Draft
RD 5: Austin Riley (sophomore - 3B) - Keeper
RD 6: Garrett Whitley (TB - OF) - Keeper

Prospect Draft:
RD 1: Caven Biggio (Tor - 2B)
RD 2: Bobby Dalbec (Bos - 3B)
RD 3: Leonardo Crawford (LAD - SP)

2017 Jackie Treehorn Team Preview

Andrew Miller (Cle-RP)

Summary: Jackie Treehorn (JT) is probably the start of potential contenders for the league as the offense certainly looks capable while the starters are good but will likely not be enough so look for this team to acquire some arms and fast. 

Offense: JT's bats posses probably enough potency to challenge anyone in the league being led by field general Buster Posey (SF-C), the uber powerful Jose Abreu (ChW-1B) and the eventual world-beater Kyle Seager (Sea-3B). Team those 3 legit MVP candidates up with Cuban All-Star Aledmys Diaz (Stl-SS), AL Champs Mike Napoli (Tex-1B) / Jason Kipnis (Cle-2B), Rule-5 power pick Mark Trumbo (Bal-OF) and former WS Champ hitman Eric Hosmer (KC-1B) then you really have something. In fact, the more you look you realize just how contributing players this team has including the Cardinals trio of Matt Carpenter (Stl-3B,2B,1B), Stephen Piscotty (Stl-OF) and Randall Grichuk (Stl-OF) to go along with Carlos Gomez (Tex-OF), Starlin Castro (NYY-SS) and Cole Kalhoun (LAA-OF). Dark horse Keon Broxton (Mil-OF) and the lackluster Eder Inciarte (Atl-OF) look to be the only possible weaknesses with prospect Lucious Fox (TB-SS) still developing on the farm but that is nitpicking. Nice group. 

Pitching: Dealing with the other side of the extreme, since JT's offese is so complete its pitching leaves something to be desired with oft-injured ace Adam Wainright (Stl-SP) attempting to get back in the grove along with Carlos Carrasco (Cle-SP) who was out with injury during last season's MLB post season. Perhaps Jeff Samardzija (SF-SP) and possibly Gerrit Cole (Pit-SP) can harness their talents to rise to the next level and motivate David Phelps to do the same? Maybe not but the team's 3 late inning relievers will be a weapon to use throughout the season. The quality of arms here isn't bad there just likely isn't enough to compete with the big boys so maybe giving up some offense for some arms would be smart.  
Draft: Adding quality pitching should be a paramount priority to this team and Puk presents an excellent way to get a college arm with more upside than most pitchers his age.

Prediction:
RD 1: A.J. Puk (Oak - SP) - Big tall lefty with some concerns has excelled so far
RD 2: Brandon Maurer (SD - RP) - Settled in as Padres closer with good numbers
RD 3: Joaquin Benoit (Phi - RP) - May close for Phillies and then be dealt at deadline
RD 4: Mike Trumbo (Bal - 1B,OF) - Rule-5
RD 5: Ian Happ (ChC - 2B) - Keeper
RD 6: Lucious Fox (TB - SS) - Keeper

Prospect Draft:
RD 1: CJ Chatham (Bos - SS)
RD 2: Jae-Gyun Hwang (SF - 3B)
RD 3: Adam Walker (Atl - OF) - Keeper

2017 Hair of the Dog Fred Team Preview

D.J. LeMahieu (Col-2B)

Summary: Hair of the Dog Fred (HOTDF) remains one of the most active teams in the league as it looks to plug and chug positions. While it might lack the big young bat everyone searches for, it might have enough veteran bats to do the job to team with its talented pitching staff and pen. 

Offense: An off season trade recently netted HOTDF future HOFer Miguel Cabrera (Det-1B) and though he's not as good as he once was he's still capable of producing stud numbers. Speaking of stud numbers, that is what Todd Frazier (ChW-3B,1B) would be capable if he can get his AVG up and stay healthy where the latter has been a problem for fellow outfielders David Peralta (Ari-OF) as well as dual threat AJ Pollack (Ari-OF) who will look to do better than 20/20 Melvin Upton (Det-OF). Interestingly enough, this team had the top 2 NL batting title finishers from DJ LeMahieu (Col-2B) and Daniel Murphy (Was-2B) though it might be hard for both to repeat last season. Additional infielders Logan Forsythe (LAD-2B) who is now in the NL, the oft-injured yet valuable Kevin Pillar (Tor-1B), the powerful Brandon Moss (Oak-1B,OF) and Japanese import Jung Ho Kang (Pit-3B) who may face sanctions resulting form a DUI charge are all capable of bettering their prior seasons. The once versatile Martin Prado (Mia-3B) looks out of place with his lack of power and the one dimensional Rajai Davis (Oak-OF) looks to be mostly used for steals. Prospect outfielder Bradley Zimmer (Cle-OF) is on the verge while shortstop prospect (Orlando Arcia (Mil-SS) looks to have untapped potential on the horizon and teaming with Rule-5 pick Amed Rosario (NYM-SS) looks smart. Adding a catcher will be a requirement for HOTDF and finding a legit 3B prospect will be a key. For an offense that usually lacks star power, can the additions of MCab and healthy seasons from some vets get this team over the hump? The possibility of playing lefty/righty matchups might be a possible strategy since much of the offensive numbers could be interchangeable. 

Pitching: HOTDF's pitching rotation is actually quite talented with reigning AL Cy Young winner Rock Porcello (Bos-SP) and hard thrower Michael Pineda (NYY-SP) who notched more than 200+ strikeouts in 2016. Teaming up with the above are Gio Gonzalez (Was-SP) and Jacob DeGrom (NYM-SP) as both average about a strikeout per inning.  Finishing out HOTDF's rotation is the underrated Jose Quintana (LAA-SP), who other than wins had similar numbers to Porcello. Youngster James Taillon (Pit-SP) got his feet wet last season with mized results and Kolby Allard (Atl-SP) looks like a legit prospect moving forward. Another strength of this team is its bullpen with closer Zach Britton (Bal-RP) though Dellin Betances (NYY-RP), Tyler Thornberg (Bos-RP) and Ryan Dull (Oak-RP) are all slated to start the season in setup duty which will likely limit save opportunities. Still, there is a lot to like here and this team as four legit top tier starters with four relievers capable of closing if all goes right. 

Draft: More so than any other pick in the 1st round, does the selection of Stenzel here make the most sense. HOTDF isn't always the most patient team and betting on the University of Tennessee hot corner in an advantageous ballpark seems logical. 

Prediction:
RD 1: Nick Stenzel (Cin - 3B) - Fast moving college bat on the verge at a thin position
RD 2: Neftali Feliz (Mil - RP) - Proved he can close a game once again if healthy
RD 3: Francisco Mejia (Cle - C) - One of the best prospect catchers in baseball
RD 4: Amed Rosario (NYM - SS) - Rule-5 Draft
RD 5: Kolby Allard (Atl - SP) - Keeper
RD 6: Josh Hader (Mil - SP) - Keeper

Prospect Draft:
RD 1: Luis Yander La O (Tex - 3B)
RD 2: Brandon Woodruff (Min - SP)
RD 3: Dustin Fowler (NYY - OF)