32 Fearless Predictions

This column has gone from a prediction for each team to more like a statement on each team, with predictions at the bottom. Evolution, my friend.

Augusta Abenaki
HHavey returns this team to "glory year," as they go above .500 for the second time in history. Of course, by glory years, I mean season nine.

Boise Bombers
92+ wins each of the last five seasons hasn't produced a single divisional championship. With the mass flock of talent from the AL to the NL this year, the franchise formerly known as Fresno will rack up its 3rd straight 100 win season, and 3rd straight 2nd place finish.

Buffalo Angry Dragons
The first 5 seasons saw this franchise among the leagues best. A lack of stability (6 owners in 5 seasons) made the next five seasons miserable. Lou brings stability back, but it's a long way to go before this team returns to prominence.

Charlotte Knights
Season 8 (for Paw) and 10 (for CHA) playoff MVP Christopher Ramirez bolts for money, and is replaced by season 9 playoff MVP Max Hernandez. The result is another division championship, and a new World Champion.

Cheyenne Chillipeppers
A new direction (and new owner) eases things up in the tight AL Best division, and Cheyenne misses the playoffs for only the 2nd time since season 3.

Cleveland Steamers
The Steamers resemble the team that won 43 games after the allstar break and shocked Salt Lake City in the Play-In round all season, as opposed to the 15 games under .500 first half team of last season, and run away with the still weak NL North.

Colorado Springs AltiDUDES
The 'DUDES won their first pennant last year, and get their first world championship this year. And during Ramirez's 5 year stay in town, this team will win multiple championships, more pennants, and challenge Kansas City's 122 win mark of season 5.

Detroit Tigers
Another miserable season in the motor city, but I predict a positive prediction in Season 12.

Dover Destroyers
Rockybill worked for years to bring this franchise back to prominence, and they finally finished above .500 last season. Now Hooner takes over, and makes the necessary tweaks to help Dover challenge Charlotte for the division championship.

Fargo Nines
An active offseason and a less than stellar AL North helps optimism shine eternal in one of the Dakotas (the one with Fargo in it). Fargo barely eclipses .500, but stays competitive all season long.

Hartford Defenders
Whether Darren Jensen was promoted too soon or at the right time is up to interpretation, but one thing is for sure, he'll help Hartford improve over last seasons win total yet again, a trend that has happened every season since frog took over. And he'll find himself on the ROY ballot.

Houston Aggies
Stop the presses! The Houston Aggies, 86 game winners in S9 and 91 game winners in S10, but without a playoff game since S1, return to October baseball! But that has less to do with their offseason, and more to do with the rest of the AL weakening.

Indianapolis Racers
There's reason for optimism in Indy! But not because the racers are going to be that much better (maybe 4-7 wins), but because the division champion no longer has Ramirez.

Jacksonville Juggernauts
My boldest prediction yet: For style points, I put it under Jacksonville instead of Houston... the Juggernauts do not win the AL South.

Kansas City Shuffle
The Shuffle are good again... old news. They win another division championship... old news. None of this matters if KC can't get back to their first ALCS in four seasons... they do.

Little Rock Big Rocks
'The Next Big Thing' in AL powers climbed from 74 to 79 wins last year. They improve by at least 5 again this year, and have season 12 circled as their rise to power.

Memphis Hound Dawgs
A four game losing streak to close out the season last year caused Memphis to miss the postseason by one game. Confident in his teams ability, dave made minimal offseason moves. This team is surely good enough for 91 wins again, but with the rest of the improvement in the NL, that's not enough for the playoffs.

Monterrey Cervezas
The Beers finish last in the AL South... again.

New Orleans Breeze
The Breeze shored up their bullpen in the offseason, a glaring weakness in S10. It helps them take back the NL South title.

New York Moon Shots
Super prospect Ray Dunn is on the opening day roster, helps the Moon Shots win their 3rd straight title, and collects the ROY award.

Norfolk Rush
Mattyfaz did what Logan couldn't in 8 seasons... trade Philip Hunter. This makes room for rookie Warren Maloney, the same player $8 million cheaper. The saved salary helps Norfolk strengthen its 'pen, and helps them keep their stranglehold on 2nd in the NL East.

Pawtucket Polythene
Because free agents Jay Peters, Woody Key, and Henry Etherton join an already above average lineup in Rhode Island, to help the Polythene win their unprecedented 10th straight division championship.

Richmond Moonshiners II
The Moonshiners took the NL by storm last year, surprising everyone by winning the leagues best division. Another years experience plus a stronger than normal rookie class (headed by ROY candidate Phil Seung) help make sure the Moonshiners aren't going anywhere.

Rochester Raging Rhinos
Only one season removed from an NL Pennant, the Rhinos are caught in no mans land between rebuilding & winning. They're not good enough to overtake Cleveland, and their not bad enough to lose 95 games and get a top draft pick.

Salt Lake City Dodgers
Benny contines to be the Steinbrenner of Sharkey's World, for a year after inking Cummings & Baek to huge deals, he signs the best FA arm not named Ramirez (Dude Johnson, 5 years, $77 million) to a contract twice as good as his talent. The move will certainly help SLC remain a playoff team this season, but how will it affect their future?

San Francisco Sourdoughs
The Sourdoughs quietly creeped right up to .500 last season while nobody noticed. And now, rivalries return. Although San Fran is not on SLC's level yet, they're improving, and CSP, their biggest rival, is noticing. And while CSP gains Ramirez, SF helps themselves to Ramirez's only true nemesis, Billy Hernandez.

Scottsdale T's
Rejoice, Scottsdale! For rookies Louis McCormick and Davey Ibarra combine with Cheyenne's strong loss of talent to get you out of the AL Best basement.

Scranton Dunder-Mifflins
Another offseason of solid yet unspectacular moves helps Scranton inch closer towards respectability. R-Pod watch is in full swing, and it won't be long until this once proud franchise returns to glory.

St. Louis Birdnals
The question of the year is why did a franchise who has lost 95+ games three straight seasons, and has no shot at making the postseason this year, mortgage the future to rent Pat Tamura for one season?

Texas Tittyballs
Front office issues ruined this teams offseason, but CC is left with enough to work with that full-on rebuilding is not the only option at this point. Still, though, even though .500 looks promising, last in the division seems almost certain.

Trenton Terror
Kingdean's crew took a step backwards last year, but only by one game. Improvement over those 67 wins is assured, but the playoffs remain not in view.

Tuscon Turbocors
With nothing concrete to show for their offseason, one has to wonder if this is the team that won 77 games in S7 & S9, or that won 86 games in S8 & S10?

FINAL STANDINGS
NL North
Cleveland 87-75
Rochester 74-88
St. Louis 71-91
Buffalo 68-94

NL East
Pawtucket 98-64
Norfolk 91-71
Augusta 83-79
Scranton 66-96

NL South
New Orleans 99-63
Richmond 95-67
Memphis 88-76
Texas 75-87

NL West
Colorado Springs 117-45
Salt Lake City 94-68
San Francisco 84-78
Tuscon Turbocors 74-88

AL North
New York 89-73
Fargo 82-80
Trenton 71-91
Detroit 57-105

AL East
Charlotte 92-70
Dover 88-74
Hartford 78-84
Indianapolis 70-92

AL South
Houston 94-68
Jacksonville 93-69
Little Rock 85-77
Monterrey 68-94

AL West
Kansas City 108-54
Fresno 105-57
Scottsdale 92-70
Cheyenne 83-79

Play-In Results
#3 Pawtucket over #6 Salt Lake City
#5 Richmond over #4 Cleveland

#6 Jacksonville over #3 Charlotte
#5 Fresno over #4 New York

LDS Results
#1 Colorado Springs over #5 Richmond
#3 Pawtucket over #2 New Orleans

#1 Kansas City over #5 Fresno
#6 Jacksonville over #2 Houston

LCS Results
#1 Colorado Springs over #3 Pawtucket
#1 Kansas City over #6 Jacksonville

World Series XI
Colorado Springs over Kansas City

Playoff MVP: Chris Ramirez