S32 PRESEASON PREVIEW AL WEST

Salem won 110 games last season and earned themselves a trip to the World Series against Seattle.  This was their third World Series appearance in four seasons, and was their fourth straight division title.  It was also their fourth straight season of 100+ wins.    The Anaheim team, which played in Vancouver last season under different management, won 95 games.  That franchise has had a winning season in 9 of their last 10.  St. Louis placed in third, also making it their third straight losing season.  The Omaha franchise, which played in Fresno last season under different management, placed in fourth.  It was their first last place finish in 10 seasons

I ranked all teams in each category.  The AL teams are ranked separately from the NL teams.  16 teams obviously in each league.

St. Louis Arch Angels
Owner: Flucie(18th Season)

Offense: 15th

Pitching-8th
Starters-8th
Relief-6th

Defense-12th


Salem Volcanoes
Owner: Jkenned(10th Season)

Offense-4th

Pitching-1st
Starters-5th
Relief-1st

Defense-3rd

Anaheim Skywalkers
Owner: mysticrain(1st Season)

Offense-7th

Pitching-4th
Starters-4th
Relief-5th

Defense-9th

Omaha Oracles
Owner: npbed(1st Season)

Offense-10th

Pitching-14th
Starters-15th
Relief-14th

Defense-14th

Press release: The Oracles play their inaugural season in Omaha this year after moving from sweltering Fresno and the basement of the AL West in season 31.

The Oracles have retooled their lineup and payroll in preparation for the upcoming season saying goodbye to ace workhorse Wilt Sizemore in a mega deal that yielded three players that Oracles fans hope will be the cornerstones of the franchise in years to come in Slugger Fransisco Cervantes, versatile Andres Rivera, and speedy centerfielder Louis Fitzgerald. The new trio will be joined by familiar faces Lariel Gutierrez, Bennie Navarro and Bernie Ramos to hope to outscore opponents this year in the AL .

On the pitching side with the subtraction of Sizemore, the Oracles came up empty in their pursuit of top line pitching talent in the free agent market much to the chagrin of the excited fan base. The Oracles will rely on an improved defense and a variety of cast offs and last chance pitchers to keep the ball in cavernous Johnny Rosenblatt stadium.

The future of the organization is bright with a small payroll and a generous handful of pitching prospects on the farm like Woody Hermansen and Stone Zavada looking to earn a promotion in Season 32.

Oracles fans may look back at season 32 as the year the pieces were put in place to contend in years to come. Or they may look back at season 32 as the year a newcomer GM traded organization icon Sizemore and set the club back a decade.


Predictions

Salem should continue their dominance, and will most likely win 100+ games again.  I think Anaheim will finish in second winning about 85 games and clinching a wildcard spot.  Omaha and St. Louis should battle for the bottom spot with their  inconsistencies and their weak defenses.  

1. Salem
2. Anaheim
3. St. Louis
4. Omaha