BIG LEAGUE CHOO
FRANCHISE RECORD:
6th season, 1,131-934-341 (.541)
2015 RECORD/FINISH: 1st in AL, 244-162-56, lost in World Series
BATS
It’s appropriate that Choo has the Athletics logo
Photoshopped to be the Big League Choo logo. He’s definitely the Billy Beane of
the JLB. He traded away so much talent, from pitching to offense, and yet I
look at the final lineup after the draft and I’m like, “I can see this being
good.” A lot of it is the players; a lot of it is the fact that I doubted the Choo before and lost. Certainly, I think he takes a bit of a hit, but I can’t deny that Nolan
Arenado and J.D. Martinez have a chance to be the home run leaders in their
respective leagues. Choo grabbed, in SABR Beane-like moves, Carlos Santana
(power and walks), Kevin Kiermaier (sexiness and speed, only one of which will
help fantasy baseball; other helps Choo’s off-the-field fantasies), and Josh
Harrison (positional flexibility). All that said, he certainly has the question
marks that a few of the NL teams have and needs guys like Yasiel Puig and Ian
Desmond to come back around.
ARMS
Choo, once again, is lacking the pitching depth with
numerous prospects, but at the top is Clayton Kershaw, Noah Syndergaard and
Jeff Samardzija. I’m sure he’ll play his matchups right with waiver-wire
pickups to take care of the rest, at least until his law firm of Fulmer, Fulmer
and Blair arrive.
JARGON’S TAKE
I think the Choo takes a slight step back this year. There’s
just the waiting for prospects aspect that makes you miss out on a couple wins
early. Trust me, I know from last year. But I think Choo will win enough early
that when the cavalry does arrive, he’ll cruise into the playoffs as the No. 2
seed.
SEX PANTHERS
FRANCHISE RECORD:
9th season, 1,643-1,680-595 (.495)
2015 RECORD/FINISH: 3rd in AL, 184-211-67, lost in ALCS
BATS
Matt Kemp and Howie Kendrick could have easily been keepers
on JLB teams, but they landed in the draft, and the Sex Panthers got both of
them — and neither in the first round. She used that pick to grab Minnesota’s
Asian import Byung Ho Park. Add those three to a lineup that already had Jonathan Lucroy,
Albert Pujols, Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson, and we’re talking about a
team that will win more than 184 games this year. That doesn’t even factor in Christian
Yelich, who I like to breakout big time this year. And if somehow, Byron Buxton
can win that Rookie of the Year award some are projecting, the Panthers could
actually make a run at the division title. Crazy considering where this team
was before the trade deadline last July.
ARMS
Forget about the July deadline. Think about where this team
was before the March keeper deadline. Adding James Shields and Jordan
Zimmermann — albeit, not the most amazing keepers — were huge. Edison Volquez
came in the draft and provides a decent sixth starter, and I think Wade Miley
could rekindle his Arizona success in the big ballpark in Seattle. But let's face it, this team is relying on the young stars Marcus Stroman, Luis Severino and Collin McHugh. Plain and simple, if they win, she wins.
JARGON’S TAKE
I have to say, I’m rather impressed. I got a text on the
keeper deadline day that said, “Hey, I’m trading with Parker and Brian,” and I
was surprised; and then on Wednesday, I ask, “Have you prepped for the draft?”
expecting the usual “I will," she instead said, “Yep, I’m ready. I have my first
pick targeted.” That target was Park, and she got him. This team has enough to have a winning record and she'll get back into the playoffs as the No. 3 seed, and this time, she'll beat Choo.
NJ BOMBERS
FRANCHISE RECORD:
9th season, 1,734-1,602-582 (.517)
2015 RECORD/FINISH: 2nd in the AL, 209-192-61, lost in ALDS
BATS
Paul Goldschmidt will finally get the recognition he
deserves this year. My pick for NL MVP will lead this team on offense. Miguel
Sano will provide the pop, too, and may even finish with more home runs than
Goldschmidt. Ian Kinsler is a rock at second base, and the combo of Ben Revere
and Jacoby Ellsbury should win him all the speed categories more times than
not. He also has a bunch of older gentlemen from whom he’ll look to find at
least one gem. The best draft pickup may actually be Gerardo Parra, who has
eligibility at all three outfield spots, and with his new gig in Colorado, I
like him to get that Mile High bump, too.
ARMS
Gerrit Cole and Jacob deGrom are the leaders here, and the
Bombers didn’t do much to fill in behind the rest of his SP keepers. I fear
that barring spectacular seasons from Yordano Ventura and Carlos Carrasco — two
guys who I personally have little faith in ever becoming that consistent No. 1 —
the Bombers will find pitching to be his weak link. His best hope may be
getting the chance to sell high on one of the older bats he drafted, if they
start strong.
JARGON’S TAKE
Did Firestine accidentally purchase a fantasy baseball
magazine from 2009? John Lackey, A-Rod, Joe Mauer, Ryan Zimmerman and Jose
Reyes were all drafted Friday night. When the Bombers play the Cheese Steaks, I’m
getting AARP to sponsor it. Jokes aside, the Bombers have my NL MVP and some
serious bats to go with him. Pitching is light, as explained, but it should be
enough to have him fighting for a top 3 spot in the AL.
BIG OL' COUNTRY BREAKFAST
FRANCHISE RECORD:
1st season, 0-0-0
BATS
Potential. That’s how I describe the Breakfast menu. I look
up and down at all the options, and I can feel my mouth begin to water. Brandon
Belt, Anthony Rendon, Trevor Story, Corey Dickerson, Randal Grichuk, Steven
Souza Jr., Justin Bour, Nomar Mazara. They’re all guys who have that potential
to be stars at their positions. Some gurus have predicted breakouts this year,
some are tired of predicting the huge breakouts for oft-injured guys like Belt, Rendon and
Dickerson. … Nevertheless, the
potential is there. Add in my personal locks, Prince Fielder, Matt Carpenter
and Lorenzo Cain, and there’s a lot to be hopeful for. It’s just a lot to ask
for in one year.
ARMS
The pitching for the Breakfast has similar qualities
mentioned above in the offense section, but there’s one glaring difference. There is a
stud on the way. Lucas Giolito is going to be that ace and I think we’ll see
him come up this year, joining Danny Salazar, Tyson Ross and Garrett Richards
to form a nice four-man front, one that only the Sex Panthers and Gamblers can match in the
AL.
JARGON’S TAKE
I can make two cases here, one for why Breakfast jumps in and
becomes an instant playoff team, and the other being why he’s a year out. He’ll
need that youth to come through right away, and it’ll be a big boost when both
Mazara and Giolito put on major league uniforms to accomplish the former; however, I'm thinking the latter is the most likely scenario. And that's not a bad thing. This team has direction now and it's exciting to see in a division that has struggled mightily against the National League.
CROX SOX
FRANCHISE RECORD:
2nd season, 166-241-55 (.419)
2015 RECORD/FINISH: 5th in the AL,166-241-55
BATS
Jose Abreu, Carlos Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz
are the steady offensive pieces, but Crox filled in the roster with a bunch of
young potential over grabbing the pieces that could have made him a force to be reckoned
with. Jean Segura could be a steal if he’s truly back, and Travis Shaw may be
the future third baseman for the Sox, of the Red and Crox variety. Still, a few
too many question marks on paper for me to make any bold predictions.
ARMS
He turned Noah Syndergaard into Jose Berrios, Rasiel
Iglesias and Sean Manaea, and whereas I love the latter of those three a lot,
altogether, their impact won’t be collectively felt until midseason 2016,
perhaps even 2017. The top-end of the rotation with Jon Lester and Patrick
Corbin will help him compete here and there, but this could be a struggle,
unless guys like Clay Buccholz, Homer Bailey and Ervin Santana rediscover the
form that made them pitch like No. 1s and 2s.
JARGON’S TAKE
After 166 wins in his first campaign, it’s hard to get any
worse, and I think overall the AL will have a bit more success against the NL,
bringing some of those wins back. Still, it will take a bit of luck for the
Crox to be a playoff team in 2016. The youth on this team shouts 2017.
GAMEDAY GAMBLERS
FRANCHISE RECORD:
9th season, 1,879-1,651-604 (.528)
2015 RECORD/FINISH: 6th in AL, 153-248-61
BATS
Nine bats with 20 home run potential and a lot of great
contact hitters will give the Gamblers a chance to really be the dominant
offense in the AL. He still has a few of the core players from his World Series
teams — Joey Votto, Ryan Braun and Adam Jones — and he’s surrounded them with
great young talent in Kyle Schwarber, Matt Duffy and Michael Conforto. Any other
year where there wasn’t a guy named Kris Bryant on the ballot, Duffy would have won the
Rookie of the Year. Joe Panik, Starlin Castro, Alcides Escobar and Kole Calhoun
will only make this team stronger.
ARMS
Goodbye Clayton Kershaw, hello David Price. Pretty even swap
at the end of the day. Stephen Strasburg, Justin Verlander, Steven Matz and
Julio Teheran make this a strong five-man front, and it gets even stronger when
you factor in Scott Kazmir and Andrew Cashner. Not sold on both in the NL West,
but they have the chance to be strong fantasy options. Zack Wheeler and Julio
Urias in waiting, and fliers on Yovani Gallardo and Chris Tillman aren’t bad
either. Together, it’s a pitching staff that will bring the Gamblers back to
the top of the AL.
JARGON’S TAKE
You see that the Gamblers are last in this preview. It's because I listed the capsules in order of finish last year, including playoff performances. He won't be here next year, I promise. If there’s one team that makes the biggest leap in 2016,
it’s going to be the Gameday Gamblers. With just 153 wins a year ago, I believe
he could easily score 70 more wins this year and be a playoff team, and even a
division winner. He did that well for himself at the July deadline and in the
offseason, and then in the draft, he only made this team better. The scariest
thing is the youth. Gameday could have the core group to make another run at a
few World Series titles.
Comments