AL EAST PREVIEW

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... Richmond Barking Spiders ... (93-69 in S10)

PAYROLL: $98.3M
KEY ADDS: NONE
KEY LOSSES: NONE

Guess who we like to win the AL East this season? Surprise, surprise! Hello Richmond! The team that didn't make a single move in the offseason. They sat back and watched the other divisional foes change their respective clubs. I guess when you have guys like Vic Gonzales, Otis Warden, and Ariel Rosado, making moves isn't really necessary. Good point. Enjoy your division title, Richmond.

PREDICTION: AL EAST CHAMPS



... New York Nippers ... (93-69 in S10)

PAYROLL: $116.9M
KEY ADDS: Al Lopez, Ewell Bierbrodt, Walt Young, David Garza
KEY LOSSES: Cookie Kwon, Olmedo Guerrero

Now just because we think Richmond is going to win the division, it doesn't mean they'll win it easily. New York will give Richmond a fight for the majority of the season. The Nippers went out and got two very important pieces for this club, Bierbrodt and Lopez. Both are going to play pivotal roles for the Nippers, especially Lopez. Getting Lopez away from their divisional counterparts was huge. The Nippers will have the experience advantage, but they'll fall just short of another division title.

PREDICTION: 2nd PLACE



... Pawtucket Fire Cats ... (99-63 in S10)

PAYROLL: $101.3M
KEY ADDS: Harry Roque, Welington Ontiveros, Douglas Fryman, Ron Singleton, Rod Green
KEY LOSSES: Josh Miller, Pablo Ramirez, Jimmie White, Al Lopez

Going into S11, the Pawtucket Fire Cats had one main objective to accomplish. They needed to upgrade their minor league system. Even if it meant trading current ML stars, even if it meant sacrificing a playoff spot, they felt it was in their best interest to do. So gone are the likes of Al Lopez, Josh Miller, and Pablo Ramirez, to name a few. But are they officially out of it? No way folks. This team will win 90 games again, and if you ask Tomhighway, he may even tell you that they'll win the division once again. It can happen folks, but we just don't see it.

PREDICTION: 3rd PLACE



... Atlanta convicks ... (79-83 in S10)

PAYROLL: $76.7M
KEY ADDS: Tomas Candelaria, Marino Mendoza, Francis Perez, Edwards Osik
KEY LOSSES: Pedro Velazquez, Otis Long

Unfortunately here in the AL East, as like in every division, one team has to be in last. Atlanta get our choice here, but they did a good job of trying to improve. Trading for Edwards Osik was a great move, he'll feast off AL East pitching. Put Osik together with Chan Ho Pong in the Atlanta lineup, and they give the convicks a pretty potent 1-2 punch. They have a decent rotation with Brad Williams, Javier Gil, and Louis Wells. However, there's just too much experience right now in the other three clubs and Atlanta just isn't ready. Their time to shine will come, just not now.

PREDICTION: 4th PLACE