2010 Baines Division Preview

Saturday's preview of the Molitor division is located here

Last season the Baines division was best in baseball. Vero Beach was the best team throughout the regular season, posting 100 wins. It was also the only division with two wild card winners, the now defunct Albany Veterans and Loves Park. In fact, every team in the division had a winning record out of division. This season's race should provide much of the same so without further ado:

VERO BEACH

The Bums came within one win going to the TBA Championship last fall. They lost three straight games sending the eventual champion Bombers to the Championship. This year Vero Beach is out for revenge. Shortstop Michael Young has moved over to third to allow the team to bring in Stephen Drew. Centerfielder Torii Hunter has to improve on a dismal season last year while Nelson Cruz will be playing full time this season. If Manny and Brian McCann can play anywhere close to last year's performance Vero Beach will looking good heading into October.


Projected Starters

C: Brian McCann
1B: Lyle Overbay
2B: Brandon Phillips
3B: Michael Young
SS: Stephen Drew
LF: Seth Smith
CF: Torii Hunter
RF: Nelson Cruz
DH: Manny Ramirez

Projected Rotation/Closer:
Justin Verlander
Carlos Zambrano
Jered Weaver
Brad Penny
Jordan Zimmerman/Tim Redding
CL: The Franciscos (Cordero and Rodriguez)

Division Finish: 1st Place

LOVES PARK

Loves Park will fight with Vero Beach all season long. They certainly have the talent to pass Vero but with down years coming to Pena, Beltre, Sizemore, and Rollins this team is looking at a wild card this season. The loss of 51-homer DH Jack Cust could hurt but they feel Billy Butler is more than ready to be handed the role.

The Lemmings pitching should be much improved this season. Yovani Gallardo will be in the majors all season, Kevin Correia will get a shot in the rotation, and rookie closer Andrew Bailey will shut down the opposition in the 9th.


Projected Starters

C: Victor Martinez
1B: Carlos Pena
2B: Asdrubal Cabrera
3B: Adrian Beltre/Adam Kennedy
SS: Jimmy Rollins
LF: Grady Sizemore/Ryan Raburn
CF: Rajai Davis
RF: Andre Ethier
DH: Billy Butler

Projected Rotation/Closer:
Jake Peavy
Yovani Gallardo
Kevin Correia
Joe Blanton
Matt Garza
CL: Andrew Blanton
Division Finish: 2nd Place

SAN ANTONIO ALAMOS

San Antonio have a good young staff with Clayton Kershaw, Jair Jurrjens, and JA Happ despite losing their top two pitchers from last season Brandon Webb and AJ Burnett. Veterans Andy Pettitte and Joel Pineiro provide the other two spots in the rotation. All are talented however they might be too lefty heavy for a serious playoff run.

An aging Alamos offense will be the key for them this season. JD Drew will need to improve from his .240, 16, 70 season last year and Brad Hawpe needs to provide some power for this team. With Ian Kinsler's struggles in spring they need to find some other way to make up for his offense, most likely coming from catcher Miguel Montero. If the Alamos see themselves in the hunt, look for them to add some power to the line-up during the season.


Projected Starters

C: Miguel Montero/Chris Iannetta
1B: James Loney
2B: Ian Kinsler
3B: Scott Rolen
SS: Miguel Tejada
LF: Jason Bay
CF: Mike Cameron
RF: JD Drew
DH: Brad Hawpe

Projected Rotation/Closer:
Clayton Kershaw
Joel Pineiro
Jair Jurrjens
Andy Pettitte
JA Happ
CL: Carlos Marmol

Division Finish: 3rd Place

HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS

Halifax added quality young arms to the team in the rookie draft in Brett Anderson and Brad Bergesen. These two will team up with Roy Halladay, John Danks, and Rich Harden to provide a solid rotation from 1 to 5. However Halifax's weak offense will hurt them this season. Adam Lind, Aramis Ramirez, and Raul Ibanez will provide their share of pop for the team but a catching platoon of Henry Blanco and Geovanny Soto and shortstop Nick Punto will give this team some problems at the bottom of the order.

Also, this team is without a clear-cut centerfielder. Rookies Sam Fuld and Julio Borbon will each get some time there as well as veterans Reed Johnson and Mark Kotsay. None of these options will be full-time though as it looks like they will be using a CF-by-committee approach this season.


Projected Starters

C: Geovanny Soto/Henry Blanco
1B: Ryan Garko
2B: Aaron Hill
3B: Aramis Ramirez
SS: Nick Punto
LF: Raul Ibanez
CF: ? (Fuld, Johnson, Kotsay, Borbon)
RF: Jose Bautista
DH: Adam Lind

Projected Rotation/Closer:
Doc Halladay
John Danks
Brad Bergesen
Brett Anderson
Rich Harden
CL: Mike Adams

Division Finish: 4th Place

KANSAS CITY BASHERS

It's never easy being a dispersal team. Add in that they are in arguably the TBA's toughest division and it could be a struggle for KC this year. However, this team is talented. Ace Zach Grienke could compete for the Cy Young this season and last year's Cy Young winner Mariano Rivera looks just as good as last season. Add in long ball threats Adam Dunn, Justin Morneau, Jack Cust, and Jayson Werth and this team should score some runs this season.

Right now I have this team slated for 5th but if the rotation behind Grienke can succeed this team could be much better than originally thought.


Projected Starters

C: Russell Martin
1B: Justin Morneau
2B: Jose Lopez
3B: Kevin Kouzmanoff/Fernando Tatis
SS: Jack Wilson
LF: Johnny Damon
CF: Jayson Werth
RF: Jack Cust/Mark Teahen
DH: Adam Dunn

Projected Rotation/Closer:
Zach Grienke
Kevin Millwood
Matt Palmer
Dallas Braden
Jose Contreras
CL: Mo Rivera

Division Finish: 5th Place