eMLB 2008 Preseason Rankings

eMLB 2008 Rankings and Previews


Every year I get scrutinized about my rankings.. The difference between playoffs and lottery is minor. I could easily see the 10 seed making it with a few moves off WW. I hope nobody gets offended because it is VERY close. I could see missing 3-4 teams who make playoffs. They always ask why do I put myself near the top?? Well Most wins in the league after 6 seasons. Most playoff appearances then any other team and tied for the most eSeries appearances and titles. Now I might not know the future but I have a pretty good eye for talent and do a lot of research. Sure, I make some picks that have people scratching head but I can say most of the time I am right on my hunches. The rankings below are not to deflate team’s expectations but more or less to let an individual where they could use help and what they did right. Understand I only predict playoffs.. I have been 9 for 12 the last 2 years. Now onto the 2008 rankings.


1. New Jersey Mets

Well did you expect less?? Last years team made the playoffs barely but almost every stud flopped.. Piazza got hurt. Lee never got into full swing. Hafner flopped. Roberts did well along with Wright but Furcal struggled. The OF wasn’t much better with Jones having a career worse year.. Still going into draft, we had solid players all around. We ended up retaking Pence and Jones back. We also added Wells in the offseason and Josh Hamilton as our 4th OF. Pitching is where we got stronger. Took workhorse guys early and High reward guys later. If Pedro and Patterson can stay healthy, watch out. With 3 Closers and 2 stud MR this could be my best team in 7 years. Playoff is a lock again. Health and depth will decide how far..

2. South Texas Heat

Once again, they are 2nd on my list. They had a solid core going into the meetings. First, he traded up to get Braun. Then moved Felix for a 2nd where he grabbed a BETTER SP at the same spot he was given. Acquiring Dye/Maine might be the best move for this year. They should have enough in every category to win most weeks. The only area going into the season is the SP strength. Sure Santana will be solid and Harang will follow suit but they have many question marks three thru five. Pen is decent but not spectacular. SB’s will be on the weak side with Lugo leading the way and Damon is aging. This is an area of improvement opportunity. Still they should walk into the playoffs.

3. Michigan Miracles

When your playing Roto H2H its key that you have a share of all the stats available. Not every week will HR’s carry you. You will need SB’s and Runs to help out on down power weeks. Well here is a team that is just like that. First look doesn’t seem to be solid but they covered all 12 stats to compete each week. No true 40+ HR hitter but if you have 6 guys with 20+ it does the same. SB is a little weak but nothing major. Pitching is solid but not spectacular. Closers might be this teams weak spot. Both guys are 38 or older and the 3rd is a long term question mark due to lack of experience. MR guys are solid and will help out some of the ERA’s of the SP.. Overall, this team has improved each year.

4. Northside TX Ballas

Here is another new owner that has put it together. Had a good draft pick last year and built on it this year. Team will be one of the better run scoring teams. They also have decent power but not top of the line. The weak point of this offense is probably BB and BA. The pitching overall is solid but pitching innings is a real question mark. Nobody threw 200IP for them. Saves are solid. Pitching will be a constant work in progress. Overall, this team will have its solid hitting to keep them in contention each week. If pitching falters they could find themselves them near lottery.

5. Wisconsin Brewers

God please shoot me for this ranking.. Justin is another owner who is finally putting it together. 2 years of solid drafting have done that. Even though he still has the occasional brain fart. IE Longoria.. Overall, with the solid moves during meetings and the good picks he has a solid team. .Runs/SB will be near the leagues elite levels. HR’s are going to be enough most weeks but avg at best. BB is decent and so is BA. Proven innings eaters in the staff and 2 closers even though they are not the most dependable. The room for improvement is SP depth and most likely hitting depth when injuries arise.

6. Julian Javelina

I like the moves Hoyle made. He finally saw the true value in every player instead of the possible upside. That will reward him with consistency. He will be near the top in most offensive stats. Areas of opportunity are going to be SB’s and BB.. Ichiro can’t carry this team and right now he’s looking at 2-3 a week. In addition, BB is very light. One guy had 80 or more BB. In Pitching K’s will be a little light and possibly Saves if Lyon doesn’t do well. Still they have enough depth in hitting to make moves to improve. Those few minor areas are why I do not have this team up at the top of the playoff seeding.

7. N. W. Lansing Eagles

This team fell apart last year by not being around much. Yet they became active just before the meetings and came up with a solid plan. They should be able to use this draft to make them a solid playoff team next season. Even with that I see them on the verge of making it this year. As far as hitting goes SB and BB is very light. Runs is also an area I see is in the bottom half of the league. Nice 1-2 punch with Cain and CC. If the young SP Billingsley and the Jap pitcher Kuroda can step it up they will be tough there.. The pen is a little iffy and probably why they are just outside of the playoff spots. Still plenty of time to fix what they need to in order to move up to the top 6.

8. Knoxville Possums

I like this team overall. They have done a nice job of contracts last year and filling the holes this year. Yet they missed a few areas which kept them out of the top 6. Runs and SB will be close to the leagues best. HR’s are solid. RBI’s are ok and, BA could be the leagues best. BB is very weak. The main issue I have with them is SP.. Not too many proven guys. This could be an issue with Wins/ERA/WHIP all year. Saves should be decent and Holds might be weak. If they can make a few moves on their pitching they might be close to a playoff spot. Hitting will keep them near 500 all year at least.

9. Encinitas Beach Bums

Here is another team that followed the mold of hitting first and pitching is 2nd. They should win most offensive stats every week. The weakest hole I see on this team hitting wise is BB and BA. Where this team’s weak points are is SP. That staff is very shaky at best and will be constant work all year long. They now have one closer but that could change every week. Decent holds will help. Still until they get balance, he will be fighting a .500 battle all year. If some of his later round hitters pan out maybe he can get a few more pitchers. At some point, I feel he will have to make a decision to commit to this year or next. I feel it will be the latter.

10. North Texas Rangers

I like what this team did overall to position themselves but trading rounds 2-4 will come back to haunt him. Yes he got solid players but unfortunately you need 20 starts every week to win. He has some great players but then it drops fast. HR’s is this team’s strength but the rest of his offense is average at best. Adrian’s pitching is like his hitting. He has 2 elite SP but then it drops off to 5 ERA guys. What is the purpose of having elite SP for 1-2 if the rest of your staff is question marks. They throw 8 shutout innings and then Millwood gives up 5 runs how does that help?? One Closer and One stud MR. I know they like their team but I think next year is this teams playoff chances.

11. Gaylord Dingers

Wagner had a game plan to work towards next year but not sure, he did a great job of that. He got his team in position to have more picks and more open contracts but not sure he executed his plan well. He seemed more focused on position then drafting best available. I think he secretly didn’t want to punt this year. This went against his drafting strategy he had in years past. He will have a solid power team and SB’s will be decent. BB isn’t very deep. Yet splitting 3 of the 6 stats isn’t that bad. The problem is pitching. He obviously was not concerned with them. He has 4 guys who threw for more then 100 innings and 2 of them not really well. No closer and K’s will be an issue. Still will be interesting to see his moves as he positions himself for next year.

12. Springfield Slammers

Here is a team going backwards. Will have decent runs/HR/RBI production every week but virtually no SB/BB guys. They could be at the bottom of the barrel. When you trade your 1st and then draft 3 pitchers in your next 3 rounds if hurts your hitting depth. So what we have here is a mediocre team because of it. Most of the pitching stats could be an issue especially if his young guys don’t step it up.. This could be one of the leagues worst ERA/WHIP teams. One closer right now doesn’t help his cause K’s should be ok. I see a lot of work to make this year work but more likely a build to next year could put them back up into contention.


13. Carolina Yankees

Last years winner took a huge step back. Mainly because he lost a lot of his contracts. Its not so much that this is team is really bad its more the fact he doesn’t do anything really well. That mediocre stats will keep him in fights every week but falling just short. This can get very frustrating. SP is built the same way as hitting. Wins are pretty good but K’s are weak and 1 closer won’t help much. ERA/WHIP should be competitive most weeks. I can see this team making moves at deadline to improve their position for next year run.

14. Mid Michigan Tigers

I like Keith’s Runs/HR/RBI stats. If this team could be based on them he’s a playoff team. Yet unfortunately there are 3 more offensive stats and besides Burrell’s BB the team is VERY weak on SB/BB. BA isn’t bad and should be in the leagues top half. Now we get to the part why they are in lottery area. They have guys with innings and Wins could be this teams bight spot. Not one legit K SP will hurt K’s. He has one Closer currently and no elite MR guy. ERA and WHIP are average at best. The draft didn’t help his long term unless Hardy returns to pre all star 07. Hopefully Keith stays active and makes some moves to prepare for 09.

15. Dallas Redbirds

I don’t really make any rankings based on how moronic the owners are. Yet Doyel still baffles me in how thinks he drafts a good team. Sure he was fortunate last year and basically handed Carolina an easy championship but I don’t see lightning striking twice. He will be active and sure find some diamonds by getting lucky but still that shouldn’t be enough to get him into the playoffs. He has ok runs but power is the leagues worst. Top RBI guy last year was 82. His speed in Crawford and Pierre who might not start. At least he has Cust. He will provide his BB. 2 guys who hit above 300. With his pitching which is this teams strong side. Solid innings and wins. No closer. Good MR and ERA/WHIP will be all over. The only thing Doyel has coming back for 09 is what he signs this year. Maybe he signs the right guys but I can tell you it won’t be much hitting.. At least good hitting.

16. ES Blackksox

Somebody has to be last I know. I am sure others see it but outside of Pena’s breakout year what else does this team have offensively? Most of the offensive stats will be at or near the leagues bottom. Could they improve?? Sure that’s why we play the games. If I had a crystal ball nobody would try after the overall winner. They will have Mauer back next year and hopefully Gordon takes a step forward. With the drafting heavy pitching early and then taking hitters with no power later it doesn’t bold well to next year. But this teams strength is its SP. He could very will move up a few spots with just them alone but unfortunately winning 3-5 games a week will not cut it.. The best this team could do is take 1-2 of his elite SP and trade them for hitters that would really improve his long term. Wonder if he will make any moves to do that??