2024 SL Season Predictions
This article is a collaboration between Mexico City beat writer Jerry Libinski and Sacramento beat writer Guy Davis, cousin of GM Ryan Davis. Below is the legend explaining what each distinction means. For the interest of non bias we didn’t right a prediction for our teams.
Legend:
Team MVP: Best Position Player
Team Cy Young: Best Pitcher
X-Factor: Non star player overall team success relies on
Young Gun: 1st or 2nd year player with the biggest chance to contribute
Libinski SL Final Standings Predictions
1st-Mexico City
2nd-Sacramento Golden bears
3rd-Atlanta Swarm
4th-Portland Axemen
5th-Miami
6th-Oklahoma
7th -Salt Lake City
8th -Philadelphia
9th -Austin
10th-Boston
Davis SL Final Standings Predictions
1st- Atlanta
2nd- Mexico City
3rd- Portland
4th- Sacramento
5th- Miami
6th- Philadelphia
7th- Oklahoma
8th- Salt Lake City
9th- Austin
10th- Boston
Mexico City Chupacabras
Last Season Finish: 73-53 Tied for 4th SL
Projected Finish: Libinski-1st Davis-2nd
Team MVP: LF Josh Johnson
Team Cy young: CL Tony Carreon
X-Factor Player: RF Kevin Shaheen
Young Gun: SS/3B Mike Frantz
Analysis:
Mexico City is going to be fighting for promotion this year. After 2 straight winning seasons this team is primed for a breakout. MVP candidate Josh Johnson is only 24 and shows no signs of regression and the same can be said of 23 year old SS Andy Popour, 2023’s best offensive SS in the SL. Expect both of these stars to be under consideration for the MVP award by season’s end. On the other side of the ball, the Chupacabras strength lies in their bullpen. Closer Tony Carreon is one of the best relievers in the SL but keep an eye on Bobby Archer as he has the stuff to take that next step into elite RP territory. The Chupacabra’s rotation is this team’s weakness. That’s not to say this rotation isn’t talented, as guys like LHP Brendon Six and RHP David Munson have been successful in the CBA, but a lot of this staff’s success hinges on its top notch defense staying true to form as they boasted the best defense in the SL in 2023. One prospect to watch not named Ryan Wright is SS/3B Mike Frantz. Mexico City lacks a clear starter at 3B so look for the speedy Frantz to seize that position early and run with it. RF Kevin Shaheen is this team’s X-Factor. The 26 year old was a revelation in 2022, but took a step back in 2023 as he struck out at a higher percentage and suffered from a .239 BABIP, nearly 40 points lower than his 2022 total. If Shaheen can replicate his 2022 season or at least come close, Mexico City’s offense is going to blossom. Honorable mention goes to Curt Sanders as the outfielder has been able to step in admirably when needed and contributed greatly to the Mexico City cause in a part time role.
Sacramento Golden Bears
Last Season Finish: 73-53 Tied for 4th SL
Projected Finish:Libinski, 81-45 2nd in the SL Davis.
Team MVP: 2B Jose “Buzzy The Potato Baron” Rodriguez
Team Cy Young: SP Chase Lewis
X-Factor Player: SP Jason Corbin
Top Prospect: CF Bill Santos
Analysis: Sacramento is going to be in the promotion battle all year long. After perennial MVP candidate Buzzy Rodriguez and Vapor Lock Delgado the cupboard is pretty bare on the offensive side of things. The name of the game is stealing runs in Sac Town and that is something they do extremely well with an SL leading 483 walks as well as an SL leading 224 steals as well, 75 from Rodriguez himself. With the deep outfields and expansive gaps Sacramento will need to hit gaps and manufacture runs. On the flip side the team won’t have to manufacture too many runs because of a dominant pitching staff. Something that was perceived as a fluke in the CBA’s inaugural season was proven to be very legit. Sacramento had a team ERA of 3.37 leading the SL by over 30 Points. Led by the 1-2 punch of Chase Lewis and Jason Corbin and Nigel Berry full time in the pen this year runs will come at a premium for teams facing the Golden Bears. The X-Factor on the season will be the performance of the aforementioned Jason Corbin who has been very good but for Sacramento to be in the Prem League next year he will have to be great, with that defense behind him it’s very possible to see a Cy Young caliber season out of him. Sacramento’s young gun is CF Bill Santos drafted 17th overall out of Cochise College. He fits into the Sacramento mold as it pertains to slick fielding but the difference he makes is with his bat. All signs point to him being able to produce on the offensive end which is a welcome change to the norm in Sac Town.If all things come together this pundit would not be surprised to see them make the step to the next level sooner than later.
Atlanta Swarm
Last Season Finish: 76-50, 3rd in SL
Projected Finish: Libinski-3rd Davis-1st
Team MVP:Libinski- DH Shen Qi, Davis- DH Shen Qi
Team Cy Young:Libinski-SP Mike Quinn, Davis- SP Mike “Win” Quinn
X-Factor Player:Libinski-LF/RF Carlos Gonzalez, Davis- SP David McDaniel
Young Gun:Libinski- RF Marshall Kellogg/ RF Jorge Acosta, Davis- CF Jorge Acosta
Analysis:
Libinski: For most of the past season Atlanta was in a promotion spot and expect them to be right there for the entire year. With an offensive leader in Shen Qi who had more doubles than strikeouts on the year, and his second in command the ageless wonder Josh Saso scoring runs doesn’t look to be an issue with one big if. They have to find a replacement for stud outfielder Miguel Gallegos who returned to Miami after loan but more on that later. The thing that cannot be denied or ignored about Atlanta is their big man Mike “Win” Quinn. With such a humble nickname comes rather high expectations but he has met if not exceeded them when he has been healthy posting a 3.27 ERA and a 5.5 WAR in 25 starts last year. Him and David Mcdaniel spearhead a rotation that should be one of the top in the league. X-Factor and Young Gun in this case are interchangeable for me because it is about one thing, Replacing Miguel Gallegos. Carlos Gonzalez is an older more established option batting over 300 last season but with only 1 HR in 464 plate appearances he isn’t the middle of the lineup guy Gallegos was. The young guns of Kellogg (21) and Acosta (22) may be the answer to the Gallegos hole. Kellogg has a little more pop and more than impressed in the Senior Winter League this offseason. He is also more of a RF defensively than Acosta. On the other hand Acosta impressed at the RES level a couple years back but hasn’t had a full chance yet in the show. I think more at bats might be exactly what he needs. Either way if Atlanta wants to make a real push to make some noise in the Prem League soon they are going to need to be quick about it. With 4 of 5 projected rotation pieces over 32 as well has their top 3 bullpen arms not to mention star man Josh Saso, Father Time is undefeated so Atlanta is going to need to hurry before he catches up.
Davis:
There is no doubt Atlanta will be a contender again this year. Perennial MVP candidate Shen Qi and 1B Josh “Bug” Saso look to lead a lineup that scored 723 runs in 2023, trailing only Cincinnati and Denver in that department. The Swarm don’t hit home runs, but they aren’t built to. They utilize a more balanced offensive attack, focusing on putting the ball in play rather than swinging for the fences. They’re also a threat when they do reach base, with 8 players stealing 15 or more bases in 2023. Their staff is fronted by RHP Mike Quinn and RHP David McDaniel, a 1-2 punch that talentwise can rival any in the CBA. Quinn was good for a 3.27 ERA and put up a 5.5 WAR last season, garnering well deserved votes for MVP and Pitcher of the Year. There is no doubt Quinn will do his part to maintain Atlanta’s SL success, but the team will need David McDaniel to hold up his end of the bargain. McDaniel was by no means a bad pitcher last season but one can’t help but feel like he didn’t pitch up to his true talent. The 32 year old right hander is facing a very important year but if he can make it all click Atlanta is looking at a 1 seed in the postseason. Fronting the bullpen is LHP Jesus Gaytan. The closer has excellent stuff and looks primed for another dominant season. Jorge Acosta is a player to watch, as the 22 year old will be relied upon to replace Miguel Gallegos as the Swarm’s centerfielder. Stepping into a fulltime role for the first time in his CBA career, Acosta definitely has the talent to put it all together and be the lead off hitter the Swarm intend for him to be.
Portland Axemen
Last Season Finish: 51-75 8th in the PL
Projected Finish: Libinski- 4th in SL Davis- 3rd in SL
Team MVP: Libinski-RF Miguel Gutierrez Davis- 1B Timothee Brandi
Team Cy Young: Libinski- Bill Alcala Davis- SP Bill Alcala
X-Factor:Libinski- LF Bertrando Toro Davis- SS Brett Mandell/SP Shaun Glasser
Young Gun: Libinski- Jose Lopez Davis- SP Jose Lopez
Analysis:
Libinski: Portland has the not so favorable distinction of being one of the first teams to ever be relegated. But it looks like they could fall on their feet in the SL. All of their success depends on their bats plain and simple. This all starts with Miguel Gutierrez the 62 million dollar man. After posting a close to 3 WAR this past season. With a clean injury history it looks like he was platooned last year after playing only just over 100 games. More ABs at a lower level this year should show much more production. Gutierrez won’t have to shoulder the load again with Timothee Brandi coming back to the SL after being loaned here last year. Brandi in limited time absolutely destroyed the SL last year. He hit over .400 and posted a .525 OBP granted it was only 23 games. If he can stay healthy and play a whole season at this level he could push for MVP consideration. Brett Mandell could push Andy Popour for best SS in the SL this year if he produces like scouts and other GMs think he can. The Cy young of the team is Bill Acala, only 2 years removed from winning 21 games he will be the best pitcher the Axemen field this year. With 4 pitches and pinpoint control there is only 1 reason a return to form for Alcala isn’t in the cards. The only problem is that in 69 career starts he has given up 57 HRs including 31 in 34 starts last season. If he can do a better job at keeping the ball in the park he should be more successful. Their X-Factor for me is fan favorite left fielder Bertrando Toro. With names like Brandi, Gutierrez, and Mandell in the lineup it is easy to overlook Toro. But his 6.0 WAR and over .400 OBP in the inaugural season was a big reason Portland made the Premier League. The issue last year was his health only playing in 97 games. If they can keep him healthy by maybe mixing in some days at DH he should help them contend. Their Young Gun is Jose Lopez with well above average stuff he was dominant last season at the RES level which garnered a promotion to the big club. Without much help defensively behind him his ERA ballooned to plus 5. Unless Portland can be better defensively behind him he will struggle again this year. All in all Portland is another contending team in the ultra competitive second division of the CBA.
Davis:
Portland’s 2023 season was spent in the PL where the team was plagued by key injuries all over the diamond. Upon losing the relegation series to the New York Roar, many thought Portland might go full rebuild but instead they did the exact opposite. Portland found a way to get younger while acquiring more talent in an effort to get back to the PL as soon as possible. Portland’s calling card is its offense. Led by Timothee Brandi, Miguel Gutierrez, and Brett Mandell, Portland is going to have no trouble scoring runs. 14 million dollar man Miguel Gutierrez will hope to improve upon a very successful first season in the CBA where he slashed .278/.365/.506 with an .871 OPS. Star 1B Timothee Brandi had a short 23 game stint in the SL in 2023 when he was oaned to the Oklahoma Mammoths and all he did was slash .410/.525/.641 with a 1.166 OPS. Expect more of that in 2024 as Brandi is unleashed on the rest of the SL for a full season. The team’s best pitcher is RHP Bill Alcala, who is looking to rebound from a disappointing year in the PL. Alcala is a former 20 game winner, and is looking to build on that success in his SL debut. A pitcher with impeccable control, look for Alcala to have a big year as the Axemen fight for promotion. The team’s X-factors are SS Brett Mandell and SP Shaun Glasser. Mandell is one of the CBA’s premier SS talents when healthy. The 26 year old missed about 100 games in 2022 but was fully healthy in 2023 and put up an .819 OPS and a lot of Portland’s success banks on his good health as he is a true difference maker if healthy. Glasser is another X-factor, as the left hander is looking to have a bounce back season after missing most of 2023 with a torn flexor tendon. As of this writing, Glasser is in line to be Portland’s Opening Day starter and will be tasked with facing off with the SL’s premier arms start after start so the 32 year old will be a boon to an otherwise subpar staff if he can stay healthy for the first time in his CBA career. LHP Jose Lopez is the youngster to watch on this offensive minded team. Lopez has the chance to be special. Acquired in a trade with the Austin Outlaws, Lopez has 4 plus pitches and undeniably great stuff but in his 16 SL starts last year he gave up 14 home runs, so finding a way to cut down on the long ball will solidify his place as an above average starter and future front of the rotation pitcher. If the Axemen can pitch at about league average, there is no doubt they will be pushing for promotion as their offensive potential is massive. But ultimately, they will need to stay healthy if they wish to stand a chance in the upper SL.
Miami Warriors
Last Season Finish: 84-42 1st in BL
Projected Finish:Libinski 5th in SL Davis- 5th in SL
Team MVP:Libinski-LF Miguel Gallegos Davis- C Alejandro Pena
Team Cy Young:Libiinski- SP Seth Paddock Davis- SP Seth Paddock
X-Factor:Libinski- SP Robert Buxton Davis- CF Miguel Gallegos
Young Gun:Libinski- 1B Luis Diaz Davis- RF Brad Desroches
Analysis:
Libinski: With a Pat Riley like guarantee of steamrolling through the SL coming from the Miami front office, I’d like to quote another of our great sports minds, in the imortal words of Lee Corso; “Not so fast”. Not necessarily cause it’s blatantly wrong it’s just we don’t know. With two of the most hitter friendly ballparks in the SL moving on up to the PL runs could be at a premium across the board and Miami mostly relies on a high powered offense. But one guy who could care less is Miguel Gallegos, after absolutely raking for a season in a half for Atlanta he rejoins his original club in a division he has already run roughshod over. Slashing .352/.410/.591 with an OPS 1.001 he will have no issues finding a spot in an already high powered lineup. Following him is absolute star Alejandro Pena who has taken the throne of best catcher in the league from Jordan Olguin. After posting a .440 OBP and a 7.6 WAR and winning both MVP and RoY honors in the BL he will only benefit from the rejoining of the man they call “Milk Steak”, whatever that means. Their other stud is RF Brad Desroches who had a meteoric rise through the Miami system before bursting onto the scene last season. 25 Homers and 83 RBIs in only 116 games it will be interesting to see how he contributes stepping up a third level in as many years. Cy Young decision is an easy decision with a guy like Seth Paddock on the roster so far he has been everything you look for in a second overall pick. Posting 2.34 ERA and a 5.6 K/BB ratio as well as a 6.4 WAR. Turning just 23 this upcoming season he should be a force for years to come. The rotation has been solidified behind him with two rather big acquisitions in “Big Bucks” Bixton and Harry Galbraith. Buxton has top level experience but he did struggle in Miami with a .391 BABIP so his number should improve. As a team they had a .321 BABIP over the whole season defense could be a problem but the name of the game for Miami is offense is the best defense. The pen really has only one name of note is Henry Gonzalez he was dominant during the Inaugural season of the CBA then awful in the PL this year. But he was traded to Miami after a month or so and was good after that so it is a hit or miss what we will see out of him. Their Young Gun really getting his first shot is First Baseman Luis Diaz. After Juan Alejo moving on there are some sizable shoes to fill for Diaz but if last year is any indication he is ready for a full time role. He hit over .320 at the SL level in just under 50 games for Indianapolis so I’m real excited to see him over a full year at that level.
Davis:
Miami’s ranking is not indicative of their true talent. Their ranking is merely a reflection of the unknown as it is highly unlikely they will be able to roll the SL in the same way they steamrolled the BL last season. This is an explosive, young team that very well may be pushing for promotion by the time August rolls around. Utilizing a lineup that is very left handed heavy, the Warriors put up 752 runs, 2nd to only Dallas in all of the CBA. Boasting an average lineup age of 24 years old, Miami is a free swinging bunch. They struck out 883 times, good for most in the BL in 2023, so it remains to be seen whether the Warriors will be able to sustain their offensive success when facing a better level of pitching. C Alejandro Pena is looking to build on a successful rookie year in which he won the Rookie of the Year Award and the MVP award. The 23 year old catcher put up a 7.6 WAR and slashed .362/.440./.580 with a 1.020 OPS in 514 PAs, cementing himself as one of the best catching talents in the CBA. He and LF Chad Lynch form a very solid 2-3 combo and hope to lead SBBC’s lineup to glory. Miami’s rotation is led by young right hander Seth Paddock, the number 2 overall pick in the 2022 draft. Paddock tore up the BL in 2023, winning the BL Pitcher of the Year after posting a 2.36 ERA and a 6.4 WAR. It’s difficult to see him repeating such dominance in the SL where he will be facing greater competition but don’t let that take away from how great he is. He and the rest of the young rotation (Harry Galbraith, Andy Heavener) are going to team up with PL vet Robert Buxton to try and be the first team to reach promotion 2 years in a row. Miami doesn’t boast a particularly strong pen, but arms like Henry Gonzalez and Ramiro Montoya are more than serviceable and will ensure late leads in Miami turn into wins. The Warriors’ X-Factor is outfielder Miguel Gallegos, a man who absolutely tore up the SL in 2023 with Atlanta. Gallegos is going to lead off for Miami and play center field full time, and if he is able to find the same success he did in Atlanta last season where he hit 43 doubles and got on base at a .410 clip, this team will reach a whole new level. The young gun to watch on this team is RF Brad Desroches. Desroches can straight up mash. He OPS’d .890 in his first season at the top level and also posted a 12.5% walk rate, a good sign that OPS is for real. He also played a league average right field with 10 assists so there’s more to him than just his prodigious power. Look for Desroches to rank in the top 10 in the power categories once the season ends. Miami is a young, exciting ballclub but may be held back by their pitching and inexperience in their first season in the SL. They will be one of the most watched teams in the CBA and will find some success but it’s hard to expect them to roll through their competition this year.
Oklahoma Mammoths
Last Season Finish: 54-72 7th in the SL
Projected Finish: Libinski-6 in SL Davis-7 in SL
Team MVP: Libinski- 3B Andy Mobley, Davis- 1B Brad Sayers
Team Cy Young: Libiinski- SP Matt Daniels, Davis- SP Matt Daniels
X-Factor: Libinski- C Julio Rodriguez, Davis- 3B Alex Ulloa
Young Gun: Libinski- 3B Eduardo Hernandez, Davis- SP Curt Benjamin
Analysis:
Libinski:
Oklahoma fans buckle in for another season of mediocrity. The Mammoths are in the dreaded position of being right in the middle as in they are just a little too good to go full rebuild but not good enough to really exceed. Andy Mobley however does not fit that mold, he is a superstar and has been one of the best players in the CBA since its inception. Over 10 career WAR, walks more than he strikes out, plays well above average defense at every infield position that’s not first base, I could go on but you get the picture. If he’s healthy he produces at an all star level simple as that. Paired with Mobley is Brad Sayers at 1B, with 40 plus homers and an over .310 batting average in both years of play. The guy just mashes no other way to put it. Mobley gets on in front of him and he launches the ball into the seats that’s the Oklahoma offensive gameplan death by 2 run homers. They are the team that took the bait on Alex Ulloa a player that Florida had been trying to get rid off forever, problem is I don’t see him being anywhere close to as good as advertised. They have a legitimate ace in Matt Daniels who posted a 4.1 WAR in spite a 4.27 ERA I could see him making 18 QS this year and winning close to 15 games. With a bullpen anchored by Rich Mata two young guns are the most interesting pieces. Former first round pick Esteban Sanchez is in his first real extended playing time out of the minors. But I’m most excited to see what Curt Benjamin does.Get ready to roll your eyes. He posted a 0.84 ERA in 74.2 innings with 13.0 K/9. How have you not heard of him yet? Those numbers may have been from Senior Winter League, I know I’m dumb. But it will give us an interesting look at how much those stats really mean when we have something to compare them with at the big club. The X-Factor is catcher Julio Rodriguez he was an absolute force in 2022 then fell off the proverbial cliff last season batting 68 points lower and going from 5.5 WAR to just 0.4 WAR. I’m projecting a bounce back year for “J-Rod” and if he returns to some kind of form it will be a welcome sight in Oklahoma. Their Young Gun goes by the name of Eduardo Hernandez at only 18 years old and me firmly off the Alex Ulloa band wagon Hernandez is my pick for 3B with Mobley moving to second. He had 27 HRs in 57 games … yes … it was in winter league … and yes it was only junior winter league but i don’t care. Give the young man a shot.
Davis:
Oklahoma is in a tough spot. This is a team that is middle of the pack as far as SL teams go, as its current roster makeup isn’t that of a contender but it’s also not a roster so devoid of talent that a full rebuild is necessary. On the offensive side, it looks like 1B Brad Sayers and INF Andy Mobley will be relied on the most to produce for a team that might struggle a bit to score runs. Last year Sayers was good for an insane slash line of .313/.379/.635 with a 1.014 OPS. Pair that with Mobley’s .323/.421/.526 and Oklahoma fans will at least have an insane 3-4 duo to cheer for. The rest of the lineup leaves a lot to be desired as Kyle Lopez looks like the only guy who will contribute offensively in 2024. Matt Daniels is the clear cut star of this Oklahoma staff. The 30 year old lefty boats an outstanding changeup and that changeup helped contribute to a 4.1 WAR for the Californian in 2023. Daniels is going to need to have a big year as the rest of the rotation is going to have trouble keeping up. RHP Bobby Perez will look to pick up some of the slack as the 34 year old is Oklahoma’s 2nd best starting pitcher. Keep an eye on 23 year old relief pitcher Esteban Sanchez. His outstanding cutter/slider combo shows future stopper potential. Oklahoma’s X-Factor is 3B Alex Ulloa. Ulloa was acquired in a deal that sent defensive wizard Buck Kucharski to the Florida Giants. Ulloa is the team’s X-Factor because he is going to have to make up for the loss of Kucharski or else this deal looks unfavorable to Oklahoma. Kucharski was fantastic in Oklahoma and Ulloa has huge shoes to fill, but if he can come anywhere close to replicating Kucharski’s offensive production then the Mammoths can breathe a deep sigh of relief. The Mammoths’ young gun is Curt Benjamin. This could very well go to Eduardo Hernandez as well, but it’s hard to see Hernandez contributing this year whereas Benjamin seems ready to get big leaguers out now. He will be used in a relief role as of this writing, but it’s impossibly to deny the starter potential in young Benjamin. Up until this year he has been used as a reliever but hasn’t performed well at all. If Benjamin is given a shot to start in 2024, expect him to be contributing to the big league squad in no time. Oklahoma has a solid core in place with Mobley, Sayers, and Daniels but lacks the balance many other SL teams have found, hurting their chances to fight for promotion this year. The Mammoths won’t be fighting relegation but better hope they don’t lose any of those 3 players for an extended period of time or else they may be in trouble.
Salt Lake City Snappers
Last Season Finish: 51-75 8th in the SL
Projected Finish: Libinski- 7th in the SL Davis- 8th in the SL
Team MVP: Libinski- CF Ralph Radney, Davis- CF Ralph Radney
Team Cy Young: Libinski- SP Ricky Colon, CL Chris Cote
X-Factor: Libinski- 1B Jeremy Costanzo, Davis- 1B Jeremy Costanzo
Young Gun: Libinski- SP Carlos Rodriguez, Davis- CF Mike Vannier
Analysis:
Libinski:
Salt Lake is going to be in a fight to stay out of the SL relegation playoff. Is the switch hitter experiment a success? No. Is it a failure? Not really. But wait if it isn’t a failure and it isn’t a success then what is it? You tell me. One switch hitter who has had zero issues is Ralph Radney. The man gets on base (.418 OBP), scores runs (100 runs), and doesn’t strike out (38 Ks). He’ll also steal close to 30 bases a season. Although look for a full time move to LF this should help his WAR and the team as a whole. The next real hitter of note is also the teams X-Factor Jeremy Costanzo. Costanzo was the best player in the CBA in its first ever season hitting 55HR to go with 140 RBIs and a .315 BA. The problem is he only played 60 games a year ago. Hence his drop from 8.2 WAR to 0.5WAR. A full season out of Costanzo and the Snappers could raise some eyebrows around the league. This doesn’t happen without SP’s Ricky Colon and Carlos Rodriguez who I have as my CY Young and Young Gun respectively. Colon has all the pieces to the puzzle he just needs to put it together. Although and over .350 BABIP should go down with the aforementioned Radney moving to left field so there is less of a liability in Center. Carlos Rodriguez will also have to be great as well. Again a young starter with plus stuff and the command to match. He possesses a knockout change while still having the ability to tip the radar gun at 95. The problem is the defense again after Rodriguez posted a .368 BABIP. I know Salt Lake City is a hitters park but that is no excuse for appalling defense and that’s something they should look to shore up if they would like to contend. Their strngth pitching wise comes from their bullpen. With Chris Cote and Robert Mejia waiting in the wings should they be delivered a lead. The problem is that doesn’t happen as often as it should. But if the Snappers can figure out how to take a lead late in the game they should put it away more often than not.
Davis:
Salt Lake City is going to struggle to stay in the SL this year. They don’t score especially well and they had the 2nd worst ERA in the SL in 2023. With no major additions made in the offseason, it’s hard to see this team competing with the rest of the SL. One thing this team does extremely well is hold leads. RHPs Chris Cote and Robert Mejia are lights out relievers who would bring in quite the return if either were made available. Ricky Colon fronts a rotation that really should be better than it is. Colon, Edwin Rodriguez, Nick Porter, and Dante Mondragon are supremely talented pitchers but have struggled to even get their ERAs under 4.70. Even in an extreme hitter’s park it’s tough to see pitchers with so much natural ability struggle so badly. On the offensive side, OF Ralph Radney is set to return to the team after being loaned to Dallas last season and he is finally moving to LF, a move that bodes well given his poor performance in CF the past 2 years. The Salt Lake speedster is an insanely talented hitter with a gifted eye and crazy bat to ball skills that have helped contribute to a .359/.441/.493 slash line thus far in his career. Expect more of the same this year, no matter where the Snappers are in the standings. Salt Lake’s X-Factor is big Jeremy Costanzo. One of many switch hitters in the Snappers’ lineup, Costanzo missed a chunk of time due to injury in 2023 and posted some disappointing numbers as a result. If Costanzo can stay healthy, Salt Lake’s chances of avoiding relegation increase greatly but if he does go down it will not bode well for the Snappers. The youngster to watch is 22 year old centerfielder Mike Vannier. The right hander didn’t do much at the major league level last year but he’s a hard working kid with good potential to become a good defense first centerfielder. He will leadoff and start in center for the Snappers to begin the season so keep an eye on him. Salt Lake City will probably be fighting for relegation in 2024 but don’t expect a full tear down rebuild. For as long as Radney is in a Snappers uniform the team will be looking to improve and that starts and ends with the starting staff.
Philadelphia Liberty
Last Season Finish: 43-83 10th in the PL
Projected Finish: Libinski- 8th Davis- 6th
Team MVP: Libinski- DH Chris Greenwell, Davis- DH Chris Greenwell
Team Cy Young: Libinski- RP Alex Guzman, Davis- RP Alex Guzman
X-Factor: Libinski- SP Pat Gilmore, Davis- RF Billy Gray
Young Gun: Libinski- SP Miguel Coronado, Davis- 3B Josh Green
Libinski- When the best pitcher on your roster is a reliever who has never before pitched an inning in the CBA it’s a problem. Much like Miami and Portland, Philadelphia have made claims to being back in the top next season and the SL is no match for them. Unlike the other two I think Philly is just blowing smoke. That being said they did make a huge acquisition from Austin when they traded for their MVP Chris “Cracker” Greenwell. We all know what he can do as he slashed .347/.406/.626 and has a career OPS of 1.041. At only 25 and moving to DH full time there is absolutely now reason why he can’t replicate if not improve these number for his new club. Behind him is LF Alejandro Lugo, he was the center of trade rumors with the some insiders saying a move for him to Sacramento was imminent. But if the Liberty are to have any chance of staying out of a relegation playoff they better hold onto him with both hands. Not necessarily cause Lugo is exceptional but he is solid. They also have Matt Haley at first but in the CBA universe a first baseman is expected to hit over .300 it is the strongest position across all three leagues so a solid first baseman isn’t much to write home about. Their Cy Young is Cuban import named Alex Guzman. He gets right off the boat with two dominant pitches, a cutter that reaches 98 and a wipeout slider to match pair that with his ability to go multiple innings gives him every opportunity to be elite. There is only 1 downsides to him, all reports coming out of Cuba is that his last team won’t miss him and that has nothing to do with on field performance but he was a headache in the clubhouse. Last year starter Pat Gilmore pitched better than expected in the PL after getting the call up from the reserves posting a 3.69 ERA in 92.2 innings over the course of 13 starts. Their X-Factor is going to be whether he can replicate that success across a full season. Their Young Gun goes by the name of Miguel Coronado. They are gunna need him to step up and be an ace now at the ripe old age of 24. With 6 pitches one of which being a fastball that can brush triple digits at times Coronado is going to need to grow up fast. With Adam Kirby and Robert Buxton now pitching against Philly in the SL this season a dose of seller’s remorse is very much possible. Especially if Philly gets relegated in the playoff.
Davis:
It is going to be a tough year for the Philadelphia Liberty. Although they will not be fighting relegation, it’s hard to project the Liberty as anything more than an end of the season spoiler team. That’s not to say Philly fans will be disappointed with the play of their position players as 1B/DH Chris Greenwell and 2B Antonio Ramirez look to lead a position player core that boasts a few offseason additions. In a shocking trade that had many in the CBA debating, Philadelphia acquired the aforementioned Greenwell from the Austin Outlaws. The 25 year old slugger is one of the premier sluggers in CBA and looks to continue his torrid pace in his second year in the SL. There’s no reason to believe Greenwell will take a step back this year and his insanely high work ethic paired with great leadership make that .341/.407/.634 career slash line look that much better. With position players like Alejandro Lugo and Chris Greenwell, you’d think Philly is set up for success this year right? Well, it’s not that simple as the pitching staff looks to be this team’s downfall. Young Miguel Coronado is the default ace of the starting staff but the team’s best pitcher lies in the bullpen and he is left hander Alex Guzman. New to the CBA, Guzman signed a 5 year $1 million deal with the Liberty and it looks like the 27 year old Cuban will take the role of relief ace in his first ever CBA season. Guzman’s filthy cutter/slider combo is sure to rack up many K’s in the SL. Billy Gray is the Liberty’s X-Factor as the scrappy outfielder hit .306/.364/.441 in the inaugural season before hitting a sub-par .261/.316/.362. Gray has the talent to be a key cog in this lineup and if he’s able to replicate his 2022 performance, this lineup gets a lot deeper. The team’s young gun is 22 year old third baseman Josh Green. The former Gator crushed the ball in the Senior Winter League and looks like a shoe-in to replace current starter Wayne Anderson at third base once he comes back from his current stint on the DL. Green is a future star who will be a perennial .300 hitter while manning an above-average third base for the Liberty. Overall, the Liberty are a team that will boast a good offense this year but so many other SL teams can say the same and what is going to set SL teams apart from one another is how well they can pitch. Philly will finish at the middle of the pack this year but look for this team to be end of season spoilers if their pitching figures it out.
Austin Outlaws
Last Season Finish: 56-70 6th in the SL
Projected Finish: Libinski-9th Davis-9th
Team MVP: Libinski- 2B Angel Cruz, Davis- 2B Angel Cruz
Team Cy Young: Libinski- RP Alex Valdivia, Davis- RP Valdivia
X-Factor: Libinski- 1B/3B Mark Bain, Davis- OF/DH Miguel Cortez
Young Gun: Libinski- CF Alexander Martin, Davis- CF Alexander Martin
Analysis:
Austin’s season is going to come down to one game that being the relegation playoff, but i don’t know if another season in the SL would be better or some time at the bottom of the pile would better suit them. With a couple bold moves in the offseason it is going to be interesting to see how it works out for them. Their MVP is Second Bagger Angel Cruz who is an interesting player to dive into.He is your prototypical speedy contact hitting good fielding second baseman. But he has only been good for one season. His first season he slashed .236/.265/.383 with a -1.3 WAR this past season he slashed .350/.379/.539 with a 2.9 WAR so we are gunna have to wait and see which one is the fluke. Their Cy Young is reliever Alex Valdivia who was absolutely lights out with 25 saves and a 1.60 ERA over 84.1 innings this past year. Anytime you can get 2.4 war out of a closer its a plus. Their second best pitcher is 35 year old Carlos Morales but with another drop in stamina as the years continue to tick it will be interesting to see how much of the load he will be able to shoulder this year. Their lack luster rotation is led by the solid Justin Jones who started 27 games last year with 13 Quality starts. With a below average defense behind him i don’t expect his 4.98 ERA to improve much if any. Taiwanese import SP Cong Thian is interesting, but if spring training is any indication he may be out of the CBA sooner than later. It will be interesting to see if Jesse Buchert makes an appearance with the big club this season the knuckleballer being the only guy coming back for one of the best third basemen in the league Luis Trevino. 1B/3B Mark Bain is this team’s X-Factor not because of who he is but because of who he isn’t. If you’re wondering who I’m talking about I’ll refer you to Philadelphia’s spot on this list and Chris Greenwell. Bain has been very good in two seasons at the Reserve level but he is not Greenwell. But if somehow someway he shocks the world and produces at a crazy level he could help Austin to be better than expected. Their Young Gun is CF Alex Martin hey it’s me again the guy who likes to read way too much into Winter League numbers but i swear I’m onto something this time. Martin has all the tools to contribute right now. Honestly I think he could of last year the reason he didn’t is simple. He only played 4 games last season before breaking his kneecap and missing 8 months. He was fantastic in the minors in 2022 granted it was only DEV B but still. Then he was fantastic again in the SWL granted it’s only winter league but I digress. When the dude plays he really plays. The trick is him being on the field and only time will tell if he can avoid the injury bug enough to contribute this season.
Davis:
Austin is going to be fighting relegation this season. The Outlaws look like they’re headed for a tough year, but I’m sure this is no surprise to them or their fans. Trading a player like Chris Greenwell signifies something close to a rebuild and that becomes more obvious upon a deeper look at the team’s offseason activity. The 2024 season is going to be the season of Angel Cruz. After struggling mightily in 2022, the 24 year old second baseman was a revelation in his sophomore season. Slashing .350/.370/.539 with a .918 OPS, Cruz established himself as a legitimate top of the order threat. The only thing Cruz doesn’t do especially well is field, but look for improved defensive numbers from the young superstar as he logs more innings at the keystone. Austin lost 3 key pitchers in a blockbuster deal with Portland and it looks like they will struggle to keep runs off the board this year. A starting staff with some good talent adds Taiwanese import Cong Thian but outside of him the rest of the staff hasn’t performed well. Thian boasts impeccable control but struggled with walks in Sring Training so it’s tough to make the prediction that Cong is going to be an arm with the ability to carry this lackluster staff. Their best pitcher is their relief ace Alex Valdivia. The lefty posted a 1.60 ERA with 112 Ks in 84 innings in 2023. Absolutely phenomenal. Contending teams better keep an eye on Valdivia as the loan deadline comes around as this guy is a true difference maker at the back of the bullpen. The team’s X-Factor is free agent signee Miguel Cortez. Losing a bat like Chris Greenwell means the rest of the team will need to pick up the slack and Cortez is the guy that needs to step up the most. He has great power and an above average eye but it remains to be seen whether the $3.3 million dollar man will become the true difference maker this team needs him to be. At 36 years old, it’s tough to predict. Alexander Martin is this team’s youngster to watch. An insanely fast center fielder with great bat to ball skills, this 22 year old is an early pick for Rookie of the Year. Although he still has some work to do as far as strikeouts are concerned, he will more than make up for it by batting close to .300 while playing an above average CF. Sorry Outlaw fans, your team is an early contender for relegation to the Bronze League. The CBA team will struggle in it’s 3rd season but with multiple first rounders in this year’s draft and a couple of impact youngsters contributing at the top level, expect Austin to be back in the fold very soon.
Boston Rogers
Last Season Finish: 69-57 3rd in the BL
Projected Finish: Libinski-10th Davis-10th
Team MVP: Libinski- SS Mike Watson, Davis- SS Mike Watson
Team Cy Young: Libinski- SP Jeremy England, Davis- SP Jeremy England
X-Factor: Libinski- SP Justin Marchi, Davis- 1B Kurt Dominy
Young Gun: Libinski- 3B Dan Thomas, Davis- CF Ezequiel Ortiz
Boston will be right back to the BL next season. I’d love for them to prove me wrong but I just don’t see it happening. With their MVP being the 36 year old ageless wonder SS MIke Watson. At that age and a -10.4 ZR alongside being 6’3 210lbs it may be time to make the crafty vet a DH full time. The fact that he still posted a 4.1 WAR with that Zone Rating is a testament to his abilities with the bat. With that move that leaves rookie SS Luis Villa to try and fill that void. Villa who has been a force at the RES level for two years will be interesting to watch how he adjusts to a higher level of pitching. 1B Kurt Dominy is a solid bat for the middle of any lineup with 56 XBH and a 3.9 WAR a year ago he will have to maintain his success this year if Boston wants to be somewhat competitive. This brings us to Boston’s strength which is no doubt their starting staff lead by the trio of Jeremy England, Mike Alter and Justin Marchi. England has been one of the most consistent pitchers in the CBA in both of it’s seasons. After posting a 2.83 ERA in the inaugural season he built on that against worse opponents posting a 2.32 ERA in 190.1 IP over the course of 25 starts 18 of which were quality starts. The step up in competition shouldn’t matter to him so every day England goes the Rogers have a chance to win. The Robin to England’s Batman should be the team’s X-Factor and he comes in the form of 30 year old Justin Marchi. With the ability to consistently hit 98 with his fastball and a nasty curve to go with it Marchi is a handful for any team in the league. In his first season he had troubles with the long ball but fixed it last year. If he can carry over that change against better hitting this season there is no reason he can’t be successful in the 2nd Tier. If England is Batman and Marchi is Robin then Alter is Barnicle Boy. He is a serviceable starter but with only two pitches he would be best served for a move to the bullpen. There he could be a multi inning guy with the ability to take a game straight from one of the first two listed in the 7th or 8th and slam the door. But another year where he starts 20 plus games doesn’t help anyone but opposing offenses. Boston’s Young Gun is third baseman Dan Thomas. He was a force in his two years at LSU garnering him the 40th overall selection in 2023. I think he is ready for a real long look at the next level. Worst case scenario he forces incumbent 3B Jeff Kurtz to sweat a little bit. It’s simple really the only way I see Boston having a chance is if England and Marchi win 20 games a piece and Alter has 30 saves in 65 games pitched. Even if everything I just said happens it’ll be a fight to get into the relegation playoff. And if they do and shock the world I’ll be the first guy to admit I was wrong.
Davis:
The Boston Rogers will go as far as Jeremy England can take them. One of the greatest starting pitchers in the CBA, He is the heart and soul of this team which can be seen as an issue since he’s only playing every 5th day. If it weren’t obvious, England is Boston’s best pitcher and a rotation led by him and Justin Marchi is going to contribute to a lot of surprise wins for the Rogers. The team’s MVP is SS Mike Watson, who will turn 37 in August. His defensive decline is offset by his outstanding knack for getting on base. He has walked more than he has struck out in both of his CBA seasons and despite a notable downtick in home runs was able to sustain a very good .832 OPS. Teammates have raved about his top notch leadership skills and penchant for getting to the ballpark early for intense pregame workouts but it remains to be seen whether this past offseason may have been his last. Rogers fans will hope he has another 4 win season in him as his team will be fighting relegation all year. The team’s X-Factor is 1B Kurt Dominy. The left handed power threat posted a better OPS in his 2023 season than the inaugural CBA season but that may also be due to the below average pitching of the BL. Dominy is going to bat 3rd in this lineup ahead of Watson so it will be up to him to contribute in a big way if the Rogers want to avoid relegation. The team’s young gun is CF Ezequiel Ortiz. Ortiz is currently playing DEV-A but this writer thinks he will be contributing at the CBA level in no time. It’s impossible to ignore his outstanding eye and penchant for drawing walks as he has as many walks as games played in his minor league career so far. Ortiz is blocked by current CF Victor Garcia but Garcia hasn’t been all that great so far and profiles as more of a 4th outfielder whereas Ortiz has above average starter potential. The Rogers are going to struggle to stay out of the relegation race but have a chance if their 2 aces pitch the way they have the past 2 seasons and they are able to find a gem in the bullpen to protect the late leads they do have. The Rogers will be playing spoiler by season’s end but will need to play above their talent level to stay in the SL one more year.
This concludes our SL season predictions, let us know what you think in story lines. The BL will follow with the PL to end the mini series we are trying to get them all done as close to the start of the season as possible.