Federal League Baseball
For
Other Federal League News-Click Here 2006
Spring/Summer Season Expansion
Division Forecast April
24, 2006 (Federal League Wire Service)
The
2005-2006 Fall/Winter season experienced a significant
delay due to the effects of Hurricane Wilma and, as a result,
was shortened. With playing venues reduced to a minimum, the
league held an abbreviated season followed by a double
elimination playoff tournament.
1.
Davie Goliaths
2.
Margate Sentries 3. Hollywood
Stars
4. Lighthouse Point Beacons
Send mail to webmaster@federalleague.com
with questions or comments about this web site.
Web Site Copyright © Federal League Athletics, 2003, 2004. All Rights Reserved.
Federal League .com
Home
Sports Headlines
Opinions
Schedule
Standings
Tryouts
Shopping
Semi-Pro
Baseball
Federal League:
Schedule
Standings
League
News
Statistics
Sponsors
Big
Kahuna
Merchandise
Federal League Fans Site
Back
To Federal League.com
The
Margate Sentries, after a so-so regular season, parlayed a post
season hot streak into their first league title as they captured
the playoff tournament crown.
This season
the league returns to a full schedule with the standard post
season playoffs.
Here's how the editors of South Florida Baseball Report
see the race shaping up:
Mgr: Jason
Silver (3rd season, 30-18 .625)
Last Season:
8-4 (2nd place, lost in playoff
tournament final)
The Story:
The Goliaths
turned in another solid, if not spectacular, regular season under
manager Jason Silver, but in the playoffs, Silver rallied his
troops and came within a game of playing for another league title. Despite winning it
all two seasons ago and nearly winning a championship last
season, Silver was
not content to stand pat and made some key changes to the
roster. A revamped
outfield and a retooled pitching staff may pose some questions,
but, armed with an explosive lineup, the Goliaths could very
well obliterate many of the league's offensive records.
Strength:
The Goliaths remain the league's best balanced team, combining
speed (Brian Genetti, Jeff Richard, and newcomer Gregory
Gathers), power
(former triple crown winner Randy Talley, Norm Vazquez,
Matt Sperry, and Best Newcomer Award winner Hugo Hesny), defense,
as well as a deep, if not widely heralded, pitching staff. The
Philistines will score bunches of runs and shut some other teams
down as well.
Weakness:
There really
are none. Sure, the pitching staff doesn't have a big name
hurler, but the offensive firepower will probably make that a
non-issue.
Prognosis:
The
Goliaths are all set for another title run. Barring any unforeseen
occurrences, the G-Men are the odds on favorites this season.
Goliath Grunts:
The Goliaths
traded holdout shortstop Eric Pitts to the Sentries for holdout
left ace Drew Raphael. Neither player is signed as the season
gets underway.
Mgr:
Steve Caplan (4th season, 49-31
.613 )
Last Season: 4-8
(5th place, won championship)
The Story: After
two great seasons under manager Steve Caplan, the honeymoon
appeared to be over as the Gatekeepers stumbled through the
regular season. That situation was completely reversed as the
Guardsmen waltzed through the post season playoff tournament and
claimed their first league title. So, who shows up this season,
the team that played uninspired ball through the regular season
or the team that roared through the playoffs?
Strength:
Team speed,
patience at the plate, and strong defense have become Sentries'
hallmarks under Caplan. Matt Rosner, David Munguia, Raul Nieto,
and Art Randolph can and will steal tons of bases. Francisco
Medina, newcomer Lawrence Weissman, and Marc Anton will be
counted on to drive in runs.
Weakness:
The pitching depth
will again be an issue. With Drew Raphael gone, crafty lefties Bob Westheimer and Richard Albanese
will have to eat most of the innings. Francis Eckert and
newcomer Andrew Peterson will have to be effective for the
Sentries to repeat.
Prognosis:
While the
Sentries will remain an upper echelon team, it would be hard to
see them overtaking the Goliaths without making a few in season
moves.
Sentry Posts:
Steve Caplan, to the
amazement of almost everyone, got married during the off season.
Mgr:
Sandy Cabrera (3rd season,
20-28 .417)
Last Season:
8-4 (1st place, lost in playoff
tournament semi-final)
The Story: Two seasons after
winning the championship, and one season after claiming
the regular season flag, the Stars find themselves at a
crossroads. Some of the veterans are beginning to give way to
some new faces, but the team is still dependent on the same core
of players. The team seemed to respond well to the leadership of
new manager Sandy Cabrera, but it will be interesting to see
what develops over the course of a full season.
Strength: Hitting.
The lineup features Teo Zorrilla, Andy Turner, Rick Martinez,
Mark Mittleman, David Gibbons, Andy Ruiz, the reacquired Angel
Canales, and newcomer Miguel Verdejo.
The pitching is suddenly deep with phenom David Manzur joined by
Canales, Mittleman, Vinny Barone, Mike Bromet, Jason Trujillo,
and Mr. Everything, Niles Blaize. The Stars may also have the
league's best bench players.
Weakness:
To say that the
Stars lack outfield depth would be a gross understatement.
Undoubtedly, some very fine infielders will be filling outfield
roles for the Stars this season.
Prognosis:
The Stars will
most likely to their old ways of laying low until playoff
time. The talent is there for a title run, whether or not this team possess the Stars' postseason
magic remains to be seen.
Star Shines:
The Stars traded
Angel Canales to the Sunsets last season for a handful of draft
picks that turned into Manzur, unsigned outfielder Victor Coronado, and Gibbons.
The Stars then were able to reacquire Canales as a free agent,
leaving the Sunsets rather miffed, to say the least.
Mgr:
Keith Nicoll (9th season,
187-67 .736)
Last Season:
8-4 (3rd place, lost in play-in
round)
The Story:
Despite
being thought of as "the team to beat" in most
seasons, the Beacons fail to live up to expectations way more
often than they meet them. For a team that considers anything
less than a championship a disappointment, the B's have
disappointed their fans and themselves for two seasons running.
Strength:
The Beacons
have an everyday lineup that still inspires fear despite its
collective age. Jamie Siragusa, Keith Nicoll, Pat Vadala, Harry
White, and Jose Morales may be long in the tooth, but they still
help the Illuminators put a lot of runs on the board. Add, the
still relatively young, Rich Martell , Jeff Fazio, Tony Borras, and Bryce Toledo, and it's easy to see
why league pitchers take the mound with trepidation against the
Beacons. Newcomer Jimmy Efre adds speed to the lineup,
particularly if he can cut it in the leadoff spot, while
solidifying the outfield defense. The return of lefty ace
Tom Krasnor and the acquisition of righty Rick Schaut address
last season's pitching woes.
Weakness:
The loss of Sandy
Glatzer robs the team of some of its depth and a lot of its
character. Team defense has slipped a bit in the past few
seasons and should bear watching. The Beacons desperately need a
backup catcher so that ever improving Borras doesn't wear out by
playoff time.
Prognosis:
The Beacons
will likely be in the playoff and pennant mix as they usually are,
but it would take a lot of their veterans having strong seasons
for them to be able raise another banner in Lighthouse Point.
Speakin' Beacon:
The Beacons went
into this season's draft looking for pitching and came up empty,
suggesting that a deal may be imminent.
5. Tri-Cities Tritons
Mgr:
David Bourns
(1st season)
Last Season:
6-6 (4th place, lost in play-in
round)
The Story:
After two
seasons under the management of Sean Lanier, the Tritons have
another new boss as David Bourns takes over the reins. Bourns
has a fairly talented team with few obvious holes, but must
instill a winning attitude in the perennially underachieving
Water Dwellers.
Strength:
Mike Whittaker leads a retooled pitching staff that now includes
newcomers such as Mike Bixier, Joseph Grant, as well as, Ted
Nosek, Michael Orris and Bourns. Wiso Barreto, newcomer Michael
Walczak, Shane Taylor, and Rich Wasserman head a balanced lineup.
Weakness:
Team defense
continues to be a sore point, especially in the outfield after
Ray Jensen and Kyle Braselton both retired. Poor and inopportune baserunning
has suddenly developed into an issue.
Prognosis:
The Tritons
remain a tough crew to figure. There is enough talent on the roster
to make a serious playoff run, but on the other hand, they
remain eminently qualified to beat themselves. They will be a
factor in the race, but it is doubtful that they are ready to
challenge the Goliaths.
Writin' Triton:
The Tritons drafted
hot shortstop prospect Austin Pingatore as a replacement for
stalwart Brian Herman.
6. Sunrise Sunsets
Mgr: Dave
Lopez (3rd season, 10-38 .208)
Last Season:
2-10 (6th place, lost in
playoff tournament semi-final)
The Story:
Last season,
the second in a rebuilding phase for the Twilighters under
manager Dave Lopez.
After four consecutive pennants, former manager Dennis Olmezer,
through some disastrous trades, slowly led the Sunsets into the
depths of the standings before resigning. Lopez took over a
moribund team and changed the attitude to a positive one. Last
season that effort bore fruit as the Sunsets performed well in
the playoff tournament. The rebuilding is not over, however, and
Lopez must build on last season's gains.
Strength:
Run production
was never a question for the Twilighters last season and it
won't be one this season either. Josh Shepard emerged late last
season and won the RBI title. Nate Wilson, Lopez, and Michael
Spring form the core of a credible middle of the order. Rich
Surico, an emerging defensive wizard, should be ready to come of
age as a hitter.
Weakness:
Pitching and
defense have a ways to go. Carlos Rodriguez is a yeoman on the
mound, but he can't do it all alone. The Sunsets drafted a
gaggle of pitchers, they will need to contribute mightily for
the Sunsets to rise in the standings.
Prognosis:
The Sunsets
struggle early and hope to improve as the season progresses.
Making the playoffs again will have to be considered a great accomplishment for the
rebuilding Twilighters.
Sunset Grillings:
The
Sunsets were hopeful that first round pick Joe Adair could
materialize into an ace, but the lefty remained unsigned as of
opening day.
2006
Spring/Summer Original Division Forecast
Click
Here For Full Story
