2023 Season Forecast: Team By Team

April 21, 2023 (Federal League Wire Service)

        The 58th season of Federal League Baseball opens on April 22.
        Here's how the editors of South Florida Baseball Report see the races shaping up:

Expansion Division

1. Hollywood Stars
Mgr: Ryan Snyder
Last Season: 46-4 (1st place, lost in Championship Final Series)
The Story: For the second straight season, the Stars posted a dominant campaign that saw them compile the league's best record, the Stars reached the Championship Final Series and ran out of steam. Injuries took their toll and the Constellations were a shadow of themselves as they fell to the Sunsets again. The Snydermen should find themselves cast in the roles of favorites again this season.
Strength: The Stars will boast the league's best pitching staff and compliment that with the league's most reliable defense. Veteran lefty Mike Wassong leads the mound corps. Justin Jordan, Dylan Brammer, Nector Ramirez, and newcomer Nick Travieso give the Stars a formidable staff.
Weakness: If the Stars possess any weakness at all it is their amazing ability to let the smallest things distract them. For such a successful and accomplished group of veterans, they can become undisciplined and unfocused at the worst times and for the silliest reasons. 
Prognosis: The Stars should, once again, be in the prohibitive favorites to win their division and, at least, reach the Championship Final Series.
Star Shines: The Stars are starting the season with a pretty impressive group of veterans (Austin Armstrong, Alvaro Gomez, Alex Rodriguez, Andres Gomez, etc. on their reserved list.

2. Tri-Cities Tritons
Mgr: Zac Miller 
Last Season: 20-36 (3rd place, lost in Play-In round)
The Story: After one season at the helm, John Hardardt stepped back as manager of the Water Dwellers and yielded the reins to Zac Miller. That the Tritons underachieved last season was not the fault of Hardardt, but a change in leadership styles may be a benefit, nonetheless.
Strength: The middle of the Tritons' order can bang with the best of them Zac Miller, Mike LaManna, and Axel Olvera are as good as it gets. Reacquired Chris Marrero, Jay Warman and former Twin Brian Clancy give the Sons of Poseidon excellent team speed. The Tritons outfield is solid.
Weakness: The pitching depth remains a major concern. Chad Allen is solid. Brian Archer is improving. What do veterans like Jose Marcano and John Hardardt have left in the tank? What can the Water Dwellers expect from newcomer Angel Lugo?
Prognosis: The Tritons should improve over last season's performance, but by how much? The Tritons will score runs, but they need to get better at preventing them.
Writin' Triton: In a move that was mostly a formality, the Water Dwellers released former manager Mike Whittaker from the roster. Whittaker who had retired last spring was the longest tenured Triton in team history.

3. Margate Sentries
Mgr: Alejandro Rodriguez 
Last Season: 26-28 (2nd place, lost in Semi-Finals)
The Story: Manager The Gatekeepers underwent a massive rebuild last season, stumbled out of the gate, rallied late in the season, and then fell in the semi-finals. Again. This season could see more of the same as the Sentries will open the season with a lot of new faces.
Strength: It's kind of hard to say. The pitching should be okay, but is not a real strength. The lineup has some good hitters, but has more question marks. Team fielding looks iffy, and the Gatekeepers are paper thin at a couple of spots. Shortstop Xavier Barriere has all the tools to be an all-star.
Weakness: See above. There are no glaring weaknesses, but there are far more questions than answers.
Prognosis: The Guardsmen will, probably, struggle out of the gate. Rodriguez will make some mid-season maneuvers, and come playoff time, the Sentries will be knocking on the door. All that being said, this is a hard road to travel season after season, so, expect the team to take a step backwards.
Sentry Posts: The Sentries acquired veteran Amed Martinez from the Twins in a trade near the end of Spring Training.

4. Davie Goliaths
Mgr: Agner Martinez 
Last Season: 11-43 (4th place)
The Story: Donny Gagliano abruptly retired from baseball last year. The Goliaths tabbed former Triton Agner Martinez to take over as manager. Martinez immediately began a massive roster makeover, but it may not lead the Philistines out of the basement just yet.
Strength: One strength of the G-Men is its terrific depth at catcher. Incumbent Anson Graumann will face challenges from talented newcomers Damian Ortiz and Micayah Brown. Rookie shortstop Ronnie Keaton will be a key addition. The outfield looks more than capable. 
Weakness: Team defense, outside of short and catcher, is a concern, as is the reliability and depth of the pitching staff. Last season the G-Men were anemic with the bats, and while they should be better this season, they do not possess a Murderer's Row lineup.
Prognosis: The Goliaths could be a much better team than they were last year and still finish in the cellar. However, continued progress in a positive direction will bode well for the future. A playoff berth is not out of the question.
Goliath Grunts: The Philistines acquired catching prospect Jorge Bravo from the Atlantics in the off season and, after a long, protracted, negotiation, traded him to the Cubs, but Martinez showed his savvy by swinging a deal with the Sunsets for Brown, another highly regarded catcher.

Original Division

1. Sunrise Sunsets
Mgr: Brandon Hull 
Last Season: 39-15 (1st place, won league championship)
The Story: The Twilighters played, mostly, indifferently, during the season, but reverted to their more classic selves in the post-season and captured their second consecutive championship. A three-peat is not out of the question.
Strength: The 'Sets lineup is still pretty productive. Joe Iacobucci, Chris Price, Dom Ficarra, Jose Zabala, and Nick Cardona are a quality core. Not having slugger Rudy Mueller on the active roster to start the season will be significant, though. The pitching staff will start the campaign without Calvin Rayburn and Garrett Rogers, but youngsters Dom Ciero, Alex Katz, and Wyatt Stiles, combined with veterans Brant Spring and Tommy Tritz should hold the fort in the early going.
Weakness: Outside of Price and, perhaps, newcomer David Hall, the Sunsets are no longer a team with much speed. Catching depth behind stalwart Chris Craig is a concern. 
Prognosis: The Sunsets have the talent and experience to go all the way, but their veterans are a year older and, suddenly, there are fewer of them. While it is easy to see the 'Sets three-peating, it is just as easy to see an early playoff flameout.
Sunset Grillings: With Rayburn and Rogers on the reserved list to start the campaign, veteran Frank LaRuffa may get an opportunity to play a key role on the pitching staff.

2. Broward Cubs
Mgr: Mike Chevere 
Last Season: 32-24 (2nd place, lost in Semi-Finals)
The Story: Well respected Mike Chevere took over the pilot's chair last season and the Cubbies responded with and second place finish. Chevere won the Best Manager's Award and Rubi Silva won the MVP. Silva has moved on to pro ball, so Chevere has made some bold moves to augment the lineup in Silva's absence.
Strength: The Cubs will hit. Newly acquired Jorge Bravo and newcomer Marques Irving join Dave Cushwa, Cory McEwen, Terrence Biel, Jamaal Thelwell and Yaniel Perez in, what could be, the league's best lineup. The Cubs acquired Luis Polanco from the Tritons in hopes that he can deliver on his enormous potential after a disappointing rookie outing.  
Weakness: The pitching corps was paper thin last season. It's even thinner now. Chad Volbert is still a dependable starter and McEwen is able to eat innings, but there are not a lot of obvious choices behind them. It could get ugly if help is not found. The outfield defense is a real cause for concern. Team speed is lacking.
Prognosis: The Cubs should be a solid bet return to the playoffs, and could even contend for the Senior Circuit flag, but, are not a likely championship caliber team unless they can find several dependable hurlers.
Cub Cribs: The Cubs, for reasons that are still unclear, decided to forego drafting any prospects, and have done little to bring in any young players. As a result, the Cubbies will start the reason with an astonishing seven open roster spots.

3. Hallandale Twins
Mgr: Oscar Centeno 
Last Season: 30-26 (3rd place, lost in Play-In round)
The Story: Brian Clancy took over as manager last season and, despite leading the team to a credible third place finish, Clancy was not only dismissed at season's end, he was dealt to the Tritons. Affable Oscar Centeno takes over as an easy going change from the intense Clancy, but the managerial style is only one of many changes that the Fraternals will deal with this season.
Strength: Any pitching staff that has Norman St. Clair at the top of the rotation has an excellent chance of being a good staff. Veteran Francisco Calderon and newcomer Joey Campbell will join St. Clair to form a very good starting rotation. Team speed is good. Rookies Luisma Leon and Luis Delgado may end up as one of the league's best DP combos.
Weakness: As good as the starting pitching might be, the bullpen looks barren. Upon first glance, there is, outside of veteran slugger Jorge Correa, not much power in the lineup.
Prognosis: The Fraternals should not struggle to reach the playoffs, but may not have enough firepower to get very far in the post season.
Twin Peeks: The Geminis face a season without all-star outfielder Eric Manning, who may miss the entire campaign. Speedy Andrew Budier is questionable to be activated before Opening Day. If Bayardo Arias does not rejoin the team, he will be missed.

4. Fort Lauderdale Atlantics
Mgr: Jose Ayala
Last Season: 14-42 (4th place)
The Story: The Oceaneers made a change at the top as Rob Wiley stepped aside after two frustrating seasons as manager, and Jose Ayala took over. The Navigators are scanning the horizon, hoping to find the shoreline of the playoffs.
Strength: Shockingly, this may be the 'Tics' best pitching staff in recent memory. Lefty Kyle Fernandez joins dependable veteran Joe Feller, steadily improving lefty Danny Collins, and off season acquisition Nelson Alvarenga to form a, potentially, excellent starting staff. Team speed is, once again, a major plus, particularly outfielders Jan Sanchez Jerry Ostos, and newcomer Malik Shinozaki. The middle of the order has a chance to be pretty good. Draft pick Paul Charlot, Jovanny Felipe, Jeremiah Cannon, and Rafael Gonzalez might surprise.
Weakness: The bullpen is pretty non existent. Team defense needs to improve in a big way. As fast as they might be, the Atlantics need to run the bases better and not give away outs.
Prognosis: Don't be shocked if they sneak into the playoffs, but don't be surprised if they don't.
Atlantic Crossings: Barring a last minute development, Raul Garcia, acquired via an off season trade with the Goliaths, and impressive second year infielder Yefrey Leon, will start the season on the reserved list after having held out all Spring. Having Leon and Garcia on the active roster could raise the Atlantics expectations.

Send mail to webmaster@federalleague.com with questions or comments about this web site.

Web Site Copyright © Federal League Athletics, 2023. All Rights Reserved.