NABA News
The inaugural NABA draft has finished and all teams have filled with their 25 man rosters including a few minor league players which are listed on the offical 40-man roster, just like the original MLB format. Below shows team rosters,uniforms,etc.
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Metropolitan League East Divison Overview
Calgary Maples
Overview:
The Calgary maples drafted a solid team which consist of a one-two punch with it's starting rotation with Kuroda/Zambrano, and a solid prospect in Nate Eovaldi who has a solid mix off-speed pitches with a blazing fastball that can range in the high 90's. Not to also forget that their are two great relief pitches in Otavio Urbina and Edguardo Ramirez both amazing talent with legendary off-speed pitches that can freeze hitters in the box, aside from this the rest of the bullpen is very average at best and the other starting pitchers in Davis and Laffey could really hurt the maples chances of a solid run for a world series; Moving on to the fielders the maples hold a solid group of power hitters through out the line up, Pure sluggers run through a mass majority of the line up and have the ability to manufacture home runs and extra base hits at will, the one key factor on this roster to look at for would be Randal Mendoza a very laid back demeanor but plays like a champion, a real five tool player positioned to right field can steal bases,make spectacular catches, and get on base with relative ease, his Success though may not be necessary could be the main reason this team can win the division.
Overall: B+
Starters: C+
Bullpen: C+
Hitting: A
Speed: C
Defense: C-
Players to watch: Randal Mendoza & Edguardo Ramirez
Jacksonville Firehawks
Overview:
The Jacksonville firehawks, step into the season with a lack luster pitching staff and loaded middle infield. Shaky pitchers like jose contreras and chuck james with lacking consistency to their game could really put a damper to the teams starting rotation and ability to stay with in games, specially since firehawks defense isn't anything spectacular. Expect alot of the workload pitching wise be carried by Ubaldo Jimenez,Diego De Los Santos and Cliff Harrison. Pitchers with big arms and amazing understanding coming into the game. Then looking towards offenes; you'll observed the deep amount of depth with in the middle infield with Matt Peters/Eli Brooks/James Carter/Mike Fontenot/Brendan Harris. Although Harris will more then likely be the Starting third basemen, this leaves a lot of questions for the other 4 players; Peters is the best defenselessly with his ability to range out in any direction, but is possibly the worst of the four when at the plate. A mixture of logistical nightmares in the infield won't hurt this team, but expect a trade to possibly improve the pitching staff.
Overall: C+
Starters: C
Bullpen: C
Hitting: B+
Speed: C+
Defense: C
Players to watch: Diego De Los Santos & Alfonso Soriano
Buffalo Bulldogs
Overview:
Buffalo boast a starting five equivalent to maples but possibly even better, with the hottest pitcher in the game, Jake Peavy. Peavy whose coming off a miraculous 2007 MLB season where he took the NL triple crown and CY Young. Is paired up with other solid pitchers like Brandon Webb, Jeremy Guthrie,Adam Loewen, and rookie Nathan Russell whose knuckle-ball has had comparisons to Phil Niekro.And not to forgert their closer Johnathan papelbon their pitching staff is deadly and could run the table, and with this stacked pitching staff shows for a some what disappointing group of fielders when they come to the plate. Most of the power comes from the All-Star veteran Ken Griffey Jr., First basemen Terry Barshire, and Left Fielder Talon Bryan. Solid talent sure but it's surrounded by a bunch of fast base runners that aren't the best at getting on base, which could be a massive struggle for every game in this team's schedule.
Overall: B-
Starters: A
Bullpen: B
Hitting: C-
Speed: B
Defense: C
Players to watch: Jake Peavy & Stevie Jackson
Scranton Wildcats
Overview:
Scranton like Buffalo decided to load the pitching staff up, and worry about the offense later. Star studded pitching staff with Johan Santana, Brad Penny, Oliver Perez, and Young arms in Tony Flores and Chris Warner who have the ability to run table for a CY Young in the next couple of years. Two great relievers with Isringhausen and Cabrera help round out the bullpen with a mix a high heat and finesse pitching. Then looking towards the fielders there isn't the same type of power hitting for the wildcats like the bulldogs or in general offense like them (even though it's not that impressive.) their is a much better defense in it's probable starting nine, Defensive stand out at second base;Chang-Jun Zheng is to like a vacuum to dirt when he's fielding balls, everything is his vicinity is likely to be a out, and with a short stop like Bradley Cooper Double play will get flipped like pancakes at IHOP.
Overall: B-
Starters: A
Bullpen: B-
Hitting: D+
Speed: C+
Defense: B
Players to watch: Chris Warner & Tony Flores
New England Senators
Overview:
The Senators starting rotation is solid, but not the best in the league. C.C. Sabathia and Aaron Harang take the 1-2 spots on the team but the old and struggling Livan Hernandez and Inconsistent Jason Marquis sit on the rotation as well, outside of this the Bullpen looks like it could hold/save a bunch of games for the 3-5 starters in the group with relief pitching coming from B.J. Ryan, Steven Napper,Irwin Fullerton, All well poised and level headed pitchers that can give great support to a 7 Inning starter.
On to the fielders we see the same pattern with the senators as the wildcats, their focus on pitching left for a big hole in offense, no outstanding power hitters sit on this team, but that doesn't mean Pual Konerko, Jason Varitek, and Carlos Quentin can't stroke the ball. It just puts alot of weight on tier shoulders, I do think they can produce a solid amount of runs per game, but I don't see a clutch/big-time player when a bat in hand, but they do have it in the field. This is best defensive team collectively comparision to others where a few players stand out. The whole starting nine can range out for balls and make spectacular catches.
Overall: C+
Starters: B-
Bullpen: B-
Hitting: C
Speed: D+
Defense: A
Players to watch: Carlos Quentin & Irwin Fullerton
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