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PREVIEW - Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore Orioles (AL) eryanf View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Overview
The Baltimore Orioles finished the season by capturing their second straight World Series title. The Orioles cruised to 112 wins during the regular season, easily capturing the AL East and a #1 seed in the playoffs. However, things were not so easy for the Orioles once the playoffs began. The Orioles needed seven games in both the ALCS and in the World Series in order to reclaim their title. These ultra-competitive series appear to show that the talent gap between the Orioles and the other contenders is minuscule. As a result, the Orioles are going to need to continue to improve if they want to defend their title once again.

Key Changes
Orioles lost Glen Rhodes and Ray Gilmore to free agency. The Orioles also traded away Glaive 3000 all-time great Rico Estrada . In return for Estrada the Orioles received Bronson Stone , Jorge Lopez , and John Cain . The Orioles also decided to promote phenom Chris Camilli . In addition, the Orioles made a series of smaller moves to cut salary and bolster their bench.

Key Players
Edgardo Rosario 's break out season led the way for a dominant Orioles offense. Rosario will have to have another huge season if the Orioles have any chance of filling the void left by the trade of Rico Estrada.

Reginald Hall leads what looks to be Glavine 3000's deepest pitching staff. While there are teams that have more superstar pitchers than the Orioles no one has more talent top to bottom. However, Orioles depth took a significant hit when Jorge Lopez went down with a season ending injury in spring training.

Outlook
As a result of management's effort to maintain the Orioles success without sacrificing the future, the Orioles under went a tumultuous off-season. Consequently, there are more question marks surrounding this team than last season. Can young Chris Camilli fill the void left by Rico Estrada? Can the five rookies on the opening day roster equal or surpass the production of the veterans that they have replaced? Can the Orioles' bull pen continue their remarkable consistency? These are just some of the questions facing this Orioles squad that hopes to continue their remarkable championship run.

PREVIEW - Honolulu Monk Seals

Honolulu Monk Seals (AL) nadawg77 View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Overview:
The Honolulu Monk Seals coasted into the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons last season, securing the # 1 wild card spot well before the season was over. They were eliminated by the Baltimore Orioles in the second round. In Honolulu, however, their sights are set higher for Season 5. They want to retake the AL West Division Pennant as they did in Season 4 and are looking to make it further than the second round of the playoffs for the first time in team history.

Changes from Last Season - The Honolulu squad is an amalgamation of returning veterans and hot young stars. Most of last years squad is returning with exception of grizzly vets Morgan Tyson and Archie Houston who were both signed in Free Agency by Washington D.C. (The Monk Seals were awarded the 19th, 35th and 43rd overall picks in the Amateur Draft for these signings.) Other than those two, the core of the Monk Seals squad will be returning with the addition of hot prospects slugging left fielder Julio Pena and set-up pitcher Placido Cordero who are currently in the minors but will be brought up to the ML squad in the coming weeks.

Key Players:
Season 4 Rookie of the Year, Glendon Carter, will be returning to play his first full major league season, he is looking to improve on his stellar .385 avg, 40 HRs and 128 RBIs in 390 at bats last season. Rookie of the Year finalist, Melvin Zhang is also looking to improve on a fantastic rookie year and to round out the young core of offensive talent, the Monk Seals are guessing that left fielder Julio Pena will be in the running for ROY this year as well.

The pitching staff for the Monk Seals looks very much the same with the starting 5 of last year returning for another season. Jumbo Cruz, Benj Purcell and Tony Jackson all won 15+ games last year and are looking to repeat those successes. The most questionable part of the Monk Seals squad last season was the bullpen and they are looking to bolster it with the addition of hot young pitching prospect Placido Cordero, an international signing who will be making his Major League debut in the coming weeks.

Season Outlook:
Season 6 looks to be another successful one in Honolulu as the team seeks to improve on its 98-64 record last season. The core squad remins the same with a couple of additions that should help them improve on this record and take them to their second division title in 6 years.

Prediction: 102 - 60 -- 1st place AL West -- Advance to AL Championship Game

PREVIEW - Las Vegas Dealers

Las Vegas Dealers (AL) TheCoach21 View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Overview:
The Las Vegas Dealers were able to retake the division title in season 5 after lossing it for the first time in history to their top division rival, the Honolulu Monkseals in the season prior. After finishing the season strong to earn the #2 playoff seed in the final week, the Dealers were chased from the playoffs in 5 games by the Toledo War Kittens. Despite the playoff loss, the season was considered successful, accumulating a franchise high 106 wins.

Changes from Last Season - A veteran team, the Dealers had most of their players tied up to long term contracts. Only two key members were lost, RF Vern Cole and reliever F.P. Flanagan. To bolster the pen and fill the void left by Flannigan, the Dealers signed free agent Willie Miranda to a three year deal, their only free agent signing. Coming off a successful season, the Dealers feel this is all that is needed to continue their success.

Key Players:
Offensively, reigning AL MVP [URL=http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1311311]Manny Lewis[/URL] will continue to lead the offense, hoping to build on his 58 HRs and 153 RBIs from season 5. Other key players include slugging third baseman Chris Wayne, who hopes to rebound from a down year and SS Chad Forbes who lead a defense near the top of the league in defense.

Pitching is still a strength of the Dealers with their entire rotation returning. Season 1 Cy Young winner Harry Hendrickson leads the staff, picking up at least 16 wins and 200 Ks in each of his 5 seasons. Ace closer Darryl Fassero comes off a career high 45 saves and looks to equal or better his career 1.06 WHIP and 2.35 ERA.

Season Outlook:
Season 6 looks to be another successful one in Las Vegas as they return most of the players who led the team to 106 wins in Season 5. The division should be more challanging with division rivals Honolulu and Colorado Springs both making significant offseason improvements. Despite this, Las Vegas hopes to again take the division title and enter the playoffs as no less than a three seed.

Prediction: 100 - 64 -- 1st place AL West -- Advance to AL Championship Game