Hobb's S4 NL Projections: Who will take it ALL!?

NATIONAL LEAGUE PROJECTIONS: NL projected Champ: The Dover Diamond Devils & Wild Cards: San Francisco, Scranton

NL NORTH: Projected order (1) Cincinnati Queens (2) Chicago (3) Trenton (4) Minnesota

The NL North is, without question, the weakest division in Hobb's World. After 3 seasons this division is the only one that has yet to have a team finish .500. Like the Al West, the NL North has allowed teams such as kramr10's Cincinnati Queens to "back into" the playoffs, which they have done now for 2 consecutive seasons. Still, Kramr10's S3 Queens are not to be trifled with, much like Threester's Pilots, both teams outperformed their regular season record and made it as far as the AL and NL championship game. The Queens seem to win when it matters, and have won the division 3 years in a row. Despite cretin's Chicago Orphans who have control of the division's best starting rotation, the Queens have claimed this division as theirs and are the team to beat in the North. With "Monty" (montrealexps) gone, as well as his .325 average winning percentage, and "zanatural" who was not much better, the league is immediately better. Still, it appears to be a division of rebuilds. Manager crimsontears will have his hands full with his rebuilding Trenton Thunder as will new manager patricckm with the Minnesota North Stars. The efforts and new acquisitions should soon pay off for both teams. Afterall, these two franchises have only up to go! They could not possibly get any worse.

NL EAST: Projected order (1) Dover Diamond Devils (2) Scranton (3) Pawtucket (4) Augusta

The NL East, at least in S3, was Hobb's most competitive and tightly wound race. Although the division was won in the last few games by stnick44's Scranton Blue Collars with 95 wins, both drvmu1's Dover Diamond Devils (94 wins) and wylie715's Pawtucket Pencil-Necked Geeks (91 wins) had a chance. And all 3 teams made the playoffs. The division however, belongs to drvmu1 who is the only one of the three that has been in the running all 3 years. Dominating the division in S1 with 101 wins, and topping that in S2 with 104, they still won 94 in S3 even while suffering a season ending injury to ace Rob Abercrombie who will be back just in time for S4. Dover are tied with Hobb's 3rd highest ranked team overall, and have Hobb's absolute highest ranked starting lineup. The East is Dover's and they look to be the strongest team going into S4. Scranton and Pawtucket, 2 solid teams, should put up a pretty good race once again and with many teams still rebuilding it would not be too crazy to see all 3 in the playoffs again. Cwonde1 and the Augusta Sea Dogs have an uphill battle in such a tight division but have enough talent to make a good run, but would have to surprise us all to compete for the championship.

NL SOUTH: Projected order (1) Jackson Stonewall (2) Charlotte (3) Austin (4) Tampa

The NL South should belong to PoconoMets and a very good Jackson Stonewall team. Like the-oat, and his inheritance of the Seattle Mariners, the PoconoMets inherit former manager rocketeer4's well built, "built to win" franchise. With 103 wins in S3, and having won this division for 3 years straight it is theirs to take. Anybody seeking it must take it from new manager PoconoMets and Mr. Sammy Suarez and Slick Rapp who won't be willing to let it go easily. The Charlotte Codes appear to be the only team that may provide Jackson with a battle in S4...maybe! Manager devonjain has finished 2nd to Jackson since S3 but in neither season, at least near the end, were much of a threat to anything but a wildcard finishing S2 with a 82-80 record and 85 in S3. The other two franchises, emdump's Tampa Bay Citrus, a team that may have enough to surprise the league, and rpsrn's Austin Anteaters right now just don't appear to be a power to contend with Jackson Stonewall. Still, both these teams have potential for the future. In fact, with pitching prospects coming of age soon, manager rpsrn has made clear that in approximately 3 years they will be a team to watch!

NL WEST: Projected order (1) Salt Lake City Golden Crew (2) San Francisco (3) Tacoma (4) Los Angeles

The West is another of Hobb's most competitive divisions with 4 very solid contenders. S3, however, belonged to brettm1220 and his defending Champions the San Francisco Dedringers. With a championship to defend and as good as they should perform again this season, palet99's Salt Lake City Golden Crew appear to have made the moves necessary to rise to the top in S4. Acquiring 2 of the top 3 free agent acquisitions in Bubba Baldwin and Herman Torres, the Golden Crew wield Hobb's World's 3rd highest ranked team overall, 3rd highest ranked starting line-up, and tie Hobb's "super power" New Orleans Bayou Bengals with the highest ranked pitching rotation. Look for Salt Lake City near the top of this division all year long and to make a move near the end! The 3rd top free agent acquisition, Ugueth Santiago, of ajf00529's Los Angeles Stars, also comes to the NL West. This makes for another tight race among these franchises. Lcfiore's Tacoma Red Radicals and their 84 wins in S3 may be included in the race between Salt Lake and San Francisco, and should top Los Angeles. This division has potential to be tight all the way around.