NL South Preview

The NL South was the only division in baseball to feature two 100+-win teams last season (only two other teams in all of baseball hit triple digit victories). Both the Monterrey Cheese and the Richmond Spiders posted identical 107-55 records; however, neither was able to translate that regular season success into postseason glory. Each team is back with a vengeance this season, looking to carry the momentum from the summer into October this time.

Their competition within the division will be two teams going about things the right way: Kansas City and Little Rock (formerly Jacksonville) have trimmed the player payroll budgets in favor of rebuilding from within. Will that approach allow them to put a competitive team on the field to challenge the class of the division this season? That remains to be seen. Will baseball fans see another classic pennant race go down to the wire between two divisional rivals, and if so, which two divisional rivals will it be? We run down their chances in the order in which they finished last season.

Monterrey Cheese

Key Departures: Richie Duckworth (FA), Chance Ramsay (FA), Del Maduro (FA), Torey Davis (Trade).

Key Acquisitions: Phil Kondou (FA), Jose Neruda (Rule 5 Draft), Nash Konerko (Rule 5 Draft).

Breakdown: Monterrey went 21-9 within their division last season en route to a remarkable 107 wins. Their infield is made up of All-Star Willie Mendez posting a .927 OPS at second, uber-prospect Jeff Page and his career .625 minor league SLG at short, and 50-HR basher Armando Almanza at third. Meanwhile, Cy Young Award winner Zach Bones heads up a nasty rotation, and closer Elston White notched 43 saves and an All-Star appearance last season.

Outlook: Very few teams could deal a 15-game winner like Davis and not miss a beat. However, this team is ready to unveil SP Red Carter and his vaunted four-seam fastball. Joined in the rotation by three starters age 24 or younger, Bones will be expected to continue to lead this team and mow down batters as he has in the past, while 22-year-old hitting phenom Julio Blanco hopes to glide into the majors as smoothly as he covers the ground out in center field. With arguably the most well-stocked minor league system anywhere ready to replenish the talent level, it is no wonder that most pundits are saying that this season, the Cheese stands alone.

Richmond Spiders

Key Departures: Ryan Ritchie (DFA), Ernest Pritchett (Retired), Miguel Trevino (FA).

Key Acquisitions: Felix Wathan (Rule 5 Draft), Elvis Hunt (FA), Fausto Castillo (FA).

Breakdown: The club could never find room for Ritchie's bat in a crowded outfield that saw 29 HR from Darren Wells and a .925 OPS from Kyle Taft. The Spiders were not at a loss for run production, finishing third in the NL with a .352 team OBP. Pitching was equally reliable for the Richmond nine, as they posted a 4.07 team ERA, good for sixth in all of baseball. Ace Tony Vidal fanned 196 batters while walking only 48, and the bullpen converted a solid 42 of 56 save opportunities.

Outlook: The club has made a big splash in Season 9 already, sending 3B Ignacio Rodriguez and his 28 HR power to Kansas City for highly-touted pitching prospect Coco DiSarcina. They will need another All-Star caliber performance from CF Kevin Kirwan at age 33 to help offset the loss of Rodriguez's 28 HR pop. The Spiders did not age enough in one season to close the gap between themselves and the rest of the division, and they look to have set themselves up nicely for future playoff runs as well.

Kansas City Scouts

Key Departures: Seth Brower (FA)Ronald Abercrombie (FA).

Key Acquisitions: Trey Brower (Rule 5 Draft), Carlos Soriano (FA).

Breakdown: The Scouts were led by C Ellis Perkins with a pedestrian .366 OBP; having no runners on base contributed to Kansas city scoring the third-fewest runs (702) in all of baseball last season. The pitching was not much better, as Wilt Moore was the only starter to post an ERA under 5.00. They will miss reliable innings-eater Boomer Jones and his 3.83 ERA out of the bullpen; he was traded less than a month into Season 9.

Outlook: Brower posted a 1.36 WHIP and 28 saves out of the bullpen, but his pricetag did not fit Kansas City's bill going forward. They will need that same sort of performance from new closer Ray Clark if they want to take a step forward this season. A .501 SLG from 2B D'Angelo De La Vega (what a great name!) would certainly not hurt either. Brower walked 29 in 45 innings at AAA last season; that will not cut it if he wants to remain a part of this big league roster, and it will not help the Scouts in their efforts to crack into the top half of the division. With RF prospect Duke Upshaw tearing through the minors, though, help is on the way.


Little Rock Stunners

Key Departures: Victor Cortez (FA), Danys Vazquez (Trade), Domingo Chavez (FA).

Key Acquisitions: Ignacio Romero (Waivers), Ryan Ritchie (Waivers).

Breakdown: Taking over a franchise that won only 56 games last year as the Jacksonville Sabers, owner bigking0505 has undertaken a legitimate rebuilding project. LF Jordan Rogers has hit 46, 41, and 36 HR in each of his first three seasons mashing in the big leagues, and people are asking: are major league pitchers slowly figuring him out? Cortez took 33 HR of his own with him when he left, and potential lineup protection for Rogers as well. That loss comes out of a lineup that scored only 623 runs last season, easily good for last in MLB.

Outlook: The Stunners will look for youngsters to power the lineup, especially rookies 3B Joe Mitchell and 1B Rabbit Huff. Ownership has also worked deftly around the edges to improve the club via cost effective ways such as the waiver wire without mortgaging the burgeoning farm system. Perhaps the gutsiest move may not show dividends for a few years: in the offseason, Little Rock shipped two-time All-Star Vazquez to Augusta for future ace Jumbo Siqueiros. When Jumbo arrives at the Show, look out below.