So here we are again at Opening Day in the WPK with a new season spread out in front of us, an unknown near future which will begin to reveal itself day by day, game by game.
Let's see what the prognosticators think that might look like.
Starting in the SJL:
It isn't surprising that the San Antonio Keys are seen as the favorite to once again not only win the SJL West but also finish with the best record in not only the SJL but in all of the WPK. It is a surprise that their main competitor these past several seasons, the El Paso Dawgs, are expected to drop to a last place finish in 1983, with the Houston Cavaliers moving up into second, albeit a distant second.
The SJL East predictions see Philly finally capturing first place, but as has been the case for the past few years, this division is thought to be quite tight with not clear-cut great team. Washington, who won the pennant in the SJL East last season, are expected to finish in second place, but with a record barely above .500.
Nobody you wouldn't expect in the predicted best batters list while Bill Hritz of Philadelphia is probably the most noteworthy addition to the top pitchers list, having worked exclusively in the bullpen the past two seasons. (To be fair, it was only a matter of time before he cracked the rotation and the durable young left-hander looks like he could have a very nice WPK career ahead of him.) Hritz' teammate Ron Carmouche is another talented young arm on the list, but he is considered a real injury risk unlike his more durable staff mate.
On to the MGL:
The experts believe that the 1981 WPK champs, the Portland Wild Things, will bounce back in '83 and not only win the MGL West but also post the best record in the league, with Denver coming in second with their worst record in at least a decade. More amazingly, the belief is that the Phoenix Speed Devils will be almost respectable and avoid losing at least 100 games for the first time since 1979 (when they lost 97).
Oklahoma City is expected to repeat as the MGL East champs, but has been the case with the East divisions for some time, the feeling is that parity will be the rule and the eventual division winner will battle just to finish with a winning record.
Part of Phoenix' rise (yes. a little bit of an intended pun there) is thought to be the emergence of 23-year old right fielder Luis Olivez as one of the best hitters in the league. Otherwise it is pretty much the usual suspects on this list. As for pitching stars, Denver's twin aces (with
Sadahige Kawasaki out for the season),
Eric Maisch and
Jim Atwell are again expected to be among the best. Most of the top expected top pitchers in the MGL are 27 years of age or younger, with the exceptions being grizzled veterans Craig Luther (36), Jose Mendoza (32), and the great Aaron McNally (32).