2024 Season Preview - Part 1
This is how the projected bottom 5 teams will line up for 2024. Going in reverse preseason predictions order:
SITACHE BC
Sitache, CA
2023: 79-111 (17th)
Seasons in EL: 16
Best finish: 4th (2018)
Payroll: $84.2 million (14th)
Manager: Tylu Hiyoshe (3rd year)
Two seasons ago, Sitache was part of a healthy contingent of three Elite League teams from the state of Chastara. Now, it seems like they're lucky to have even one. Sitache survived relegation by just a single game in 2023, thanks to a season-ending three-game win streak at Amnanache, but did they just delay the inevitable by a year? Maybe not, because one huge signing was made with the benefit of Elite League ball, but also maybe yes because the pitching staff... yikes.
Lineup (14th):
CF Rolupi Shekesu - SS Wasi Tsewayo - 1B Fomo Tirma
3B Fumiecho Sahiu - 2B Fosusha Keninipe - LF Monisho Hefie
RF Micha Pishot - C Hoasimu Karulin
The team is currently without catcher Chise Koslu, who broke his kneecap right at the end of last season and is about a week away from being able to play. Koslu is likely the cleanup hitter, with the others sliding down a spot. Tsewayo was the big draw, coming over from the Aroketsil Spirits (the team that Sitache displaced by winning at season's end). It wouldn't be all that surprising to see either he or Tirma be an MVP contender.
Rotation (20th):
Eshan Kohopa - Neshofa Koleshaparo - Hecho Nikera - Molile Aoko - Feli Toyerno
Only Kohopa is actually an EL-caliber starter. This was Sitache's rotation by the end of last season, so this is a known entity - known to be bad, that is. If there's one silver lining, it would be that the defense is likely to be at least a little bit better.
Closer: Peyaka Nit (18th)
Nit will split opportunities with Tsario Nufeka - neither is amazing but the team has bigger problems.
2024 prediction: 66-124 (20th)
There are a lot of respectable players on the Sitache squad. If they can somehow find maybe two more capable starting pitchers, that might be enough to comfortably survive, but it looks like another dogfight. They were in the same position last year and made it work, but they are still the "obvious choice" if someone asks you who will finish 20th.
SHUNNA MUNICIPAL BC
Shunna, XU
2023: 85-105 (14th)
Seasons in EL: 21
Best finish: 6th (1995)
Payroll: $81.8 million (15th)
Manager: Pomi Felitsu (5th year)
Muni ended up not having too much trouble sticking around in the first season back in the big time. With last year bringing so many changes due to promotion, this year's team is mostly the same, save for the middle infield combo. SS Tilutsu Hofohe is gone to Lutrul, and 2B Poem Meste was brought in
from Lutrul in separate free agent decisions. Unfortunately, that swap is a win for Lutrul (not by a lot, but clearly so).
Lineup (20th):
RF Pilima Ayawetsi - 1B Hekewi Lymon - LF Tae Hefie
2B Poem Meste - 3B Shakipe Lilo - CF Teyi Likoka
C Rina Kifusitu - SS Chirilia Icheo
I mentioned Tae Hefie opting out at the start of the offseason, but this is an oversight of a combination of rules in the game. Hefie did have an opt-out, and did exercise it, but also still found himself under team control for one more season, so here he still is. Odd outcome for sure. This is what I get for building a system where 16-year-old amateurs can sign major league deals.
The top half of the lineup is OK - Ayawetsi, Hefie, Meste and Lilo are good hitters without the superstar upside - but the bottom of the lineup is pretty poor. Aside from Meste, only Icheo is actually new to the team - he's an interesting case, a 38-year-old who has never played in the EL before but played 12 years in the 2L. As a replacement for Hofohe, it's not super inspiring. At least this team will be good defensively, I think.
Rotation (9th):
Iraite Nisushi - Toitu Sofiulo - Emi Kohopa - Nawin Posheni - Okishira Ekulumapi
Muni survived last season on the strength of their rotation, and that seems to be the idea again with everyone brought back, except they're starting from a place of being injured. Shaho Reopo will be out until May-ish after his TJ, and Latsal Chatsol will miss the entire season due to his injury from last September. Nisushi, the new Opening Day man, was the closer last year and it looks like he'll need some time to stretch out.
Closer: Leset Kakosuta (5th)
He was Nisushi's setup man last year, and now it's his show. Looks ready enough to me.
2024 prediction: 76-114 (19th)
19th feels harsh, but maybe that's just because they're so clearly better than Sitache. Someone does have to finish 19th, I suppose.
AKASHEMO UNITED
Akashemo, RP
2023: 79-111 (16th)
Seasons in EL: 21
Best finish: 7th (2014)
Payroll: $86.1 (13th)
Manager: Sosytse Aoko (4th year)
This ended up getting lost in the shuffle because they clinched a day early, but if Akashemo had lost one additional game somewhere along the way, they too would have dropped into the relegation zone. After spending a good portion of the season in last place, I'm a little surprised to be talking about them right now to be honest.
Lineup (18th):
LF Putta Faseltsa - RF Shashacheta Kukoteache - CF Tseiriki Tushifo
1B Kawachu Tan - 2B Kypo Oifi - 3B Yatil Potsetsa
SS Chosyshire Pochayi - C Siso Fatsi
Lots of stomachs in Akashemo are atwist this spring over the team's two best hitters
both moving positions, unrelatedly: Tushifo moves from left, where he was good, to center, where he's likely to be below average, and Tan goes back to 1B from catching (I imagine Akashemo want him to start more than 152 games). Rest of the lineup is pretty rough, but Tushifo is much better than any of Muni's best players so they get a bump for that reason.
Rotation (15th):
Tsarase Roshoshe - Moshiwa Satre - Sashe Eronlu - Femo Tsitsafae - Lumekatse Merefife
They've added a bit to the back end compared to last year's rotation - Eronlu was successful with Kine in the NPL, and Tsitsafae with a relegated Yasral team in the 2L. Roshoshe was 5th in the league in strikeouts last season, and Satre 7th.
Closer: Rase Koachali (17th)
Chitipa Fyhy is gone to Lutrul, so Koachali, 19, slides up to take the job whether he's ready or not. The bullpen as a whole is not a weakness, but the late innings might be.
2024 prediction: 77-113 (18th)
This Akashemo team is similar enough to last year's team that another relegation battle seems likely.
HOKROF BC
Hokrof, TA
2023: 128-62 (1st place, Second League)
Seasons in EL: 6
Best finish: 9th (2019)
Payroll: $72.4 million (19th)
Manager: Ofame Eshowilash (4th year)
The kings of the west coast are back, after easily winning the 2L league title in 2023. I was slightly worried for Hokrof going into that season, but they brought in a number of strong players (including a few from also-relegated, and also back, Mithazni) and had no problem returning whatsoever.
Lineup (13th):
RF Kiucha Lopelo - CF Myna Kylchi - 1B Pokoni Merefife
3B Laela Pysam - C Teao Ralfa - 2B Nalk Oiri
LF Tashachicho Teshelo - SS Lamaeku Salohela
Of this group, only Lopelo was actually with Hokrof in 2021. Merefife and Ralfa are the Mithazni players I mentioned, exercising their relegation clauses only to jump to the 2L anyway, but I suppose it worked out for them. Kylchi is the best-known name on the team, being part of the Mighty Oaks threepeat from 2020-22 and an everyday starter for the final two of those. Pysam, 17, was a promising rookie last season, a bulky, bat first 3B with a well-rounded offensive game aside from his complete lack of speed.
Rotation (16th):
Chek Simuofe - Kinamse Paerisuso - Topeshe Shishatata - Tetsots Roshal - Putta Chineka
Not a lot of upside here. Simuofe's EL experience consists of 11 starts for Sitache in 2018-19. The others, aside from 2nd-year pro Chineka, were all here with Hokrof in the EL two years ago and didn't distinguish themselves much then either.
Closer: Opa Kytsosuhale (10th)
Hokrof will rely on Kytsosuhale to steal some games, the rest of the bullpen is not so hot.
2024 prediction: 78-112 (17th)
Hokrof pretty much had to remake their team entirely when they got relegated. That new team blitzed the Second League, but not adding pretty much anyone to that group is asking for some trouble.
MITHAZNI BC
Hefem, EM
2023: 118-72 (2nd place, Second League)
Seasons in EL: 3
Best finish: 20th (2020, 2022)
Payroll: $72.5 million (18th)
Manager: Shochena Watsafe (4th year)
This is the third straight even year that Mithazni is a freshly promoted new EL team (the only times they have been at this level). The first two times, they finished dead last. Can they finally break through and work toward giving Keleri a big local challenge? Well, at least they're not predicted to finish 20th this year, that's good start.
Lineup (16th):
SS Kes Merefife - 3B Rilokena Kelepe - 1B Ofame Tsoara
2B Oma Feputso - RF Ekeha Tashupasho - LF Faraho Mofoto
C Ota Leretuto - CF Shepashi Micheni
A fairly anonymous group, with the 23-year-old Feputso probably the best-known name, and he only has one year of EL starting experience from his time at Semyof. There's about half a lineup's worth of quality here, which is pretty normal at the bottom of the table. The lineup decisions themselves are fairly interesting. Tsoara is a pretty good outfield prospect, and probably Mithazni's only good outfielder, so he's playing first base?
CF will especially be a black hole - Micheni is likely the worst player who will get regular playing time in the EL this season.
Rotation (13th):
Hamafme Asi - Mesa Tselsiko - Sosytse Paweshono - Pitau Fiosu - Kulaki Chamloha
By contrast, there's some nice EL experience here in the forms of Tselsiko and Paweshono. Asi was a bullpen piece for the last Mithazni EL team but transitioned to starting last year and did extremely well. This is not gonna be an amazing rotation but unless they have injury woes it won't be the thing that kills them. Another EL veteran, Kiri Yasei (Kepmem, 2014-2020) will return from injury in July.
Closer: Ketsu Sasewiraka (8th)
Sasewiraka is a weird pitcher, a 5'10" sidearmer who gets a ton of value out of his cutter but can also touch 98 on the gun. He made the reverse move from Asi, a former starter at Amnanache. The rest of the bullpen will be not so hot, I fear.
2024 prediction: 81-109 (16th)
Very few new faces compared to the team that won them promotion, but if I had to guess, Mithazni has enough pitching to stick around and survive EL relegation for the first time in their team's history.