2024 Season Preview - Part 4
BK KEPMEM
Kiwa Punem, ME
2023: 101-89 (8th)
Seasons in EL: 14
Best finish: 7th (2022)
Payroll: $77.6 million (16th)
Manager: Lomitsa Liposeli (5th year)
These would be brand new heights for Kepmem. No way to research this, but I'd be surprised if the preseason predictions had ever put them into the top 5 before. (They are level with Tsapna, but as the higher-scoring team Kepmem would win the tiebreaker.) They are definitely bumping up against their budget limit at the moment, but now is the time to go for it.
Lineup (3rd):
LF Faruo Ayekrea - 1B Lesayo Kino - RF Rosana Pishot
3B Kala Koshynae - 2B Oshor Ramukosho - CF Hekopa Ketunri
SS Maho Tinashatale - C Towi Pylashe
The best top half of a lineup in the league, no doubt. Ayekrea is a good bet to win a batting title someday, Koshynae is the league's most reliable power hitter, and while Kino and Pishot are probably one step behind, but still among the league's most dangerous hitters. Ayekrea, Pishot, and Koshynae are also Gold Glove winners!
Only Ketunri is new to the team this year, coming in from Otahel City where he started about half of last season's games. They could really use a new SS and catcher, but the money might not be there.
Rotation (14th):
Nimape Turetsotsa - Teshepo Tefasa - Fato Horoko - Chasaro Ikesa - Cheshore Merefife
Turetsotsa was likely the best pitcher to change teams in the offseason, coming in from the Shunna Eagles. Pairing him with Tefasa, who led the league with 21 wins last year, is a potent one-two punch. That's all Kepmem really have, though, the end of the rotation is on par with Sitache's.
Closer: Rika Hyketo (7th)
Hyketo led the Northern Premier League with 55 saves last season with the Alilia Captains. Time to make the leap to the big show!
2024 prediction: 109-81 (5th)
This would also be a club record for EL wins, with the prior best being 104 in 2022.
SEMYOF BC
Ransu, RA
2023: 91-99 (9th)
Seasons in EL: 32
Best finish: 1st (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2006)
Payroll: $113.5 million (7th)
Manager: Hamafme Rochuchichi (5th year)
Before Semyof's surprise relegation in 2019, it was rare for them to be anything worse than a fringe contender. It took them until last year to regain their footing, but now it looks as though the monster is back. They dominated the early years of the EL era too.
Lineup (12th):
1B Hoi Sekao - 2B Potsomowe Shulitso - SS Sashe Liposeli
CF Ipitashi Rerawe - RF Ilye Lilo - C Takmake Efiyalem
3B Mpimo Fatsi - LF Ekufa Yakom
Two new signings plug immediately into the middle of the lineup, both coming from smaller teams in Ransu. Liposeli was just part of a relegated club at Yasral - he hit pretty well there, but missed four months with a freak injury. Rerawe is a household name who was persuaded to spend six years at Lutrul and did amazingly there for a while, but also struggled with injury and then had trouble rediscovering the form that won him 5 MVPs in his teens and early 20s.
Ilye Lilo is a marvel, the oldest player in the EL by two years (he's 42). This'll be his 8th year at Semyof, after 10 years at Lutrul and a 9-year career before that. It's a long time removed from his early-career struggles, hitting below .200 for Muni as a teenager in the 90s.
Rotation (4th):
Chasolo Latemohi - Ferenasi Salpe - Tusehu Wamia - Saryesi Petsytapa - Hoi Monitseleu
Latemohi had his best career season leading the line for Semyof last year, and he's joined by a pair of highly touted rookies in Salpe and Monitseleu (particularly Salpe). One of the league's younger rotations, Petsytapa is the only one above age 22 (he's 26).
Closer: Teyumpu Riali (9th)
Semyof remade the back end of their bullpen too this offseason, bringing in two rival closers in Riali (from Amnanache) and Akawo Nylur (Tsapna). Should be a pretty good pitching staff overall.
2024 prediction: 112-78 (4th)
Is Semyof elite again? I need to see a full healthy season from that lineup to be really convinced, but it could happen.
PASATAKI GALAXY
Pasataki, ZA
2023: 121-69 (2nd)
Seasons in EL: 24
Best finish: 2nd (2023)
Payroll: $111.8 million (8th)
Manager: Iwata Tufsu (1st year)
For the past three seasons, the Galaxy were the only Elite League team from the state of Tsawemoko, the country's second largest state by both area and population. That's a lot of eyeballs, though I'm sure Pasataki brass would publicly say they're quite glad to have Nokir back to play against. This has been the team's most successful period, finishing second for the first time after 2022 had been their first time finishing third. Can they follow that up with their first title?
Lineup (2nd):
RF Timleni Chanesha - CF Yaropatso Kesia - 2B Apia Lela
1B Wia Merefife - LF Charoluki Awia - C Memomo Shiheshasi
SS Wyku Tofpalts - 3B Fosusha Hakoheso
No major changes to the lineup that led the league in scoring last year. Starting LF Tsata Mote has moved on, but Awia outperformed him in a smaller sample size last year. Shiheshasi has supplanted Repimi Cholomu as starting catcher, but Cholomu is still around.
Rotation (12th):
Aro Ipo - Pecho Tsytemoi - Rani Kireo - Cheteko Epofemi - Iotesi Eiyasho
Tsytemoi is the big free agent acquisition, coming off one year with Mighty Oaks (previously with Fampalo). He has the profile of someone who could be a good starter or an elite closer, and even made 17 relief appearances in Aroketsil last season, but not surprising at all to see him starting.
Closer: Lisou Nikera (14th)
There are a lot of good closers in the league to make Nikera the 14th-best. Missed about half of last season with an elbow injury but still recorded 22 saves. He led the league with 49 of them in 2021.
2024 prediction: 112-78 (3rd)
The Galaxy will be right there all season, so long as their starting pitching is at least reasonable in quality.
KELERI BC
Hefem, EM
2023: 109-81 (5th)
Seasons in EL: all 34
Best finish: 1st (1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018)
Payroll: $150.5 million (3rd)
Manager: Tsalku Katsesho (7th year)
Lokasi's premier club has now gone five years without a title, which has not happened since the early days pre-'97. Anything under 120 wins is generally a failure, which basically means there have been calls for GM Muroutsi Nokolo's head since they haven't hit that number at all in his three years at the helm. Not for a lack of spending, though...
Lineup (4th):
2B Mapisiu Kohopa - 3B Meteshu Tsefufayalo - SS Atsi Keana
1B Ouler Tuemole - CF Rarehimi Pohyfe - RF Shatso Raseke
LF Lesayo Sofiulo - C Seo Sekao
Keleri is hoping for addition this year by way of health. Atsi Keana was amazing in his first season with Keleri... for the 41 games that he played in. If he has a full season like that this year, he will win the MVP unanimously. The catching tandem - Sekao and Osotoro Yelishike, both new to the team - will be a big weak point, but the rest of the guys are good enough to overcome that.
Rotation (1st):
Kes Nokolo - Samayo Itsatuse - Shaltseri Kalorotiha - Shykim Rekute - Lamaki Tenotifek
Significantly younger than even the Semyof rotation, and even more talented, Keleri will throw 4 teenagers out there when their preferred rotation is healthy. Nokolo is probably my pick to win Pitcher of the Year this year after a strong debut season, and Keleri went out and grabbed the #1 rated amateur yet again in Itsatuse.
Closer: Toe Teshelo (2nd)
A great bullpen, although not quite as great as last year's was.
2024 prediction: 116-74 (2nd)
Last year, I thought Keleri would win it all, and I was definitely not right, but I'll say close to what I said during last year's preview again: if the young rotation pieces are as good as everyone thinks they can be, they're gonna be really hard to beat.
WESTLINE BC
Ransu, RA
2023: 119-71 (3rd)
Seasons in EL: 27
Best finish: 1st (1999)
Payroll: $159.3 million (2nd)
Manager: Mafuke Yelishike (7th year)
Westline was the "team of the offseason" in 2022-23, splurging a ton of cash that ended up vaulting them from 13th place to a podium position, similarly to what National had done the year prior. Can Westline repeat National's feat by jumping to the top of the table the next year? Well, I can tell you one thing: National didn't make nearly the free agent splash last offseason that the Liners made this year.
Lineup (1st):
LF Chatiri Shosotsoke - CF Saryesi Sifoku - 1B Peku Karwo
RF Wyshuo Aliso - 2B Nukacholo Riseki - C Tupae Pufosa
SS Atel Chirao - 3B Chop Riwihy
Westline took what was already the league's #3 ranked offense in 2023, and added the league's best hitter and two-time reigning MVP to that. Peku Karwo spent 2023 mired on an Aroketsil Spirits team that couldn't do that much around him (though his lineup protection wasn't that bad). The value he provides will be much better put to use here. Nina Mukuapi, not a bad player in his own right, will be relegated to bench duty.
Of course, I almost completely glossed over that they also signed arguably the best catcher in the nation in Pufosa, also part of a relegated team at Fampalo last year.
Rotation (2nd):
Tula Mitonone - Sefti Merefife - Misote Tsumeratsi - Pokoni Kofitsa - Hopati Chulelari
Also, Westline has the returning pitcher of the year in Mitonone, as well as the guy who won it three years ago in Merefife (though with Tsapna, not here). If Westline has any weakness at all, it might be the back end of the rotation, but most teams have much bigger problems.
Closer: Ferufi Shonoro (1st)
Shonoro is coming off a 1.12 ERA in the Second League last year, with 45 saves for a team that won the league by 10 games at Hokrof. He hasn't had to be "the guy" for a team of this caliber before, but he can probably handle it. All four of his pitches grade as 75s or above on the 20-80 scale.
2024 prediction: 132-58 (1st)
Westline is going to be really, really good this year. I won't go out and guarantee that they're going to win it all, but anyone who tries to predict someone else will win the title is engaging in some clickbait.
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Finally, it's time for the 2024 season to begin! The first week's worth of games will be as follows:
Round 1:
Tsapna vs. Kupore
Lutrul vs. Akashemo United
Westline vs. Pasataki Galaxy
Meka vs. National
Mighty Oaks vs. Semyof
Amnanache vs. Shunna Municipal
Keleri vs. Shunna Eagles
BK Kepmem vs. Mithazni
Sitache vs. Nokir
Cheshek vs. Hokrof
Round 2:
Semyof vs. BK Kepmem
Kupore vs. Cheshek
Hokrof vs. Lutrul
Mithazni vs. Sitache
Pasataki Galaxy vs. Keleri
Nokir vs. Meka
Shunna Municipal vs. Westline
Akashemo United vs. Tsapna
National vs. Mighty Oaks
Shunna Eagles vs. Amnanache
Quite a few marquee matchups to begin the year (not staged). Of course, the largest group of eyes will be facing south, on Westline vs. the Galaxy. Mighty Oaks/Semyof is also a classic, with Semyof maybe back to their old strength.
In round 2, it doesn't stop - Semyof/Kepmem, Galaxy/Keleri, and National/Mighty Oaks should all be great series too.