[ifspuds]

Team Previews: Eastern League

Idaho Division
(listed in predicted order of finish)

Idaho Falls Spuds: This spot could go to any one of 4 teams in this division. Fans in the state of Idaho are going to see some excellent baseball this year, but the Spuds look like the class of the division at this point. Excellent offensive team, possibly the best in the NWL. Their pitching is average, but that's all they need to be.

Top Hitters:
SS Josiah "Viper" Davey
LF Anthony Williams
RF Billy Disney

Top Pitchers:
SP Denis Taylor
SP Frank McFerren

Sandpoint Foresters: Like Idaho Falls, this is a talented offensive team, and could very well end up in first by year's end. The key to their season will be how well Arturo Herrera -- the top catching prospect in the league -- takes to his new position of... shortstop. A strong pitching staff as well, with live arms throughout.

Top Hitters:
CF Ariel Castano
C Lucas Lozano
SS Arturo Herrera

Top Pitchers:
SP Michael Veltri
SP Tommy Zazeuta

Boise Buckaroos: An outstanding rotation puts this team in the hunt, as their #2 and #3 starters could be aces on some other staffs. Teams are going to have to hope they knock out the starters early, too: the top 2 pitchers in the pen are lights-out. Good power and discipline in the lineup, and a couple of outstanding basestealers.

Top Hitters:
RF Jesus Morales
C Mateo Aguilera

Top Pitchers:
SP Eduardo Carpio
SP Darrell Bain
SP Armando Patino
RP Mike Peer
CL Brian Grindstaff

Pocatello Pinecones: The rotation is loaded with promise, as the top 3 pitchers are all 26 or younger, and the bullpen could be the best in the league. The middle of the lineup is solid, but John Oliveri is at an age where he could hit a serious decline at any time.

Top Hitters:
1B Zachary Baker
3B John Oliveri

Top Pitchers:
SP Guillermo Reyes
SP Gary Hansen
SP Nick Leland

Twin Falls Twins: There's enough offense here to potentially be a surprise. If Robert Sailor can get help from the players around him, their average rotation might be enough to challenge for the upper spots in the division.

Top Hitters:
RF Robert Sailor
SS Ricardo Santamaria
C Ariel Ruiz

Top Pitchers:
SP Manuel Rivas
SP Jim Donnellan

Caldwell Cowboys: It's not that they're bad. The Cowboys mostly get this spot because someone has to. They lack home run power in the lineup and they don't have speed, so they'll have to rely on putting a lot of runners on. The bullpen is the most talented part of this team.

Top Hitters:
SS Walter Alvis
CF George Doty

Top Pitchers:
MR Gordon Rutz
CL John Robinson

Montana Division
(listed in predicted order of finish)

Missoula Bears: Huge power on this team, with up to 5 lineup regulars capable of 30+ homers. The rotation is just as strong, too. They have excellent control, and they'll probably keep the ball in the park pretty well. As good as the defense is behind the pitchers, that bodes well for Missoula fans.

Top Hitters:
LF Carlos Serra
C Ivan Abalo
CF Julio Perez

Top Pitchers:
SP Rex Klassen
SP Samuel Diaz
CL Jeffrey Everett

Great Falls Explorers: Great Falls has a lot of power, but they won't hit for a very high average. The rotation is good, though all of the starters are 32 or older, so it could collapse without much warning.

Top Hitters:
3B Jesse Barrett

Top Pitchers:
SP Richard Kreps
SP John King
SP Kijuurou Washichi

Glacier Park Rangers: This will be a fun team to watch. They have a ton of speed and they steal bases very well. The hitters are just good enough to keep the baserunners circling. The rotation is solid, but very young: 3 of the top 4 pitchers are 25 years old. If the youngsters come through, the Rangers could move up.

Top Hitters:
RF Elmo McCray
CF Bradley Chinn
3B William Albers

Top Pitchers:
SP Charles York
SP Lorenzo Villaran

Billings Bison: Some good hitters on this team, and they'll kill right-handed pitchers, so they could rank in the upper half of the league in runs scored. Unfortunately, the pitching staff isn't great. They won't walk many, but they'll allow a lot of balls in play. The defense isn't good enough to handle that many.

Top Hitters:
1B Patrick Miller
2B Jerry Calabro

Top Pitchers:
SP David Brown
CL Richard Halls

Helena Capitols: Outside of Desmond Rosado and John Willoughby, there's not much offense. Still, those two are 25 and 28 years old, so there's some time to build around them. The bullpen is probably the best in the Northwest League, and they're likely to get a lot of work.

Top Hitters:
3B Desmond Rosado
C John Willoughby

Top Pitchers:
CL John Harrington
RP Coleman Pontius

Bozeman Bashers: This team is in trouble. The offense won't put many balls in play, and they're allergic to walks. It's a young team, though, so it could improve eventually. As thin as they are at the plate, the pitching is just as meager. Outside of Kip Bray, there's not much here.

Top Hitters:
SS Asdrubal Cuesta

Top Pitchers:
SP Kip Bray