[ayaghmour2]

A brand new season of losing for the Montreal Royals as all our replacement players were ready to go! All stats are in projections first, then career stats second.

Last year's pennant winner Reading is projected to take home the crown again. The offense will be lead by 2B Rennine Stennett (.353/.379/.491, 11 HR, 83 RBI; .329/.350/.458, 21 HR, 148 RBI) who lead the league in hits last season. The rotation will be a strong are too, with RHP Pete Donohue (12-5, 2.58 ERA, 128 K; 21-13, 2.83 ERA, 215 K) the reigning ERA champion and a really strong number 2 in RHP Don Drysdale (8-8, 3.64 ERA, 178 K; 20-15, 2.88 ERA, 289 K).

The toughest competition will come from Boise and Albuquerque. Reigning MVP Dave Parker (.335/.385/.646, 33 HR, 105 RBI; .339/.372/.606, 48 HR, 235 RBI) will look to complete his third straight season at the top of the RBI leaderboard again. CF Paul Hines (.309/.382/.485, 15 HR, 87 RBI; .296/.346/.465, 24 HR, 171 RBI) will be another solid force on offense with a dangerous trio in the rotation of LHP Sandy Koufax (9-6, 3.68 ERA, 248 K; 19-14, 2.89 ERA, 383 K), LHP Danny McDevitt (11-5, 3.28 ERA, 195 K; 21-9, 3.16 ERA, 258 K), and LHP Jeff Pfiester (14-5, 3.74 ERA, 163 K; 22-11, 3.19 ERA, 288 K). Albuquerque boasts RF Chuck Klein (.313/.388/.583, 29 HR, 101 RBI; .325/.373/.519, 37 HR, 188 RBI; .325/.373/.519, 37 HR, 188 RBI) in the middle of their order, with a top two in the rotation of LHP Dupee Shaw (11-6, 2.96 ERA, 249 K; 22-11, 3.55 ERA, 350 K) and LHP Eppa Rixey (13-6, 3.22 ERA, 138 K; 21-14, 3.16 ERA, 216 K).

A little behind them are Houston and Norwich. RF Fred Schulte (.272/.379/.522, 22 HR, 99 RBI; .283/.328/.463, 27 HR, 161 RBI) anchors the Houston lineup with RHP Mordecai Brown (12-7, 3.45 ERA, 152 K; 26-9, 3.37 ERA, 244 K) and the second year RHP Claude Hendrix (9-5, 3.17 ERA, 152 K; 9-8, 2.37 ERA, 133 K) atop the rotation. Norwich doesn't have the strongest team, but the two-way sensation LHP/LF Babe Ruth (.291/.371/.622, 29 HR, 75 RBI; .283/.342/.608, 29 HR, 70 RBI / 10-5, 2.88 ERA, 118 K).

Portland will likely finish over .500, but they will be far out of a playoff spot. The second year duo of 2B Pete Browning (.364/.471/.572, 17 HR, 80 RBI; .319/.414/.523, 19 HR, 105 RBI) and 1B Prince Fielder (.289/.341/.515, 27 HR, 110 RBI; .296/.367.495, 19 HR, 77 RBI) could easily take the next step this season and surprise the lead. The rotation needs some work, but the Beavers are on the upswing.

At the bottom, Dayton will join us below .500. The offense isn't the strongest, but RHP Dolf Luque (10-8, 2.93 ERA, 184 K; 25-9, 2.65 ERA, 197 K) is a dominate top of the rotation piece who could end up being an interesting trade candidate.

Interesting enough, we have a top hitter in LF Al Wingo (.356/.424/.493, 4 HR, 67 RBI; .309/.378/.383, 1 HR, 74 RBI) looking to lead us to 18 wins this season. Interesting enough, he's the #2 ranked LF in the entire league. Him, 2B Joe Gerhardt (6th) and CL Mike Fornieles (7th) are the only guys not ranked 8th in the league.