2013-2014 Fall/Winter Season Forecast 

October 4, 2013 (Federal League Wire Service)

         Here's how the editors of South Florida Baseball Report see the races shaping up:

Expansion Division

1. Margate Sentries
Mgr: Phil Laufman 
Last Season: 30-6 (tie 2nd place, lost in Expansion Series)
The Story: The Sentries narrowly missed winning the regular season flag, but returned to the Expansion Series, where they succumbed in four games. Gone are stalwarts Sandy Cabrera (to retirement) and Billy DeVuyst (traded to the Stars). Draftee Casey McCarthy and former Star standout Albert Quezada are now on board.
Strength: The Sentries have, potentially, the league's top offensive lineup with Jeff O' Kelley, Dave Munguia, Jason Jones, Lawrence Weissman, Tim Hopkins, Ray Ubiera, Quezada, and Andres Libran. They also have the league's deepest pitching staff. Cody Stauble is set to have a break out season.
Weakness: Despite having Munguia at first, the infield defense is remains less than spectacular.
Prognosis: The talent is present to go all the way.
Sentry Posts: Last season, Jeff O' Kelley's sore shoulder delayed his expected move to second base. As O' Kelley's ability to throw returns, Laufman is finding it necessary to play his former shortstop in right field.

2. Lighthouse Point Beacons
Mgr: Keith Nicoll 
Last Season: 32-4 (1st place, won Expansion Series championship)
The Story: After a completely unfulfilling season the season before, the Illuminators returned to the Expansion Series and dispatched the defending champion Sentries in four games. A bountiful draft has produced two starting pitchers, righty Nicholas Mirto and lefty Ryan DiGiose, who are expected to head the rotation.
Strength: The lineup is still productive. Jimmy Efre and Cory Gammons lead the offense. Up the middle defense is a strong suit. If Mirto and DiGiose deliver on their promise, and Brant Spring is able to assume the closer role, than the pitching might become the best in the league.
Weakness: The Beacons everyday lineup is beginning to show its age. Overall team defense, once a strength, has become marginal.
Prognosis: The Beacons , as always, will make their presence felt in the championship picture.
Speakin' Beacon: The team is unsure of the future of all-time career home runs leader Pat "The Bat" Vadala. After missing last season's playoffs due to surgery to repair a detached retina, Vadala remains inactive at the start of the new campaign and is unclear when he may be able to rejoin the team.

3. Tri-Cities Tritons
Mgr: Mike Whittaker 
Last Season: 10-26 (4th place, lost in play-in round)
The Story: Having suffered through the worst campaign imaginable two seasons ago, the Tritons coalesced as a team and made some positive strides. The next step for the Water Dwellers is to look to be in contention all season.
Strength: The Tritons have a better than average lineup. Magdiel Sanchez established himself as a top batsman. Whittaker, Andy Ruiz, Mike LaManna, Jorge Caballero, and Rob Harap form the nucleus of a strong lineup. Newcomers Alex Wood and Eric Silverberg will provide some pitching options for "Iron Man" Whittaker.
Weakness: The Tritons still need to shore up their fielding, especially if they want to maximize the performances of their new pitchers.
Prognosis: The Tritons are still building for the future, but they can see the light on the horizon. This may not be a championship caliber club yet, but they are getting closer.
Writin' Triton: Pitcher Tim Thielen, who fractured his arm while pitching last season, became the fourth Triton to win the Dave Gardner Memorial Award for the display of sportsmanship and courage.

4. Sunrise Sunsets
Mgr: Brandon Hull 
Last Season: 7-29 (6th place)
The Story: One season after reaching the Expansion Series, the Twilighters finished in the Junior Circuit basement despite the batting heroics of MVP Demetrio Green and Chris Price.
Strength: The middle of the order still has Price, Green, Joe LaRocca, Eric Bigham, and Jimmy Schariest to produce runs. The pitching may not be deep, but both Doc Guida and Justin Shiver are workhorses capable of big seasons.
Weakness: Team defense is a nagging concern, as well as, the depth of the pitching staff.
Prognosis: The Sunsets are hard to figure. There is enough talent and experience to get deep in the post season, but they are inconsistent enough to miss the playoffs again. It could go either way. 
Sunset Grillings: Manager Brandon Hull, out on a leave of absence, will return to active duty on October 19.

5. Davie Goliaths
Mgr: Michael Gagnon 
Last Season: 21-15 (3rd place, lost in semi-finals)
The Story: The Goliaths had a frustrating campaign and then lost manager Terrence Broussard to retirement. The team will miss Broussard's leadership as well as his big bat.
Strength: The Goliaths boast some mighty offensive weaponry in the form of Jose Chinea, Rob Wiley, Manny Arraiz, and Jose Garcia. Joe Feller, Aaron Spring, and Alex Rodriguez lead a more than capable rotation. Rookie shortstop Ivan Robledo looks like a future star.
Weakness: While the Goliaths have all star candidates at virtually every position, they do not carry much depth, a fact that was exposed in their recent playoff losses.
Prognosis: The Goliaths might take a dip in the standings as new manager Gagnon adjusts to getting some on the job training.
Goliath Grunts: The G-Men are expecting big things from their new catcher James Rupf. The Connecticut native ay also see some significant innings on the mound, as well as, behind the plate.



6. Hollywood Stars
Mgr: Billy DeVuyst
Last Season: 8-28 (5th place, lost in semi-finals)
The Story: The Stars officially commenced a major rebuilding program as they traded Juan Gonzalez, Raul Nieto, Jose Estevez, Justin Rivera (to the Beacons) and Manny Arraiz (to the Goliaths) for mostly young prospects last season. The moves yielded mixed results as the Stars struggled to a 5th place finish and were swept in the semi-final round of the playoffs after winning the play-in. Those plans were scrapped and a new rebuilding plan was instituted under new manager DeVuyst.
Strength: The additions of Mario Dorsey, Dave Fernandez, and Christopher and Richard Roy give the Stars a potentially strong lineup.
Weakness: The pitching staff is a mess with only Dave Lopez being a proven commodity.
Prognosis: The Stars will be in a dogfight to reach the post season.
Star Shines: The Stars acquired Patrick Keane from the Tritons to help bolster the thin pitching corps.

Original Division

1. Fort Lauderdale Blazers
Mgr: Michael Cimilluca 
Last Season: 15-17 (4th place, won Championship Final Series)
The Story: The Blazers (operating as the Hallandale Twins) overcame an indifferent regular season and caught fire in the post season and captured the Senior Circuit crow. With the nucleus of the team intact for a full campaign, the Blazers are the loop's early favorite.
Strength: The team has a strong lineup centered around leadoff hitter and reigning MVP David Leon and power hitting former MVP Joe Iacobucci. All-Star catcher Michael Fuentes, John Spellman, Dominic Ficarra, Rob Thomson, and rookie Jake Spooner will also cause trouble for opposing moundsmen.
Weakness: Despite the presence of league legend Cimilluca, Thomson, and strong armed Adam Martinez, the pitching depth could be a cause for concern.
Prognosis: There is certainly enough talent here for another pennant run, but a mid-season addition of one or two quality pitchers wouldn't hurt.
Blazer Blasts : Cimilluca is the team's third different manager in as many seasons.

2. South Florida Sun Devils
Mgr: Anthony DeFilippis 
Last Season: 17-15 (3rd place, lost in Championship Final Series)
The Story: The Sun Devils, after missing the playoffs two seasons ago, went to the Championship Final Series last season. The Devils won the first two games, but dropped the final three. This season, the Solar Satans should, once again, be in the middle of the pennant race.
Strength: The Sun Devils have always lived and died with the pitching staff and this team is no different. If Chris Snevel is fully recovered from shoulder shoulder surgery, the Devils will, once again, have the loop's best pitching staff. Snevel will join Jason Lipoff, Barry Rooks, Sean Grove, and newcomer Andrew Layne in the mound corps.
Weakness: While the Devils have some solid hitters such as Bryan Greer and Anthony DeFilippis, there offense is still a work in progress. 
Prognosis: The Sun Devils should reemerge into the playoff picture and, could, on the strength of their pitching, make a title run, provided everyone stays healthy.
Sun Devil Notes: Shortstop Eric Jensen, a rookie from Wheaton College, is being counted on for big things.

3. Parkland Angels
Mgr: Gary Rogers 
Last Season: 22-10 (2nd place, lost in semi-finals)
The Story: The transition phase for the storied franchise is now complete as the former Braves/Mets team has been rebranded in acknowledgment of the Gary Rogers regime. Now, in his second season at the helm, Rogers hopes to build the chemistry that last season's talent, but underachieving aggregation sorely lacked.
Strength: This is a balanced team that has some team speed, some power, good pitching, and excellent defense. Shortstop Matt Rogers has the untapped potential to lead the team forward.
Weakness: Every team could always use more pitching depth. The Angels are no exception.
Prognosis: The Angels may struggle in the early going this season, but there is certainly no counting them out of the championship picture.
Halo Happenings : This marks the first time in league history that two existing franchises have changed names in the same campaign.

4. Commercial Aviation Mudcats
Mgr: Gus Maestrales 
Last Season: did not play.
The Story: The Mudcats were on a one season hiatus last season and return to find a vastly improve set of opponents through which to navigate.
Strength: The Mudcats will have a balanced lineup with veterans Pete Maestrales, Gary Frady, Tommy Tritz, Casey Johnston on hand to provide power. Former Triton Michel Valdes and Jose Parra have plenty of speed.
Weakness: A lack of pitching depth behind Gus Maestrales and Tritz may be worrisome.
Prognosis: The Mudcats should be in the playoff hunt and could, if everything breaks right, make a dent in the post season.
Mudcat Musings: The Mudcats, despite being furloughed last season, have the second longest lineage of any league team.

5. Broward Cubs
Mgr: Adrian Bautista 
Last Season: 26-6 (1st place, lost in semi-finals)
The Story: Two seasons ago, the Cubs reached the summit, winning their first league title, despite a spotty regular season. Last season, the Cubs led the division from wire to wire only to flame out in the playoffs. This season, with many of their top players unsigned or injured on Opening Day, it may ne a long, uphill, climb, toward contention.
Strength: Any lineup that has Alvaro Gomez, Luis Rodriguez, and perennial all-star Jamie Bobrow should figure to be productive.
Weakness: A well rounded pitching staff led by playoff hero Chad Volbert carried the Cubs to victory two seasons ago. Volbert is still around, as is lefty Francis Lopez, but the pitching is woefully short on experience.
Prognosis: The Cubs will only go as far as their pitching takes them and that might not be far enough to keep them in the race this season.
Cub Cribs: The Cubs will start the campaign amid rumors that this will be Adrian Bautista's last season as Cubs' skipper. Bautista's many outside interests, combined with the team's erratic off season has fueled the speculation that a change may be imminent.

Send mail to webmaster@federalleague.com with questions or comments about this web site.

Web Site Copyright © Federal League Athletics, 2012, 2013. All Rights Reserved.