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2021 Spring/Summer Season Forecast 

April 16, 2021 (Federal League Wire Service)

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

Expansion Division

1. Tri-Cities Tritons
Mgr: Mike Whittaker 
Last Season: 32-8 (1st place, Won League Championship)
The Story: The Tritons have now won five consecutive championships and eight of the last nine. No team has ever won six straight titles. The main core of the team remains intact and ready to accept all challenges.
Strength: It's completely plausible now to suggest the Calvin Rayburn is the greatest player in league history. When Rayburn is on the mound, the Tritons have been nearly unbeatable. Rayburn is surrounded by a high quality cast that includes all-stars Jay Warman, Chris Marrero, and Zac Miller. A supporting cast that includes Agner Martinez, Jorge Cabellero, Dom Dingus, and Brandom Sam, among others, has depth and experience.
Weakness: The pitching behind Rayburn is good, but not necessarily great. John Hardardt and youngster Chad Allen are solid, but there is very little depth behind them. Team defense, which can be spectacular on some days and mediocre on others, is inconsistent. 
Prognosis: The Tritons will remain the lead dog until someone proves capable of displacing them.
Writin' Triton: The Sons of Poseidon have added veterans Frank Paul and Nazareth Rosario, neither of whom have played in the league for several seasons.

2. Hollywood Stars
Mgr: Ryan Snyder
Last Season: 26-14 (2nd place, lost in Semi-Final round)
The Story: Ryan Snyder took over the club from Ishy Demoya last season and completely re-imagined the team. The Stars came within one game of reaching the Championship Final Series and, while that demonstrates progress, does not satistfy their objective.
Strength: Last season, the Stars introduced key players, such as power pitcher Austin Armstrong, who is a former Toronto Blue Jays draftee, power hitting Albert Carbonell, middle infielder Rodolfo Oleta, slugger Jeffrey Baez, outfielder Ryan Reilly, and super utilityman Carlos Fluerry and added them to a returning core of Reol Alvarez, Eddie Llovera, Snyder, and Everett Miller. This season the talent pool grows with the addition of pitchers Dylan Brammer and Seth Marcus.
Weakness: The Stars present a very deep roster without any glaring weaknesses, however, their were stretches during last season where an, otherwise, powerful lineup failed to produce.
Prognosis: The Stars should be in the thick of the pennant and, once again, have to be considered as the Tritons leading challengers for league supremacy.
Star Shines: The Stars are hoping that veteran utiltyman Juan Deus can bounce back from a serious knee injury he suffered in last season's playoffs.

3. Margate Sentries
Mgr: Alex Rodriguez 
Last Season: 22-18 (3rd place, lost in Play-In round)
The Story: Alex Rodriguez now has two, very similar, seasons under his belt as manager of the Sentries and the Gatekeepers appear to be at a crossroads. Despite having, on paper at least, potentially the most talent of any team in the league, the Sentries limped home to a third place finish before bowing out early in the post-season. The roster is still strong, but it needs to start producing results or the chemistry of the team will have to bear the burden of the blame.
Strength: If Jheondri Herrera and Raul Ascanio are both fit and healthy, the Sentries have, quite possibly, the strongest 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation. Alex Rodriguez and Rafael Lara can provide quality innings. It will be interesting to see what former pro Hector Rovain is able to contribute. Willie Castillo and Osvaldo Martinez anchor a solid lineup that possesses some deceptive speed. 
Weakness: In last season's preview, we presciently wrote that despite a solid, veteran, core, the Sentries are, season after season, woefully inconsistent and have proven that they can be easily distracted. When this team is focused they can be as good as anyone, but maintaining that focus is their biggest obstacle. This proved to be all too true last season and remains the case until the team actively disproves it.
Prognosis: If the pitching stays healthy and the lineup avoids any major slumps, the Gatekeepers will be able to stay in contention all season long. If the team finds focus and plays up to its capabilities, the Guardsmen can finally entertain thoughts of a deep playoff run and unseating the Tritons.
Sentry Posts: The Sentries might be the scorekeepers least favorite team, having three Penas, two Rodriguezs, and Osvaldo Martinez, who used to be known by the last name Capote.

4. Davie Goliaths
Mgr: Donny Gagliano 
Last Season: 7-33 (4th place)
The Story: Donny Gagliano entered his second campaign as Goliaths' manager and hopes to build on the incremental success that the club showed toward the end of the season. Gagliano defied dire predictions and exhibited himself to be a deft skipper, one that reined in his notorious temper.
Strength: No one thing really jumps off the page, but the Philistines have a lot of promise in every facet of the game. Team speed is not excessive, but with Chris Jones and Isaac Zinguer, they have some. Power is not abundant, but with veteran Jamie Bobrow and newcomer Zach Roberts, it's there. The pitching staff isn't going to rate among the best in the league, but Pete Ginter, newly acquired Nelson Alvarenga, and youngster Derek Bonner, it could be pretty good. 
Weakness: The bullpen is going to be an area of concern. While the lineup is not bad, there are going to be a few holes in it.
Prognosis: The Goliaths might be a much better team than they were last year and still finish in the cellar. However, with the new playoff format, they may be good enough to squeeze into a post season berth.
Goliath Grunts:
The Goliaths have so many important players on their reserve list that they could not find room to keep Felix Martinez, a former all star outfielder, whom they acquired from the Stars in an off-season trade.

 

Original Division

1. Sunrise Sunsets
Mgr: Brandon Hull 
Last Season: 24-12 (2nd place, lost in Championship Final Series)
The Story: All season long, the Sunsets underachieved before engaging in a wild roller coaster ride through the playoffs that ended up being achingly short of finishing on top. Many of the key figures return, stoking hopes that, this season, they can get back over the hump.
Strength: The 'Sets boast a potent lineup led league MVP Chris Price, outfielder Joe Iacobucci, infielder Javier Aguilar and catcher Chris Craig. Former East Stroudsberg State slugger Rudy Mueller will add another power bat in the middle of the order. Dom Ficarra should rebound from a bit of an off year for him. The pitching can be more than fine with Garrett Rogers headlining a staff that includes Ryan Sander, Tommy Tritz, and a, hopefully, healthy Will Resnik. Eric Sabido is also back from injury to round out the staff. 
Weakness: The infield defense remains occasionally suspect. The team is desperate need of a true leadoff hitter. The loss of Brant Spring to shoulder surgery will be felt, particularly in the playoffs.
Prognosis: The Sunsets should in the thick of things again. If they expect to return to the Championship Final Series again, the pitchers will need to stay on form
Sunset Grillings: The Sunsets spent the off-season unsuccessfully attempting to lure all times wins leader, Michael Cimilluca, out of retirement.

2. Hallandale Twins
Mgr: Jordan De Los Reyes 
Last Season: 14-26 (3rd place, lost in Play-in round)
The Story: The Twins had an odd season that begin with well liked and respected manager Brent Campbell taking a leave of absence. Jordan De Los Reyes was named the interim manager and, by mid-season, De Los Reyes lost the interim tag. The team played much better ball in the second half signaling a bright future.
Strength: The Twins the makings of an explosive lineup. There is a nice balance of speed and power. Speedy Brian Clancy, a rookie, might be the team's new leadoff hitter. Eric Manning, former league MVP Anthony Garcilazo, and Gus Simeon form a formidable middle of the order. Elio Mercado, De Los Reyes, Luis Pagan return. The two Alexes, Martinez and Rodriguez had productive first seasons. The pitching has some new, but unproven talent to line up behind ace Francisco Calderon. 
Weakness: Team defense can be wildly inconsistent. The bullpen has more questions than answers, and, the bottom of the order has been unimpressive for several seasons in a row.
Prognosis: The Twins should be a much improved squad over last season, but may still be at least another campaign away from being real contenders.
Twin Peeks: The Geminis are hopeful that newcomers Nick Argento and Ariel Flores will be able to make a positive impact.


3. Broward Cubs
Mgr: Cory McEwen 
Last Season: 29-11 (1st place, lost in Semi-Final round)
The Story: Last season, the Cubs led the Senior Circuit from wire to wire before ultimately collapsing in the final inning of the final game of the semi-finals. This season will feature a few new faces, but the team will be hard pressed to duplicate last season's results.
Strength: Tyler Brown is emerging as the league's best all around catcher. Cory McEwen, Lionel Rubio, and Former Goliath and Star Erickmay Simancas have the potential to be a good middle of the order. Both the infield and outfield defenses are solid.
Weakness: The rest of the batting order has some major holes. While Chad Volbert remains a top flight ace, the rest of the mound staff is far from awe inspiring. McEwen and veteran Doc Guida can eat innings, and Bayardo Arias, a veteran lefty, has promise, but the staff is far from deep. 
Prognosis: The Cubs should return to the playoffs, but, unless they get some significant production from an unexpected source, a repeat of last year's regular season success is unlikely.
Cub Cribs: All-Star outfielder Gerry Estrada and key contributor, shortstop Eddie Cabrera, start the season on the reserved list.

4. Fort Lauderdale Atlantics
Mgr: Gary Frady 
Last Season: 6-34 (4th place)
The Story: The Navigators had the talent to go a lot farther than they did, but the team chemistry was off and the season went off the rails early with a back breaking six game losing streak in the early going followed by a 10 game skid later in the campaign. This season, manager Frady has revamped the roster and the hope is that, while the team might not be any more talented on paper than it was last season, the club will gel much better than it did in 2020.
Strength: The lineup has some promise. Jan Sanchez is due for a breakout season. Former MVP candidate Jamaal Thelwell should have a bounce back campaign. Jerry Ostos, acquired in a deal with the Twins, could be a star in the making. Rob Wiley, acquired from the Sentries, Jarrod Rubinstein, Doug Robinson, and newcomer James McOwen should provide some punch in the middle of the order. The outfield defense is excellent.
Weakness: The pitching staff beyond veterans Joe Feller, Evan Parana, and rookie Aaron Cooper is thin and suspect. The infield defense needs to tighten up.  
Prognosis: Unless they develop some more arms, it might be another long season.
Atlantic Crossings: The Atlantics released one of their most decorated players after Amed Martinez held out during the spring.


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