2014 Pre-season Picks
MIDDLE EARTH - With the 2014 season set to begin, it's time for the MESN pre-season picks. Last season, we totally missed the mark in the Shire Conference, and were 50% in our Mordor picks. Hopefully, the sacking of our former statistician, Marge N. Rivera, and the hiring of Mark M. Down will improve our crystal ball's sight.
Enough prevarication! On with the prognostication!
Shire Conference
Last season, we ignored the fact that the Merry Fellows had the best pitching staff in the Elf Division in favor of the emerging Minas Tirith hitters. While the Titans did wind up scoring the most runs per game in the Conference (4.9), they were at the bottom of the pitching barrel, surrendering 4.9 runs per game, as well. Nothing the Titans did in the off season seems to have affected that. Minas Tirith has the most potent lineup in the league, but unless they can acquire another good starter and some middle relief, all the hitting talent will be wasted. Meanwhile, perennial favorite, Mirkwood, looks to be languishing near the bottom of the pack after some retooling moves in the off season.
In the Hobbit Division, Bywater looks to be the strongest of a very weak field, including the aging Archers. Last seasons surprising Wilderland team doesn't seem to have the hitting to contend this year, but we thought the same thing last season.
As usual, the Dwarf Division is going to be a horse race between Bucklebury and Bree. The Cheese have the edge in pitching, but the Fairies have an advantage in hitting, especially with the acquisition of Thudor Nadrierion from Ravenhill.
Elf Division: Old Forest
Hobbit Division: Bywater
Dwarf Division: Bucklebury
Wild Card: Bree
Conference Champs: Bucklebury
Mordor Conference
With Dunharrow's mad spending on pitching this off season, the Devils are looking to buy their way back into the hunt. And it just might work. Dunharrow's pitching is the equal of all 4 teams in a very tight division. The thing that will separate them is hitting. Misty Mountain has the edge there over both Dunharrow and Grey Havens, but even Dead Marshes will be right in the thick of things.
In the Goblin Division, Ravenhill and Lothlorien will fight it out once again with some added pressure put on them by the new Numenor owner. The Kings won't contend this season, but they should make things interesting.
Minas Morgul no longer possesses the most powerful lineup in the league, but it's still one of the strongest, and their pitching should keep them at the top of the Troll Division, ahead of Dagorlad and a rebuilding Isengard team under new ownership.
Orc Division: Misty Mountain
Goblin Division: Ravenhill
Troll Division: Minas Morgul
Wild Card: Dagorlad
Conference Champs: Minas Morgul
League Champs: Bucklebury
Power Rankings
Bucklebury Fairies
Bree Cheese
Minas Morgul Slayers
Old Forest Merry Fellows
Moria Miners
Minas Tirith Titans
Misty Mountain Hops
Dagorlad Disaster
Dunharrow Devils
Grey Havens Stars
Ravenhill Darkwings
Rivendell Royals
Carrock Bears
Bywater Bounders
Lothlorien Lumberjacks
Lake Town Archers
Dead Marshes Uruk-hai
Weathertop Witch Kings
Mirkwood Marauders
Numenor Kings
Dol Guldur Dragons
Wilderland Wargs
Isengard Raiders
Minas Ithil Wyrms