2015 Pre-Season Picks
MIDDLE EARTH - Once more, it's time for the MESN pre-season picks. 2015 looks to be another year of exciting competition in all divisions.
Last season, we had a pretty good record in picking the division winners. Not so much on the Wild Cards. For example, Mirkwood's re-tooling effort turned out to be a less-than-complete house-cleaning, and the Marauders took the Shire Wild Card after a disappointing effort by Bucklebury. Meanwhile, Dagorlad completely fell apart, leaving the door wide open for Dunharrow.
Shire Conference
As with last season, Old Forest has the edge in the Elf Division due to their strong pitching staff. Chubb, Cheeseslicer, Ala'Niel and Veslay make a dominating starting rotation, and 'Bee Bee' Boreagrin's 42 saves were 2nd most in the league. Rivendell has closed that gap with their own rotation of Elfplate, Beardcutter, Glebrilad and Facecutter. Hitting is the thing that separates them from the Merry Fellows. Once again, the Titans have a dominating lineup (potentially the best in the league), but their lack of pitching will keep them down. And, as with last season, we predict the Marauders to bring up the rear (we see how well that turned out for us before).
In the Hobbit Division, Bywater once again looks to be the strongest of a very weak field. The Archers have gotten older. The Wargs have lost their way, and the Wyrms, while improving a bit, still don't have what it takes to catch up to the Bounders, who look for another dominating season out of last year's MVP, Glodunter Bromburg.
The Dwarf Division looks to be the closest it has been in many seasons (if ever). While Bree has the 2nd best pitching staff in the Conference, the best now resides in Moria. Besides a front four of Camellia Baggins, Quinn Ladygrass, Andrack Antslammer and Theodorus Tumbletoe, the Miners have a brilliant bullpen that includes Tigan Trollhead, Elasta Elderflower and Deallyra Undomiel. The Fairies have nothing to be ashamed of in the pitching department, either, with Black, Stonesmasher, Elivande and Scarlett II leading the way. What this race comes down to is hitting and staying healthy. The lineups are fairly close, with Bucklebury's getting the nod as being strongest, but not quite enough to offset the Cheese pitching. Another bat or two, or a key injury, will open up this race to any one of the three teams.
Elf Division: Old Forest
Hobbit Division: Bywater
Dwarf Division: Bree
Wild Card: Bucklebury
Conference Champs: Bree
Mordor Conference
Dunharrow's mad spending spree paid off last season, as the Devils pitched their way to the League Championship crown. It must be remembered, however, that they did not win the Orc Division. Misty Mountain, as predicted, took the flag in the end and only lost to Dunharrow Game 7 of the Two Towers Series. Look for the traditional close race in this division again this year. Grey Havens has the pitching edge, despite their aging team. They don't have the flashy starting rotation of the Devils' Brilhirion, Arwodur, and Bagdreg the Hated, but they have consistency up and down the line. The Hops hope to stay in it with their bats and through the power of Buffy the Balrog Slayer.
In the Goblin Division, Ravenhill and Lothlorien will fight it out once again. The Lumberjacks have better hitting than the Darkwings, but the Ravenhill pitching staff is more than a match for Lothlorien's. If Cloudskin gets hurt again and Drowslobberer doesn't perform, we could see Ravenhill putting them away. Weathertop was a surprise last year, but they're not going to sneak up on anyone this season. Count the Witch Kings as contenders, and the Numenor Kings are just a deal or two away from getting back to the top.
Minas Morgul has the best pitching staff in the League and the best hitters in the Conference. It would be a fool's bet to go against them in the Troll Division. However, through steady improvements, Isengard has risen to challenge the Slayers. The Raiders pitching staff is now considered to be the 2nd best in the Conference, and their hitters are ranked only behind Minas Morgul and Misty Mountain. Meanwhile, Dagorlad should bounce back from last season's disappointment, but the trade of team star, Isembard Ploughman, to the Darkwings indicates that the Disaster are on a rebuilding course.
Orc Division: Grey Havens
Goblin Division: Lothlorien
Troll Division: Minas Morgul
Wild Card: Isengard
Conference Champs: Minas Morgul
League Champs: Minas Morgul
Power Rankings
Minas Morgul Slayers
Bree Cheese
Bucklebury Fairies
Moria Miners
Isengard Raiders
Bywater Bounders
Grey Havens Stars
Old Forest Merry Fellows
Minas Tirith Titans
Dunharrow Devils
Lothlorien Lumberjacks
Lake Town Archers
Rivendell Royals
Ravenhill Darkwings
Misty Mountain Hops
Dagorlad Disaster
Mirkwood Marauders
Minas Ithil Wyrms
Dead Marshes Uruk-hai
Weathertop Witch Kings
Numenor Kings
Dol Guldur Dragons
Wilderland Wargs
Carrock Bears