Orc Division Preview: The Dragons Keep Their Lair, and Dunharrow Climbs Out of a Hole
mesn-preseason-desk · 2026-10-24
Torjus Nicolaescu and the Dol Guldur Dragons have won the Orc at 90-72 in each of the last two seasons, and this winter they lost exactly three players, worth a combined 0.4 WAR. Nicolaescu, a center fielder rated 71 and paid $20.8M, is the best everyday player on the best team in the division, and both MESN and OOTP take Dol Guldur first. The disagreement starts underneath. OOTP has the Misty Mountain Hops second. MESN backs a Dunharrow side coming off 62-100, largely on the strength of a Crystal Ball reading on the Devils' bullpen. Last spring the Predictor Monkey placed all four Orc teams exactly one spot away from where they finished.
Since Our Last Preview
- The Bywater Bounders made three trades, including sending minor league LF Buudush Maerdrym to the Serenity Valley Fireflies for SS Krubkrut Suold. - The Carrock Bears sent LHP Thutai Elorfithien and RHP Lily Poolslinger to the Neverland Lost Boys for minor league LHP Sze Connell. - The Grey Havens Stars signed Fabien Gawarecki, Filibert Loamsdown and Cristofor the Ugly. - Bucklebury's Surthag Borromeo has plantar fasciitis and will miss 30 days. Lake Town's Brian Rougecheeks is back from microfracture surgery on his knee.
Dol Guldur Dragons (MESN #1, OOTP #1)
The champions' offseason was a short list. Third baseman Oenel Udiel signed with the Belegost Destroyers after 129 plate appearances and 0.0 WAR. Right fielder Drurag Gidush (.359 in 50 PA) left in free agency. Reliever Peromer Saberano (4.57 ERA) signed with the Romenna Lakers.
In came three promotions, led by first baseman Myrtai Arwidur (52). The Dragons also signed 36-year-old Uzmir "Flat Tire" Saldona from the Minas Morgul Slayers, who posted a 3.57 ERA over 95.7 innings.
The core is the same one that posted a 3.48 team ERA. Nicolaescu returns, along with right fielder Halgondas Brisebois (68, still climbing toward 74). Dilo Covalchuc's control rating of 81 anchors a rotation with no overpowering arm in it.
The real worry is money. Payroll rose $17.3M to $155.3M, and the largest contract on it, shortstop Garbhaka Yorba's $23M, opens the year on the injured list. Vrsong the Drooler returns with two years in the manager's chair, the longest tenure in the division. The Phrenologist's Bumps Chart palpated him for eleven minutes and placed his skull first in the Orc, citing a ridge behind the left ear it has favored since the chart was drawn.
Dunharrow Devils (MESN #2, OOTP #3)
Dunharrow lost 100 games and then lost most of the staff that lost them. Eight pitchers are gone, seven of them signing elsewhere:
- Gringamor Sonier (166 innings, 5.04 ERA) to the Diagon Alley Wizards - Snabgunk Throatcrawler (2.43) to the Tirion Navigators - Cymbiir Falathion (1.91) to the Serenity Valley Fireflies
Orgulas Longstrider went by trade to the Andelain Giants. A separate deal with the Giants returned left-hander See-tong Thatcher (3.56 ERA in 121.3 innings).
The marquee signing is 33-year-old third baseman Meneaduc Liszt, who joins from the Lake Town Archers at $17.4M after 15 homers and 1.3 WAR. Manuel Hogg is out as manager, and Bilbo Hornblower is in. The old money is still on the books: Rapu "Gasoline" Vale costs $33M and is rated 56, and shortstop Misagenes Foebinder costs $28.4M, is rated 64, and is currently injured.
The upside lives in the rotation. Fogan Beardfist is rated 62 with a ceiling of 80, and Borowyn Nelnueve is rated 61. OOTP already sees a 19-win jump to 81-81. MESN asks for one spot more. The Crystal Ball, which ranks this bullpen first in the division, cleared for a full minute on an image of new reliever Frodo Holgate, who had a 0.92 ERA with the Neverland Lost Boys last year, pitching the ninth. Holgate begins the season on the injured list.
Misty Mountain Hops (MESN #3, OOTP #2)
The Hops cut payroll from $104.4M to $50.8M and let sixteen players walk. That included the best of last year's bullpen:
- Odo Roper (2.88 ERA) to the Babylon Five Rangers - Miranda Mosseater (1.95) to the Bywater Bounders - Amreet Shakerley to the Ravenhill Darkwings
The trade market brought back Yong-su Guachomin from the Star Fleet Academy Cadets, at the cost of second baseman Akorakor Squire. Guachomin posted a 2.50 ERA and 2.9 WAR in 118.7 innings. The Hops also acquired 36-year-old Lanlla Iseogrin from Bywater, whose $14.7M is now the largest contract on the roster. Maltame Eiagol replaces Fuulak Nosehammer as manager.
What keeps OOTP interested is the top of the roster. Left fielder Thugmag Maxim is rated 79, the best player in the division. Chae-ku Ogura is a 75-rated starter with the hardest stuff in the Orc. OOTP projects 702 runs, most in the division, and 82 wins. MESN has them a spot lower, mostly because Maxim opens the season on the injured list.
Isengard Raiders (MESN #4, OOTP #4)
Isengard finished second at 79-83, then shed $45.8M and its two biggest bats. Center fielder Jae-bok Ganan, 37, left in free agency after 26 homers. Third baseman Deallyra "Baby Bull" Galaumer signed with the Grey Havens Stars after 21 homers and 2.0 WAR. That is 47 home runs gone between them. The replacements are promotions, led by 22-year-old first baseman Joo-seok Osorro (56).
The rotation carried the division's worst team ERA at 4.05, and it adds two free agents:
- Allyson Bunce from the Bucklebury Fairies: 3.79 ERA over 175.7 innings, $9.3M, currently injured - Griffo Baggins from the Mirkwood Sylvan: 3.89 ERA
Left fielder Glukduh the Odiferous (70) is the lineup's best hitter. Ragnar *Stonecutter III, rated 65 in his 21st season, begins on the injured list. The Predictor Monkey had the Raiders first last spring. This year it took its 2052 board, moved the Isengard logo from the top to the bottom, and slid the other three up one space each.
Closing Verdicts
Team to beat: Dol Guldur Dragons. They are a two-time 90-win division champion that lost 0.4 WAR all winter.
Sleeper: Dunharrow Devils. They went 62-100, but Beardfist, Nelnueve and a rebuilt bullpen put them a spot above OOTP here.
Over/under: Misty Mountain Hops at OOTP's 82 wins. Take the under until Maxim is back in left field.