Troll Preview: Minas Morgul Lost 358 Innings and Kept the Stars
mesn-preseason-desk · 2026-10-20
The Troll Division's argument this spring is about Xandra *Thornflower and whether one center fielder can carry a club that just lost five pitchers. Minas Morgul won this division in 2050 and 2051, fell to 77-85 and third last year, and has since watched 358 innings walk out the door. OOTP projects the Slayers third at 79-83 and likes the Dead Marshes Uruk-hai at 96-66. MESN takes Minas Morgul anyway. The Zodiac's reading put Thornflower's natal chart with Jupiter parked in the tenth house and the Slayers' top five players clustered under a single sign, the tightest grouping the astrologers charted anywhere in the division. The Predictor Monkey also had the Slayers first last spring. They finished third.
### Minas Morgul Slayers (MESN #1, OOTP #3)
Free agency took the rotation apart. Mablung Melwasul, who threw 128 innings at a 4.50 ERA, signed with the Chiba City Neuromancers. Uzmir Saldona (95.7 IP, 3.57 ERA) and Cotman Bolger both left for the Dol Guldur Dragons. Poto Sauter (60.7 IP, 3.86) signed with the Dunharrow Devils, and Ugduk Fistripper (5.60 ERA) is unsigned. The only outside arm coming in is Agron Kingmaker, a free agent from the Numenor Kings with 74.3 innings at a 3.39 ERA. Payroll fell $27.6M to $115.4M, and Jhaan Clatharla still draws $34.8M of what remains. The projected rotation now opens with Sancho Gwill, a 23-year-old promoted at a 42 overall, ahead of Snuknogh Bugsmasher (68) and Ibpug the Badger. The strength of this roster is in the field and the bullpen: Thornflower (80) in center, Angelica Proudneck (71) in relief, and 22-year-old first baseman Antardhi Mithalvarin, promoted with a 101 contact rating. MESN's two-spot disagreement with OOTP also rests on the Tea Leaves, which clumped into a dense ring on the Slayers' side of the cup. The leaves do not read transaction wires.
### Dead Marshes Uruk-hai (MESN #2, OOTP #1)
The Uruk-hai lost very little they will miss. Three pitchers signed elsewhere: Dromzug the Atrocious with the Rhun Wheat Kings, Skognath the Wicked with the Narnia Badgers, and Igbub Eyeslobberer with the Earthsea Dragons. Together they took -2.2 WAR with them, including Eyeslobberer's 6.66 ERA. Catcher Amra Arren (.236, 7 HR, 0.8 WAR) left in free agency, and 35-year-old Gruudak Fouldeath retired. The replacements are almost all internal. Catcher Ottaviano Belurion (50) leads twelve promotions, and the only outside additions are three free-agent pitchers, among them Ghishnakh Humanslurper from the Minas Tirith Titans (3.45 ERA) and Ndòni Duthjuth from the Serenity Valley Fireflies. The lineup runs through Ugak *the Masher, an 80-rated first baseman with 100 contact and 80 power. Behind him, the rotation of Ajeder Eowarandil (62), Orvo Grass (61) and Solbog Preston (61) still has room to grow. OOTP gets 96 wins out of that rotation and the Masher. Last year the same core produced 79 wins and a 4.07 team ERA.
### Weathertop Witch Kings (MESN #3, OOTP #2)
The defending division champions spent money. Payroll rose $19.3M to $122.4M. The headline signing is Ragnar Kirchhoff, a 37-year-old free agent from the Asgard Vikings who posted a 2.12 ERA over 110.3 innings and 2.6 WAR, now on a $13.4M deal. Weathertop also traded left-hander Billy Madlight (3.19 ERA, 1.0 WAR) to the Old Forest Merry Fellows for Legeron Gezalian. Gezalian brings a 107 stuff rating, a 13 control rating and last season's 5.37 ERA. Shortstop Snurzug Trollthrottler, 37, signed with the Lothlorien Lumberjacks after hitting .198. The lineup still leans on third baseman Fay Gamgee (68) and first baseman Caradoc Wedlund (67), with Drubmag Manthrottler (60) anchoring the bullpen. The rotation is Morgan *le Fay, Vevei Stonefart, Andy van Cleave, promoted 22-year-old Gluzgash Dryadslasher (56), Dugor the Story-teller and Kirchhoff, and none of them is rated above 56. The monkey had the Witch Kings second last spring while they won 93 games and the division. It has them first this spring, which is the right answer one year late.
### Grey Havens Stars (MESN #4, OOTP #4)
The Stars have finished fourth three years running, and they cut $30.0M in payroll, down to $68.2M. The biggest loss is Nabi Ulmalhamah Leones, who threw 185.7 innings at a 3.73 ERA and 2.6 WAR before signing with the Lake Town Archers. Catcher Olithir Moonbow (467 PA, 1.5 WAR) went to the Misty Mountain Hops. The lone veteran addition is third baseman Deallyra Galaumer, a free agent from the Isengard Raiders who hit 21 home runs with 2.0 WAR. Beyond Galaumer, Lord Panda, in the dugout for 31 years, has twenty-one promotions to sort through. The players worth watching are closer Thuus Yraueme, an 80 overall with 97 stuff, second baseman Myronthilar Thrilmang (72) and starter Surzog Kapanaktsian (63). Rudibert Barataev and Norihide Dores earn $36.6M combined at 55 and 44 overall. Donethirion Castelanos opens on the 60-day injured list. The monkey had the Stars fourth last spring and was correct. It has moved them up to third this year, abandoning the only pick in the division it got right.
### Closing verdicts
Team to beat: Minas Morgul Slayers. Their top five (80, 71, 68, 67, 66) is the best in the division, and that core won the Troll twice in the last three years.
Sleeper: Weathertop Witch Kings. Kirchhoff's 2.12 ERA is the best arm anyone in this division added, and he joins a club that won 93 games without him.
Over/under: Minas Morgul at OOTP's 79 wins. Take the over, provided someone in that rotation can absorb Melwasul's 128 innings.