TEAM EVALUATIONS: CHUGGERS

Team: Chuggers

Conference: Patriot

Division: West

2009 Record: 104-58, 2nd Place

Typical Lineup:

1B Adam Dunn

2B Chase Utley

SS Hanley Ramirez

3B Ryan Zimmerman

LF B.J. Upton/Justin Upton

CF Dexter Fowler/B.J. Upton

RF Nick Markakis

C Victor Martinez/Henry Blanco/Alex Avila

DH Justin Upton/Randy Ruiz

Awesome, simply awesome.  Dunn is a liability at 1B, but who really cares?  Just a massively great lineup both offensively and defensively.  This is a lineup that the Upton family can really get behind.

Starting Rotation:

Felix Hernandez

Cole Hamels

Roy Oswalt

Zach Duke

Joba Chamberlain

Hernandez is one of the top pitchers of his generation, but Hamels and Oswalt did not live up to their usual greatness last year.  The Chuggers obtained the innings-munching Duke in trade during the draft, and Chamberlain appears to be back in the bullpen for the Yanks after a tough 2009 campaign.  This is a real weakness area against the Mammoths, and probably why the Chuggers will squash the rest of the league and come up short in the playoffs.

Bullpen:

Mike Adams

Phil Hughes

Hong-Chi Kuo

Arthur Rhodes

Joakim Soria

Another big strength for the Chuggers.  Adams will be untouchable for 37 innings.  Soria is also a great closer, but they won't need him much in that role.

Closer:

Mariano Rivera

Because they have this guy.

Minors:

Bobby Borchering

Jason Castro

Simon Castro

Starlin Castro

Alex Colome

Bryce Harper

Slade Heathcoat

Brett Lawrie

Josh Reddick

Wilin Rosario

Stephen Strasburg

Julio Teheran

And the beat goes on.  The Chuggers often use their perennial wealth of talent to trade up to get the 1st or 2nd overall draft pick.   They did that last year with Strasburg and again this year to get Harper.  They've also cornered the Castro market, and they have some other interesting pieces in there.  The Chuggers should remain at the top tier of the standings for at least another five years with this crop of youngsters.

The Chuggers should have no problem posting a huge win total on the backs of the patsies of the league, like me, but they will struggle to beat the Mammoths, who have a far superior starting pitching staff and nearly as good a lineup.  The league will come down to these two giants, and it will take some luck for the Chuggers to prevail.

Predicted Record:  100-62