Teams are announced -- predictions....

This afternoon the pro staff drafted the teams that will be playing this week at the camp - so I will do my best to spell the team names correctly but I will get the coaches and the team names ready to rumble -- I will also have to back track potentially on my predictions and also not knowing some of the rookies I really don't know how to effectively handicap the field -- so here are the teams:

Team #1 - HrSamSki's -- Coached by Hrbek & Brunansky (this is my team....)
Team #2 - All-nighters - Coached by Laudner, Gagner, and Milt Cuyler
Team #3 - Hello Newman! - Coached by Al Newman & Eric Rasmussen
Team #4 - Got You By the Balls - coached by Mickey Hatcher & Viola
Team #5 - The Walking Dead - coached by Bill 'Soup' Campbell, Julio Becquer, & Steve Braun
Team #6 - Three Amigos - coached by Lee Stange, Tony Oliva, and Juan Berenguer
Team #7 - Wildcats - coached by Phil Roof & Rick Aguilera
Team #8 - SQL - coached by Dick Stigman, Frank Quilici, & Gene Larkin

So with the rain out today the rookies were not able to 'show their stuff' and thus making it tough to figure out the good teams from the bad -- but I am going to make my 'bold' (or in this case -- not so bold) predictions with pointing out the top 4 vs. potential bottom 4 teams -- and some reasons --

Bet on them - should be in the top 4
Hello Newman - the trio of Schmidt's make this an instant favorite, but defense could be Achilles heal
The Walking Dead - This team is full of pitching and catching -- the other positions figure themselves out, solid team

Good teams -- but could go either way
All-nighters - highlighted with Lance Anderson as their ace, but not sure of catching and defense
HrSamSki's - should have best defense in camp, lack pitching depth but maybe find/develop one
Three Amigos - great pitching depth, hitting (scoring runs) will be a challenge
Got You by The Balls - lots of rookies make this team a wildcard - but like the make up

Darkhorses - not every team can finish in the top 4
Wildcats - Lots of rookies (if they play well, they will win), good pitching depth
SQL - This team could be good, but possible injury to stud rookie keeps me from thinking big things

Well there you have it -- we will be back in a few days to see how my predictions actually come through.

I am excited to be on Bruno's and Hrbie's team -- new coaches for me this year so it will be a lot of fun -- Brunansky was especially happy - his comment to me was "Now I can hate you from our own dugout this year!"  Bruno has lovingly always tells me, "Stop killing me!" (in reference to a few times my team has beat his team at camp) -- now we can just go out and win together!  I like our team - our obvious potential hole is pitching depth - we have 3 pitchers on the squad but the #2 pitcher has had shoulder issues (only pitched 5 innings the last time) and our #3 pitcher is more like softball throwing than baseball (but sometimes that can be effective).  Our defense should be really good - we have good legs and veteran players -- as long as we score runs we will be competitive.
I will try to get us win number 1 tomorrow morning and get us going on the right track.

Thanks again for following this week - we will be twitting schedules, rosters, and results as I am able and remember -- forecast says 70 and sunny tomorrow....sounds good to me.

~~ "You can observe a lot just by watching." - Yogi Berra ~~