NL east review

well, I was half way through the NL North before I realized it was not the east - so here goes on the real east.

Philadelphia Phantoms: 3,2,1,3 - newowner vkhcougars 4,4 -- Philadelphia is in the midst of a rebuild. vhkcougars took over the franchise in season 5 and went directly into rebuild mold. Player payroll is down to 77M and training is now up. The 4 off season trades were all aimed at building the minors and should not impact the ML roster this year with the possible exception of C Cashman at AAA (acquired from the Blue Crabs). However the free agent pitching signing indicate that Philadelphia intends to win more in the coming year than in the past. That being said competing for the division title or a wild card is a feww players off and may require whating for last years and this yars draft and International FAs to mature. Positions with major league caliber or future ML Caliber players are CF, RF, SS, 3B, C and of these CF Tony Chong at 33 may not see the return of Philadelphia to competitive status. AAA has future MLB players at 3B and 2B but no stars and AA iwill not help the parent club. there is much work yet to do. Prediction 4th and 72 wins.

Toledo Chicken Hawks: 4,4,4,4,2,3 - Cladouceur had been slowly moving this team up the standings until a set back in year 6. The player budget has been brought down to 70M as the team puts more effort into scouting and training to improve the on field product. The Chicken Hawks one off season trade sent a journeyman pitcher to the Blue Crabs for a RF prospect with ML potential though not star potential. They did not sign any ML free agents. At the ML level th Infield is ML quality and average on net defense. The Outfield is AAA quality and may be pushed shortly by the players presently at AAA. The position players in the lower minors are limited with only 2 or 3 likely to impact the majors. Pitching is an issue at all levels but the situation in AAA is most critical - the AAA players have the most potential but have control issues. The AAA pitching coach has NO DISCIPLINE. These pitchers need to move back to AA (pitching coach with high discipline) or up to the ML where the pitching and bullpen coaches have average discipline. The future of the Chicken Hawks for the next 2 years may ride on how this is resolved. Unfortunately I can not see the Hawks returning to a winning record without the addition of one or 2 prospects with quality pitches and good control. This should be the focus of any acquisitions. Prediction 3rdT and 74 wins IF there is some improvement in pitching. Otherwise the Hawks may find themselves in 4th.

Boston and Dover to follow in a day or 2