CFBL Team Preview: Mezak Attack

OVERVIEW:
2007 Record: 99-107-14
Standings: 4th place(6th seed in playoffs)

How does a team lose Arod and get better? The Ewing Theory, for one. But really, Mezak's team just got much more balanced. He added the pitching he needed and made a run. There's a lesson here for us all.

Chris has also fell ass backwards into a better roster, as he was the beneficiary of lots of offseason MLB trades that helped him. Lose Tejada? Get Renteria for a minor league pitcher. Glaus gets traded for Scott Rolen. Pretty lucky offseason so far.

PROJECTED LINEUP:
C Hernandez
1B Konerko
2B Polanco
3B Scott Rolen
SS Renteria
OF Gary Matthews, Jr.
OF Luke Scott
OF Ibanez
DH Garrett Anderson

SP Buerhle
SP Pettitte
SP Garland
SP Batista
SP McCarthy
SP

RP Putz
RP Albers

BN Jason Michaels


This team would cost ~$110 Million



NEEDS:
-A true Ace, strikeout pitcher to put his staff into the elite category
-Upgrade OFers, if possible. Theyre not bad, but there's no stud out there
-Could use some stolen bases, but no place to find them really
-Some back end cheapy starters to fill out rotation


STRENGTHS:
-Deep, strong pitching staff
-Powerful, well rounded offense, all signed to reasonable contracts
-Great closer in Putz, signed cheap
-Team essentially complete and he's only spent $110 million


WEAKNESSES:
-Three solid SPs, but no stud and Ks might be hard to come by. Above average rotation, but not a whole lot of upside or ways to improve
-OF isnt impressive, but theyre all solid and affordable. No way to improve it
-What will Sarge and Ramon Hernandez show you this year?
-Not a lot of money to spend


PREDICTION:
This is a playoff team, most likely. If you look at his roster youre not wowed, but there arent holes and he has all the pieces to make a nice run. This team is better than the 07 version that made a run to the semifinals.

What will determine his fortunes is how he spends his money at the auction. He will also be a in position to improve his team by trades if he's smart. He has a lot of pieces that teams could use.

FARM SYSTEM:
Further, his farm system is stocked with studs like Billy Butler, Joba Chamberlain, Michael Bowden, Evan Longoria and Troy Patton. Lots of high end guys who could help soon. He's a little short on young high end guys and depth, but when the top end looks like that youre still getting an "A."


OFFENSE: B+
PITCHING: B
FARM SYSTEM: A-
OVERALL: B


PREDICTED FINISH: 5th