A Look at Hitters Cards ...

Its time for me to start (psycho-) analyzing  each team in different ways.  With rosters frozen until the Auction, not much will change in the next three weeks.  And this might give some insight on who everyone is "going after" during this FrRFA bidding process.  First up, I will look at the hitter cards on each team.  My analysis has broken each team into three categories:  Lineup vs lefties, Lineup vs Righties and bench strength.  I weighted the lineup vs righties more heavily than the other two.  And I gave each team a POWER RANKING on a 1-100 scale.  To the list!

1. ELR (86 / CYK #1 / 19 - 56 - 11) : This team has some serious punch with Berkman, Dye, Drew and Beltran. LF looks the weakest but ELR has no room to make any pick-ups at the auction.  The bench depth is its real weak point.

2. ALT (86 / BRA #1 / 14 - 60 - 12) : Three 1's on defense and Bay, Gonzalez, Pedroia and Victorino lead the offense.  Best RH lineup in the league.  

3. LVP (81 / CYG #1 / 13 - 57 - 11) : Looks like the offensive cream of the Gibson right now.  However, the Iron Pigs have huge holes at SS and 3b.  Not a single player on their current roster can fill in there!  Shelling out some bucks will solidify its offensive hold on the Gibson.

4. HSD (77 / BRA #2 / 20 - 44 - 13) : Best LH bashing lineup out there with Youk, Markakis, Phillips and Mora leading the way.  RH lineup is just slightly above average, as is the bench strength.  Letting Mora slog around at SS is actually better than Khalil Greene this year.

5. RBC (77 / BRW #1 / 16 - 45 - 16) : Solid LH linup and good bench flexibility put the Caddis at the top of the Williams.  Hunter, Ross, Giles, Rowand, Spillborghs and Hermida are nice OF options to have.

6. OTT (75 / CYK #2 / 13 - 42 - 20) : Best bench depth and flexibility in the DBA.  Furcal and Dickerson will provide crucial PA rest for the above average lineups.  Hitting-wise, looks like a lock for the CY WC.  Adding a few pieces OF/DH will threaten ELR for the offensive Koufax crown.

7. YDL (71 / BRW #2 / 10 - 43 - 18) : Knocking on the offensive playoff door for any owner that takes it over.  A few good pick-ups at the auction and this is a offensive wild card team.

8. DEN (69 / BRA #3 / 14 - 42 - 13) : Above average in all aspects, but in the same division as ALT and HSD.

9. CDC (67 / CYG #2 / 15 - 38 - 14) : Good bench flexibility.

10. ILL (66 / CYG #3 / 12 - 46 - 8) : Top 5 DBA RH lineup.

11. FFF (64 / BRW #3 / 12 - 36 - 16) : Great lineup flexibility.

12. LEB (58 / CYG #4 / 11 - 40 - 7)

13. NLL (58 / CYG #5 / 9 - 37 - 12)

14. BBM (57 / BRW #4 / 10 - 41 - 6)

15. RID (56 / CYK #3 / 15 - 36 - 5) : Top 5 DBA LH lineup.

16. BSK (49 / BRA #4 / 11 - 27 - 11)

17. WHW (43 / CYK #4 / 7 - 24 - 12)

18. CLE (42 / BRW #5 / 10 - 24 - 8)

After the auction, we will see some changes here.  Those teams willing to spend to upgrade their hitters will get a boost.  The ones with no CAP and/or TREAS will fall.  Efficient spending at the auction is the key.  I don't see any way the bottom three can become the top three, but three divisions could see a major shakeup at the top at the auction.