NL South S13 Preview

New Orleans Posse: 82-80 in S12, 2nd in division
After four really shitty seasons, dennis has had these guys playing .500 ball the last four seasons.  Is this their year to make a big jump forward?  Well their only substantial move during the offseason was trading a young SS for two even younger prospects, so I'm gonna go with 'no.'  The young guys are a year older and more experienced, but I don't think that'll be enough to make a big jump.  Lombard and Beck are still the top ball throwing guys for the team, and who will fill in the rest of the rotation is up for speculation right now.  Yearwood and Oliver are their best ball hitting guys, and then they are fairly stacked when it comes to ball picking up guys.  A decent little team, but they're not gonna scare anyone.
Offense: C
Defense: B
Pitching: C
Prediction: 81-81, tie for 2nd

Jackson Generals: 79-83 in S12, 3rd in division
After three consecutive seasons of sub .500 ball, and four straight without a playoff appearance, I keep waiting for playboy to just blow the whole thing up, slash payroll, and spend two or three years losing 100 games.  Instead, he gives Lance Morris a monster contract, acquires Davy Matthews, and signs another seven or eight Type A/B free agents.  Maybe the busiest franchise we have ever seen in one offseason.  And somehow, he's keeping salary spending just a hair over $100M.  This might be the year that the Generals say "hey, remember when we used to win 100 games and go deep into the playoffs?  Well, we do."
Offense: B
Defense: A
Pitching: B
Prediction: 101-61, 1st

El Paso Mancos: 84-78 in S12, 1st in division, DCS winner
After a nice run last season, El Paso laid pretty low this offseason, just signing a Type B who they appear planned to use as a long-relief pitcher.  So the question for the Mancos is if their roster is good enough to hold off the fast-charging Generals?  Ryan and Pineiro and Ashley and Neal are still there.  Is it gonna be enough?  Um, no.
Offense: C
Defense: C+
Pitching: B
Prediction: 81-81, tie for 2nd

Jacksonville Jimmies: 75-87 in S12, 4th in division
The Jimmies went to the NLCS after winning 99 games in S11, and then they shit the bed with just 75 wins in S12.  Go back to the prior two seasons, and it was a similar situation where they won 90 games and won the division, then won 77 and missed out.  So will they win 90-something this season and get the division title?  They have a decent little team, but they traded away two ML'ers for Davy Coleman and Vasco Escobar, which will clearly benefit the squad in a couple of years, but not right now.  Coleman makes me hard.  Mmmmmmmmmm.  But anyway, the Jimmies are running on about $48M this year, and unless your name rhymes with schmeera, you can't really get away with that in this world.  At least not in the NL.
Offense: C
Defense: C+
Pitching: C
Prediction: 65-97, 4th