Season Predictions - A few games under our belts

Going to throw this out there even though we're a few games into the schedule. Here are my predictions for the season.

Brantford Red Sox

Key departures - Justin Wendt (Moved) Adam Vella (retirement)

New faces - Colin Buckborough (Returns after a few years in the Mariners organization)
Brian Speck (Mississauga) Mike Bonanno (Missisauga)

The core of the two time defending champions remains intact. They will still be the team to beat unless something drastically changes. A lot of depth in the bullpen and on the bench. The talent rich got richer in the off-season.


Barrie Baycats

Key departures - Todd Betts (retirement)

New faces - Ryan Davis (returning after a few years absence)

I still think the rainouts/make up games at the end of the season took their toll on the Baycats the playoffs. Factor in suspensions and it was an uphill battle for the Baycats to beat Toronto then they didn't have much left in the tank for Brantford. Will definitely be contending for top spot.


Guelph Royals

Key departures - Andrew Karkoulas (retirement) Dan Zehr (Masters Degree-school) Mike Walker (Internship with the Blue Jays) Matt Fortuna (released to play with brother Mike in Hamilton)
New faces - Dino Roumel (Oshawa/Ontario Blue Jays), Kofi-Osei Aning (Oshawa) Chris Robinson , Chris Nagorski (Oshawa), Brian Brown (Former Silvercreek back after a few years) Bryan Condotta (Oshawa), Ryan Fleming (Oshawa)

Royals Manager Kevin Hinton re-stocked his cupboards with former Oshawa players but really didn't fix his lack of pitching depth in the bullpen. The reigning league MVP Jamie Pogue is out of action at least till early June after separating his shoulder a second time earlier this spring, so the Royals are also without their closer.

Hamilton Thunderbirds

Key Departures - None come to mind

New Faces - Cam Robulack (Former Brewers Draft pick) Matt Fortuna (Guelph) Thomas Robulak (Saskatoon -Western League) Chris Piano (Austria)

The T-birds weren't so fabulous last season. 7-29 but made a big push late in the season. Don't expect them to be a top 4 -5 team but a playoff spot isn't out of the question.


Kitchener Panthers

Key Departures - Graeme Copeland (Mississauga)

New Faces - None come to mind

Team commitment issues plagued the Panthers all of last year. If this doesn't improve they could be in serious trouble. Which would be sad for a franchise with a long history.


London Majors

Key Departures - Kyle Piwowarczyk (retirement) , Craig Bate (Turned Pro), Will Richards (Turned Pro), Mason Reilly

New Faces - Chauncey Ward (Import) , Cleveland Brownlee (Import), Ryan Lapensee, (Wayne State), Andy St. Gelais, (Quebec)

London lost both their catchers in the off season, plus Roop has been re-tooling his line up. They will finish middle of the pack behind Barrie, Brantford, Guelph.


Mississauga Twins

Key Departures - None

New Faces - Scott Van de Valk (Georgetown Eagles - Canadian Bantam Champs), Elliott Shrive (Trade with Guelph) Carlos Garcia (Venezuela) , Graeme Copleland (Kitchener) Kyle Langille (Guelph)

The Twins hired a very important asset in the off-season when they landed Scott Van de Valk. He's won two national championships in the past 4 seasons. (Jr. in Guelph in '06 and Bantam in Georgetown in '09) He's already leaving his mark on the Twins by bringing in players and coached that were vital to his success at those levels. He was rumored for years to be headed for the top job in Guelph but it never came to plan.

Last year the Twins didn't have a LHP stater which left them easy prey for a number of teams in the IBL. Already they have 3 listed on the roster. I can see them turning a few heads this year. 6th or higher isn't out of the question.


Ottawa Fat Cats

Key Departures - None as they are an expansion team
New Faces - Mike Lynch (Toronto) Danny Desclouds (Former Dodger draft pick) Rudy Vallejos (London)

Bill McKenzie could be in for a long season at the helm of the Fat Cats. I'm not saying I don't expect Ottawa to compete at the same level as Brantford or Barrie , the simple facts are that The Fat Cats are playing the majority of their games in double headers which is going to take a mental and physical toll on a number of players. They do however also have the unique luxury of playing only weekends.


Toronto Maple Leafs

Key departures: Mike Lynch (Ottawa)

New Faces : None , but knowing Old Jack he's got some tricks up his sleeves still

The Leafs were a game away from facing Brantford in the finals last year. The pitching staff is once again solid. Marek Deska looks in great form and Dominico Field is still the opposing pitcher's worst nightmare. Offensively the Leafs are a little older than most teams in the IBL but they still are capable of scoring quickly and often. Will finish in the top four.



Predicted Final Standings

1) Brantford
2) Barrie
3) Guelph
4) Toronto
5) London
6) Mississauga
7) Ottawa
8) Kitchener
9) Hamilton