Quebec Bulldogs
Division Last Season: 1st
Wins Last Season: 104
Batting
Quebec posses the strongest batting lineup in their division and one of the best in the Fishermen league. The exciting thing about this is that they're also the youngest in the league. Bulldogs management wasn't resting on it's 104 win laurels during the off season either, they went out and plugged a perceived weakness by bringing in catcher Geraint Padgett from Grand Rapids. Given enough starts Padgett should improve the offence and his throwing from behind the plate will ensure opposition runners are more considered. That being said however, his general work behind the plate needs to be worked on so it's not all positives. To get Padgett the Bulldogs paid a big price in Archibald Langer. The loss of Langer was offset by the acquisition of the proven production of 2021 Framer's league All Star Jimmy Dunning from Creston.
Pitching
Quebec has the strongest pitching in the Fishermen league and during spring training they showed they're only getting better. Kevin McVicker and Anton Shaiebly were the big improvers while Maxime Felt and Tanner Franklin continued their improvement. Add back in Davey Slumpert from the DL and you've got a team that'll be very hard to score against.
Overall
Batting power, exceptional pitching, youngest team in the Fishermen league, is this the new Leduc/Cold Lake? After the bitter disappointment of a 7 series loss to Owen Sound in 2021, you can't help but think that this is the year of the Bulldog. If not this year, this team will win the beer. Is there a concern? They don't want injuries, especially in the pitching department.
Transactions
Alefounder, Tito, 2nd Base - sent to AAA
Langer, Archibald, Left Field - traded to Grand Rapids Red Dogs
Derugman, Frank, Right Field - sent to AAA
Padgett, Geraint, Catcher - traded from Grand Rapids Red Dogs
Dunning, Jimmy, Left Field - traded from Creston Kokanee
Slumpert, Davey, Starter - called up from DL
Prediction
Division Place: 1st
Wins: 110
Port Hope Battery
Division Last Season: 2nd
Wins Last Season: 97
Batting
It's very much a case of why change a good thing for Port Hope? Spring training was more of the same and in order to lift Port Hope out of the pack they'll be relying on ageing hero 1st base Mc Yett to produce yet another stellar season.
Pitching
There's been much more turmoil in the pitching department with the double blow of the retirements of save sensations Ross Becker and Gio Bonning. Jaime Pacheco is the man asked to fill the void and is far from a guaranteed success. It is possible we could see rookie knuckle baller, Anthony Conner, fill the void but they would need to have a few runs in the bank in order for that option to come off. As for the rest of the pitching staff, spring training was fairly much business as usual.
Overall
Port Hope will find 2022 tougher than 2021 and could only hope to use some of their batting depth to consolidate their batting and provide increase their bullpen options.
Transactions
Becker, Ross, Closer - retired
Bonning, Gio, Closer - retired
Conner, Anthony, Setup - called up from AAA
Pacheco, Jaime, Closer - called up from AAA
Prediction
Division Place: 3rd
Wins: 78
Val d'Or Sharks
Division Last Season: 3rd
Wins Last Season: 79
Batting
Val d'Or had a below average batting lineup in 2021 and the introduction of the 17th overall pick from the 2019 draft, left field Corentin Milfelt, should improve that. He replaces the consistent Larry Poole who retired. Despite this Val d'Or still has a batting lineup that's less than the quality of the majority of the Fishermen league.
Pitching
There's more to be excited about in the pitching however with the call up of Jason Leiss, the 21st pick overall from the 2019 draft, from the Arntfield Sharks. Shark's management are hoping he'll have the same sort of impact as closer Brett Copelin had, although as a starter. Brett Copelin was the 22nd pick overall in the 2015 draft. Jason Ivester, Filip Trimmer and Adam Navey all looked to have improved over the summer and with no losses Val d'Or can expect more consistency from their pitching.
Overall
Val d'Or will show improvement in both batting and pitching this season but this won't necesarily translate into wins. In ever sense of the word, Val d'Or can be considered an average team.
Transactions
Brancato, Charlie, Catcher - sent to AAA
Wallace, Bernardo, 1st Base - released to Free Agents
Poole, Larry, Right Field - retired
Slaton, Jonas, Short Stop - called up from AAA
Milfelt, Corentin, Left Field - called up from LOW
Neff, Lucas, Middle Reliever - sent to AAA
Leiss, Jason, Starter - called up from LOW
Prediction
Division Place: 2nd
Wins: 79
Ottawa Milk Men
Division Last Season: 4th
Wins Last Season: 74
Batting
Ottawa performed outstandingly with the bat and 2021 and I'm not convinced they'll keep it up for the second year running. Short stop Neil Perez returns from the DL should help improve defence and offence. Although Kevin Hammond is no mug at short stop either he will now be able to return to 2nd base where his offence will help. While Cliff Bastian looked slightly better at 2nd base during spring training, he has a long way to go before challenging Kevin Hammond for the position. 3rd base Casey Coveleski gets another shot, possibly starting against lefties platooning with Tom Boss.
Pitching
Masashi Takasu returned from the DL and looked strong in spring training, if he stays healthy, look for him to top the win count on the back of his quality fast ball. Improvements at spring training could be seen across the whole staff so look for an improved team ERA. Higgy Burgos made big strides although I wouldn't recommend him bringing out the fast ball too often. Doug Moncey also looked impressive and will be hoping he has enough opportunities to improve on his 2021 tally of 17 saves. Dillon Gamble also looked better and could possibly get his ERA below 3 if he continues to pitch out of the bullpen.
Overall
With a return of the Milk Men and improved batting and pitching in 2022 expectations for a climb up the pecking order of the Fishermen Central division are high. But, where they have improved, others have improved more, and no one else cares for the sentimentality. Couple that with the possibility that last season's batting was an aberration and you have a disappointing season ahead. It's not all doom and gloom, Ottawa's pitching are the babies of the Fishermen league.
Transactions
Martin, Corey, 1st Base - sent to AAA
Everharty, Aron, Right Field - sent to AAA
Coveleski, Casey, 3rd Base - called up from AAA
Perez, Neil, Short Stop - called up from DL
Tarrant, Elwood, Long Reliever - sent to AAA
Birch, Mike, Starter - sent to AAA
Gamble, Dillion, Long Reliever - called up from AAA
Takasu, Masashi, Starter - called up from DL
Prediction
Division Place: Last
Wins: 65
Cobourg Stampeders
Division Last Season: Last
Wins Last Season: 61
Batting
Last season Cobourg were the batting powerhouse of the Fishermen Central, not any longer. Cobourg has been hit hard by retirements and while they do have a lot of very good replacements, they are not quite of the same ilk. It could be argued though that these players were already losing some of their offensive power and the fielding was beginning to let the team down. Bruce Ellebracht, who was controversially not chosen as the Fishermen rookie of the year on 2021, looks to be focusing that frustration into his play. He looked every bit the standout performer he was in 2021, don't expect any sophomore blues here. Ryan Grunnil , the 12th overall pick in the 2018 draft, is called up again from the Hull Stampeders and should get a shot at making the center field position his own.
Pitching
The same can't be said about the Cobourg pitching of 2021 that could be about their batting. They were nearing the back of the pack but have improved slightly in 2022. Only slightly mind you. Frank Hearn looks like he'll put a disappointing 2021 behind him as was evidenced by his spring training form. While the Cobourg management haven't quite decided where to place him we think he could make a good go starting. While he doesn't have the stamina he does look efficient about his work and should get near the 5 innings average of the other Cobourg starters. Both Deon Ralph and Eloy Hernandez looked improved in spring training and perhaps with more certainty of their place in the team they could reduce those staggeringly high ERAs.
Overall
Cobourg aren't world beaters yet but they're getting better while at the same time getting younger. They should improve on last season's showing as their team ERA surely must come down and they have a good core of solid bats. The thing this team lacks is experience so they will run hot and cold throughout the season.
Transactions
Critcher, Moises, Catcher - retired
Bodie, Mickey, 2nd Base - retired
Rhino, Albino, 3rd Base - retired
Burall, Barry, Left Field - sent to AAA
Remlinger, Bamion, Catcher - called up from AAA
Corning, Troy, 2nd Base - called up from AAA
Genaro, Octavio, 3rd Base - called up from AAA
Shepperd, Asa, Left Field - called up from AAA
Grunnil, Ryan, Centre Field - called up from LOW
Cicerolo, Dee, Bullpen - sent to AAA
Donohue, Ed, Bullpen - retired
Hitchell, Tony, Bullpen - sent to AAA
Ralph, Deon, Bullpen - called up from DL
Headrick, Mike, Bullpen - called up from AAA
Hernandez, Eloy, Bullpen - called up from AAA
Prediction
Division Place: 4th
Wins: 73
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