Owen Sound Crusaders
Division Last Season: 1st
Wins Last Season: 102
Batting
Owen Sound had one of the best batting line-ups in 2021 but with no overall improvement they've slipped into the pack in 2022. Catcher Ali Lola, who was brought across from Guelph late in the 2021 season to add some home run power, retired and this sees the reintroduction of Al Merloni. If everyone else produces with the bat then Merloni is a sound defensive option. One player showing some of that power lost with Lola's retirement is short stop Stuart Wortman. While he won't improve by the 20 home runs he did last season he should hit a few more.
Pitching
The Crusaders have the strongest pitching lineup in their division but with Marty Bream retiring they lost an experienced arm that could be called upon at any time. Brad Hicks had an outstanding spring training and hopes are that he can perhaps step up to become the staff ace. However Jerry Bilby is expected to take that role and also looked strong during spring training.
Overall
Owen Sound actually got younger and are one of the youngest clubs in the Fishermen league. And while they aren't the top batting or pitching team in the league they are right up there with the best. But the sad reality for the defending champions is that other clubs were busy looking for ways to topple them while they drank their beer, will they win the beer again? They won't even win their division.
Transactions
Lola, Ali, Catcher, Retired
Montgomery, David, 1st Base - sent to AAA
Beams, Troy, Short Stop - sent to AAA
Merloni, Al, Catcher - called up from AAA
Bream, Marty, Starter - retired
Coursey, Jeff, Setup - called up from AAA
Kabat, Warren, Starter - called up from AAA
Reynolds, Bucky, Middle Reliever - called up from AAA
Prediction
Division Place: 2nd
Wins: 109
London Mustangs
Division Last Season: 2nd
Wins Last Season: 100
Batting
What can you say about this team? London were and remain the top hitting club in the Fishermen league. Across the board they looked like they'll maintain their exceptional 2021 production and the only question is who will get more game time? The Mustangs will be hoping to see a lot more of Matt Hullena in 2022 after an injury interrupted 2021.
Pitching
It's pitching where the big difference between London in 2021 and London in 2022 lies. While they haven't got the best pitching staff, they've definitely taken it to the next level and this was done with the acquisition of seasoned beer drinker Jovon Yakow. Yakow has tasted the beer 5 times in his career and is keen to taste it for a 6th time at his 3rd club. In all that commotion it shouldn't be forgotten that Pete Eagen, another former Leduc/Cold Lake player, retired and his work in relief will be missed.
Overall
A sensational offence, presence and quality in pitching, this team has the goods to win the beer. They'd like to do that now though as, like Blackwater, their pitching isn't getting any younger. In fact after their acquisition of Yakow the entertainment of choice while the Mustangs are on the road has gone from the Nintendo Wii to bingo. All joking aside, with experience like Yakow's on your pitching staff you'd have to think that he'll lift the players around him.
Transactions
Hullena, Matt, Centre Field - called up from DL
Kwitowski, Curtis, Right Field - called up from LOW
Eagan, Pete, Setup - retired
Pate, Aleck, Bullpen - retired
Tobler, Joey, Starter - sent to AAA
Yakow, Jovon, Starter - traded from Creston Kokanee
Prediction
Division Place: 1st
Wins: 110
Toronto Polar Bears
Division Last Season: 3rd
Wins Last Season: 65
Batting
Toronto aren't the best hitting ball club around, in fact they're one of the worst. But it could be argued that they've actually improved. This improvement would be based on the potential stronger contribution Berent Homler can make over Ken Schlitz. Despite that improvement we need to be honest, Homler isn't going to have opposition pitchers concerned for their ERAs. And another thing, Toronto lost Samuel Adams. Losing a career .264 hitter in a team with a collective .246 average in 2021 and no cover in that position is going to hurt.
Pitching
Is there any good news here? Nope. Well Toronto does have some promising closers coming through but they're no good if your batters haven't hit any runs or your starters can't keep a clean sheet. If you've got the opinion we don't rate their hitting, you'd better not ask for any more about how we rate their pitching.
Overall
Toronto is on a rapid downward slide and it's hard to see them coming back up anytime soon. They should scratch out a few wins over some of the younger rebuilding teams but they're never going to threaten.
Transactions
Adams, Samuel, 3rd Base - retired
Musgraves, Lindsay, Centre Field - sent to AAA
Prediction
Division Place: 3rd
Wins: 55
Guelph Storm
Division Last Season: Last
Wins Last Season: 43
Batting
Read the Toronto blurb and double the pain. This is a team that's just beginning a long rebuilding preocess and the only thing coming through is young ... very young. With probably one exception, none of it is good enough just yet to dislodge the incumbents. Losing Fred Ritchie, after such a productive 2021, would normally be difficult but it can't be a coincidence that Heath Begley is waiting in the wings.
Pitching
The only ray of light in the pitching is the supplemental drafting of reliever Keyuo Tarmann at number 4. He may help to convert some of the long suffering starter's starts into wins.
Overall
This is the worst club with the bat and the ball and nearly the oldest club around. They're not going to get a lot better and with the next crop of players some way off the pain will continue for Storm supporters. Where is the 4 game improvement coming from? While it's true that their batting got worse, there's not a great deal in it. And despite also having the worst pitching around, it has improved more so than the batting declined. We think there's enough pitching improvement to pick up a few wins from some of their fellow strugglers.
Transactions
Ellick, Howie, Catcher - retired
Ritchie, Fred, Right Field - retired
Bushman, AJ, 3rd Base - called up from AAA
Hayse, Hugo, Setup - sent to AAA
Lewis, Mark, Long Reliever - sent to AAA
Buckallew, Ross, Closer - called up from AAA
Eade, Colin, Setup - called up from AAA
Tarmann, Keyuo, Setup - 2022 supplemental draft 4th pick
Whiteside, Gordie, Long Reliever - called up from AAA
Prediction
Division Place: Last
Wins: 47
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