Norfolk Needlefish

by ttjackson@yahoo.com 8:42 PM 0 comments

The Needlefish franchise reached the playoffs for only the second time in league history in season 12, and brought Norfolk more excitement than they have seen since they discovered they would host the world's largest naval port. Thankfully the Needlefish run took the town's attention away from their ill-conceived "Mermaids on Parade" campaign, which offers you the opportunity to have a mermaid sent to your home or office!?! They were upset in round one last year, but look primed to make another run in season 13.

In the offseason, the Needlefish lost Rick Neil to free agency and traded away SS Clayton and CF Sosa. In their place, they picked up SP Cormier and 2B Placido Gutierrez, a fairly even swap. Their pitching staff is paced by Juan Seguingnol who won the rookie of the year last season. Austin Morgan provides another very nice young starting pitcher, and Gary Shields is incredible as well. The Needlefish have the most impressive young corp of starting pitching this league has perhaps ever seen!

The bullpen is paced by Larry Strange and Pineiro, and is frankly not on par with the starting rotation. The lineup is filled with power hitters like Marino Asacio, Fernando Sosa, Clinton Blank, Cleatus Rekar (that first name is not a misprint), and Andrew Tate. These guys can flat out mash. Norfolk has every chance of repeating as division champs and moving well past the first round this year with a pitching staff that looks like the Atlanta Braves circa 1993. Hopefully they will have more postseason success than the Braves.