2019 EHCC Preview
In 2019, Jose Ramirez hopes to help The Factory be the first repeat EHCC champion since 2010.
2019 EHCC Preview
By Skip Clifton, San Diego Chronicle
2018 in the world of EHCC was one of the most exciting in league history. Weymouth tried to give away the Eastern Division title in the final week of the regular season, but lucky for them the Guerites chose to rest their players for the postseason. The 6th seed was also up for grabs at the very end... Bridgewater did their part, but the Hispanics laid a big egg against Las Vegas to give the Doggs the spot. Once all those shenanigans were completed, the playoffs were mostly uneventful as well. Las Vegas and Santo Domingo dominated their games en route to the championship, but the EHCC title was anything but boring. The Doggs' Cinderella story ended just short, as Santo Domingo took a 4-4 tie for their 2nd championship in 6 years.
But this isn't about the past. The 2019 season starts in 3 months, and even though we only have 11 official owners, the 26-man rosters are telling us plenty about what to expect in April...
EASTERN DIVISION
6. San Fernando Valley Jets - Going in the right direction, and making some decent moves, just needs one more year of rebuilding to get there.
5. Las Vegas Doggs - I know it sounds weird to say about a team that just made the finals, but I don't think their offense is good enough to carry them. The most active owner in the league should be ok and make the roster solid, but as constituted it's just not good enough.
4. Bridgewater Weasels - This offense is sneaky good. If their starters can step their game up, they could battle for a playoff spot again.
3. Rakeville Rockets - Jack Reed has 2018 in his rear view mirror. Operation Tank was a success (no way they would finish worse than San Fernando Valley) and they should be back to their former selves this year.
2. Weymouth Shaddupu - This is the best starting lineup in the league. The offensive depth is nothing to write home about, so when the injuries come (and they always do) they'll have to scramble for subs.
1. San Juan Guerites - Does San Juan not have a GM? If it's owner David Femino doing all the moves, he's been the best front office over the past few years. This team is so close to a title (and should have in 2018) they can taste it!
WESTERN DIVISION
6. Rio de Janeiro Cristos - I think the TB12 ownership group is ready to dissolve their roster into the expansion draft.
5. Dublin Snake Chasers - Whichever owner takes over this roster will be pleased, but will still have some work to do to keep up with the EHCC grind.
4. Tokyo Omyoujis - There are rumors that Endiku Ishtar is on his way back to the states. Regardless, this pitching staff is solid and the offense is "good enough." An active owner could turn this roster around, a dormant one can be a middle-of-the-pack team.
3. Tijuana Hispanics - This offense has gotten a lot better over the past few years. While a streaming pitching staff isn't the best way to win a title, it's good enough to be a playoff contender.
2. Santo Domingo All-Star Factory - In 2018, The Factory had everything: An offense that performed at their peak, a pitching staff that overachieved, and workhorse closers that did what they were supposed to. They'll take a step back this year, but still compete for a title.
1. Quebec City Piglets - The more things change, the more they stay the same. The Great White North has dominated the West (albeit with some competition) for so many years, and they should continue to do so for awhile.
In the preseason of 2018, we predicted that Dublin would take home the title over Weymouth. While that didn't happen, as long as the EHCC continues to be a 26-man offseason roster league then the best teams will continue to dominate. Of course, if we're in the market for predicting teams to win the championship but then be contracted from the league, SOMEONE might want to be worried.
2019 EHCC Championship: Weymouth defeats Santo Domingo, 8-2.
Skip Clifton is a columnist for the San Diego Chronicle. He doesn't always use Minor League draft picks, but when he does, he waits until the last possible minute to get them.
Labels: 2019, Clifton, predictions, Preview
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