2011 PBL Preseason Predictions
Posted March 31, 2011
With a relatively stable offseason by PBL standards the prognosticators should have an easier time predicting the regular season this year. Should being the operative word. Last season saw a two tiered league emerge last season as the playoff teams were too much for the Lakers and Royals to handle most nights last season. With the top four teams remaining relatively stable in maintaining their cores and adding a few pieces they should be tough again this year. If Armena can keep developing their youngster while enticing their veterans to come out more regularly and with Tofield’s move to Camrose and the increased talent and resources they would have access to, the two franchises may be able to exert some pressure on the top four and fight for a playoff spot.
1. 11-4 
The Milleteers cruised to a regular season title last season before locking up their second consecutive championship. While the core returns there are some questions that will have to be addressed as they will be without two of their top three starters from last year as Scott Peterson retired and Ryan Walker is working in Fort Mac. All Star closer Jon Anstey is coming off an off season knee injury as well. With some former players returning to plug the holes and the addition of fomrer Millet Minor Ball great Jason Russell the pitching should be alright and if the offense continues to improve they should be a lock for the playoffs and have a good chance at PBL history as they look to complete the three peat.
The Milleteers cruised to a regular season title last season before locking up their second consecutive championship. While the core returns there are some questions that will have to be addressed as they will be without two of their top three starters from last year as Scott Peterson retired and Ryan Walker is working in Fort Mac. All Star closer Jon Anstey is coming off an off season knee injury as well. With some former players returning to plug the holes and the addition of fomrer Millet Minor Ball great Jason Russell the pitching should be alright and if the offense continues to improve they should be a lock for the playoffs and have a good chance at PBL history as they look to complete the three peat.2. 10-5 
With all the injuries to their pitching staff and a dreadfull start last season it was quite remarkable the way the Rebels rebounded to a second place regular season finish and an appearance in the finals after coming from behind in their opening round sereies. With some semblance of health to their top four pitchers to go along with the top offense in the league the Rebels will contend for first. The continued improvement to their bullpen with all the experience they gained in their trail by fire last year and limiting mistakes on defense will be the keys to beating the Milleteers in the close games the clubs often seem to be involved in.
With all the injuries to their pitching staff and a dreadfull start last season it was quite remarkable the way the Rebels rebounded to a second place regular season finish and an appearance in the finals after coming from behind in their opening round sereies. With some semblance of health to their top four pitchers to go along with the top offense in the league the Rebels will contend for first. The continued improvement to their bullpen with all the experience they gained in their trail by fire last year and limiting mistakes on defense will be the keys to beating the Milleteers in the close games the clubs often seem to be involved in.3. 9-6 
Everyone keeps wondering when age will finally catch up to the A’s. It will come eventually, but they should still be one of the top teams this season. The A’s had a decent regular season last year and then turned it up in the playoffs as they gave the Milleteers another stiff playoff test in the first round. With the addition of young All Star catcher Dylan Berrecloth the A’s should feature a little more speed and athleticism to go along with their grit and experience. With some rumoured additions to their pitching staff they should at least be able to maintain their status as one of the elite teams over the past several seasons, and everyone knows that with all their championship experience that the road to the PBL Cup will most likely have to pass through Bardo again this year.
Everyone keeps wondering when age will finally catch up to the A’s. It will come eventually, but they should still be one of the top teams this season. The A’s had a decent regular season last year and then turned it up in the playoffs as they gave the Milleteers another stiff playoff test in the first round. With the addition of young All Star catcher Dylan Berrecloth the A’s should feature a little more speed and athleticism to go along with their grit and experience. With some rumoured additions to their pitching staff they should at least be able to maintain their status as one of the elite teams over the past several seasons, and everyone knows that with all their championship experience that the road to the PBL Cup will most likely have to pass through Bardo again this year. 4. 8-7 
The young expansion franchise surprised many as they they challenged for first place and won a playoff game last season. The young Blue Jays played fundamentally sound baseball and put a lot of pressure on teams with their speed and defense. They also featured a good young staff led by the leading All Star vote getter Kyle Muzechka. They did lean on Muzechka heavily last season though as he seemed to tire down the stretch and in the playoffs. Keeping him fresh for the playoffs will be key for the Blue Jays to make a run at a championship. The lineup also lacks consistent power behind veteran Pat Kawaliuk and seemed to have trouble scoring against the league’s top pitchers, issues which will have to be adressed if the Jays want to see their name etched on the PBL Cup for the first time in almost twenty years.
The young expansion franchise surprised many as they they challenged for first place and won a playoff game last season. The young Blue Jays played fundamentally sound baseball and put a lot of pressure on teams with their speed and defense. They also featured a good young staff led by the leading All Star vote getter Kyle Muzechka. They did lean on Muzechka heavily last season though as he seemed to tire down the stretch and in the playoffs. Keeping him fresh for the playoffs will be key for the Blue Jays to make a run at a championship. The lineup also lacks consistent power behind veteran Pat Kawaliuk and seemed to have trouble scoring against the league’s top pitchers, issues which will have to be adressed if the Jays want to see their name etched on the PBL Cup for the first time in almost twenty years. 5. 4-11 
First year manager Jason Buzzell had his hands full last season as he just barley steered his team away from tieing the franchise record for futility. After entering the season with some optimism after barley missing the playoffs the previous year the team struggled mightily. The potential is still there for possible playoff contention, but the same questions marks still remain. If the Royals can entice their ace Joel Boettger to make more than one start, if hard throwing acquisition Brian Rademacher can stay healthy enough to make more than one start, and if talented, but enigmatic youngster Mark Walker can start to figure it out, the pitching staff could be one of the better ones in the league when you throw experienced finesse pitchers Lee Palmer and Jason Buzzell into the mix. The offense could be good as well if the youngsters start to produce on the promise they have shown and the veteran holdovers make a more committed effort to come out. If all these things go right the Royals should make a serious push towards contention, but it could easily go the other way towards another frustrating season for the former league powerhouses.
First year manager Jason Buzzell had his hands full last season as he just barley steered his team away from tieing the franchise record for futility. After entering the season with some optimism after barley missing the playoffs the previous year the team struggled mightily. The potential is still there for possible playoff contention, but the same questions marks still remain. If the Royals can entice their ace Joel Boettger to make more than one start, if hard throwing acquisition Brian Rademacher can stay healthy enough to make more than one start, and if talented, but enigmatic youngster Mark Walker can start to figure it out, the pitching staff could be one of the better ones in the league when you throw experienced finesse pitchers Lee Palmer and Jason Buzzell into the mix. The offense could be good as well if the youngsters start to produce on the promise they have shown and the veteran holdovers make a more committed effort to come out. If all these things go right the Royals should make a serious push towards contention, but it could easily go the other way towards another frustrating season for the former league powerhouses.6. 3-12 
The Camrose Roadrunners aren’t used to being at the bottom of the standings, but this reincarnation of the franchise is unlike the ones before it. After a bitter end to an acrimonious relationship with the town over diamond up keep the Tofield Lakers folded up shop and moved to Camrose to restart the defunct Roadrunners franchise. With the move the former Lakers will get to play in a better facility, have access to a new and larger talent pool, and have an association with Larry Lewsaw, the architect behind the most successful regular season franchise in the PBL over the last half decade. Not all is rosy for the Roadrunners however as they have lost the services of young All Star Dylan Berrecloth as he decided not to make the move with the team and defected to Bardo. It should be a season of promise for the reborn franchise as they can focus on just playing ball instead of worrying about grounds keeping, but time will tell if switching franchises will be enough to end the long playoff drought.
The Camrose Roadrunners aren’t used to being at the bottom of the standings, but this reincarnation of the franchise is unlike the ones before it. After a bitter end to an acrimonious relationship with the town over diamond up keep the Tofield Lakers folded up shop and moved to Camrose to restart the defunct Roadrunners franchise. With the move the former Lakers will get to play in a better facility, have access to a new and larger talent pool, and have an association with Larry Lewsaw, the architect behind the most successful regular season franchise in the PBL over the last half decade. Not all is rosy for the Roadrunners however as they have lost the services of young All Star Dylan Berrecloth as he decided not to make the move with the team and defected to Bardo. It should be a season of promise for the reborn franchise as they can focus on just playing ball instead of worrying about grounds keeping, but time will tell if switching franchises will be enough to end the long playoff drought.Posted on March 31, 2011 by Steven Pahl
