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Domestic League
Lager Division:
Summary: Los Angeles wins their first ever BLB Championship in a dramatic 7 game Brewmasters Series, validating Jimmy's style of acquiring big name pitchers no matter what the price in picks and prospects. Jonathon Burns, Erik Keifer and Travis DuFour were all aces of their respective teams for several seasons before late(r) career trades to Los Angeles. The moves paid off for the Dinos, as the Big 3 joined homegrown ace Pat Yahn to create a formidable stable of big game playoff pitchers.
While the Dinos have been swinging for the fences, the Dukes have only made minor changes to an aging core that had them mired at the bottom of the standings. Heavily shopped for the better part of a season and a half, former stars Dave Crudge and Fuji Yamamoto toil on a team that's still trying to build depth in their minors and reinforced with veterans like CF Jamie Frantz who are looking to revive their careers.
The Favorite: Los Angeles. The Dinos are the reigning BLB champs and boast the best SS in the game in Marco Lona and one of the leagues brightest stars entering his prime in OF Hector Gutierrez. Add FA acquisition JR Goeman as closer to a stellar, but aging starting rotation and the Dinos are poised for another deep playoff run.
Team on the Rise: New York. Spectre always finds a way to make small, under the radar moves to keep the Knights relevant. There's no reason to think any differently in 2009. Out go big boppers like Johnathan Morris, Francois St. Laurent, and Terry Mast and in come Ian Reynolds, Dave Willis and Toby Day. Add in the return of Alex Mejia and the financial flexibilty to add a high priced rental veteran in late FA and the Knights should be able to keep themselves in the thick of the DL wildcard race through the summer months. 
Player to Watch: TJ Dunn - The Toronto slugger blasted 49 homeruns and drove in a 117 runs all while batting .310 last season and surrounded by a just average line-up of Todd Boyce, Tyler Quinn and Travis Connolly. Look for Dunn to continue to shatter hitting records, giving his fans up north something to watch as the team struggles to infuse more young talent to a roster of aging veterans.Power Rankings:
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