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One question for every team: The biggest concerns for every BLB team and division. 
Can Dallas get a little help?
For awhile now, the DL has been broken down into two divisions: The Almighty Ale and Dallas. Since 2013, the DL has been represented five times by an Ale team, with four of them taking home the Brewmaster's. Dallas won in 2017 and New Orleans lost in 2015 to Morgantown. As it stands now, the Ale looks to have at least three strong candidates to represent the DL again, and that's not even including the defending champs in Wilmington. In the Lager, Dallas has the #1 overall seed, and the rest of the division has an uphill battle to even get into the post-season dance. Who will emerge? California appears ready to take that leap but hasn't yet put it all together. New Orleans and Indy have been competitive but are seller. Morgantown's run is over and are trying desperately to rebuild. Los Angeles has an aging roster that the vultures have been circling. Kansas City boasts one of the best groups of prospects in the BLB but most won't hit their primes for at least another few years.
If injuries can slow these guys down, what will?
Everyone knows Dallas is a good team. Three straight 100+ win seasons will do that. This year has been different. They are still on pace for 100+ wins, but they have had a few challenges along the way. Big names such as SP Pat Cinelli, OFs Willie Salasar and Jimmy Collins have all spent significant time on the disabled list. That's pretty frightening considering they are still have the #1 seed at the break and two of the three are coming back from injury. Oh, and they have gone on an 11-1 run and are #1 in BNN's Power Rankings at the break. What can slow this group down? They play in arguably the weakest division in baseball with three teams with 50+ losses (no other division has more than one), so the regular season already seems washed up. You have to dig deep to see flaws that could be shown come the post-season. The Sharks have some of the best pitching and arguably the best defense in baseball. They don't boast the best lineup, however, even when their stud OFs return. They also aren't very aggressive on the base paths. To beat them in a series, you are going to have win higher scoring games than the Sharks prefer to play. You are also going to have to steal a game or two in Dallas, as they will have home field throughout. Considering they are 24-13 in one-run games and 33-14 at home (leagues best), we will have to wait until October to find out if it's possible.
Everyone in California is asking...Is this the year?
The Kodiaks haven't made the playoffs since 2004, also the last time they had a winning seasons. At the break, they are on pace to finish north of .500 and are just one game back of the final playoff spot. Losing CF Erik Hudson to a broken foot two days before the break isn't going to make that any easier. This Kodiak club usually known for their hitting, has actually struggled at the plate in 2020. 10th in runs scored, 14th in home runs? If you had been told the Kodiaks would be near the bottom of the league in runs and homers, no way you would have thought they would be a playoff contender. They have made it this far behind a rotation and bullpen combo near the very best in baseball. A lot of the pressure will fall on young star 2B Mike Morla. After posting a 7.8 WAR as 24-year-old. California had anointed him the king of the state. However, in 2020, he has struggled to hit as well as he did, and has received multiple public scrutiny from the GM and local writers. The Kodiaks do get on base at a high clip and avoid striking out, it's just going to come down to if they can knock those guys in.
Did a 0-9 slide into the All-Star Break start the rebuild?
New Orleans doesn't receive the press and attention other teams of their stature do. They are one of only a small group of multiple Brewmaster's Champions. They have been .500 or better since 2013. They have made the playoffs three of the last five seasons. However, at 43-46 and looking up in the Wild Card standings, sources close to the team say they are open to sell a lot of their current roster. But is that the right move? They have lost nine straight games, but 6 have been on the road and 6 total were against Dallas. The club has serious talent in the rotation, arguably one of the five best in the BLB. They also have three sluggers with 15+ HR at the break. With only Wilmington and California above them, should they be buyers or sellers? How they start the 2nd half will have a big impact on their rest of their season: vs. HAR, vs. PAW, @ SYR, vs. WIL. Not the easiest slate of games but majority are at home.
Will their be one last laugh in Indianapolis?
The Clowns shocked the BLB world by making the playoffs in 2019. A new GM has promised change and saw the biggest increase in wins (25) of any team that season. At the break in 2020, the Clowns are just 41-47, and just 28-37 since rumors were floated about a change of the team nickname from Clowns to Racers. Sources close to the GM have said almost everyone on the roster over 30 is available for the right price. Don't be surprised to see names like Scriber or Briseno having new addresses by months end. The playoffs aren't completely out of reach just yet but Indy looks like sellers and will build around their young core of Maurer, Cardona, Schnieder and Corr.
Will a couple of dinosaurs be traded before going extinct?
When you think of Los Angeles what do you think of? Beautiful people, cocaine, big city and Hollywood. When you think of the Los Angeles Dinos what do you think of? Jamie McPherson, Pat Yahn and Marco Lona. Those three players have been the main, arguably only reason the Dinos have been relevant in the BLB landscape since 2014. However, the trio is now showing their age and the club is 38-50 at the break. Lona looks pretty washed up and doesn't seem like a likely trade piece, however the other two might be. If it were up to them, I don't think McPherson or Yahn would leave the celebrity lives they lead in southern California. But if another GM makes an offer to the Dinos, they might have to pack their bags to join a contender.
Could two rookies lead the BLB in 2nd half homeruns?
Another 100 loss season in Kansas City seems likely but the 2nd half should at least be fun to watch. Rookie sluggers C.J. Viger and Joey Wals have each hit 7 homeruns in 30+ games. That projects to over 30 HR in a full season. OSA rates both their power potentials among the leagues very best. When these rookies find themselves down 9-1 after the 4th inning, what else is their to play for? The locker room is a complete disaster and the players aren't listening to manager Fei-hsien Loong nor pronouncing his name right. But the Comets are actually worth following, for other reasons than Viger/Wals deep bombs. SP Jamie Stidham might be the most underrated pitcher in all of baseball. Over the past four seasons, playing for Seattle and KC, the 36-year-old has posted an ERA in the 3.04-3.62 range, going almost completely unnoticed. He doesn't seem like a likely trade piece but tune in during the 2nd half to watch an aging veteran defy the scouts and get it done.
Will they trade 2B Jimmy "Hoover" Douglas?
The season is lost in Morgantown as they seem like a near lock to finish with a bottom three record. The biggest stories coming from the rumor mill involved the trading of Douglas. OSA currently rates the 29-year-old as the 3rd best 2B in the game today. He is on pace for a career year with a .362 average an 8+ WAR pace. In recent weeks a fellow 2B, Geoff Yonke, was shipped from Los Alamos to Washington, and many around the league think "Hoover" would fetch a similar haul. He is arguably the leagues best 2B defender, routinely gets 30+ SB, has outstanding work habits and shows no signs of slowing down. His salary going forward averages $17M per season, a far cry from the $24M average of Yonke's deal. Yet, despite all that, he is hitting leadoff for a last place team and still has a good attitude about it. There aren't many contenders in the BLB that he wouldn't upgrade but it remains to be seen if he will be moved.
Can Dallas get a little help?
For awhile now, the DL has been broken down into two divisions: The Almighty Ale and Dallas. Since 2013, the DL has been represented five times by an Ale team, with four of them taking home the Brewmaster's. Dallas won in 2017 and New Orleans lost in 2015 to Morgantown. As it stands now, the Ale looks to have at least three strong candidates to represent the DL again, and that's not even including the defending champs in Wilmington. In the Lager, Dallas has the #1 overall seed, and the rest of the division has an uphill battle to even get into the post-season dance. Who will emerge? California appears ready to take that leap but hasn't yet put it all together. New Orleans and Indy have been competitive but are seller. Morgantown's run is over and are trying desperately to rebuild. Los Angeles has an aging roster that the vultures have been circling. Kansas City boasts one of the best groups of prospects in the BLB but most won't hit their primes for at least another few years.
If injuries can slow these guys down, what will?
Everyone knows Dallas is a good team. Three straight 100+ win seasons will do that. This year has been different. They are still on pace for 100+ wins, but they have had a few challenges along the way. Big names such as SP Pat Cinelli, OFs Willie Salasar and Jimmy Collins have all spent significant time on the disabled list. That's pretty frightening considering they are still have the #1 seed at the break and two of the three are coming back from injury. Oh, and they have gone on an 11-1 run and are #1 in BNN's Power Rankings at the break. What can slow this group down? They play in arguably the weakest division in baseball with three teams with 50+ losses (no other division has more than one), so the regular season already seems washed up. You have to dig deep to see flaws that could be shown come the post-season. The Sharks have some of the best pitching and arguably the best defense in baseball. They don't boast the best lineup, however, even when their stud OFs return. They also aren't very aggressive on the base paths. To beat them in a series, you are going to have win higher scoring games than the Sharks prefer to play. You are also going to have to steal a game or two in Dallas, as they will have home field throughout. Considering they are 24-13 in one-run games and 33-14 at home (leagues best), we will have to wait until October to find out if it's possible.
Everyone in California is asking...Is this the year?
The Kodiaks haven't made the playoffs since 2004, also the last time they had a winning seasons. At the break, they are on pace to finish north of .500 and are just one game back of the final playoff spot. Losing CF Erik Hudson to a broken foot two days before the break isn't going to make that any easier. This Kodiak club usually known for their hitting, has actually struggled at the plate in 2020. 10th in runs scored, 14th in home runs? If you had been told the Kodiaks would be near the bottom of the league in runs and homers, no way you would have thought they would be a playoff contender. They have made it this far behind a rotation and bullpen combo near the very best in baseball. A lot of the pressure will fall on young star 2B Mike Morla. After posting a 7.8 WAR as 24-year-old. California had anointed him the king of the state. However, in 2020, he has struggled to hit as well as he did, and has received multiple public scrutiny from the GM and local writers. The Kodiaks do get on base at a high clip and avoid striking out, it's just going to come down to if they can knock those guys in.
Did a 0-9 slide into the All-Star Break start the rebuild?
New Orleans doesn't receive the press and attention other teams of their stature do. They are one of only a small group of multiple Brewmaster's Champions. They have been .500 or better since 2013. They have made the playoffs three of the last five seasons. However, at 43-46 and looking up in the Wild Card standings, sources close to the team say they are open to sell a lot of their current roster. But is that the right move? They have lost nine straight games, but 6 have been on the road and 6 total were against Dallas. The club has serious talent in the rotation, arguably one of the five best in the BLB. They also have three sluggers with 15+ HR at the break. With only Wilmington and California above them, should they be buyers or sellers? How they start the 2nd half will have a big impact on their rest of their season: vs. HAR, vs. PAW, @ SYR, vs. WIL. Not the easiest slate of games but majority are at home.
Will their be one last laugh in Indianapolis?
The Clowns shocked the BLB world by making the playoffs in 2019. A new GM has promised change and saw the biggest increase in wins (25) of any team that season. At the break in 2020, the Clowns are just 41-47, and just 28-37 since rumors were floated about a change of the team nickname from Clowns to Racers. Sources close to the GM have said almost everyone on the roster over 30 is available for the right price. Don't be surprised to see names like Scriber or Briseno having new addresses by months end. The playoffs aren't completely out of reach just yet but Indy looks like sellers and will build around their young core of Maurer, Cardona, Schnieder and Corr.
Will a couple of dinosaurs be traded before going extinct?
When you think of Los Angeles what do you think of? Beautiful people, cocaine, big city and Hollywood. When you think of the Los Angeles Dinos what do you think of? Jamie McPherson, Pat Yahn and Marco Lona. Those three players have been the main, arguably only reason the Dinos have been relevant in the BLB landscape since 2014. However, the trio is now showing their age and the club is 38-50 at the break. Lona looks pretty washed up and doesn't seem like a likely trade piece, however the other two might be. If it were up to them, I don't think McPherson or Yahn would leave the celebrity lives they lead in southern California. But if another GM makes an offer to the Dinos, they might have to pack their bags to join a contender.
Could two rookies lead the BLB in 2nd half homeruns?
Another 100 loss season in Kansas City seems likely but the 2nd half should at least be fun to watch. Rookie sluggers C.J. Viger and Joey Wals have each hit 7 homeruns in 30+ games. That projects to over 30 HR in a full season. OSA rates both their power potentials among the leagues very best. When these rookies find themselves down 9-1 after the 4th inning, what else is their to play for? The locker room is a complete disaster and the players aren't listening to manager Fei-hsien Loong nor pronouncing his name right. But the Comets are actually worth following, for other reasons than Viger/Wals deep bombs. SP Jamie Stidham might be the most underrated pitcher in all of baseball. Over the past four seasons, playing for Seattle and KC, the 36-year-old has posted an ERA in the 3.04-3.62 range, going almost completely unnoticed. He doesn't seem like a likely trade piece but tune in during the 2nd half to watch an aging veteran defy the scouts and get it done.
Will they trade 2B Jimmy "Hoover" Douglas?
The season is lost in Morgantown as they seem like a near lock to finish with a bottom three record. The biggest stories coming from the rumor mill involved the trading of Douglas. OSA currently rates the 29-year-old as the 3rd best 2B in the game today. He is on pace for a career year with a .362 average an 8+ WAR pace. In recent weeks a fellow 2B, Geoff Yonke, was shipped from Los Alamos to Washington, and many around the league think "Hoover" would fetch a similar haul. He is arguably the leagues best 2B defender, routinely gets 30+ SB, has outstanding work habits and shows no signs of slowing down. His salary going forward averages $17M per season, a far cry from the $24M average of Yonke's deal. Yet, despite all that, he is hitting leadoff for a last place team and still has a good attitude about it. There aren't many contenders in the BLB that he wouldn't upgrade but it remains to be seen if he will be moved.
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