The Fantasy Family Middle Kid (FFMK): Division Preview (Mafia Wars)

Mafia Wars Division

The Mafia Wars Division features a potent group of new managers, mixed with some of the league’s most tenured managers. League-wide performance has slipped, as of late, for many of our returning mangers.

99 Problems

After an auto-pick draft IQ for the ages (thank you Yahoo!), 99 Problems has a lot of work to do to dig himself out of the pitching hole that was left for him. 

Getting Andrew Bailey was at least helpful. Scott Baker, Gavin Floyd, and Brett Anderson aren’t completely worthless.  But look for 99 Problems to struggle in pitching without a true ace. 

Hitting, however, is stacked. 

Mike Napoli might be one of the most underrated, late round picks at the catcher position. The guy is good for 20-25 home runs, and ha quietly put up solid numbers for the Angels.

99 Problems showed he wasn’t at the draft, as a Dodger fan that was both sober and present would NEVER let his team consist of four Angels. 

Otherwise, Hanley Ramirez, Grady Sizemore, Ian Kinsler, Kendry Morales, Shin-Soo Choo and the rest should be just peachy offensively.  Look for him to finish in the middle of the division this season, unless he scours the waiver wire and finds a few needles in the haystack that is fantasy free agency. 

Buena suerte hermano.

909 for life

Consistent.  Balanced.  Near flawless.  99 for life had a very strong draft, with a team that should be competitive all season long. 

Joe Mauer, Justin Upton, and Jacoby Ellsbury anchor a young hitting clique, with Michael Young, Todd Helton and Tejada also in the mix. 

If Jose Reyes comes back and stays healthy, this team could be very competitive. 

Chris Carpenter and Josh Beckett provide a solid backing for a rather impressive pitching rotation.  Mark Buehrle, Jair Jurrjens and Ted Lilly join in the mix, with Francisco Cordero and Billy Wagner in to close games. 

With just a stroke of luck, 909 for life should be pushing towards the top end of the Mafia Wars Division. With its true potential known, due to a few injuries, 909 for life could be an elite team.

Chin Music

Power is one thing that Chin Music does not lack this season. 

Depth is another item that was knocked off the “To-Do Next Season” list, after following another disappointing run in fantasy baseball last season. 

Mark Teixeira, Aramis Ramirez, Matt Holliday, Adam Dunn, Manny Ramirez, and Garrett Jones (welcome to the bigs as a 30-year old rookie sir) will provide some pop in the bats for Chin Music. 

But where the hitting looks great for Chin Music, it is the pitching that will provide Chin Music with a chance at the inaugural Mafia Wars Division Crown. 

The starting rotation of Dan Haren, Justin Verlander, Matt Cain, John Lackey, Barry Zito (joined by Scott Kazmir, Max Scherzer, and the rights to Aroldis Chapman) is just absolutely filthy, in terms of strength and depth. 

Chad Qualls, Brian Wilson, Ryan Franklin, and Rafael Soriano should close plenty of games as well.  Aside from an apparent weakness in runs and swipes, Chin Music is locked and loaded for the 2010 season.

Crowhop One Stomp

Another auto-picked team, Crowhop One Stomp has the worst pitching in the league, and that is saying something. 

Offensively, Russell Martin, Kevin Youkilis, David Wright, Derek Jeter, Ryan Braun, Adam Lind, Torii Hunter, and Brandon Phillips are strong. Seven of the top 75 preseason ranked players call one of the eight hitting spots home for Crowhop One Stomp. 

The rotation of Ricky Nolasco, Ryan Dempster, Rick Porcello, Kevin Slowey, and Bronson Arroyo is nothing to brag about. In fact, the lack of relief pitching drafted leaves Crowhop One Stomp in a rather tough spot. The trade of Joey Votto and Jose Valverde for Kevin Youkilis and Jason Kubel could be a sign that Crowhop One Stomp has given up on RP, as he traded his only closer. 

But, it also could signal the acquisition of some depth, to make a run at a top notch closer.  If faced with a choice, I would say that a trade is coming, but the fact that his pitching is that gimped already, maybe he just mailed it in for relief pitching.

The Rock Pile

The final auto-picked team in the draft, The Rock Pile got off easy in this one. 

Cole Hamels, Aaron Harang, James Shields, John Danks, and Edwin Jackson are impressive, considering the fact that Jose Valverde, the result of a trade with Crowhop, is the lone closer on this pitching staff. 

Neftali Feliz may provide some help, but Valverde is going to be the only guy for The Rock Pile, pending any moves.  Joey Votto (acquired via trade), Troy Tulowitzki, Matt Kemp, Ichiro, Nick Markakis, Derrek Lee, Vernon Wells, and Josh Hamilton make The Rock Pile an offensive team not to be reckoned with. 

But when it comes to pitching, go ahead, have a swing at him, these pitchers don’t bite.

Tiger’s Tail

Tiger’s Tail has been searching for fantasy baseball relevance for a good couple of years now, with not a lot of upside the past few seasons. 

But this year, Tiger’s Tail is back with a rather impressive showing at the 2010 Draft. 

Typically a very strong, defensive-minded team, Tiger’s Tail strengthened its hitting significantly this season, but at the cost of his historically prized pitching corps. 

Chase Utley is a beast, regardless of whose team he is on. But he appears to be the only consistent player on the offensive side of things for Tiger’s Tail.  Matt Wieters, Adrian Beltre, Ben Zobrist and Curtis Granderson are all giant question marks, due to new teams, new spots in batting orders, or just straight youth. 

Roy Halladay anchors a pitching corps with something to prove. After last season’s impressive 1-2-3 of Lincecum, Lee, and Haren, Tiger’s Tail has some work cut out for him. 

Roy Halladay, AJ Burnett, Jorge de la Rosa, J.A. Happ, Kevin Correia, and Rich Harden aren’t bad, but a considerable drop, though Broxton and Heath Bell add some strength in the closer roles.  Expect Tiger’s Tail to start hot for a few months, and then taper off into obscurity, usually just out of the playoff picture.

Mafia Wars Power Rankings

1. Chin Music: Trust me. Enough said. Juelz will tell you just how good his team is, just ask him. And for once, this year, I agree with him. Watch out Economy Busters!

2. 909 for life: Second worst team name in the draft behind Jedi Knights, but 909 for life got a little dirty, much like his Riverside brethren, while quietly compiling one of the most balanced teams in the league.

3. Tiger's Tail: Matt Wieters, Adrian Gonzalez, Adrian Beltre, Chase Utley, Ben Zobrist, Andre Ethier, Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco, meh. Roy Halladay, AJ Burnett, Jon Broxton, Heath Bell, Jorge De La Rosa, JA Happ, slightly less meh.  All in all, my team can be summed up in one word: Mediocre.

4. The Rock Pile: The lucky one of the auto-drafters.  Pitching isn't half bad, needs work, but the hitting should keep things interesting each week.

5. Crowhop One Stomp: The only thing that gets Crowhop the nod over 99 Problems in getting out the doghouse, the trade that was made to get Youkilis.

6. 99 Problems: If you having hitting problems, I feel bad for you son, I got 99 Problems and pitching’s just one! Hit me! Good, because we sure as heck can't pitch it to you.