- MANAGER: Walter Alston
- HOME PARK: Riverfront Stadium
- TOP POSITION PLAYER: N/R
- TOP PITCHER: Cole Hamels (19)
- TOP PROSPECT: 2B Rogers Hornsby (1)
- 26TH MAN: Gleyber Torres
Portland on paper looks to have a squad that will start OK and then steadily improve over time to be one of the league’s powerhouses. Whether or not this comes to pass is almost certainly up to how their staff performs. Besides Scherzer and Valenzuela, it lacks any bona fide superstars but still has plenty of workhorses such as Palmer, Waddell, Three-Finger Brown and Hamels – guys who in any other league would be among the best but who might struggle in this All-Star calibre competition. No such problems among their position players, with a certain Comet from Commerce and a guy named Rogers you may also have heard of, along with Connor, McGwire, Munson, Molitor and Cool Papa Bell to name but a few. 26th Man Torres is a real wildcard and it will be fascinating to see if he can hold his own against the game’s historical elite. Two other elements in this club’s favour are their excellent defensive skills and speed, which will allow them to mix it up strategy-wise if one style of play isn’t getting them anywhere. If that pitching comes to the party, I reckon these guys will do alright.
1961 PREDICTIONS
RECORD: 86-82, 2nd in West, 1 GB
HITTING: .261 / 77 HR / 716 R / 218 SB
PITCHING: 3.83 ERA / 932 K / 734 R / 432 BB