Melbourne Renegades, projected t-3rd in Wisden
Payroll: $18 million, 7th
Nothing like a big match at the Melbourne Ground, which can hold 88k and is full of banter-ready Aussies who love a beer, a KFC bucket over their head and a funny chant at any moment. Their Renegades won the 2071 title and were runners-up in 2083 but mostly right around .500 with their west Australia brothers.
2023 Sports Universe Comparison: Chicago Cubs...mostly there for the party but they do have a few highlights on the field.
Leicestershire Foxes, projected t-3rd in Wisden
Payroll: $17 million, 8th
The third English team was added in 2078 at expansion and have come into their own over the past few years to begin to challenge the Surrey and Yorkshire pair at the top. Located right in between Surrey and Yorkshire, the Foxes have finished in the top half of the league the last 6 seasons and are pushing for that first title. Not really recognized as a peer yet by Surrey and Yorkshire, much more established clubs, they have a bit of an underdog mentality.
2023 Sports Universe Comparison: Denver Nuggets...recent success at some level but still looking for true respect that comes with a title
Perth Scorchers, projected t-3rd in Wisden
Payroll: $15 million, 9th
The western Aussies fell horrifically short of early expectations as arguably the worst team in the league pre-expansion, after Sydney's great performance in the WBA and Australia's overall sporting reputation Perth were a huge letdown. They've scratched back in the 80s, adding a famous '85 Asian Cup win to rejuvenate a solid fanbase that had started to tune out. Perth overall is now about an average team, the Melbourne-Perth rivalry isn't really one, it's much more of a friendly thing between two teams who haven't been able to taste the true top end of competition often enough.
2023 Sports Universe Comparison: Milwaukee Brewers...a solid recent history from a very ugly beginning
Nairobi Harambee Stars, projected 5th in Bengal
Payroll: $13 million, 10th
One of the most out-of-nowhere seasons ever was the 2082 Nairobi season where they won the title and followed it up by making the Champions League, only one other team still in the league has ever done so. This expansion team in Kenya has had little other success and finished last 4 times in total, including last season. A fanbase that is still in its youthful stage maybe had expectations raised too high by that lightning bolt that hasn't been close to happening again.
2023 Sports Universe Equivalent: Kansas City Royals...a random blip of brilliance out and fading into poor play
Chennai Super Kings, projected 6th in Bengal
Payroll: $12 million, 11th
Originally based in Singapore before the Indian market took so well to baseball, the league switched the club to Chennai but have not had the same success. Chennai remains one of the dregs in the league with a very mediocre fanbase and without ever making the knockout stage in any Cup or finishing higher than 4th in the league.
2023 Sports Universe comparison: Colorado Rockies...some of the basics to be good but just never actually seem to get good
Colombo Lions, projected 8th in Bengal
Payroll: $11 million, 12th
A beautiful place to visit and despite the name, a team that splits their games between Colombo and the beautiful Galle, Colombo is always one of the most popular trips for visiting scribes and teams. The expansion Sri Lankan side showed early promise but has faded to become an afterthought to the Indian/Pakistani side in the competitive Bengal division. Lions games are often desultory games with not great attendance and a very relaxed atmosphere.
2023 Sports Universe Comparison: Miami Marlins...fun to visit, but it never feels professionally run and the atmosphere is lacking
Jozi Stars, projected 4th in Bengal
Payroll: $10 million, 13th
The semi-dysfuntional Johannesberg-based Jozi Stars have bumbled their way to an incredibly apathetic fanbase and consistently poor seasons. A 2082 runner up in the EuroCup and a long forgotten Baseball Cup Elite Eight run in 2068 are the only highlights amongst the mediocrity, backbiting and awful management over the years. A rundown tiny ballpark with ancient locker rooms, empty stands and a worn-out infield make the on-field product even tougher to watch.
2023 Sports Universe Comparison: Oakland Athletics without the Moneyball
Auckland Tuatara, projected 6th in Wisden
Payroll: $9 million, 14th
A cozy atmosphere for a cozy country. A tiny market but fans that love to set up their lawn chairs along the lines and in the outfield on the green areas at the Harbour Stadium make it a friendly atmosphere. The New Zealand side has had a few runs of solid play but the lack of funds generally drags them out of competitiveness.
2023 Sports Universe Equivalent: Memphis Grizzlies...generally a solid crowd and occasional good results but limited by market size
Port Moresby Barramundis, projected 8th in Wisden
Payroll: $8 million, 15th
The controversial addition of the Papua New Guinean team, partially inspired by a few great camps and tours of the mysterious country, has been a total disaster. They have finished last or next to last in every single season since expansion in 2078. If you think the Jozi Stars field and crowd is brutal, imagine the experience in Port Moresby. A wretched local economy and chain-link fences around the field in places lead to lots of seemingly up to no good locals yelling across the field, there is a trash heap beyond left field and tons of dogs roaming around outside. Not exactly batting practice at Lord's for Surrey. The trip is often chaotic, with the planes landing often held up by locals either randomly incompetent or asking for money. Clover Park seats just 7000 but rarely gets even a third of that despite gates being unmanned and holes being easy to squeeze through. A disaster of an expansion choice.
2023 Sports Universe Equivalent: Pirates/Lions
Jamaica Tallawahs, projected 7th in Wisden
Payroll: $6 million, 16th
A thought that baseball could take-off in the Cricket-mad portion of the Caribbean has failed, as even cricket has waned there. More teams are now tried in a smaller Caribbean League, which is where Jamaica should be playing. It's often a party, with alcohol and drugs circulating through the Kensington Oval but it's often essentially empty, especially for Sunday afternoon games. They haven't been as awful as Port Moresby, but the Tallawahs have never made an impact on a title race.
2023 Sports Universe Equivalent: Pirates/Lions