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Ruwisc · 03-10-2025, 08:27 PM

2022 Season Preview - Part 4

AMNANACHE BC
Ransu, RA
2021: 106-84 (5th)
Seasons in EL: 26
Best finish: 2nd (1999, 2000)
Payroll: $133.2 million (5th)

Amnanache are such an interesting team each year because their roster build is so unique. Top-end talent on the pitching side, year after year, but no hitters in sight. Last year's team was 14th in runs scored, but 2nd in runs allowed. If that sounds like a recipe for being pretty consistently good, but not good enough to win a championship, then congrats, you've read the situation correctly.

Lineup (11th):
3B Shaho Shosisi - CF Kikae Rueara - 2B Peche Iyikio
1B Tsepetsi Rolei - RF Chukatu Mofatsitsali - SS Emi Sesotu
LF Atsi Orol - C Yatil Rima

Never this team's strong suit. There's no budget room to go out and get anyone else, unfortunately, and there are only 12 position players under contract in the whole org. None of these guys are outright bad, aside from maybe Orol, but none are ranked in the top 5 at their positions. Thank goodness for Iyikio, who is on the minimum $500,000 salary and expected to take the leap into team leadership in his second pro season.

Rotation (2nd):
Epencho Latsychano, Laotso Tirionu, Tsai Reyolafa, Ketsu Sasewiraka, Teriwoma Zhitsi

The rotation is as good as ever. Latsychano had a strong case to be Pitcher of the Year in 2021, finishing second, while Tirionu led the league in strikeouts, and Reyolafa would be the ace for at least half the teams in the EL. I don't really buy Zhitsi as an EL starter, but Amnanache can afford to stash a perfectly capable Pikiul Omonora on their reserve roster, so the depth is there if he fails.

Closer: Tejumpu Riali (5th)

I am more bullish on Amnanache than the predictors are. They do have a ceiling, for sure, but I think it's reasonable for them to aim for another top-5 finish.

2022 prediction: 96-94 (9th)

KELERI BC
Hefem, EM
2021: 109-81 (4th)
Seasons in EL: all 32
Best finish: 1st (12 times; 1997, 98, 2000, 02, 04, 05, 07, 09, 10, 15, 16, 18)
Payroll: $209.3 million (1st)

Despite being 3 seasons without a championship, Keleri are still the team by which everyone else is measured. Finishing ahead of Keleri for the first time is a milestone in a franchise's history - the Spirits just pulled it off last year, and I wouldn't blame them for hanging a banner for it. Last season actually broke a string of 7 consecutive top-3 finishes for the green and gray.

Lineup (5th):
1B Apia Rarasahiu - CF Rarehimi Pohyfe - RF Shatso Raseke
LF Lesayo Sofiulo - C Tupae Pufosa - 2B Felpa Tyle
3B Meteshu Tsefufayalo - SS Poem Solicha

Compared to Keleri lineups of years past, there isn't a single reality-warping star in this lineup, but everyone is doing at least something at a high level. The weak point might be in the leadoff spot with Rarasahiu - he's a perfectly fine hitter but Keleri can do better. He's on his 10th year with the club, though, so how do you say no to that? Brett Gardner got to stay in New York as long as he wanted. Keleri's two catchers are both new to the club, Pufosa from Amnanache and Lakiru Shufaho from Ransu Shockers, both of whom are elite. Should probably find a way to play them both.

Rotation (8th):
Somashe Renlese - Ihuna Cheyeo - Sleta Culosaleta - Shaltseri Kalorotiha - Rani Waike

No aces in the bunch, at least right now, but everybody is at least a 3. Kalorotiha is the question mark, I suppose, as a fresh-faced rookie of 16, but he's got superstar potential.

Closer: Chysho Sofiulo (2nd)

Keleri can never really be counted out until the votes are tallied. No reason to think they won't be in the mix until the very end.

2022 prediction: 124-66 (2nd)

AROKETSIL SPIRITS
Aroketsil, KX
2021: 115-75 (3rd)
Seasons in EL: 14
Best finish: 3rd (2021)
Payroll: $81.8 million (17th)

We should take this moment to properly give the Spirits their flowers for a spectacular 2021 season. While they didn't win the title, they never would have dreamt that they would. The fact that it was ever a possibility is enough. By finishing third, they broke a 4-year streak of the top three teams being Keleri, Mighty Oaks, and Tsapna in some order. Even a year on from finishing 3rd in the league, they're still rolling with a bottom-5 payroll. (It's probably time for me to expand Spirits Park past its 11,700 capacity... let's do that next offseason.) Despite all that, they still reduced ticket prices for 2022. King stuff.

Lineup (3rd):
SS Wasi Tsewayo - LF Lia Tsesahem - 3B Rolana Rekesu
1B Peku Karwo - 2B Okitso Womoipo - RF Fapasile Lumafi
CF Roshuere Nesapatame - C Feko Kuishuchutso

There are five secrets to the Spirits' success. They're not very well-kept secrets, because Aroketsil lists them as #1-5 on their lineup card every night. Last season I credited the infield as the thing that would keep the Spirits competitive, but you can add Lia Tsesahem to that group. This is Tsesahem's contract year - the Spirits would love to keep him around, but the money will be tight. The rest of the lineup is actually pretty rough, but the top 5 guys are so dynamic that it almost doesn't matter.

Rotation (19th):
Hohau Mileku - Mafuke Yshetsea - Olf Fochaeki - Lalasu Mpetu - Maho Rirto

Actually pretty bad. Their best starter, at least in name, last year was Ihuna Cheyeo, now of Keleri. Mileku (who will get the opening day start against his former team Cheshek) is roughly the replacement there. The Spirits just did not have a good rotation at all last year either.

Closer: Santa Chefisa (12th)

Even with the slightly weaker rotation, 8th feels harsh for the Spirits. We can't have 8 teams finish in the top 5, but you know what I mean.

2022 prediction: 97-93 (8th)

TSAPNA BC
Ransu, RA
2021: 123-67
Seasons in EL: 30
Best finish: 1st (2012, 2019)
Payroll: $157.6 million (3rd)

It was unclear which team would finish second in last year's race... until Tsapna won 23 games in a row to finish the season. To that, I say... "yeah Tsapna in second feels about right". While they are the most recent of the real "Big 3" to establish themselves, and have many fewer titles than either Keleri or Mighty Oaks (or Semyof, for that matter), Tsapna can still beat anybody.

Lineup (10th):
RF Iti Tashete - CF Chiati Rolei - 2B Lawori El
1B Safishi Ifata - 3B Arurke Timaere - SS Kysatse Nysotof
LF Shesho Apasarue - C Nak Fatohatse

The story of the Tsapna offseason is some drama in the middle infield. Lawori El is the star of this team, no doubt, and last year played short next to a very strong Tsapna debut season from Kurano Shosotsoke at 2B. Now, the signing of Nysotof seems to have pushed Shosotsoke out of the lineup, despite him undoubtedly being a better hitter. Nysotof is the best defender, but nobody is bad out there. At the same time, Nysotof is capable of playing corner outfield, where the team badly needs an upgrade from Apasarue. The solution seems obvious, but not to CPU manager Kire Famha. While they're at it, they should probably use some of their remaining $1,725,000 of budget room to sign a catcher.

Rotation (1st):
Sefti Merefife - Mua Wyranu - Setsinak Perano - Lomunu Awia - Tupae Epofemi

The top four starters are mainstays, with Perano signed away from the Spirits in the 2020-21 offseason and the other three being homegrown stars. Merefife is the reigning Pitcher of the Year, Awia finished fourth, and Wyranu seventh. Tsapna tried four different starters in the fifth spot last year, and of them, Epofemi was one of the two who impressed. Kino Salama took a deal to become Feshuyalya's closer in the SPL (tier 3) so Epofemi won the job to start this year.

Closer: Akawo Nylur (8th)

Will Tsapna figure out the bottom of their lineup in time to score enough runs to win it all? I guess we'll find out.

2022 prediction: 122-68 (3rd)

MIGHTY OAKS BC
Aroketsil, KX
2021: 130-60 (1st)
Seasons in EL: all 32
Best finish: 1st (6 times; 2008, 13, 14, 17, 20, 21)
Payroll: $174.3 million (2nd)

Two straight titles for the Oaks. While this one didn't end up looking as dominating as the 2020 crown, due to Tsapna's win streak, it was very rarely in doubt who would win the 2021 Elite League. Now, how do they follow it up? No team has won three straight EL crowns since Semyof won the first five in 1991-95, even though back-to-back has been done now six times since then.

Lineup (2nd):
3B Netomue Kilutsa - LF Yalofe Uepepa - RF Peyaka Sefenera
1B Somp Awia - C Metsifu Olufapo - CF Myna Kylchi
2B Mashual Rikokira - SS Tsorope Mametsiu

The trio of Sefenera-Awia-Olufapo is close to the top as far as lineup trios go. The rest of the lineup is surprisingly underwhelming offensively. They will score a lot of runs, but an important part of the Oaks' dominance is that they are easily the league's best defensive team. The MIF duo of Rikokira and Mametsiu is so good that they'd be valuable even if they were two automatic outs. And, well, Rikokira can hit OK. Mametsiu's value is pretty much exclusively at short.

Rotation (3rd):
Notsimi Feshasu - Siteno Aefep - Tytsi Sofiulo - Palfa Ninelhepi - Talese Yelishike

Kiosho Epofemi is out until mid-May, likely to fill Yelishike's spot when he returns. This group is a clear step behind the Tsapna or Amnanache rotations, but I think clearly the next-best. Feshasu is every old man's favorite pitcher, a big hulking sinkerballer who doesn't need to get Ks to be effective (in contrast to the more new-school guys at Amnanache). Aefep and Sofiulo are great too despite not even being caught up in a culture war.

Closer: Autsu Sikiura (4th)

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think you can look at all this and conclude that the Oaks aren't the favorites again. Not as clear cut as last year, but if I have to pick one team to win the 2022 Elite League I'm taking MOBC. But, the official preseason predictions think differently.

2022 prediction: 118-72 (4th)

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And that gets us ready for the 2022 EL season! Games start in the next post, and man is Round 1 a doozy. Perhaps the four teams most being talked about for the title will meet one another to start the season, with Mighty Oaks vs. Keleri even randomly drawing the coveted March 1 opening day slot. And it doesn't end there, because after Tsapna face new-look National in round 1, they go to play the Oaks in round 2. Meanwhile, all three promoted teams will start their seasons at home, which is nice, and there are a couple more fascinating matchups like Cheshek vs. the Spirits and a Chastara derby with Nokelto/Fampalo. Picture-perfect opening draw.

Round 1:
Lutrul vs. Pasataki Galaxy
Amnanache vs. Mithazni
Akashemo vs. Westline
Nokelto Scouts vs. Fampalo
Kupore vs. Kepmem
Cheshek vs. Aroketsil Spirits
Shunna Eagles vs. Otahel City
National vs. Tsapna
Mighty Oaks vs. Keleri
Sitache vs. Hokrof

Round 2:
Kepmem vs. National
Pasataki Galaxy vs. Sitache
Hokrof vs. Amnanache
Tsapna vs. Mighty Oaks
Westline vs. Shunna Eagles
Keleri vs. Nokelto Scouts
Aroketsil Spirits vs. Akashemo
Mithazni vs. Lutrul
Fampalo vs. Kupore
Otahel City vs. Cheshek

03-10-2025, 08:27 PM	#46
Ruwisc All Star Reserve Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Southwestern Illinois Posts: 665	2022 Season Preview - Part 4 AMNANACHE BC Ransu, RA 2021: 106-84 (5th) Seasons in EL: 26 Best finish: 2nd (1999, 2000) Payroll: $133.2 million (5th) Amnanache are such an interesting team each year because their roster build is so unique. Top-end talent on the pitching side, year after year, but no hitters in sight. Last year's team was 14th in runs scored, but 2nd in runs allowed. If that sounds like a recipe for being pretty consistently good, but not good enough to win a championship, then congrats, you've read the situation correctly. Lineup (11th): 3B Shaho Shosisi - CF Kikae Rueara - 2B Peche Iyikio 1B Tsepetsi Rolei - RF Chukatu Mofatsitsali - SS Emi Sesotu LF Atsi Orol - C Yatil Rima Never this team's strong suit. There's no budget room to go out and get anyone else, unfortunately, and there are only 12 position players under contract in the whole org. None of these guys are outright bad, aside from maybe Orol, but none are ranked in the top 5 at their positions. Thank goodness for Iyikio, who is on the minimum $500,000 salary and expected to take the leap into team leadership in his second pro season. Rotation (2nd): Epencho Latsychano, Laotso Tirionu, Tsai Reyolafa, Ketsu Sasewiraka, Teriwoma Zhitsi The rotation is as good as ever. Latsychano had a strong case to be Pitcher of the Year in 2021, finishing second, while Tirionu led the league in strikeouts, and Reyolafa would be the ace for at least half the teams in the EL. I don't really buy Zhitsi as an EL starter, but Amnanache can afford to stash a perfectly capable Pikiul Omonora on their reserve roster, so the depth is there if he fails. Closer: Tejumpu Riali (5th) I am more bullish on Amnanache than the predictors are. They do have a ceiling, for sure, but I think it's reasonable for them to aim for another top-5 finish. 2022 prediction: 96-94 (9th) KELERI BC Hefem, EM 2021: 109-81 (4th) Seasons in EL: all 32 Best finish: 1st (12 times; 1997, 98, 2000, 02, 04, 05, 07, 09, 10, 15, 16, 18) Payroll: $209.3 million (1st) Despite being 3 seasons without a championship, Keleri are still the team by which everyone else is measured. Finishing ahead of Keleri for the first time is a milestone in a franchise's history - the Spirits just pulled it off last year, and I wouldn't blame them for hanging a banner for it. Last season actually broke a string of 7 consecutive top-3 finishes for the green and gray. Lineup (5th): 1B Apia Rarasahiu - CF Rarehimi Pohyfe - RF Shatso Raseke LF Lesayo Sofiulo - C Tupae Pufosa - 2B Felpa Tyle 3B Meteshu Tsefufayalo - SS Poem Solicha Compared to Keleri lineups of years past, there isn't a single reality-warping star in this lineup, but everyone is doing at least something at a high level. The weak point might be in the leadoff spot with Rarasahiu - he's a perfectly fine hitter but Keleri can do better. He's on his 10th year with the club, though, so how do you say no to that? Brett Gardner got to stay in New York as long as he wanted. Keleri's two catchers are both new to the club, Pufosa from Amnanache and Lakiru Shufaho from Ransu Shockers, both of whom are elite. Should probably find a way to play them both. Rotation (8th): Somashe Renlese - Ihuna Cheyeo - Sleta Culosaleta - Shaltseri Kalorotiha - Rani Waike No aces in the bunch, at least right now, but everybody is at least a 3. Kalorotiha is the question mark, I suppose, as a fresh-faced rookie of 16, but he's got superstar potential. Closer: Chysho Sofiulo (2nd) Keleri can never really be counted out until the votes are tallied. No reason to think they won't be in the mix until the very end. 2022 prediction: 124-66 (2nd) AROKETSIL SPIRITS Aroketsil, KX 2021: 115-75 (3rd) Seasons in EL: 14 Best finish: 3rd (2021) Payroll: $81.8 million (17th) We should take this moment to properly give the Spirits their flowers for a spectacular 2021 season. While they didn't win the title, they never would have dreamt that they would. The fact that it was ever a possibility is enough. By finishing third, they broke a 4-year streak of the top three teams being Keleri, Mighty Oaks, and Tsapna in some order. Even a year on from finishing 3rd in the league, they're still rolling with a bottom-5 payroll. (It's probably time for me to expand Spirits Park past its 11,700 capacity... let's do that next offseason.) Despite all that, they still reduced ticket prices for 2022. King stuff. Lineup (3rd): SS Wasi Tsewayo - LF Lia Tsesahem - 3B Rolana Rekesu 1B Peku Karwo - 2B Okitso Womoipo - RF Fapasile Lumafi CF Roshuere Nesapatame - C Feko Kuishuchutso There are five secrets to the Spirits' success. They're not very well-kept secrets, because Aroketsil lists them as #1-5 on their lineup card every night. Last season I credited the infield as the thing that would keep the Spirits competitive, but you can add Lia Tsesahem to that group. This is Tsesahem's contract year - the Spirits would love to keep him around, but the money will be tight. The rest of the lineup is actually pretty rough, but the top 5 guys are so dynamic that it almost doesn't matter. Rotation (19th): Hohau Mileku - Mafuke Yshetsea - Olf Fochaeki - Lalasu Mpetu - Maho Rirto Actually pretty bad. Their best starter, at least in name, last year was Ihuna Cheyeo, now of Keleri. Mileku (who will get the opening day start against his former team Cheshek) is roughly the replacement there. The Spirits just did not have a good rotation at all last year either. Closer: Santa Chefisa (12th) Even with the slightly weaker rotation, 8th feels harsh for the Spirits. We can't have 8 teams finish in the top 5, but you know what I mean. 2022 prediction: 97-93 (8th) TSAPNA BC Ransu, RA 2021: 123-67 Seasons in EL: 30 Best finish: 1st (2012, 2019) Payroll: $157.6 million (3rd) It was unclear which team would finish second in last year's race... until Tsapna won 23 games in a row to finish the season. To that, I say... "yeah Tsapna in second feels about right". While they are the most recent of the real "Big 3" to establish themselves, and have many fewer titles than either Keleri or Mighty Oaks (or Semyof, for that matter), Tsapna can still beat anybody. Lineup (10th): RF Iti Tashete - CF Chiati Rolei - 2B Lawori El 1B Safishi Ifata - 3B Arurke Timaere - SS Kysatse Nysotof LF Shesho Apasarue - C Nak Fatohatse The story of the Tsapna offseason is some drama in the middle infield. Lawori El is the star of this team, no doubt, and last year played short next to a very strong Tsapna debut season from Kurano Shosotsoke at 2B. Now, the signing of Nysotof seems to have pushed Shosotsoke out of the lineup, despite him undoubtedly being a better hitter. Nysotof is the best defender, but nobody is bad out there. At the same time, Nysotof is capable of playing corner outfield, where the team badly needs an upgrade from Apasarue. The solution seems obvious, but not to CPU manager Kire Famha. While they're at it, they should probably use some of their remaining $1,725,000 of budget room to sign a catcher. Rotation (1st): Sefti Merefife - Mua Wyranu - Setsinak Perano - Lomunu Awia - Tupae Epofemi The top four starters are mainstays, with Perano signed away from the Spirits in the 2020-21 offseason and the other three being homegrown stars. Merefife is the reigning Pitcher of the Year, Awia finished fourth, and Wyranu seventh. Tsapna tried four different starters in the fifth spot last year, and of them, Epofemi was one of the two who impressed. Kino Salama took a deal to become Feshuyalya's closer in the SPL (tier 3) so Epofemi won the job to start this year. Closer: Akawo Nylur (8th) Will Tsapna figure out the bottom of their lineup in time to score enough runs to win it all? I guess we'll find out. 2022 prediction: 122-68 (3rd) MIGHTY OAKS BC Aroketsil, KX 2021: 130-60 (1st) Seasons in EL: all 32 Best finish: 1st (6 times; 2008, 13, 14, 17, 20, 21) Payroll: $174.3 million (2nd) Two straight titles for the Oaks. While this one didn't end up looking as dominating as the 2020 crown, due to Tsapna's win streak, it was very rarely in doubt who would win the 2021 Elite League. Now, how do they follow it up? No team has won three straight EL crowns since Semyof won the first five in 1991-95, even though back-to-back has been done now six times since then. Lineup (2nd): 3B Netomue Kilutsa - LF Yalofe Uepepa - RF Peyaka Sefenera 1B Somp Awia - C Metsifu Olufapo - CF Myna Kylchi 2B Mashual Rikokira - SS Tsorope Mametsiu The trio of Sefenera-Awia-Olufapo is close to the top as far as lineup trios go. The rest of the lineup is surprisingly underwhelming offensively. They will score a lot of runs, but an important part of the Oaks' dominance is that they are easily the league's best defensive team. The MIF duo of Rikokira and Mametsiu is so good that they'd be valuable even if they were two automatic outs. And, well, Rikokira can hit OK. Mametsiu's value is pretty much exclusively at short. Rotation (3rd): Notsimi Feshasu - Siteno Aefep - Tytsi Sofiulo - Palfa Ninelhepi - Talese Yelishike Kiosho Epofemi is out until mid-May, likely to fill Yelishike's spot when he returns. This group is a clear step behind the Tsapna or Amnanache rotations, but I think clearly the next-best. Feshasu is every old man's favorite pitcher, a big hulking sinkerballer who doesn't need to get Ks to be effective (in contrast to the more new-school guys at Amnanache). Aefep and Sofiulo are great too despite not even being caught up in a culture war. Closer: Autsu Sikiura (4th) Maybe it's just me, but I don't think you can look at all this and conclude that the Oaks aren't the favorites again. Not as clear cut as last year, but if I have to pick one team to win the 2022 Elite League I'm taking MOBC. But, the official preseason predictions think differently. 2022 prediction: 118-72 (4th) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And that gets us ready for the 2022 EL season! Games start in the next post, and man is Round 1 a doozy. Perhaps the four teams most being talked about for the title will meet one another to start the season, with Mighty Oaks vs. Keleri even randomly drawing the coveted March 1 opening day slot. And it doesn't end there, because after Tsapna face new-look National in round 1, they go to play the Oaks in round 2. Meanwhile, all three promoted teams will start their seasons at home, which is nice, and there are a couple more fascinating matchups like Cheshek vs. the Spirits and a Chastara derby with Nokelto/Fampalo. Picture-perfect opening draw. Round 1: Lutrul vs. Pasataki Galaxy Amnanache vs. Mithazni Akashemo vs. Westline Nokelto Scouts vs. Fampalo Kupore vs. Kepmem Cheshek vs. Aroketsil Spirits Shunna Eagles vs. Otahel City National vs. Tsapna Mighty Oaks vs. Keleri Sitache vs. Hokrof Round 2: Kepmem vs. National Pasataki Galaxy vs. Sitache Hokrof vs. Amnanache Tsapna vs. Mighty Oaks Westline vs. Shunna Eagles Keleri vs. Nokelto Scouts Aroketsil Spirits vs. Akashemo Mithazni vs. Lutrul Fampalo vs. Kupore Otahel City vs. Cheshek __________________ MLB Expansion Team Logos/Uniforms Replace MLB with this!