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Nick Soulis · 07-14-2025, 10:43 PM

Season 8
American League West Preview

1. 1998 Minnesota Twins
Record: 70-92
Manager: Tom Kelly
Ball Park: Metrodome
WAR Leader: Brad Radke (5.2)

The 1998 Twins might not blow you away with towering home runs, but they’re one of the scrappiest clubs you’ll find in the Excellence Project. Managed by Tom Kelly, this Twins squad is built around speed, defense, and relentless hustle. Chuck Knoblauch is the catalyst — getting on base, swiping bags, and setting the tone. Ron Coomer and Matt Lawton chip in with timely hits, but the real strength is a clubhouse that knows how to manufacture runs the hard way. If they can play clean defense and keep games close, they could frustrate more talented teams and squeak out the division crown through sheer determination.

2. 1945 St. Louis Browns
Record: 81-70
Manager: Luke Sewell
Ball Park: Sportsmans Park
WAR Leader: Nels Potter (7.8)

Back for another bite of the apple, the 1945 Browns are the epitome of wartime baseball: patched together with grit, spare parts, and a lot of hustle. They may lack the big bats and deep arms of other clubs, but what they do have is unshakeable tenacity. Vern Stephens provides much-needed pop at shortstop, while the rest of the roster scrambles for hits, steals bags, and capitalizes on mistakes. They’ll need to catch teams off guard and grind out wins with small ball and opportunism. If the Browns can get on a roll early, they might just annoy the favorites all season long.

3. 1990 Seattle Mariners
Record: 77-85
Manager: Jim Lefebvre
Ball Park: Kingdome
WAR Leader: Edgar Martinez (5.6)

The 1990 Mariners are all about potential — raw, untamed, and thrilling. With Ken Griffey Jr. roaming center field and just starting to blossom into a generational superstar, Seattle brings youthful thunder to the division. Edgar Martinez and Alvin Davis provide a steady veteran presence in the lineup, while a young Randy Johnson tries to harness his fireball arsenal into something consistently devastating. The M’s are unpredictable: they might dazzle with highlight-reel defense and moonshot homers, or frustrate fans with untimely strikeouts and pitching woes. But one thing’s for sure — if Griffey takes the next step, nobody’s safe.

4. 1972 Pittsburgh Pirates
Record; 96-59
Manager: Bill Virdon
Ball Park: Three Rivers Stadium
WAR Leader: Richie Hebner (5.3)

Still reeling from the loss of Roberto Clemente, the 1972 Pirates enter the Excellence Project determined to honor his legacy with the same grit that defined his career. Willie Stargell anchors an offense that’s dangerous when it finds a rhythm, and Manny Sanguillen’s steady bat keeps the lineup moving. This Pirates squad is built on balance rather than flash — they can grind out tight games, but they’ll need their rotation to hold up against the division’s youthful bats. If Stargell gets hot and the team rallies around Clemente’s memory, the Bucs could sneak into the postseason and remind everyone why they were one of the NL’s class acts of the early ’70s.

07-14-2025, 10:43 PM	#88
Nick Soulis Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 4,364	Season 8 American League West Preview 1. 1998 Minnesota Twins Record: 70-92 Manager: Tom Kelly Ball Park: Metrodome WAR Leader: Brad Radke (5.2) The 1998 Twins might not blow you away with towering home runs, but they’re one of the scrappiest clubs you’ll find in the Excellence Project. Managed by Tom Kelly, this Twins squad is built around speed, defense, and relentless hustle. Chuck Knoblauch is the catalyst — getting on base, swiping bags, and setting the tone. Ron Coomer and Matt Lawton chip in with timely hits, but the real strength is a clubhouse that knows how to manufacture runs the hard way. If they can play clean defense and keep games close, they could frustrate more talented teams and squeak out the division crown through sheer determination. 2. 1945 St. Louis Browns Record: 81-70 Manager: Luke Sewell Ball Park: Sportsmans Park WAR Leader: Nels Potter (7.8) Back for another bite of the apple, the 1945 Browns are the epitome of wartime baseball: patched together with grit, spare parts, and a lot of hustle. They may lack the big bats and deep arms of other clubs, but what they do have is unshakeable tenacity. Vern Stephens provides much-needed pop at shortstop, while the rest of the roster scrambles for hits, steals bags, and capitalizes on mistakes. They’ll need to catch teams off guard and grind out wins with small ball and opportunism. If the Browns can get on a roll early, they might just annoy the favorites all season long. 3. 1990 Seattle Mariners Record: 77-85 Manager: Jim Lefebvre Ball Park: Kingdome WAR Leader: Edgar Martinez (5.6) The 1990 Mariners are all about potential — raw, untamed, and thrilling. With Ken Griffey Jr. roaming center field and just starting to blossom into a generational superstar, Seattle brings youthful thunder to the division. Edgar Martinez and Alvin Davis provide a steady veteran presence in the lineup, while a young Randy Johnson tries to harness his fireball arsenal into something consistently devastating. The M’s are unpredictable: they might dazzle with highlight-reel defense and moonshot homers, or frustrate fans with untimely strikeouts and pitching woes. But one thing’s for sure — if Griffey takes the next step, nobody’s safe. 4. 1972 Pittsburgh Pirates Record; 96-59 Manager: Bill Virdon Ball Park: Three Rivers Stadium WAR Leader: Richie Hebner (5.3) Still reeling from the loss of Roberto Clemente, the 1972 Pirates enter the Excellence Project determined to honor his legacy with the same grit that defined his career. Willie Stargell anchors an offense that’s dangerous when it finds a rhythm, and Manny Sanguillen’s steady bat keeps the lineup moving. This Pirates squad is built on balance rather than flash — they can grind out tight games, but they’ll need their rotation to hold up against the division’s youthful bats. If Stargell gets hot and the team rallies around Clemente’s memory, the Bucs could sneak into the postseason and remind everyone why they were one of the NL’s class acts of the early ’70s.