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2060 Pre-Season Predictions


Baseball World has fired up its spreadsheets and dusted off the crystal ball for its annual 2060 pre-season predictions—and for the Sheffield Mountain Hares, it’s a familiar tune with a bittersweet twist. The Hares are forecasted to post a solid 84–78 record, good enough for eighth in the Europe-Africa-Asia (EAA) Conference. Respectable, but once again just shy of that elusive playoff breakthrough.

The headline act in the Europe Division is the Bucharest Sounds, projected to roar to a 105–57 finish. That’s not just good—it’s the best record in the entire WBL, making them World Series favourites. Much of their dominance is expected to come from the mound, with a projected ERA of 3.75, comfortably ahead of any other team on the continent. For a team that already knows how to hit, that kind of pitching could be the difference-maker. Sheffield will have their hands full trying to stay in the same conversation.

Elsewhere in the EAA, things are just as fierce. The Africa Division looks like a dogfight, with the Kinshasa Leopards forecasted to finish atop the standings at 97–65. But don’t count out the Nairobi Nomads or the ever-pesky Dar es Salaam Giraffes—both nipping close behind. Expect lightning-fast base running and wild atmospheres in what’s shaping up to be one of the most entertaining divisional races on the continent.

Over in the West & South East Asia Division, the Karachi Seafarers are expected to make waves with 99 wins, backed by a deep lineup and a rotation that rarely blinks. But this isn’t a solo voyage—Baghdad and Yangon are right in the mix, ready to turn any Karachi slip into a full-blown sprint for the crown.

Meanwhile, in the West & Central Asia Division, the Guangzhou Rams are tipped to come out on top with 93 wins, staving off strong challenges from the Osaka Blossoms and the newly relocated and rebranded Harbin Icecaps. With three teams projected within 4 wins, this could be the most volatile division in the EAA—where one bad fortnight could mean a fall from grace.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Milan Tailors, Mogadishu Seashells, and Harare Hippos are forecasted to bring up the rear in the conference, all projected for 64 wins or fewer. For those clubs, 2060 may be less about silverware and more about foundation-laying.

Across the Atlantic, the TAO Conference has its own heavyweights. The Asunción Pampas Foxes are tipped to dominate the South America Division with 100 wins, just ahead of a resurgent Lima and São Paulo. Up in North America–East, the Miami Swordfish are expected to match that century mark, standing neck-and-neck with the Memphis Steamers and Atlanta Eagles. Notably, Memphis enters the season boasting the WBL’s lowest projected ERA at a stingy 3.68—if they score enough, they could be the most dangerous team in the league.

Out west, the Idaho Owls are projected to soar to their first North America–West Division title with 93 wins, fending off Arizona’s 86-win push. And in the Central America & Oceania Division, it’s the Guatemala City Ocelots expected to pounce with 94 wins, chased by well-rounded squads in Panama City and Port Moresby.

As for those at the bottom of the TAO ladder, it’s a gloomy forecast for St. Paul, Perth, Paramaribo, and California—all slated for 68 wins or fewer.

So while the Hares aren’t the storybook heroes this time around, there’s belief in the camp. A strong April, a hot streak in June, a few breakout arms—and suddenly 84 wins might not be the ceiling, but the floor. The rest of the world may not see it yet, but in Sheffield, hope is quietly stretching its legs.