Sunday, February 06, 2005
More news in the final week of preseason
MJ goes from the BeerBallers to the Outlaws.
Dazed from Poolfiction to 8BallRunners.
kansas_elite jumps from PFN to ElitePool.
Cameron goes from StraightShots to BlackSilver.
Jackal-dx joins up with DreamPool from PFN.
So, obviously the Outlaws again gaining another big-time player as long as he plays his games only. 8Ball Runners also I haven't been mentioning nearly enough but they're right in line for a strong run this season as well.
But now that I've had a good look at things, it's time for cubby's little analysis. First off, here's my 8 playoff teams and 8 in a conference...I'll get to that in a moment. In the Atlantic I'm taking the Outlaws, 8Ball Runners, StraightShots, and LPL. The reason I would take LPL over a team like ElitePool and MadSkillz, both good teams in their own rights, simply because of this preseason. Having romper and ruffer join them, combine it with ogges, Matthew if he plays again could have a good season, it'll be a tight race between SS, LPL, EP, and MZ. UnitedPool had a very rough time in the National League last season, and BritPool in the American. Unless either team's players have improved under the radar, they'll likely stay content with just playing for fun, and taking whatever wins they can.
In the Central, I believe PoolFiction, QueBallz, DreamPool, and CueKeepers will be the big teams going into the Playoffs. I would, however, watch out for a team like Wild Angels that not many know a lot about. XPool also had some fairly reasonable shooters last season in the NL, and they could also make a surge for the 4th spot in their division. SuperbPool remember how they got a few of their wins last season, and being that it's not likely to happen again, they're probably going to have a sub-500 record. HappyPool is also a team to look for. They were surprisingly good last season even after losing all their big names, you know, going with their true HP players. The Central Division could be quite amusing to watch.
In the NL Mountain, the 4th playoff spot here could be a below 500 team. The Hustlers will apparently not have efc this season he told me he's going to sit out the season. However, I believe it will come down to them or BlackSilver. Cameron I think will need to play his best in the first couple weeks, if he does play, to prove that he's worth playing. Same is true pretty much with almost every player going to a new league. Unless they are already a proven solid player, they have to understand that some captains may see them as replaceable. But cameron may be one of BS' top 3 players this season if you ask me, and this could easily be a team that gives the Hustlers a good run at the top of the Division. For my other two teams, of course I have to go with the PoolMasters, and quite possibly the LuckyPoolers or PoolPimps. Again, the National League is not as strong I think as the American this season.
That brings me to the Pacific. BeerBallers will win it? Nah, I think the Fighters will take the division, possibly with a good 13 or 14 wins. BeerBallers have lost so many of their big players. I believe they still have clogz and daru, which is good enough duo to change any match around. They'll be in the playoffs, but they may need to fight for it. EZ8 may be able to make the playoffs again this season, maybe as the 3rd or 4th seed, but the big question is can the regul8ors do what they did last season without Dan? Break and Run also have a legitimate chance in this division. It's not a very tough conference, they got the ass end of the draw as far as NL divisions because I believe in the Mountain they could make it, but you do play the same 15 teams. I said it last season in the beginning watch out for bnr and they were good for 2 weeks then took punishing 7-0 shutouts back to back after that. The key is to understand they have very little to no chance in week 1 against the beerballers. The big boys in the NL will probably still be too much for them, but a team like hotshotz, championspool, breakers alley, they could really get wins off from. I think they get about 6 or 7 wins maybe, and sit on the bubble for most of the season when it comes to making the playoffs.
Now, the Playoffs...As far as I understand it's 8 teams, one bracket, to a conference. If that's true, there's practically no reward for winning your division or conference except of course playing a #8 team, if they at least get that part right. Now with more teams I can understand the need for more playoff teams but I believe there should be more of a reward for being the #1 or 2 seeds. Another question is will Division winners get those #1 and 2 seeds. Obviously now with the no-bye format it may not mean as much. But I'm sure it'll be a mixed subject as the season rolls nearer to its end. I'm sure I'll find out soon enough what the exact playoff format will be.
Finally, a couple people will be added to the MLP SC staff. Bloodstone (Shayne) and Chris (outperform, _big__one_, etc.) Now I've said it in the past but I'll continue to say it. Not everyone may agree with this, but I'll stand by them as long as no personal vendettas, from either of us 3, get dragged into this. And sophie, and all you other european aliens, make your own soccer blog fools :P Nah only kidding. Just as long as personal stuff stays out of it, I'll have no problem with whatever comes up on this blog or its comments. I'll keep updating the league switches as the week goes by, and as long as I have the internet at the end of this season, throughout the playoffs and off-season I'll be holding that MLP best moments poll, but I'll talk more about that when the time comes. That's all from the house of...wait I'm cub not mouse...OK that's all from the Pub of Cub =
