A batting lineup true to their name.
Let’s get into our 3rd AL Team Preview. Formerly known as the METS, they are rebranding themselves and bringing back the 2016 Champs, HeavyHittaz. That team was an absolute brute of a team, and the 2019 version will be even scarier. Wait until we go thru their expected team. John Sans returns as the captain and old wily vet Ali Ghumman remains the GM and brains behind the team.
Every team in the American League promises to be some of the best teams in SASL History. A lot of people had written off this team after another disaster playoff performance last year. After their 2016 trophy, in 2017 they lost in the first round to a very beatable Hit Squad team. Then last year, they faced off against Savages in the Semifinals. On paper, they looked overmatched against Savages. But in game one they got off to an early 13-5 lead by inning 3. However, they lost that game on a big error that resulted in a grand slam, and then got promptly swept. That bitter taste was enough to head into the offseason with only one goal in mind: Win or else.
The Ducks laid out a blue print last year that won them a championship: a solid player in every position and you can beat the top heavy teams. What path did the HeavyHittaz choose?
Off-Season Additions:
For the second year in a row, the biggest free agent in the league was Dan Dilirio. His one year stint with Scorers was an utter disaster. There was a lot of talk, where he would go next. He may have landed in the perfect situation hitting in front of Ramy, Hapreet, Kunal and Masoom. What a get for HeavyHittaz. Most in the SASL community think Dan is the overall best player in the league. He should play SS and bat 3rd in that lineup.
HeavyHittaz also picked up 2018 NL All-Star Ahmad Halimi, who if healthy, should have a monster campaign. But we have yet to see Ahmad put it all together, so let’s see how that works out. They also went out and got the NL Home Run Derby winner Asad Hamdani. Asad is a pure DH at this point of his career, but there are way worse bottom of the lineup hitters in the division.
Overall:
Let me put this lineup out there:
Naveed: hit .600+ multiple years
Kunal: 2017 MVP
Dan: Best Player
Ramy: 2018 MVP
Harpreet: One of the all-time feared hitters
Masoom: Another all-time feared hitter
John Sans: Multiple time all star
Ahmad: NL All star
That is just scary. They also have Craig who is a stud outfielder, Usman who is one of the most winningest players in SASL history, and Ali who won too many rings to count as the pitcher. That is one heck of team. This may be the year they get back to the top.
Off season Grade: A++
As with Empire, HeavyHittaz also get A++. The dramatic influx of talent in this team is overwhelming. They seemed like a team that was ‘too old’. And now they are all of a sudden the ‘IT’ team everyone is talking about.
Prediction:
Our BOLD PREDICTIONS writer had them finish out of the playoffs. After recent events, that just seems laughable. We predict they finish as the number 2 seed and make it to Finals.
