VLB Modern Division Preview

2004 Boston Red Sox

Manny Ramirez / Pedro Martinez

Perhaps only a team of self-proclaimed "Idiots" would lack the acumen to understand that a team does not rally from down three-zero in a seven-game post-season series. But ignorance would prove to be bliss for a club that against all odds  finally broke the 86-year Curse of the Bambino to bring Boston it's first Championship since the year Yankee fans once loved to chant: 1918.

With a Caveman roaming in center field, "Manny Being Manny," Schilling being Schilling, Pedro with his Yankee Oedipus complex, Kevin Millar speaking a language of his own, and a bigger-than-life Big Papi, this team certainly doesn't lack for characters. Or talent.

The pairing of Curt Schilling (21-6, 3.26) with Pedro Martinez (16-9, 3.90) gives the Sox a one-two punch atop their rotation to rival any in the league. They feature a similar dynamic duo in the lineup as well, with the oft-perplexing Manny Ramirez (.308, 43, 130) and the clutch DH David Ortiz (.301, 41, 139) manning the heart of the order. Johnny Damon (.304, 20, 94, 123 runs) gets the offense off and running from the leadoff spot. Brittle Boston icon Nomar Garciaparra (.308, 9, 41) remains their shortstop, but this team's emerging leader is catcher Jason Varitek (.296, 18, 73).

They may be a flaky bunch. But nobody should count this team out.  Ever.

2012 San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants from the first years of the previous decade were among the strangest not-quite dynasties in baseball history. Although they won three intermittent World Championships in five years, they weren't really good in the off years, and featured very different rosters for each winner, often relying on a collection of castoffs and temporary fixes to augment a core that would shift over time. This 94-win squad was the winningest and arguably best of the random champs.

Buster Posey / Pablo Sandoval

The one constant for these Giants is catcher Buster Posey (.336, 24, 103) who was the league's Most Valuable Player for 2012. Third baseman Pablo Sandoval (.283, 12, 63) struggles to maintain his weight and consistent performance, but the "Kung Fu Panda" does have a knack for the big moment and is adored by the team's fans. This edition of the team relies heavily on the tainted offensive output of Melky Cabrera (.346, 11, 60), he of a failed PED test.

The pitching staff is in transition from the era of Matt Cain (16-5, 2.79) and Tim Lincecum (10-15, 5.18), to the era of Madison Bumgarner (16-11, 3.37), with help from crafty veterans Ryan Vogelsong (14-9, 3.37) and Barry Zito (15-8, 4.15).

The Giants championships were little miracles for their fans (and puzzles for others). It may take a digital miracle for this team to win a VLB Championship, but it's not wise to count anything out where this inordinately lucky bunch is concerned.

2017 Houston Astros

If a theory of this league is that every division needs a villain, the 2017 Astros are clearly the Darth Vader of Virtual League Baseball. The '86 Mets may have been too intense for their own good at times. The '89 A's had a rotten core of inflated egos and inauthentic talent. But these Astros engaged in a team-wide sign-stealing scheme that used cameras to capture signs, front-office formulas to decode them, and dirty deeds to relay pitch information to batters in real time. This team carries a stink as strong as perhaps only the dirty 1919 Black Sox of Chicago.

George Springer / Carlos Correa / Jose Altuve

Complicit in stealing the 2017 World Championship, though only benefiting from offensive support, the pitching staff features the theoretically authentic performances of Dallas Keuchel (14-5, 2.90), Charlie Morton (14-7, 3.62), and Brad Peacock (13-2, 3.00).

It's anyone's guess how much the sign bandits' offensive output is inflated by their cheating, but there are sure to be pitchers muttering throughout the league at the exploits of Jose Altuve (.346, 24, 81, 32 SB), Carlos Correa (.315, 24, 84), George Springer (.283, 34, 84), Alex Bregman (.284, 19, 71) and the rest of the Houston outlaws. There will be many hoping they will face the justice of falling well short of victory in the upcoming VLB season.

2017 Los Angeles Dodgers

Cody Bellinger / Justin Turner / Yasiel Puig

When the Astros evil deeds were exposed, there were many in Los Angeles agitating for a transfer of the Word Series trophy from Houston to LA. But the only title this worthy squad can possibly hold now is VLB Champion.

These Dodgers, the fifth of seven straight NL West Championship teams (and counting) might be the strongest of their divisional dynasty to date. The arrival of 21-year-old rookie phenom Cody Bellinger (.267, 37, 97) to man first base has a lot to do with that. But he is just one of eight Dodgers with double-digit home run production, including a career-high from mercurial right fielder Yasiel Puig (.263, 28, 74). All-Star shortstop Corey Seager (.295, 22, 77) anchors an infield that also includes team leaders in third baseman Justin Turner (.322, 21, 77) and veteran second baseman Chase Utley.

The Dodgers' time in Los Angeles has been marked by a perennially enviable assemblage of world-class starting pitching, and this team features one of the faces of that franchise tradition, the great Clayton Kershaw (18-4, 2.31). He is supported in the rotation by All-Star Alex Wood (16-3, 2.72), determined veteran Rich Hill (12-8, 3.32), and Japanese import Kenta Maeda (13-6, 4.22). Plus closer Kenley Jansen (1.32, 41 saves, 109 K, 7 BB, 0.746 WHIP) is among the very best in the game.

Perhaps more than any, this Dodgers team was best poised to finally bring Los Angeles its first Championship since Orel Hershiser and Kirk Gibson led them to their improbable 1988 title. They head into this VLB season with a strong appetite for redemption and vengeance.