Notice that these signs correspond to more muted, cooler colors as opposed to the brighter, flashier ones of the air signs. I wonder if that has anything to do with the personal qualities of the players represented on these particular lineups. Although these three teams are grouped around the middle of the pack in terms of total points, this bracket includes both MVPs and both Cy Young Award winners from 2011.
CANCER CRABS
Obviously a big frontline starter in CC Sabathia, and a solid SP2 in former "Big Three" member Tim Hudson. Although he's hardly the MVP candidate he once was, Derek Jeter probably has the most pure star power of anyone on this team (or of anyone in Baseball, for that matter). The offense is led by a pair of infielders from the NL Central: Aramis Ramirez (late of the Cubs, newly to the Brewers) and Brandon Phillips, the Cincinnati Cardinal-Hater - both of whom lead the bracket at their respective positions. The team's next highest offensive point-scorer is second on the depth chart at 2B: Howie Kendrick. My current version of the lineup has him playing his secondary position, 1B, which pushes Adam Lind to the bench. The Cancer team has two All-Star caliber catchers in Yadier Molina and Miguel Montero, who occupy the C and DH positions respectively.
The rest of this team is marked with inconsistency. The rotation includes comeback whiz-kid Ryan Vogelsong and mostly-retired workhorse Javier Vazquez: one unproven, the other imminently on his way out. Their 5th starter (best among all 5th starters in the bracket) is one Jaime Garcia, who shares the same birthday and date with your humble narrator. Look out for this rotation in a couple years when Stephen Strasburg joins the pack full time. The corner outfield is made up of aging veteran Torii Hunter and injury prone slugger Nelson Cruz - Shin-Soo Choo would have been in this mix as well, were it not for his own injury-plagued 2011 season. The bullpen is full of young stars on the rise: current closers Sergio Santos and Chris Perez, future closer Jim Johnson, and don't-call-me-a-closer Jason Motte.
SCORPIO SCORPIONS
I was trying to think of a better word than "fearsome" to describe a lineup that includes (contested, drug-using) NL MVP Ryan Braun, Ryan Howard, David Ortiz, and Mike Napoli - but I think fearsome pretty much says it all. And the offense doesn't even stop there: Scorpio also has speedy leadoff man Coco Crisp, breakout All-Star Asdrubal Cabrera, and powerhouse in waiting Mike Stanton. And how about Nick Markakis and Johnny Damon as your 4th and 5th outfielders? Almost makes you forget Martin Prado and Marco Scutaro playing their secondary positions of 3B and 2B respectively. But if any of the infielders falter, there's Yunel Escobar and Darwin Barney with some solid defense in the wings.
On the mound, they've got a pair of All-Star lefty starters in C.J. Wilson and Ricky Romero. But after those two, it's pray for rain... and for big leads. Matt Garza is a decent SP3, but R.A. Dickey and Mike Leake are both worst in the bracket by a pretty wide margin. The bullpen features two 2011 Rookie closers from SoCal teams: Jordan Walden and Javy Guerra. They're not the only two 2011 Rookies in the bullpen grouped together geographically: setup men Greg Holland and (All-Star) Aaron Crow both pitch for Kansas City. It's a good thing Joe Nathan is in there to give some guidance to all the youngsters.
PISCES FISH
As fearsome as the Scorpio lineup may have been, nothing compares to the Pisces pitching staff. They somehow have both the 2011 Cy Young Award winners in the top two spots of their rotation: Justin Verlander (also the MVP) for the AL and Clayton Kershaw for the NL... and what's more, they come at hitters from different sides of the mound! And that's not all: the rest of their rotation - Yovani Gallardo, Daniel Hudson, and Anibal Sanchez - are all No. 2 starters for their respective teams. Star closer J.J. Putz leads a bullpen that includes newly-converted closer Brandon League, Brian Wilson (watch out for him when his health/beard returns), and Jonny Venters, perhaps the best lefty setup man in the game right now. Of the whole pitching staff, only Sanchez does not lead the bracket: he's second to that dude from the Cardinals who shares my birthday.
The offense is short on potent weapons at the plate: Curtis Granderson would be awesome to have if he was guaranteed to repeat his breakout 2011. Brian McCann is one of the best catchers in the game right now and Paul Konerko is always solid at 1B. Across the diamond, Kevin Youkilis can mash and take walks if only he could stay healthy. Dan Uggla has some power at 2B, and he could be looking at a move to DH in the near future when Dustin Ackley comes into his own. Right now I have primary DH Bobby Abreu playing in LF with No. 2 2B Kelly Johnson occupying the DH spot. Stephen Drew and Denard Span would round out the lineup in a perfect world, but due to their injury-riddled seasons, Clint Barmes and Jon Jay are the highest point-scorers at SS and RF respectively.
COMING UP: Take a look at some of the most incendiary players in baseball with a look inside the Fire Bracket!
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