New Kids on the Block, Part One: Houston gamblers

HISTORY: mdz2221965 is just the 3rd owner in the proud history of this AL South franchise. In fact, the team has never left Texas, playing two years in Arlington before moving to Houston in Season 3. mdz takes over from rudedogg, a 9-year owner that made playoff trips in 5 straight seasons, including a World Series Appearance in Season 4.

The dog however fell on hard times after he was connected to a gambling operation with links to Michael Vick's former Bad Newz Kennels. Suddenly the Houston community didn't feel safe at Heavy Hitter games, and the dogs ridden by monkeys race promotion caused quite a stir. Rather than try to re-hab the team's image, dog sold to mdz who made his fortune franchising Kenny Rogers Roasters restaurants throughout the greater Houston area. His only non-Texas location briefly opened in New York, but closed shortly thereafter due to neighbor complaints.

OUTLOOK: All 555 of Banjo White's HR's have come for the franchise and he teams with Charles Dong to form a bopping duo. Willis Gordon remains one of Second City's greatest closers, but only 1 of last year's starter won 10 games (Adrian Smith with 11). The rotation looks to struggle again and will likely keep the Gamblers from slugging their way to a division title with a big spending Monterrey the pre-season favorite.

NAME: Many believe that the moniker pays homage to the defunct USFL Franchise by the same name. However, mdz is actually paying tribute to his all-time favorite performer - Kenny Rogers. Rogers was in fact hired as the official mascot of the USFL Houston Gamblers and was slated to perform during every half-time. He pulled out however after a dispute about locating a Roasters franchise near the stadium. mdz was of course to be the manager of said franchise. And now you know, the rest of the story.

New Kids on the Block, Part One: Tacoma Truckers

The History: tmfran is the 8th owner is this troubled franchise's 11 years. That's the bad news. The good news is that he comes in on the heels of the relative stability of cincyredlegs ownership. redlegs had the team for three years, moving it back to Cincinnatti for the 3rd time and Ohio for the 4th time. The Truckers are now in Tacoma which should shorten what was a frightening travel schedule in a division that also contains Vancouver, Ottawa, and Kansas City.

The Outlook: While in the Cininnatti the team was briefly beloved after consecutive playoff trips in seasons 8 and 9. However, last year's team struggled badly, producing the worst record in franchise history (55-107).

Season 10 saw the team score nearly 200 fewer runs than the previous year after Gerald Pong left for Texas. The pitching staff crumbled even worse with the ERA balooning from 4.90 to 8.33. Young, athletic stars like Manny Corey, Roosevelt Gilkey, Mateo Figureoa, and href="http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=804376" target="_blank">Jim Hughes will be counted on to provide offense, speed, and defense. But, can pitching coach Tim Fischer turn around a staff that struggled so mightily last season?

The Name: In steps tmfran, raised in Japan by a secret samuri society, the wonderkund left the secret, ancient arts for business. He became an acclaimed engineer and designed the Toyota Tacoma, Motor Trend's 2005 Truck of the Year. After an ugly departure from Toyota following a obscenity laced argument with Toyota CEO Katsuaki Watanabe in 2007 at a kereoke bar (they couldn't agree on the lyrics to Men At Work's, Man Down Under), tmfran headed for the Great Northwest. He settled in Washington State and became an avid fly fisherman. Two years of fishing found him itching to get back to work and he decided a baseball team is just what the Pacific Northwest needed. Naming the team the Tacoma Truckers is one last jab his bitter rival, Wantanbe.