Shire Conference
Elf Division
While Old Forest has done an amazing job of improving the Merry Fellows, they are still too weak to finish off Minas Tirith this season...especially with the uncertainty hanging around mound ace, Frodo Chubb. Chubb is 42 now and that makes him the 2nd oldest active player in the league. Just how long can the already-elected Hall of Famer keep going?

Meanwhile, the Titans also improved a little bit, possessing one of the strongest pitching squads in the Shire Conference. Makk Areolas, Lanai No-Tooth, and Thoren *Oakenshield Jr. make a strong rotation to hand the ball to last year's Gwaihir Reliever of the Year, Busin of Numenor.

Mirkwood keeps sliding into the abyss of obscurity. The Marauders have serious pitching problems, and there aren't too many bats to accompany Mablung *Veneanar, Aud Stron, and Andrack Hardbottle.

The Royals have literally no one who can throw at the major league level other than Dinodas Banks, leaving them at the bottom of the Elf Division barrel.

StatsLab picked Minas Tirith to finish 17 games ahead of Old Forest. OOTP has the Titans winning by 5.

Division Winner: Minas Tirith Titans

Hobbit Division
The Minas Ithil Wyrms have worked hard to pull themselves up from the bottom. In fact, in our power rankings the team has gone from nearly last to the #6 team in the entire league. Pitching acquisitions from the SFL, like Legend Trader, C.L.R. James and Jelan Tinovorsh, have been put together with homegrown stock and savvy trades to make the Wyrms a contender for the division.

Bywater will not go quietly, however. The Bounders grabbed Irene Ploughman off the free agent market immediately, and they haven't lost much in the way of talent. The big question mark for Bywater is age. The average age of the top 25 players is 29, and that includes fading stars like Glodunter Bromburg, 39, and Celoeodur Spikemangler, 38.

Lake Town's unexpected failure to live up to expectations gives us pause, but our calculations show the Archers once again as a team that should not be ignored in the Hobbit Division race. Lake Town still has a really good starting rotation and some decent, if not great, hitting.

Erebor continues to improve, and one day soon they'll compete. That day is not today.

StatsLab has Bywater winning the division by 9 games over Minas Ithil. OOTP shows a 3 game margin. We're confident in picking Minas Ithil.

Division Winner: Minas Ithil Wyrms

Dwarf Division
It's been nothing but Bucklebury for so long, it has become routine to simply hand the title to the Fairies and move on to the next prediction. Not this year. The Bree Cheese are a young, talented team that (if they stay healthy) should extend their first half dominance from last year to a little bit more this season.
That's not to say that the Fairies have lost much, if anything, in talent. However, both Bree and Moria have stepped up their game to compete in this tough division.

Moria has a great set of bats, especially with Nose Gladriera, Rose Mulhall and Gandeodoc Welk. Their pitching is solid, if unspectacular, and if they can keep away from the injury bug, the Miners will have a shot at the division title.

Carrock continues to rebuild and to show improvement. The Bears are simply not ready to compete with the cream of the league.

StatsLab has Bucklebury winning the division by 10 games over Bree. OOTP shows the Fairies beating Moria by 7 games. We're going to go with the Cheese.

Division Winner: Bree Cheese
Shire Wild Card Winner: Bucklebury Fairies

Mordor Conference
Orc Division
The wild and wooley Orc Division looks to be set for another topsy-turvy season. Misty Mountain is our pick for the #2 team in the league, but the rest of the division is right behind them.

The Hops lead with their bats, especially the one wielded by Buffy *Balrog Slayer, but it is their pitching that the division should note. Vrsorbat the Wretched and David Dap lead a pretty good staff that should keep those bats within striking distance of any game.

Dead Marshes has a great mix of pitching and hitting that should put them right into contention for the division flag. The Uruk-hai are really only missing a pair of great middle infielders in order to be complete.

Grey Havens made some interesting moves in the offseason that netted them a couple of SFL players and some others. The stregth of the Stars team is in the pitching staff, with only Flambard Roper being any great threat in the batter's box.

Dunharrow has tumbled quite a few notches in the overal power ranking, but we have learned never to count out the Devils. They still have Xap Hippogryph and Romana of Gallifrey from last year's SFL buying spree, and a newcomer, James *Monkeyslayer, should provide some spark.

StatsLab shows Grey Havens winning the division by 2 games over Misty Mountain. OOTP has Dead Marshes winning by 9 games over both the Hops and Dunharrow. Our prediction leaves no doubt that Misty Mountain will win.

Division Winner: Misty Mountain Hops

Goblin Division
As usual, Lothlorien is in the driver's seat for this division. Thus it has been for all but one of the last 12 years. We really don't see anything changing that this year. However, the Weathertop acquisition of some new players puts the Witch King team a lot closer than it was last season.

The Lumberjacks don't have much to worry about with their ace pitching, top flight closer and crack hitting. Weathertop has a pretty good mix of the same, but it's still not up to par with Lothlorien.

Meanwhile, Ravenhill has been doing more building, as well, and they are right there with Weathertop. The Darkwings picked up SS Prorbag Spleensmasher and pitcher Hyman Klingerberg to go along with their other pieces, and Ravenhill has a team that could go toe-to-toe with the rest of the division.

Numenor is not really moving up or down. The Kings are pretty much where they were last year...which means they could come out of the shadows to take the division at any time.

StatsLab says Lothlorien will beat Weathertop by 21 games. OOTP says 6 games over Ravenhill. We're sticking with the Lumberjacks.

Division Winner: Lothlorien Lumberjacks
Mordor Conference Wild Card: Weathertop Witch Kings

Troll Division
Last year, Minas Morgul came back to the dominance the Slayers once had over this division, and we don't see any reason for it to be different this year. Minas Morgul goes from strength to strength in all facets of the game.

Isengard may have done enough to keep in the race this year, but it might not be quite enough to win the division. The Raiders have some superstar pitchers and hitters, like Proddo Pieweto and Glomli of Erebor, but not much on the bench.

Dagorlad made a couple of moves in the offseason, but not enough to challenge Minas Morgul The Disaster will give it a good run, though.

Dol Guldur is rebuilding and doesn't expect to compete this year. Next year though...?

StatsLabe shows Minas Morgul winning by 16 games over Isengard. OOTP has it as a bloody 34 game win. We are also picking the Slayers to repeat.

Division Winner: Minas Morgul Slayers

While OOTP did not pick through the playoffs, StatsLab did. They picked Bucklebury and Minas Morgul to take repeat trips to the Return of the King Series, with the Slayers winnin in 5 games.

Shire Conference Winner: Bree Cheese
Mordor Conference Winner: Minas Morgul Slayers

League Champions: Minas Morgul Slayers

2025 Power Rankings
Minas Morgul Slayers
Misty Mountain Hops
Lothlorien Lumberjacks
Bree Cheese
Bucklebury Fairies
Minas Ithil Wyrms
Lake Town Archers
Isengard Raiders
Dead Marshes Uruk-hai
Minas Tirith Titans
Weathertop Witch Kings
Bywater Bounders
Old Forest Merry Fellows
Moria Miners
Erebor Eagles
Grey Havens Stars
Dagorlad Disaster
Carrock Bears
Mirkwood Marauders
Dunharrow Devils
Ravenhill Darkwings
Rivendell Royals
Dol Guldur Dragons
Numenor Kings