2/17/2012-Pecos League 2012 Predictions-Who is going to win? Well that depends on who you ask. In independent baseball the manager determines alot in if a team is going to win or lose. They are in control of their rosters, the attitudes of the players and the chemistry of the locker room. These are key ingredients with all sports at all levels. Here are six teams with their scenarios to win and lose and some independent experts of who is going to win the Pecos League this year. It is tough to pick when teams don't have their players signed yet. If teams get real good arms early they will often get gobbled up to higher leagues.

White Sands Pupfish- obvious pick to win the league. They have defending champion Chris Paterson as manager, the leagues best travel and probably the leagues best schedule playing Las Cruces the most times. The league will be tougher this year with no travel teams and much further road trips. Raul Ruiz Alamogordo-"This is our year we have a new coach and a new attitude we will be there in the end" Benny Alamogordo-"We are going to win, we would have won last year but we lost our entire team in July. This year we will hold on in the end. The coach has to be smarter than last year." Pecos League Fan Claudia Castillo says "Where Paterson goes probably has the best chance" Papi Mills says "We could have won last year, we have learned and this is our year I can feel it."

Roswell Invaders-defending champions have some returners coming back including Bryson Bell and Brian Ramirez. Their entire new players are from 954/786 South Florida. These players will have a huge cultural adjustment to make to middle of the New Mexico Desert and the isolation of Roswell. First year manager Simon Walters must learn the pro system and what works and what doesn't work. He is also going to learn his budget limitations in a rookie level league. "We are a city of champions in the Pecos League." says Invaders Fan Mark Hedger "I hate the little green alien and hope to beat them every time I play them" says Justin Lowery manager of Trinidad Triggers. In order for the Invaders to win these South Florida Recruits are going to have to show up, and show up to play. Every team is going to be gunning for them and their lime green alien jerseys every time they square off.

Las Cruces Vaqueros-The Vaqueros have no where to go but up and have a new young eager manager in Casey Dill. "The Vaqueros are the team to win the Pecos League, Casey Dill is getting the exact source of players that Chris Paterson did last year and he will do well and win." says Andrew Starke director of the California Winter League. "We have a new leadership that is going to make a big difference. We are going to be organized from the beginning. The players are going to know what is going on and expectations. As long as Roswell doesn't win I am ok with it. But I like our chances, I do not like Roswell and I hope for the leagues sake they don't make the playoffs." says Miguel Salcedo of the Vaqueros. "Casey is working hard on building a team, we got rid of the powder shirts and we are a new ballclub, I feel like 2011 was a disgrace the way things went, but we are not to be taken lightly."

Alpine Cowboys-The Cowboys are loaded up with guys that have 2-3 years of experience and most of Ruidosos pitchers that went to the Championship Series last year. Ryan Stevens is looking for guys that commit for the entire season and then get picked up in August. He has had two guys sign affliated contracts in the last two weeks. The Cowboys had Roswell beat until Ramirez hit a walk off homer and probably would have won the title. "This is our year" says manager Ryan Stevens.

Santa Fe Fuego-The Fuego are an expansion team in a very liberal city that have by far the longest shot to win the title. They have a first year coach and alot of players with no pro experience but they will learn and progress as the season progresses. If they can get into the playoffs anything can happen. They could use the Carlsbad Bats to get their confidence up.

Trinidad Triggers-The Triggers are an expansion team but you can hardly tell that by their roster and coaches. Justin Lowery took everything but the light fixtures with him from White Sands, including booster club President JD Droddy who is the assistant. They have veterans all up and down their roster and not just Pecos League Veterans they have players from the Can-Am League, NAL and Frontier League plus many of Andy May's top arms. If Lowery can somehow control the ship he could easily be the darkhorse. They will be toughest team to beat at home with brutal travel distance from Southern New Mexico and altitude higher than Ruidoso. "Expect big things from Justin" says Southeast Regional Scout Andrew May. "He has some quality arms that can contribute right away."