Cowboys from Hell Preseason 2013

One step at a time. The slow climb back to the top will only happen one step at a time. Last year's 9th place regular season finish tied the Cowboys' highest finish since 2006. Midseason 2012 found the Cowboys selling rather than buying. This year the Cowboys aim to be on the other side. Manager Jeff Varnum feels that his squad is close enough to the playoff picture where that will be his team's reality this year.

From a rotisserie perspective, the 2012 Cowboys from Hell boasted one of the league's best pitching staffs. Lead by the trio of young starters Madison Bumgarner, Chris Sale and Matt Moore, and supported by strikeout kings Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen and David Hernandez, the Cowboys pitchers are looking to repeat as a top tier staff this season.

The big question is how the team's hitting will perform. Sluggers Dayan Viciedo, Ike Davis, and Chris Davis each boasts the ability to hit 30 homeruns. Complimented by steady production from Todd Frazier, Miguel Montero and Davis Freese, this year's hitting will be much more formidable. Add in minor league X-factors Domonic Brown, Leonys Martin and Nolan Arenado and it looks like the team's hitting is on the rise, following the path laid out by the young pitching.

The Cowboys' farm system is fairly well stocked with highly regarded prospects and players almost ready to make an impact. Its hard to get excited about spring training, but Domonic Brown is finally showing signs of life. This season the franchise's #1 prospect is Miami hurler Jose Fernandez. A fast riser from the 2012 FFBL draft class, Fernandez cruised through A and A+ leagues.

This year's draft class is looking fairly promising as well, with many scouts lavishing praise on first round picks Addison Russell and Yasiel Puig, as well as training second baseman Matt Carpenter. Puig is part of the Cowboys' growing presence of International players. Puig, Leonys Martin and Jorge Soler are all players who should be able to contribute at the major league level within a few years.

The preseason typically looks favorably upon the future, but the hope this season feels more palpable. The franchise's goal is to keep creeping up the standings and to finish in the top half of the league this season.