The first half of the 2045 season hasn’t been a strong one for the Baghdad Kings but their GM (in his second season) is starting to find good pieces looking toward the future while realizing an injury-plagued season has brought the team unrest with a difficult 33-54 record.
Making plenty of transactions during the last couple of seasons, the new Baghdad GM decided to make his first trade swapping catchers with Tripoli. Baghdad sent C Takanobu Nishikawa to Tripoli for C Roberto Gil in an attempt to create some cap space while getting a bit younger. Finances are tight due to some big contracts so more moves might be on the way (more on that later)
Baghdad is thankful to have three players in the AS game this year:
RP Vern Kline found his stride in his second season with Baghdad becoming and All-Star with a 4.48 ERA in 70.1 innings.
2B Derrek Kennedy makes a surprise appearance on the All-Star team only playing 8 games with Baghdad this season. Kennedy is averaging a hit per-start notching 2 HR, 2 RBI, and 6 R on the season.
3B Joey Newhouse may be the least surprising of Baghdad’s All-Stars having an amazing season leading UMEBA in runs and stolen bases and leading Burt League 3B in triples, walks, and WPA.
Speaking of Joey, Newhouse’s name has popped up on the trade block which has garnered interest in the three-time All-Star. While Baghdad is looking to lower their spend, a player the caliber of Newhouse's may be a building block toward future success.
The future is bright for the Kings as Baghdad did have seven players selected for the UMEBA All-Star Futures Game led by shining prospect SP Hector Granados. Granados is moving through the Baghdad system quickly and not missing a beat with a record of 3-1 with an ERA of 3.03 in AA this season.
Even with a tough season halfway through, two players how haven’t let a bad record hold them back are SP Sancho Cardona and 1B Raul Hernandez. Cardona, with a 7-3 record, has learned from the previous year’s struggles and is pushing the team to succeed with him by holding a 3.81 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 0.9 WAR in his second season with the club. Hernandez is hitting the cover off the ball with 22 homers, 67 RBI, and .762 OPS however recently fractured his thumb which may derail what may have been another stellar year.
Overall in his second season, the new GM has had struggles and injuries derail hope for the 2045 season. The bright spots however have shone through the dark times. There is hope for these perennial paupers to be Kings of UMEBA yet.
Baghdad Times - Kings of Wishful Thinking (1)
- RonCo
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Re: Baghdad Times - Kings of Wishful Thinking (1)
Hernandez has been a true star in the league so far. If he can stay healthy and stay in the league you have to begin to think he might be one of the early UMEBA Hall of Fame guys.
- Dington
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Re: Baghdad Times - Kings of Wishful Thinking (1)
I don't miss facing Hernandez. Glad to see some writing out of Baghdad. Keep it up!
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Re: Baghdad Times - Kings of Wishful Thinking (1)
So, of course, there are no hall of fame guys for UMEBA yet, since the league is so young.
Once it does get old enough, we will have to figure out whether Hall of Fame is focused on "only" UMEBA years of service, or on both BBA and UMEBA. Both Hernandez and Mitch Dalrymple (on my team) have been great so far in UMEBA but also have background in BBA. Does that count or not?
On the other hand, Mateus Rabisca has ONLY had career in UMEBA. His case might be much stronger due to not having "contaminating" years in BBA.
Thoughts by others?
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Re: Baghdad Times - Kings of Wishful Thinking (1)
I think focused on only UMEBA years of service is the way to look at at but not eliminating any player for some years of service in the BBA. The way the league is currently structured with so many players having crossover between the two leagues it would be very difficult not to take in players with BBA service. The BBA could very well have a few players in the next several seasons with UMEBA time also with the crop of youngsters that are now playing in the UMEBA.
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