The Besuboru Journal (04/08/2057) [post Sim 1]

[R.Umali]

1-6 sim
1-3 @ Jerusalem
0-3 @ Sydney

Our apologies to our readers for not printing the opening day roster for the 2057 Tokyo Pearls before Opening Day. The reason was not because the roster was so awful - Hadji Ufanisi? Who saw that coming, certainly not Ufanisi himself, who promptly retired! - but one might think so given the result of the first Sim.

The Pearls went 1-6 in GM Renato Umali and manager Cesar Valdez's debut. They own a league worst run differential of -28 in just 7 games. They've committed 6 errors. SP1 Umar Dogar has made it out of the 3rd inning in both of his starts, and has given up 12 earned runs in 4 2/3 innings.

We here at the Journal harbored optimism during Spring Training. Umali and Valdez fielded a decidedly small spring training roster. Their performance told us that maybe they've built something solid. But once the games started to matter last week, the structure crumbled like the Great Tsunami Wall of old.

The Jerusalem Hebrew Hammers ambushed Dogar to the tune of 7 earned runs in 2 1/3 innings. Their ace, Azful Chishti, came correct and held up his part of the bargain in what was supposed to be a pitcher's duel. The Pearls managed only 1 hit off him.

The next game featured surprise SP2 Jayin Ranjani. Wasn't this supposed to Huang Cheng? Ranjani versus Husam al Din went worst than you would expect, a 12-2 drubbing.

Naruhiko Kawano was responsible for our first win, a 9-4 affair that we almost gave away. The celebration that followed in the visitor's clubhouse was unseemly.

In our first game against the Sydney Sharks, Seu Park made his return to the GBC after a four year absence, his debut as our closer. He promptly failed the test, turning a 1-run lead into a 1-run loss by virtue of a wild pitch with 2 out in the 9th against the Sydney Sharks.

Are there any positives as look toward Sim 2? Cheng made good on his first start in a loss to the Hammers. He submitted a quality start in a 3-1 loss. Former 1st rounder Callum McKay is hitting, as is Roberto Puente and catcher Cris Cordero. Another good thing is that the aforementioned surprise call-up Hadji Ufanisi, has retired. His career GBC stats? 3 games, 4 ABs as a pinch hitter and defensive replacement, zero hits, 1 strikeout. Who will take Ufanisi's place is anybody's guess.

STATS of NOTE

SP Umar Dogar: 2 starts, 4 2/3 IP, 14 HA, 12 ER, 2 HR, 3 BB, 5 K, 23.14 ERA, 3.64
C Chris Cordero: 20 AB, 7 H, 6 RBI, .350 AVG, .881 OPS // Cordero accounts for batting in over 20% of our runs!