The Besuboru Journal (08/16/2057) [post-Sim 19]

[R.Umali]

The Tokyo Pearls are back. There are signs all over Tokyo - from the Joe "Sloth" Melucci and Umar Dogar's Funko Pop Figures, to the irritatingly catchy and mercifully short zap pop remix of Everybody Huang Chung Tonight - complete with AI-created and authorized music video, to the Shinkansen train with the weird rendition of the Pearls' famous logo. But nowhere is it more obvious and more important than in the win-loss column: 65-55. The Pearls have overcome a 9-18 start to climb to within 1.5 of the league leading Sydney Sharks.

How was this achieved? Hindsight makes plain the slow and steady month-by-month approach.

Joe "Sloth' Melucchi's arrival in April marked the beginning of the turnaround. He currently leads the league in batting average (.330) and OBP (.413). He's stroked 24 home runs and drove in 77, earning the Batter of the Month award for both May and June. The remarkably slow Melucci even stole the first base of his baseball playing career! But Melucci was only the first piece.

SP Geoffroy Robert, discarded from the Hebrew Hammers at the beginning of May, signed with the Pearls on May 20. He has gone 5-1 in 16 starts with a 3.29 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. He's established himself as a solid #2 behind Umar Dogar.

In June, the Pearls acquired 31 year-old infielder Bodil Sellevold. Released by Buenos Aires in May, the career .247 hitter is slashing above his weight .263 / .338 / .505 in a strong-side platoon. And Sellevold's leadership abilities has certainly helped.

After a few costly missteps - gambling on Francis "Porky" Purssell, currently struggling in Port Elizabeth, naming Seu Park as the closer - Umali has righted the ship, and the conventional Cesar Valdez has managed the on-field action in the right direction.

Attendance is up 16.1% and gate revenue is projected to increase 36% from last year ($9.5m to $13.1m). A good time is guaranteed at Manama Fields. But while the numbers might eek a smile from the reclusive Lyle Cunningham, the Pearls' 70-year old owner, they will hardly begin to cover the cost of even one of these talented acquisitions. And let's call Melucchi, Robert, and Sollevold for what they are: mercenaries.

Or maybe they are just gamblers. Melucchi and Robert gambled on themselves by signing $700k contracts. Sellevold for even less.

And now Sellevold reportedly wants $7m and Roberts $8m. And it is widely expected that Melucchi will test free agency.

So, Tokyo, let's enjoy this run while it lasts. Buy those Funko Pop figures, dance the Huang Cheng, ride the Shinkansen, and get your tickets in advance. They're going to sell out to the end of the season, and hopefully beyond.

[jiminyhopkins]

Glad to see the Pearls on the way back up!

[joshd19]

great writing!

[Trebro]

great writing!

Agree, these have been fun to read!