Playing in the Sand (2040-4)

[Fat Nige]

Regular Season review (pt.1)

Coming off a second straight four games to one loss in the United Cup it was always going to be a hard season for Cairo. There is only so many times you can go to the well and not drink, you have to find that spark that will finally get you that celebration drink.

Despite a good spring camp, the loss of Adrian Young right at the end of it weighed heavy on the Chariot Archers in the opening period of the 2040 season. In fact the whole of the BURT Division seemed to be under the cloud as by the end of the first month both Cairo & Manama led the way but shockingly tied at 12-15, the best in the BURT three below .500? Already we were tied with the worst team in the BANC, Beirut, the other three BANC teams were seven games over .500. On the mound 35-yr-old Tony Caraballo had led the way with a 3-0 record from his five starts (2.17 ERA) followed up by Francisco Quintana who had posted a 3-1 record from his six starts (1.53 ERA), both of them had gotten away with giving up 40 walks between them in 64 IP while only striking out 39 combined. Injuries were mainly limited to DTD ones (five of them) but 2039 All-Star & 3B Platinum Stick winner Felix Arrojo only lasted the first 12 days of the season before an Oblique strain cost him five weeks IL time. Shortstop George Bluth, an August 2039 pickup, lasted just three days before wrist soreness cost him over half of April. Closer & stopper Caleb Benavides got into just 12 games going 0-2 with two blown saves and three saves converted. The batters were led in the first month by 1B Mauro Garcia and the DH Nathan Naylor who both hit 7 homers in 27 games on the month, both driving in over 20 runs too. No-one Cairo tried as an injury replacement 3B really showed anything and projected starting catcher Xie-li Luo only played in 7 games after hitting just .136, backup Bungay Martin took the starters role and hit marginally better (at .215) in his 22 games.

May was scarcely any better, Cairo were at least just over .500 for the month at 14-13, but still two games below .500 overall. Manama had faded a bit but Bagdad had risen to tie the Chariot Archers at 26-28. BANC were still the star teams with bottom side Beirut having a 27-27 record. The starting rotation flipped on itself, Roberto Gomez who had been 1-2 in April with an ERA north of 5 turned that into a 3-1 month with a 2.73 ERA. Adam Coughlin who only managed two starts in April after two weeks DTD (1-0, 8.38 ERA) posted a 3-0 record in May in five starts with an ERA below 4. Caraballo had slumped to an 0-1 record in six starts while Quintana was 0-3 in five starts. Benavides did better, getting into 15 games and picking up another five saves while only blowing the one opportunity. Santiago Rivera was the rock in the bullpen, pitching 17 innings in 11 games whilst allowing just four runs, going 1-0 with a save as well.

Naylor continued to swat the ball to all corners, hitting six more homers, but Aubrey Anderson rose to the cause hitting 8 homers & driving in 20 runs. 2B Barney EverHart (.293) was the only player to hit over .258 in a generally poor offensive month, Curry sat out the entire month with a muscle strain he picked up in the last few days of April. Logan Inions covered Curry adequately in the outfield, having previously played 30 UMEBA games over the last two years for Jerusalem. Luo firmly remained the backup catcher after managing an average of .081 on the month. May was a fairly injury free month though with just three DTD injuries.

[HoosierVic]

That was a tremendous series, though, Nigel. Taking the United Cup this season would have been an upset for the ages - and you came so close! Well done.

[CTBrewCrew]

I got real nervous in game 7 - we gave up 6 runs after 2. 13 in total by both clubs - both our BP settled down the game