2045 Issue 6 Mumbai Mirror

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RichY
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2045 Issue 6 Mumbai Mirror

Post by RichY » Thu Dec 31, 2020 12:04 pm

STARS MID SEASON REPORT by Vihaan Dara Metro Stars beat writer
The season is just past the halfway point and a lot has happened; a new GM, plenty of roster turn over, a bit of a June swoon and a loaded amateur draft to name a few. Let's take a deeper look at where the team is at and a peek at what's ahead.

Offensively the Stars have struggled to put up runs and are last in the Bancroft in that category. The team has four players producing well while the rest of the lineup has been subpar. The MVP so far would have to go to Sancho Castillo who's been stellar since coming over from the BBA two seasons ago. He's posted a 147 wRC+ this year in 81 games. Combine that with his defensive value and you get a hefty 3.9 WAR total and counting. Twenty nine year old rookie Carlos Reyes has had an interesting journey on the way to Mumbai and a starting job as the Stars first baseman. One that deserves it's own write up but since being signed on a minor league contract and promoted to the majors, Reyes has been good for 3.1 WAR and a 152 wRC+. He can also capably fill in at third base when Castillo needs a rest. BBA veteran Andy Seekins was another minor league signing after being released by the Calgary Pioneers and has fit comfortably into the DH slot slashing .302/.381./.541 in 159 at bats. Dirt dog Dan Jackson has played well since his early season IL stint with a thumb injury. The speedy second basemen has posted a .378 OBP on a team that is dead last in that category.

On the down side, veteran slugger Frank Mahaffey has had a disappointing first half. The soon to be 34 year old left fielder has posted a 93 wRC+ with his slugging percentage dropping from .557 last year to .444 in this year. He struggled in 2044 against lefties and this year he has been dismal against them slashing .180/.246/.260 albeit in only 57 plate appearances. His numbers against righties are also down and you have to wonder if this is a sign of the aging curve being sharper rather than gradual for Mahaffey. Backstop Dan Clapper has also had his production dip a bit from last year going from a 90 wRC+ to 78 this year. Clapper is a reliable receiver and his offense is more icing than cake but a stronger second half would help the offense. Veteran Hotha Poppo was brought over in a trade to help provide an offensive boost when Clapper needs a spell.

And then there's the kids. Defensive whiz Matthew Hewat has a solid bat to ball skill with some gap power but it is yet to show up in the bigs. At only 19, nobody expects Hewat to come out guns blazing and he is already very valuable on defense. 20 year old Gabriel Nava figures to get some at bats at short as well to show what he can do. Another 20 year old, right fielder Keiran Philby was recently called up and he will be given the lion's share of at bats against righties. He too has struggled so far and his defense isn't enough to carry him but he will given a long leash as the team believes in his bat. Center fielder Baden Goulding has had two progressively worse seasons after an impressive rookie campaign. His wRC+ has dipped from 105 to 91 last year to a paltry 65 this year. His strike out and walk rates are pretty consistent but his ISO is half of what it was in his rookie season. The organization is still high on him at only 23 years old and believe the power will return but veteran Pedro Navarro was recently brought in to take over against righties for the time being. Manager Gula Afiba recently discussed the young players struggles saying ”these guys flew through the system and experienced nothing but success but an important part of development is how to handle the inevitable struggles that come with being a professional ballplayer. They will have to learn that at this level and hopefully they will take note of how the veterans handle themselves whether they are going good or not. Time is on their side and eventually their talent will show through.”

Average. Plain old boring average. That is exactly what the starting rotation has been but that's all right as far as the organization is concerned. No single performer has been much better than average or much worse. Manual Pena and Maxim Makin have histories of being good in the UMEBA and both have had their production dip this year as they enter their mid thirties and both have had injuries in the first half. However this was expected and the team hoped to get 100-140 innings of solid pitching out of each of them and they are on pace to do that. BBA refugees Donald Harris and Stephen Clulow have also performed to expectation and have been...say it with me, league average. The one starter with the ability to break out is Ronald Eglinton but he's taken a step back this year. He's only 20 though and the team is bullish on his future and his production this year has still been about...well you know.

The bullpen on the other hand has shined as a unit. Knox Sked has been great with an ERA+ of 261 as he's just about to celebrate his nineteenth birthday. Two free agents signings from the BBA, Vincente Ventura and Oginga Coujoe have also been very good (161 and 216 ER+ respectively) and both are until team control through next season. Coujoe has a cheap team option which will almost assuredly be picked up and Ventura has a vesting option that has already been met. The Julio's (Silva and Barajas) have also been good. In addition rookies Jerry Grenfell and Damon Odgers have kept pace with the vets posting 130 and 230 ERA+ numbers respectively.

Defensively, the Stars have been solid coming in second in zone rating and efficiency. The standouts are Mathew Hewat, Sancho Castillo, Carlos Reyes and Dan Clapper. Strong infield defense combined with a lot of ground ball pitchers help make the Stars run prevention the second best in the Bancroft.

As of this writing the Stars sit at 48-39, six games back of Bucharest and eight games ahead of the Centaurs for the wildcard. Catching Bucharest seems highly unlikely as the Stars just simply aren't as good the Impalers. Moreover the Centaurs have played much better after a slow start. The thing that has caused some concern among the people I have talked to in the organization is the remaining schedule. The Stars play 49 games against the big three of Bucharest, Beirut and Manama. That's a bit of a tough row to hoe and the pitching is going to have to stay relatively healthy and the offense will need to improve or there may be some drama yet in the wildcard race.
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allenciox
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Re: 2045 Issue 6 Mumbai Mirror

Post by allenciox » Mon Jan 04, 2021 8:47 am

Hewatt is going to be something else. My mouth waters just looking at him.

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