2054-2

[Knucklehead254]

TWO BLOWN LEADS IN A TOO CLOSE PLAYOFF CHASE
August 19,2054
The first week has passed under new GM Aaron Wharram, and some positive and concerning signs have certain showed themselves. It's no secret that the Sharks offense has been firing on all cylinders this season, as they currently lead the league in Runs scored (626), Home Runs (176), and are top three in Slugging % (.449), Batting Avg (.257) and OPS (.760). In their six games this week, the Sharks scored at least four runs in five games, including a 13-0 drubbing of the Sao Paulo Pilots. This included Top Sydney Player of the week Milojica 'Bugaloo' Kraljevic, who notched 10 hits, 4 HRs and 11 RBIs in his last 22 at-bats (.455 Avg).

As that may be, the Sharks managed to only finish the week with a 3-3 record, and two of those games were due to inept closing. The first came in the August 12th game against the Athens Fighting Centaurs. After Shark's players Harry S. 'Drill King' Stamper III and Dave Davis each scored an RBI, the Sharks were up 8-5 going into the bottom of the ninth. After allowing a first pitch single, You-cheng Hang retired the next two batters he faced and all but assured that the Sharks were going to finish their prey.

Unfortunately, the Sharks decided to stop swimming, as they gave up back to back doubles, causing two runs to score. With the score then 8-7 with a man on base, Arapeta Ebena was brought into to secure the illusive final out. Squaring up Against Athens first basemen Wa'il Ahmed, he gave up the walk off homerun as the Fighting Centaurs took the game 9-8. A few games later with a one run lead into the ninth, the Sharks gave up another two runs to lose to the Pilots 8-7. The team certainly needs to address these issues and some fans are wondering if a deadline move should be made for a late game reliever.

"We could've potentially been in the second playoff spot, we cannot afford to lose critical close games like this," said one fan after the 8-7 loss. "Our offense is too good to lose games like that, maybe we need to make a trade to beef up our bullpen."

Wharram would not comment on rumours of making a trade for a reliever.

WHOS HOT
LF Milojica 'Bugaloo' Kraljevic 10 H, 4 HR, 11 RB1, .455 AVG
RF Joshua Koka 6 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .333 AVG
1B Harry S. 'Drill King' Stamper III 6 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .250 AVG

WHOS COLD
P You-cheng Hang 1.2 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 21.60 ERA, 0-1