2047.12: Sim #24 brings good news! Then bad news. Then pretty good news.

[cheekimonk]

THE Hammer
15 Sep 2047
Jerusalem, Israel
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Sim #24 brought some excellent news for the Hammer's postseason hopes but introduced new obstacles as well. The good news came in Jerusalem going 7-3 while the team they need to catch for a Wild Card, the Baghdad Kings, going 3-7. That fortunate turn puts the Hammers just 1 game behind the Kings. This shapes the rest of September as a dogfight.

Yesterday, however, brought with it ominous news that Rookie of the Year candidate LF Dane Licht was scratched from the lineup with a back injury. Licht has delivered 12 HR and 49 RBI with a slash of .345/.417/.646 and was named Rookie AND Batter of the Month for August. That followed SS Juan Castillo breaking his thumb which will put him out of action for at least 3 weeks. While the former is much more critical than the latter, Jerusalem can't afford to lose solid defenders behind their suspect pitching staff.

But the Sim did see the return of the Hammer's 2nd-leading hitter 3B Rashardo Menne III. Relying on Menne to stay healthy through the playoffs, or even while grocery shopping, comes with low odds, any contribution he can bring to an offense that basically has to outscore the opponent every night. Menne already sports a 3.6 WAR on 34 RBI and 24 SB.

[scottsdale_joe]