"You can't win them all if you don't win the first one" commented GM Chris Wilson while smoking a cigar and drinking bourbon after the win in Vancouver.
Of course the excitement came to an end over the next two days as Portland dropped the next two in Vancouver, giving the Mounties the series. But the Lumberjacks bounced back, taking 2 of 3 from defending division champion Long Beach at home to salvage a solid 3-3 sim. "We'll take it" added in Kate Fiscus. "We'd honestly take those sims all year if you ask me."
Hitter of the Sim
CF Miguel Cortez
The team is hoping Cortez rebounds in 2046 and are pleased with the first sim. Cortez hit .438/.526/.688 in the 5 games he played. Those totals included a homerun and a team high 8 RBI, which came while batting in the number 9 spot in the order. Known primarily for his glove, Cortez fell on hard times last season, posting a -1.4 WAR. This was a huge blow for a guy who had posted a total of 6.0 WAR in his previous 3 seasons in Portland. His best game that sim was in the 7-5 loss to Vancouver when he went 3-3 at the plate with a walk, homerun, and 4 runs batted in.
RP Faical Engeitado
If the first sim is an indication, getting a gauge on the top pitcher each sim will be interesting as the club looks to use a hybrid approach this season with openers and followers and relievers getting innings galore. The club used all 12 pitchers in the first sim with usage ranging from 1.0 to 9.1 innings. And the 9.1 came from a guy making a pair of relief appearances as a follower. Of course none of that describes Engeitado. Faical, in case you forgot, used to be the Lumberjacks starting OF at one point. It now appears the team will use him as a reliever only. Perhaps a good call, at least according to the first sim. Faical pitched 5.2 innings over the course of 4 relief appearances, posting a perfect 0.00 ERA and 0.53 WHIP that was the result of just 3 hits allowed. He struck out 5 for the sim with 3 of those coming in the opening day win against Vancouver.
The Kate's Kookies Highlight of the Sim
Opening Day Win in Vancouver combined with winning the home opener against Long Beach!