Diasappointing Opening Week
Rule 5 Controversy
By Khepri Quraishi, Egypt Today Sports
April 5,, 2048
The Cairo Pharaohs don’t get to play at home until April 8th, opening with five road games at Tripoli and Mumbai. It didn’t go that well. One win and three one-run losses with one game to go at Mumbai.
The opening game was a brilliant slugfest at Tripoli with the Pharaohs prevailing 9-7. Pitching-wise, it was a terrible start of the season for Shea Valance as he gave up seven hits and five runs in four plus innings. On the other hand, Rule 5 Draftee German Evdakov had a wonderful major league debut. He faced just 10 batters in three innings, giving up just one hit, a double, and one run. The hitting stars were Guillermo Ramírez who had three hits and Nacho Méndez who had two hits including a three-run home run. Mendez was named Player of the Game.
The next game at Tripoli was lost in the tenth inning by a 5-4 score. That was followed by two more one-run losses at Three-Peat-champion Mumbai by scores of 5-4 and 3-2. One run losses to Mumbai would normally be considered moral victories, by the Pharaohs were hoping for better.
After one more game in Mumbai, the Pharaohs will return home to Pyramid Park for ten games with Tripoli, Athens, and Bucharest.
Rule Five Controversy
Much ballyhooed relief pitcher Fassil Maundu was placed on the short Injured List for opening day. He was suffering from back tightness and, rather than being shorthanded in the pen for the first week, the Pharaohs chose to put on the IL to ensure a full pen for the opening road trip. Someone in the League Office misinterpreted the Rule Five conditions and processed his return to Jerusalem because he was not on the active roster on Opening Day. General Manager Joe Geoghegan has petitioned UMEBA Headquarters to overturn this obvious misinterpretation of the Rule Five.
Oh, By the Way . . .
The bullpen picture will be looking decidedly better than it did when the first pitch of the year was thrown. The Pharaohs have added two more bullpen arms from the ranks of free agency:
- Lúcio Gómez – Signed a one-year deal for $1.1 million. He pitched very well in AAA in the Phoenix organization last year (2.33 ERA).
- Joaquín Romano – Signed a one-year deal for $1.2 million. He has had 193 relief appearances for Jerusalem over the past three years utilizing an excellent fastball and curve.
Wrap Maundu Up and Send Him Back to Cairo!