Bearly Recognizable - 63.01

[neugey]

"Bearly Recognizable"

That’s the sign recently held up by a bewildered Moscow fan. That gentleman—and many others in attendance—are wondering what happened to their beloved 2062 GBC championship team. With a GBC-worst 19–40 record, the Thunder Bears can’t seem to get back on track. Championship hangovers aren’t unusual, but this feels more like an extended hospital stay after having liters of vodka pumped out of the stomach.

The core of the 2062 Moscow championship team remains mostly intact. Longtime third baseman Ryobe Watanbe now plays in AAA for Portland, so perhaps his absence is being felt in the dugout. But there are also many signs of statistical regression after last year's brilliance. Young powerhouse closer Riyadi Subandrio (1.43 ERA and a GBC-leading 45 saves in 2062) is now getting shelled, posting a 7.17 ERA and 1.97 WHIP. Meanwhile, the aging rotation of Samuel Vankrimpen, Shimpei Ono, and Brick Pollitt has also seen its ERA and pitching metrics balloon in the wrong direction. On the bright side, right fielder Isacco Aglietti has caught fire, hitting .391 with a 1.052 OPS this season.

It’s all a bit baffling, and critics are beginning to question whether new manager Brayden Bonaddio (formerly of Tokyo AAA Port Elizabeth) is cut out for a GBC gig. Former manager Brencis Dashevsky is missed by the club—he left after the championship to pursue his BBA dreams and start as a bench coach with New Orleans.

Instead of opting for a hasty managerial change, ownership decided that a GM shakeup was needed to diagnose what’s gone wrong and get the team back on track. To that end, they brought former London and Edmonton boss Mike Bauer back into the GBC/BBA fold. Some fans worry that Bauer could be a BBA flight risk, but many others feel that any shakeup he can provide at this point will be welcome. There may be significant pressure on Bauer to fire the struggling Bonaddio, but his history suggests he tends to give his staff time to work through challenges.

Was the 2062 Thunder Bears team just a wildcard squad that got hot at the right time and defied the odds to win it all? Or does Moscow still have what it takes to remain a playoff contender in a rapidly improving GBC? Stay tuned to this forum as the story unfolds.

[Dington]

Hey, new guy, make sure you number your TN so you get proper credit.