2039.1 New Manager for the Palms

GM: Ben Heuring

Moderator: lordtoffee

User avatar
ae37jr
BBA GM
Posts: 2980
Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2016 1:37 pm
Location: Davenport, FL
Has thanked: 40 times
Been thanked: 645 times

2039.1 New Manager for the Palms

Post by ae37jr » Fri Jun 07, 2019 6:52 pm

Image
New Manager for the Palms
Image

Rick Ward finding out that it's a lot harder to give signs, then to shake them off.

Newly retired Rick Ward will waste no time in starting his next career. The 36 year old former ace pitcher has inked a deal to manager the George Town Palms of the Sunshine League.

Ward is a baseball lifer with an unusual path to stardom. He originated as an 11 year old baseball prodigy for Huntsville High School way back in 2013. He was then signed to a minor league contract with the London Bishops of the now defunct EBA at the age of 14! After 5 seasons of rutterless minor league ball, he left London as a minor league free agent. The Brooklyn Robins signed Ward in December of 2021 as a minor league free agent with a $9,560,000 signing bonus. They then tried to trade him to the Las Vegas Hustlers 10 days later but the deal was voided by the league. Ward went on to stardom in Brooklyn with a Cartwright Cup MVP award and a Landis Title in 2026. Things culminated on May 28th 2029 when Ward hurled a no hitter versus the Birmingham Bandits.

No hitters can be a blessing and a curse. In leaving an ace on the hill well beyond his recommended pitch limit, you run the risk of acuring permanent damage. And that is exactly what happened with Ward. 3 months later he tore his UCL and needed Tommy John Surgery. It would be the first in a long line of debilitating injuries for the Robins captain. He was never the same pitcher again.

Ward would go on to pitch 6 more seasons in the BBA with stops in Yellow Springs, Vancouver and Calgary. Last season he tried to make a comeback with minor league stints in Wichita and Des Moines. And this year he tried out the UMEBA with Istanbul. It is there where the final death blow, a torn rotator cuff, occurred. Istanbul agreed to release Ward so he could finish his career on Brooklyn's 60 Day D... I mean IR.

Rick Ward's leadership and popularity should serve him well as a manager. Scouts consider his personality to be a personable tactician. He favors younger players and likes a pitching and defense first team. He'll be paired up with former Robin Ricardo Guzman and newly signed Nathan Miller, a pitching guru who most notably had long string of success with the Jacksonville organization.

George Town is looking to rebound from back to back sub .500 seasons. Prior to that they made the playoffs 8 out of 9 seasons and won the 2031 Supremacy Series. Despite the fact that Brooklyn uses SS-A as their "B-pile" team and often has prospects with very jagged skillsets, the Palms could have a solid roster in 2039. The trickle down of a fire sale and a very deep draft has the team loaded with young players who will be looking to earn valuable playing time. With Rick Ward at the helm, we are certain these 'spects will get a fair shake.
Alan Ehlers
GM of the Twin Cities River Monster
Image

User avatar
RonCo
GB: JL Frontier Division Director
Posts: 19813
Joined: Sat Nov 14, 2015 10:48 pm
Has thanked: 1982 times
Been thanked: 2901 times

Re: 2039.1 New Manager for the Palms

Post by RonCo » Fri Jun 07, 2019 6:54 pm

Ward was really valuable to us in a major push that, unfortunately, fell just a touch short. It's cool to see him back.
GM: Bikini Krill
Nothing Matters But the Pacific Pennant
Roster

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic

Return to “Brooklyn Robins”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests