January 27, 2060
by Banjo Jackson
Nashville, TN
After a couple weeks in the development lab, let's check on the progress.
1. CF Crissy Tingle was off to a scorching start in 2059 before being injured and missing 8 weeks. The team wants to ensure he is on the field as much as possible, so Tingle will be working on his strength and conditioning. Through the first week, Tingle appears to be still working off the rust from his prior injury and isn’t looking like he’s any stronger. Status: Frustrated
2. RF Alfonso Gonzáles is one of the league’s most electric young players and the scariest thing is scouts believe he has room to get better. The team is sending him to the cages to see if he can track pitches better to improve his discipline at the plate. The goal is for him to wait for better pitches to hit and draw more walks where his speed on the basepaths is a weapon. Status: Struggling
3. LHP David Molina is arguably the most dominant pitcher in the BBA….when he’s healthy. Unfortunately, Molina has missed about as much time as he’s played. The team is working on restoring Molina’s health by injecting him with PRPs and sleeping 8 hours in a hyperbolic chamber. Status: Frustrated v
4. 3B Jorge Canó is a former #1 prospect who has not disappointed in his time in Nashville. While he isn’t much of a contact hitter, he has enormous power and when he makes contact, the ball travels a far distance. Instead of improving hi scontact skills, however, the team thinks Cano will be better off just choosing pitches better, so he is working on his plate discipline to weed out bad pitches and wait for a ball he can demolish. Status: Frustrated
5. SS Luke Cage is a highly coveted prospect the Bluebirds received in a trade at the 2058 trade deadline. He is still very raw and he struggled in Single A last season, but the team hopes he can become an on-base machine. He possesses great bat to ball skills, but the team hopes he can draw more walks to increase his OBP. The Bluebirds are working on Cage being less of a free swinger and taking more pitches. Status: Frustrated
6. C Michael ‘Shotgun’ Cantu was drafted for his defense. Let’s not think otherwise. But since he will still be in the lineup, the team figures he can at least wear out the opposing pitcher a little bit, so they are working on having Cantu take more pitches. They would rather have him take three strikes down the middles of the plate than hit a weak grounder on the first pitch. Status: On track ^
7. RHP Bin-ying ‘Bye Bye’ Yen has very good movement on his pitches with decent control. His biggest problem is he only throws in the low-90s. The thinking is Yen can work on improving his velocity and his 5 pitches will all benefit. Status: Excelling
8. RHP Javier ‘Pops’ Basanta is another candidate for improving velocity. He is a well-rounded pitcher throwing 92-94 MPH and pitched really well in Single A. The Bluebirds hope increased velocity will make his five pitch arsenal more lethal and he can jump into the upper minors. Status: Excelling
9. CF Zee-loo Tsao, acquired in the bin Nawaf trade, is the current #1 overall prospect, but severely under-developed. He’s a five tool player still trying to figure out any of his tools. The Bluebirds figured improving his plate discipline might be easier than developing more power and want to see some progress of any kind. Truth is, Tsao needs to improve all his tools this season or he may be deemed a bust. Status: Frustrated v
10. CF Carter ‘Fortnite’ Cramer was another piece acquired in the bin Nawaf trade. He has found far more success in the minor leagues than his partner in crime, Zee-loo Tsao. However, Nashville wants to see him become an absolute power threat in CF and has the youngster working on generating more bat speed. Status: Frustrated
Oh God, maybe Molina was using PEDs because he seems to be deteriorating. He was unable to get out of bed to get to the training room this week complaining of aches and sores. Not good news. However, on the bright side, Cantu seems to be more patient at the plate and the hope is, while he may not hit, he can wear down the opposing team's pitching staff. Tsao continues to prove he cannot develop and will have an appointment with an optometrist this week.
