April 17, 2062
by Banjo Jackson
Nashville, TN
Phil Cole spent much of last season battling injuries and when he was healthy enough to pitch, he put up sub-standard numbers. After all, he is one of the greatest pitchers in the game; just ask the handful of GMs disgusted by his trade to Nashville. Fast forward a year and nobody wanted him when he was made available on the trade market, despite Yellow Springs paying half of his salary. Hell, nobody wanted him when he was on the trading block with he Nine. After failing to make a deal this offseason, Cole was given a shot to reclaim a spot in the highly-touted Nashville rotation and he impressed.
Cole didn’t even allow a run until his third game and ended spring with a 2.35 ERA. The successful spring earned Cole the final spot in the rotation, allowing Armando Ortíz to get more reps in Orlando. Ortiz will be the first name up if a pitcher goes down with injury and the Gillstrom runner-up is a wonderful insurance option. Meanwhile, Cole showed up to Nashville with something to prove.
“I have this fire in my belly,” said Cole. “I know what I’m capable of and my results last year were utterly not acceptable. I’ll chalk it up to bad luck, but I want to ride into the sunset on my own terms. I don’t wanna be forced to retire due to injury or lackluster results. I want to be remembered as a great pitcher who went out on top.”
RHP Phil Cole
Once well-known for his endurance and complete games, Cole was one out shy of going the distance in his first start in 2062. Still, he pitched 8.2 IP allowing 6 hits and striking out 4 in route to a 6-1 win against Chicago. Yellow Springs would then come into Nashville a week later and Cole shut down his former team with 6.1 shutout IP, allowing just 3 hits and striking out 7 batters in the 7-0 Bluebirds victory.
With younger options available in the minors, Cole is expected to remain on the chopping block, but it looks like Cole is rebuilding his stock and should garner more interest around the trade deadline.
