HIGHLIGHTS OF THE OPENING DAY
by Michael Lee, a Chicago Tribune reporter
It is now official: the 1999 MBBA season is underway. The Black Sox are eight games into the season and find themselves sitting at 5-3, alongside Madison at the top of the Midwest Division in the Johnson League. While it is entirely too early to be overly optimistic or skeptical of a team's worth and chances of playing deep into the playoffs, but some things transpired over the stretch of eight games that has GM Ryan Collins praising and cursing. Here's a look at some of the performers of the stretch:
RESURRECTION SANTOS
Resurrection Santos, unless for the unfortunate case of injury, will more than likely be mentioned in our highlights and top performers on a weekly basis. In the first eight games, Santos hit .297 avg., 3 HRs, 9 RBIs, 2 stolen bases. The kid just never fails to please the city of Chicago and never fails to put in his work. Santos is unrivaled in the MBBA.
ALPHONSO TORRES
Torres hit .300/.417/.533. 2 HRs, 4 RBI's. This is just a slight taste of what Torres is able to do. He was patient at the plate in all 8 games, drawing six total walks. And, as I predicted prior to the open season, with Torres batting second in the order, has six runs scored. This trend will definitely continue for Torres.
GEORGE FAGG
George was piling up the wins. In six games, Fagg has already accumulated a 3-0 record. He has pitched 5.0 innings, holds a 5.40 ERA. If it were not for Fagg, the Black Sox more than likely would have started out with a losing record.
JEFF KIPLINGER
Jeff Kiplinger ruled the mound, what else is new? Unfortunately, Kiplinger has yet to tally his first win of the 1999 season. However, on opening day, Kiplinger pitched 8 shutout innings, no walks, and eleven strikeouts. This was one of the games in which Fagg came away with the win. In his second start, he received his first loss. He went for 7.2 innings, giving up 2 earned runs, one walk, and five strikeouts. Kiplinger currently holds a 1.15 ERA. Kiplinger should be 2-0, but that's the way baseball goes.
TOP NEWS
- Team doctors confirmed today that Washu Hakubi suffered a Latissimus Dorsi Strain and will be out for approximately 2 weeks. Mike Ricci will be filling his shoes until his return, who batted .417, with 1 HR and 1 RBI, 5 hits in 12 ABs.
- Outfielder Sean Bockus signed a one-year contract with the Black Sox today.
- Consequently, Alan "Optimus" Primewas released from the Black Sox. With the signing of Bockus, the Black Sox found themselves above the salary cap and made some moves and released what Collins referred to as "dead weight" in order to get under the salary cap and avoid a penalty. Michael Scott will be moved into a reserve roll in RF, playing behind veteran Sean Bockus.
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