There was palpable concern throughout the Mexico City facility at the end of April, as long time star Juan Pablo sat in one of the worst and longest slumps of his career, having posted a .208/.288/.292 slash line with 8 doubles in the first month of the season.
"I think it was very hard for him and I know it was hard for me," said Mexico City GM Fred Holmes, "He's been a cornerstone of our franchise for years and I'm sitting here silently wondering if I need to consider some other options. He's obviously earned the right to self-correct and I assumed he would, but April kept getting longer and longer for all of us."
The man affectionately known to those in the Aztecs organization as JuanPab rewarded the staff's patience by returning to form with a vengeance in May, putting up a .326/.385/.611 line with 6 doubles to go with 7 HRs.
"I knew it was just a matter of me getting back to basics. With all these young guys on the roster, I think for the first time in my career I felt like an elder statesman, I felt old," said Pablo about his April struggles. "Once I got back to doing things my way, to not worrying about what was going on around me, the game slowed back down for me and I started to make good contact again."
As Juan Pablo went, so went the team. In April, the team posted a record of 11-17 and submarined much of the hope that many in the organization had for the season. May, however, proved to be a bit better month as the team went 12-14 and dragged itself out of the basement in a very difficult Heartland division.
Pablo continued, "Hopefully we can all keep building on May and make some noise as the season goes on. I got the kinks worked out in May and I can see this team really growing together and beginning to mesh as a group. We're having alot of fun right now but I would love to see our enjoyment translate into some larger numbers in the W column."
2034.7: Pablo Shakes Slow Start
Moderator: Rubaboo
- Rubaboo
- BBA GM
- Posts: 2183
- Joined: Tue May 27, 2014 9:09 pm
- Location: Chippewa Falls, WI
- Has thanked: 200 times
- Been thanked: 319 times
2034.7: Pablo Shakes Slow Start
Fred Holmes
General Manager
Mexico City Aztecs - BBA
BBA Champs - 2052
JL Champs - 2027, 2052
JL MW Champs - 2022, 2023, 2024, 2027
JL Sun Belt Champs - 2035, 2036, 2038
JL Frontier Champs - 2051, 2052
JL Manager of the Year - 2023, 2024, 2026, 2052
General Manager
Mexico City Aztecs - BBA
BBA Champs - 2052
JL Champs - 2027, 2052
JL MW Champs - 2022, 2023, 2024, 2027
JL Sun Belt Champs - 2035, 2036, 2038
JL Frontier Champs - 2051, 2052
JL Manager of the Year - 2023, 2024, 2026, 2052
- Lane
- GB: Vice Commissioner
- Posts: 6774
- Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2016 8:18 am
- Location: Los Angeles
- Has thanked: 516 times
- Been thanked: 700 times
Re: 2034.7: Pablo Shakes Slow Start
I love seeing careers like this. Would be thrilled if Simpson keeps hitting into his late 30s. No idea if I'll be able to afford to keep him, but I'd still like to see it.
Stephen Lane
Vice Commissioner / Historian
General Manager, Long Beach Surfers
Since 2026
Ex-GM, Amsterdam Neptunes, 2025 EBA Champions
Vice Commissioner / Historian
General Manager, Long Beach Surfers
Since 2026
Ex-GM, Amsterdam Neptunes, 2025 EBA Champions
- recte44
- GB: Commissioner
- Posts: 43001
- Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2010 12:14 pm
- Location: Oconomowoc, WI
- Has thanked: 141 times
- Been thanked: 1608 times
- Contact:
Re: 2034.7: Pablo Shakes Slow Start
Even with his ratings slowly fading, Pablo is a rock. Gotta love it and root for his career to keep on going.
LOVE the one franchise players.
LOVE the one franchise players.
Matt Rectenwald
BBA Commissioner, GM, Las Vegas Hustlers
Milwaukee Choppers (AAA) | Reno Aces (AA) | Pahrump Ranchers (A) | Kingston Legends (SA) | Roswell Aliens (R)
BBA Commissioner, GM, Las Vegas Hustlers
Milwaukee Choppers (AAA) | Reno Aces (AA) | Pahrump Ranchers (A) | Kingston Legends (SA) | Roswell Aliens (R)
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests