2039.4: Next Man Up

GM: Fred Holmes

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2039.4: Next Man Up

Post by Rubaboo » Wed Aug 21, 2019 9:19 am

A successful 6-2 sim has the Aztecs in the driver seat for a playoff berth, as their hot play of late has them in the second wild card slot with a 1.5 game lead on #3 and atop the BBA power rankings.

That's the good news.

Now, for the bad news. Over those 8 games the Aztecs were dropping like flies as the team lost 1B Jose Estrada (broken hand, 3 months), 3B Emilio Leon (concussion, 2-3 months), and CF Dan Flores (oblique strain, 2 weeks) to injury. These injuries poke the Aztecs in a few spots where they're already paper thin. Flores has been playing without a true backup for most of the season, and the Aztecs don't have a ton of appealing options to turn to in the infield.

Aztec GM Fred Holmes was both pained and optimistic in his reaction to the injuries: "Does it hurt? Oh yeah, it's excruciating. Any time you lose a third of your starting lineup during the season it's a tough job to cover. The fact that it's after the deadline and in the midst of a heated playoff run just amplifies the damage. This is where we, as GMs, earn our money though. We have some young guys who are probably going to be thrust into the spotlight and get a trial in about the hottest fire the BBA has to offer here over the last few weeks of the season. Let's just make sure we don't get burned."

Much hubbub has been made about Aztec top prospect Fernando Moreno's being sequestered in AAA, but now may be the time to give him a shot at the big league level. The only question is, where to play him? The team has been playing him in the infield for most of the season, but does he have the defensive chops to play there at the ML level? Scouts pegged him as an outfielder, and that looks like his best landing spot. Will desperation push Mexico City to punt their usually pristine infield defense in favor of keeping the hot streak alive and pushing Vegas for the first wild card?

Another potential move that could prove equally risky - The Aztecs could call upon 2038 1st rounder Marvin Isworth. Isworth has the same problem as Moreno, in that the position he's been playing isn't his projected landing spot in the bigs; he projects as a 2B but only has 62 innings of work there since being drafted. Another complication with Isworth is that he's been on the IL for a month and isn't due to come off until the start of next week. Could the 18 year old be a potential band-aid for the Aztecs and will GM Fred Holmes risk his long term development with a call up at the tender age of 18?

Estrada's position, if not his offensive oomph, is a little less of a headache to fill, as the Aztecs have Silvian Van Noord who has been patiently waiting his turn in AAA. He's produced there, hitting 35 homers each of the last two years, and seems ready at 21. Odds are good he's called up to at least cover some bench work as a pinch hitter but could end up starting some significant games in Mexico City down the stretch.

The 3B spot is an interesting puzzle. Leon going down could open the way for Jerome Delage to return to his natural position. Delage has done an admirable job filling it at 2B this season, but he's looked like he's been playing in knee-deep water at times at the pivot and his discomfort on D has seemingly weighed him down offensively a bit as well. If Delage returns to the hot corner, who fills in at 2B?

How about Feitze Aalbers? The unheralded 2B has been a solid, if unspectacular, player for Mexico City at every minor league level until this season when he struggled a bit after being promoted to AAA. His defense is a bit suspect, and his bat projects as league average at best, but would it make more sense to plug in Aalbers than it would to scoot Faireborn off of SS to make room for a guy like Isworth or Moreno to play a position they're underqualified for? Would this be more palatable than giving innings to the likes of Pablo Delvalle or Sancho Silva, who has played some at 3B?

Questions abound in Mexico City. The bad thing is that none of the answers provide easy solutions without raising more questions. The worse thing is that the Aztecs need to figure it out now, and they need to get it right. Mexico City has, as always, a gauntlet to end September with 20 games in 15 days to end the month. The team will hope that it can pitch well and ride its current hot streak to the finish line. A season's success or failure hangs in the balance over the last 2 weeks of the season and the Aztec front office has some big shoes to fill. No pressure...
Fred Holmes
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Mexico City Aztecs - BBA

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Re: 2039.4: Next Man Up

Post by RonCo » Wed Aug 21, 2019 9:49 am

Interesting time.
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