2056.3: Wake Me Up When September Ends

[Rubaboo]

2056 was supposed to be a downturn year for the Aztecs. The pundits predicted in the preseason that the team would start to show its age and would flounder a bit, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2048. Instead, the Aztecs chugged ahead much as they've done for much of the last decade, posting win percentages of .629, .724, and .629 in April, May, and June respectively. Coming out of the All Star Break, the Aztecs looked a bit clunky and went .500 in July before bouncing back a bit in August to the tune of .571. A quiet deadline showed confidence in the roster despite a couple of injuries and the team headed into September ready to battle with chief rival Rocky Mountain for the Frontier division title.

That battle, however, never truly occurred. The Aztecs fell down the stairs while sleepwalking through most of September, coughing up a division lead and posting an 8-17 record for the month, ceding the division to the Oysters and falling in danger of losing a hold on one of the JL Wildcard spots thanks to a ten game losing streak to start the month. The vets in Mexico City managed to right the ship a bit and stabilize before disaster truly struck and claimed the second wild card, earning home field advantage for the Geoghegan round of the playoffs.

My personal gripes with the monthly variance in OOTP aside, this was a wild month. I watched in horror as the Ls kept piling up, wondering if not going harder at the deadline was going to cost me. I scrambled to try to find an answer to Fernando Moreno's injury, settling on panic signing John Hopkins, only to miss the export for the sim after I signed him so he only ended up getting a grand total of 11 ABs over 4 games. Whoops. I despaired watching the stupid Oysters run away to the line after I fell down before the finish. I still underestimate how this league can put me through the wringer sometimes. What a month, I hope I never have another one like it.

[trmmilwwi]

The last two years the Outlaws have had horrible starts, hovering about .400 through the first 3 months, then go on a winning streak the final 3 months, playing about .600 ball. Overall that leaves us at .500 but I know what you mean about monthly variances.

[RonCo]

Tell me about underestimating wringers.