April 1, 2050: Yellow Springs – The date is real, but there’s no joking around this year. After a half-decade of serving as the team’s Bench Coach, Hall of Famer Lucas McNeill is making his long-awaited debut as manager of the team. “I’m ready,” McNeill said. “I want to win.”
Some were openly questioning the sanity of such an act, noting the McNeill—who has a lifelong association with the franchise—has too much experience with losing baseball played in October. “We’ve already proven we can lose with him on the field, and on the bench,” said Gym Kallered, a fry-cook at Kit’s Laundry and Lunch. What more indication do you need?”
Apparently more.
McNeill has made his choices, though, and the club is heading back north to host the sludgy Louisville Sluggers in his opening series. (“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” McNeill said). As befitting the “next man up” feel through the organization, the team has a similar feel as the one that won 104 games last year (and of course got dumped in the first round of the playoffs).
The two true additions are starting pitcher Edgardo Mota and reliever Phillipe Dumont.
Mota’s arrival is likely to send either Loan Duval or Jerry Bourque to the bullpen. There were some who thought the right hander would be sent to the minors for at least another half season, but McNeill liked what he saw.
Dumont’s arrival was not a particular surprise, foreshadowed by the loss of Damien Taylor to the waiver wire. He’ll join Derrick Chaney, Roberto Ramirez, Byron Ratcliffe, and Slawomir Trzcinski (et al) to once again create one of the stronger bullpens in the league.
The offensive end of the table saw McNeill opt to keep slap-hitting catcher Ziad Abdul-Samad on as a RH DH. This was a bit of a surprise because of the presence of switch-hitting Sazui Kawashima. Kawashima continues to be considerably under-rated, and the roster construction as it enters opening day seems like it would benefit from an additional middle infielder. We won’t be surprised if Abdul-Samad is eventually returned to Indy in favor of utility man Evan Walburn.
Regardless, excitement levels are up, and the team is in good spirits.
“It’s April,” McNeill quipped. “Maybe we’ll win a little.”