The Brewster

Open Roster Slot Engages Pineda Passions

The Yellow Springs medical staff has diagnosed Timofei Bakitski’s injury as a strained forearm, with a prognosis that would put him on the shelf until late October. The team has placed him on the 60-day Injury List. This essentially puts an end to the popular Russian’s season, though technically if the Nine were still playing baseball in late October, he might be able to contribute.

“Like that’s going to happen,” said Benji McAulley, a bot mechanic at Freddie’s Repair Center. “The Nine haven’t played a game that late since before my kid was born.”

Regardless, the injury comes at a time when the right hander was in the midst of what is arguably his career season. He’d appeared in 42 games, throwing 69 innings while posting a 3-2 record with a 1.97 ERA. He had teamed with Curt Phillips to split the closer role, and had registered 15 saves in the process. His K-Rate has been a solid 7.5/9, but his control improved to a remarkable 2.4 BB/9 and his home run prevention was stellar .8 HR/9.

“It’s a shame,” said manager Bill Inkster. “Timo (who was acquired in trade from the Portland expansion ball club) came to the team with his mind really focused, and it showed.” He was included in the All-Star game this season, his third such acknowledgement.

Regardless of whether he makes it back for any post season play, he holds a $10M option for 2041 so his future with the team is in his hands. If he can come back in the same form he left in, the team would be happy to pay it.


FANS WANT PINEDA

News of the injury resulted in the immediate flooding of conversation on the team’s most fervent social media sources, noting that the club now has a roster spot open for a pitcher, and that the team’s top prospect happens to be 20-year-old Carlos Pineda, a pitcher who is “ready,” and who has posted an 8-3 record in AAA with a 2.89 ERA. Given that the club set him down last week, he’s also rested. Of note, however, is Pineda’s workload—which has been monitored closely. He’s thrown 106 innings to date, and news of Don Smith’s injury has admittedly cast a net of concern on the conversation.

Ultimately, the team has several options at hand, including calling up one of a few solid relief prospects (Sergio Perez seems a logical choice, though there are others). But the conversation at hand seems focused on sending Freddy Delgado to the bullpen, where he could eat some of Bakitski’s innings, and sliding Pineda into the starting rotation.

“We’ve got a little time to think it through,” said GM Ron Collins. “We’ll get our baseball people together later tonight and do whatever we think is right for the team.

The Nine have won six straight games, and are 17-4 in August. Their 69-34 record puts them 12 games over Louisville for the Heartland Division with 59 left to play.

Maybe you should acquire another Portland reliever. I bet we’d part ways with Ortega pretty easily.

Don't fall for it - Wilson has something up his sleeve! Some Master Plan™ trickery, no doubt.

Trickery _IS_ Portland's master plan.

Fellas, I'm hurt. Can't believe you think we'd be running any shenanigans out here in Portland.

More time to drink his own products