"I'm starting to run out of ways to praise this team," said GM Rob McMonigal. It's almost unheard of for a minor league team not named Toledo to have such a consistent record of success. I'm so proud of what manager Angel Cuevas has done down there. We do our best to draft and trade for the best talent to keep this engine going strong, but it's up to Angel and his team to help them realize the potential we've seen in them at the various drafts. I wish I could keep him in that position forever!"
"It sure feels like I've been here forever," said Cuevas. "Ten years? Wow. Feels like more. I am so damned proud of what we've done here, never having a losing season despite the crappy stadium, the crappy facilities, the crappy "city" well, maybe I shouldn't say that. Let's focus on the positives.
"I've seen so many great players come through here, like Carter Cramer, who later left the organization and Emilio Navarro, who is playing in Ohio. I never did let that kid bat. His outfield skills were about as good as mine and I was a catcher! I hear he's at first now. Probably the right call. But I'm getting off track. It's amazing seeing the hard work these kids do, day in and day out. Even the ones you know might not even make it to Cat Island. They try."
They do more than try. The team finished with its second consecutive 46-22 season, 5 games ahead of the wild card team Port Arthur Pythons. Matched up against the Pythons, the Road Runners won in 6 games, moving into the second round, where they dispatched the Monclova Aqua Sox 4-0. But the biggest test was yet to come.
As in past years, the Road Runners faced a giant in the Championship. This time it was the Charlottesville Marching Ants, who stormed every baseball battlefield and finished 59-9. Making their 5th playoff appearance in the past 6 years, the 2059 Champions were ready for a fight with the Nine's Rookie players. But in the end, the Road Runners turned them into road kill, winning in 5 games.
Here are the top players from the 2062 Alamogordo Road Runners:
OF Rodrigo Keeter. 1st round pick in 2062. .404 ave, 9 HR, 18 SB, 1.163 OPS, 224 OPS+, 4.8 WAR
C Arnold Ryan. 6th round pick in 2062. .384 ave, 6 HR, 36 RBI, 1.055 OPS, 197 OPS+, 3.4 WAR
SP Juichi Takahashi, 7th round pick in 2062. Road Runner Triple Crown: 8-2, 2.18 ERA, 78Ks. 3.2 WAR
IF Carlton Ross, 7th round pick in 2061. .248 ave, 15 HR, 38 RBI, .825 OPS, 2.3 WAR
"It was an amazing season and those are amazing players," said McMonigal. We can't wait to see what they do next."
