"Both those guys just won the Diamond Glove award for their position in their sophomore season in the bigs," said Honus MacWaters, a shift manager at Pope's Pizzeria located a block from South Pacific Field in Sacramento. "My grandpa used to preach about how defense wins ball games. I see big things for the Crusaders with those two on the team."
Jorge Lugo
Lugo, who was acquired via a trade with the Brooklyn Robins organization over the offseason -- a trade that saw California send power hitting third baseman, Luis Lucero in return, exceeded expectations from the Crusader brass on the field and at the plate.
"He did everything we asked and more," said Crusader Manager Alberto Franco. "You throw a Diamond Glove Award on top of his .302/.351/.466 slash-line, and, man, what a hell of a season that young man put together."
Kazuki Saito
Saito, who also came to the Crusader organization via a GM Shoeless trade, this time with the 2041 Landis runner-up Yellow Springs Nine, came out of nowhere to easily walk away with the FL Award.
"Honestly, we knew he was solid for us all season," said Franco. "Our pitchers loved the way he called a game and raved about his pitch framing skills, but no one even whispered around the clubhouse of him winning this award. I'm glad he's on our squad."
Fans of the team will look to Lugo and Saito to lead the charge for the Crusaders in the 2042 campaign. Said MacWaters: "You want more god damn quotes? I have a pizzeria to run here. Either buy something or get the hell out."
