2034/4 A Look Back: Paul Backstrom

[nerfHerder]

Paul Backstrom (6/6/8/4/4 Ratings) was originally drafted out of high school by the Tropics in 2018, but failed to sign. Electing to go to College, Paul put up monster numbers for American General University. Big enough to get himself selected by the Huntsville Phantoms in the first round (5) in 2022, five slots higher than the Tropics drafted him four years prior. He never stepped onto the field for the Phantoms, as he was shipped to Hawaii along with outfielder Francisco Flores (6/7/6/6/6 Ratings) and pitcher Mark Watson (5/8/9 Ratings), for mega star John Galt (6/7/3/7/4 Ratings). Those three aquisitions were integral pieces of the Tropic's 2025 Landis Champion team. Backstrom would follow that season with a 43 HR season in a not only a pitcher friendly park, but a pitcher friendly division at that time. Over time, Backstrom became known as an elite bat, at a non power position. With success though, came large salary increases.

Hawaii is a cash strapped franchise at the moment, that's no secret. There is work to be done to re-energize the fan base. Backtrom's huge salary, and declined performance was taking its toll on the franchise. Enter the Charm City Jimmies. An offer of $2M was floated around to , in effect, buy Paul from the Tropics. Knowing that this move would make an already upset fan base even more upset, there was hesitation. In the end, it had to be done. What couldn't be predicted is what Paul has done in Charm City. Through 90 games (340 AB), he has a line of .300/.343/.550 with 23 HR and 55 RBI. No one could have guessed that a career year was in order at the age of 33. Winning helps his morale, but maybe the distractions in Hawaii were proving to be too much. Looking back now, it looks like an ok move for Hawaii, to get out from under that contract. For Charm City it looks like a GM of the year type move. Good to see Paul Backstrom (6/6/8/4/4 Ratings) fighting for a ring again.

[agrudez]

Hey, I remember that guy! Galt had some fun years in HSV, but I definitely seem to have gotten the worse of that deal. A lot of Backstrom's success was attributable to you having the balls to play him at SS (where he, incredibly, did fantastic over his career) whereas I would've relegated him to 2B, though. So, it was better (for him) to have gone to HI as opposed to staying in HSV.

[nerfHerder]

Hey, I remember that guy! Galt had some fun years in HSV, but I definitely seem to have gotten the worse of that deal. A lot of Backstrom's success was attributable to you having the balls to play him at SS (where he, incredibly, did fantastic over his career) whereas I would've relegated him to 2B, though. So, it was better (for him) to have gone to HI as opposed to staying in HSV.

I won't attribute that to balls, rather naivety on my part. It worked out.