58.4- Casinotes

[chicoruiz]

Just a few quick updates as the Gamblers prepare to take the field in their first spring training game:

-I made a couple of last-minute additions to the squad: P Raul Silva and utility man Choon-mo Im. They’re probably the 26th and 27th men on the roster, but they do have something in common: leadership. This is a quality somewhat lacking in past editions of the Gamblers, and I’m hoping some of their maturity will rub off on the rest of the team. Of course, a leader is only a good thing to have if you like the direction in which they’re leading, but I have confidence in these two. Silva will be the second lefty out of the bullpen, and he could even make a start or two if the need arises (it probably will). Im won’t hit, but he brings positional versatility, a plus for a team that looks like it’s going to carry three first basemen and three catchers.

-I dipped my toe into the international free agent waters this year; something I haven’t had the wherewithal to do in quite a while. Of course, I couldn’t play in the big money sandbox that a few of my fellow GMs could, but I did land a couple of teenagers who could eventually develop into useful parts. Andrei Suciu is a Romanian second baseman who lacks any one big tool to hang his hat on, but grades out okay across the board and has the smarts to maybe raise his ceiling. And OF Saurav Yaksha has a little bit of gap power, a little bit of speed, and a little bit of range. Check back with me in a decade or so to see how that turns out.

-My starting pitching may not be good this season, but it’s at least going to be interesting. It’s my grand experiment: I’m bringing back the exact same rotation that disappointed me in 2057, but with, on paper at least, a much better defense, two catchers with good framing stats, and a better bullpen. Will it make a difference, or will I discover that no matter how much you polish a turd, it’s still a turd? Stay tuned for the answers to that and other questions as the 2058 spring schedule commences!