Wise Kraken 50.2032: Carolina Drops Four of Five

[aaronweiner]

The Carolina Kraken had gone 2-4 in each of the four prior weeks. This week, they played only five games, so they couldn't possibly go 2-4 on the week - so they went 1-4 last week. In what might have been their worst performance of the year, Carolina dropped games to quality teams by embarrassing totals, losing their four games 7-4, 6-3, 14-2, and 6-1 and winning only a single start by Andre Georges.

"I know we were playing first and second place last week, but I feel like we could have done better," said Kraken manager Chet Rouse. "We just didn't look good all week."

It's not as if Carolina's 3.2 runs per game average comes as a big surprise at this point. At this point it might be more surprising if they scored runs. Much of the Kraken core was pathetic last week; Chet Gabriel had one hit, Kharlamov three, Gabriel Delgado 4, Chris Klein 2. That's 10 hits in 57 at bats for the middle of the Kraken order, a .175 batting average. The rest of the team picked them up a little bit, most notably Jorge Vargas, but it's clear that the team as it is currently just isn't working. It's also obvious that the Kraken hitters are pressing, as half of those ten hits were for extra bases.

"We're stuck in a pretty bad rut," said Klein, who has been perhaps the biggest disappointment on the team after being drafted in the first round in 2025. "It's hard to concentrate out there when you have no idea whether or not you have to press, and so you just press every time, and it gets ugly."

More surprising is that the Kraken pitching staff was also horrendous in the last sim. Georges was solid, and Juan Perez turned in a quality start, but Lucas Meech was wrecked, Bill Lewis gave up 12 baserunners in 5.2 innings, and Arthur Dempster was run out after 5.1 innings against Charm City. Carolina's staff ERA of 6.55 was dead last in the BBA last week.

"It was a tough week for everyone," said Kraken reliver Leonardo Gonzalez, whose previously excellent rookie season now looks much worse after being pasted in relief of Dempster. "We're going to keep on keeping on."

The Kraken don't have it much easier this week, as they'll face off against two more above .500 teams. They'll host Atlantic City for three, then go on the road to Brooklyn and take on the surprising 29-21 Robins.

[ae37jr]

Look at the bright side, if your pattern continues then you are due to win game one of the sim.

[aaronweiner]

You're one of two teams I have a winning record against so I feel a sense of forebodings