Sticking Points 2035.10: Pikemen Offense Far Off Last Year

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Sticking Points 2035.10: Pikemen Offense Far Off Last Year

Post by aaronweiner » Sat Jul 07, 2018 9:04 am

The Rockville Pikemen added two outstanding young players in Manuel Marino and Lorenzo Palacios to their already loaded lineup, replacing batting champ Dusty Rhodes and outfielder Chet Gabriel. As expected, the two players have exceeded their replacements offensively and are two of the best young, dynamic hitters in the BBA right now. So why is the Rockville offense, who finished last year in second place, currently sitting in seventh place in the Johnson League? Answer: Rockville's holdover players are just about, to a man, off last year's pace.

The numbers for Rockville's starters are, almost to a man, down this year. Let's start with catcher Francisco Flores, whose lifetime .334 average before the age of 20 was one of the marvels of the BBA; Flores at the moment is hitting .273, though his power numbers are way up this year. Perennial .300 hitter Mario Guerrer is currently hitting .260 and is on pace for just seven homers; his OPS currently clocks below league average. Chip Puckett isn't anywhere close to the superstar he looked like in September of last year, though he's been good for a shortstop. Finally, Jin-song Xuan, career .317 hitter, is at a respectable .287 on the year.

"We're not sure what the difference has been - maybe there's something in our pre-game meals," said Rockville hitting coach Lettel Rotsch. "Maybe the pressure is getting to them because they're so young, and they're finally expected to be contenders and that's a lot to swallow, but we've been working hard with them to make sure they know that they just have to do their jobs like always."

There is one player who has been a nice surprise this year. Third baseman Cristo Coronado, in a contract year, has been lighting it up to the tune of a .374/.422/.549 slashline in part-time work as the Pikemen try to get Larry Blake more at bats. Perhaps there's something to the veteran aspect that Rotsch was talking about, since Coronado is one of the more veteran of the Pikemen at age 29.

"There's still a lot of pressure to perform. That's not easier because I'm older," laughed Coronado. "The baseball's just the size of a beach ball right now, I don't know."

In addition, the Rockville bench has been significantly off this year as well. Colby Stephens is hitting .203, Santiago Morales .224, and Julio Torror and Logan Inions have been ghastly as backup outfielders. Last year each of them had an WAR above replacement, and this year none of them are.

"You never know what your bench is going to do, but we've had some real problems this year," said manager Chet Gabriel. "We don't know whether to be concerned about our depth but we're not unconcerned."

With so many people off their marks and Rockville still in first place, this sort of thing is likely not a major cause for concern, but it's something to keep an eye on as we go forward in the season. Rockville's pitching staff is holding up their end of the bargain at any rate, and should only get better with the addition of Dan Cannon, so maybe the hitting won't be a big deal.

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Re: Sticking Points 2035.10: Pikemen Offense Far Off Last Y

Post by Ted » Sat Jul 07, 2018 2:50 pm

You'll just run away with it when they all start hitting. OR all your pitchers will get hurt or suck when your bats warm up. One of those things anyway.
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Re: Sticking Points 2035.10: Pikemen Offense Far Off Last Y

Post by aaronweiner » Sat Jul 07, 2018 9:41 pm

Or they don't wake up. But I hope they do.

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