Sticking Points 2054.6: Audition and Experimentation Time

[JimSlade]

With just a couple of weeks left in the 2054 season, Rockville Pikemen manager Denny Dooley is allowing for auditions and experimentation. The September roster is packed with 38 members. "That's more than I usually like to have on the active roster," explained Dooley, "but we've been spinning our wheels for a couple of seasons. We might as well spin into 2055."

Who's going to be back, who's going to leave? Chances are, the team won't extend expiring veterans like third baseman Brian Dixon and pitcher Matt McCartney. Accepting the team option on waiver-pickup closer Mitchell Purssell seems unlikely. Then, there are a number of contributors to the team's recent seasons of wheel-spinning who are arbitration eligible. How much will the team's fortunes be affected by the return of infielders Heng-zong Guan, Daryl Tibbett, and Vasco Fonzarelli or long reliever Sergio Tormes?

"We've got options internally for a number of positions," says GM Jim Slade. "Richard Wright has been a good soldier at AAA all season. Now is the time to see if he can nail down third base." Michael Smith is up for a look-see as a backup catcher. It may be now or never for first basemen Numan Abu al Khayr and Everett Cameron to find a place in Rockville. However, despite the prospect of shortstop Socrates Kazantziakis opting out, the team did not call up fast-rising Ruben Alvarado, the team's first pick in the 2053 draft. "We've pushed Ruben hard and fast enough," said Slade. "We believe Socrates will be back in 2055."

Slade also pointed toward AAA prospects with expiring options who have a chance to make their case for a major league job next season, such as Yoshimatsu Miyauchi, Jon Keys, David Wade. "Some of these kids may not yet be ready for a place in our starting rotation," said Dooley, "but we may be able to break them in and build them up as relievers."

With that, Dooley, who's never had a great rapport with pitchers, hinted at an experiment he plans to conduct with his expanded staff for the final weeks of the season. "We're going to go with a 4-man rotation with each starter on a short pitch count. We're not getting enough quality starts. Maybe it's time we see what we can get out of a more aggressive use of our bullpen."

[Jwalk100]

Just don't inhale.