Sticking Points 2057.3: Audition Season

[JimSlade]

After wrapping up May and the first few days of June on a nightmare 1-12 slide, the Rockville Pikemen hit a respectable 3-3 run. The return to mediocrity included a rare 2-0 shutout over the Jacksonville Hurricanes by Nasir al Din bin Sahir and his relief corps and a more typical 10-7 shootout over the Rocky Mountain Oysters. While diehard Pikemen fans searched for rays of hope in the signing the team's top picks in the 2057 amateur draft, including 16-year-old rightfielder Tim O'Reily, who was rumored to have been a longshot to reel in, there was some joy in Rockville.

As the only team yet to win 20 games roughly 60 games into the season, the 17-44 Pikemen are trying to find motivation in unusual places. "I'm not gonna lie," said one player off the record, "with the trade deadline on the horizon, it's audition season."

"Hell, man," another pitcher offered off the record, "I'd be a mop-up man for a chance to win."

General Manager Jim Slade has his work cut out for him to find even his most appealing add-ons for contenders a new home. The team's veteran starting pitchers who might help flesh out a contending team's rotation - Danny Leach, Neil Davis, and the aforementioned bin Sahir - are on multiyear deals. Rockville is likely to carry the burden for these long-term investments. As for bullpen pieces...what bullpen? OK, David Wade and Christian Walker might have some value.

Relocation prospects for everyday players may not be much more promising. Switch-hitting, high-OBP first baseman Cam Whitten has been a consistent catalyst in Rockville's typically ugly wins. If only Whitten had the glove to play second base, his original position coming out of the 2052 draft. A Rockville front office member who would only speak off the record said, "Good luck getting our GM to deal Cam. Great guy, no doubt about it, but Slade's got a fetish for his type."

Ruben Alvarado, another switch-hitter who's been moved to a position better suited to his limited range (second base, from shortstop) may also fit Slade's so-called fetish. "Again," shared the anonymous front office member, "teams may have some interest, but the kid's controllable, versatile, and swings a decent stick. We've seen how that formula is working."

Veteran third baseman Brian Dixon, who stays healthy, keeps the locker room strong, and puts up league-average performance, is once more on a manageable expiring contract. Rightfielder Eric Wagner, acquired and extended with the intention of setting the tone for a rebuild has been nothing more than a nice player. Nice Players Finish Last in Rockville.

Then there's the Philosopher in the Room, shortstop Socrates Kazantziakis, he of the cap-sucking $25 million AAV contract. The Pikemen get occasional queries about his availability, but although it's been reported that the team would retain some of his remaining salary, Slade has been stubborn about his desired take.

Slade refused comment for this story, but his unidentified front office colleague accepts his share of blame for the team's current state. "I've been in the room when we built what we thought were some bridges to better times. I signed off on most of the moves we tried making. Younger talent hasn't blossomed as we hoped. The Swiss Army Knives we found in the middle of drafts have done some nice things, but you can't go to war with Swiss Army Knives. We need some daggers, some sabers."