Some teams may still be playing baseball but here in Montreal, the players have left and the locker room has been cleaned out as the Blazers have missed the playoffs for the 4th straight year, this time with the 5th worst record in franchise history of 64-98.
The Blazers would end up middle of the pack in batting statistics in the Atlantic. But they'd end up with the division worst team ERA (5.18), the most runs allowed at (914) 85 more runs than 2nd worst, and the worst OAVG at .282.
It's pretty obvious the Blazers will need to make some big moves this off-season, starting with the 1st 5 that take the mound to start the games. Only one pitcher ended the season with an ERA under 5.00 and that would be
Don Jaramillo who would be the only bright spot for the Blazers rotation this season. He'd also lead the teams in wins at 11 but even he couldn't finish the season above .500 as he'd lose 13 games. The rest of the starting 5 would combine for a 31-60 record. With 24-year-old
Kasper Johnson ending up the season with the worst record at 4-10 with a 5.96 ERA.The starting pitching rank 27th in positional rankings.
For most nights the offense was the only thing that kept the Blazers in most games.
Erik 'Shakespeare' Wignes would lead the team in batting average at .277, with his 142 hits in 513 at bats. He'd appear in 149 games for the Blazers. The Blazers are overloaded in the outfield with 6 players appearing in more than 60 games. Unfortuently for Wignes what he makes up for in the bat, he lacks in the outfield. He's a natural 1st baseman but of course the Blazers already have a everyday 1st baseman in Aldo.
Eduardo González lead the Blazers in the long ball department, as he'd blast 23 on the season. He'd also bat .272/.316/.478 on the season while also swiping 7 bases. González would finish the season ranked #1 in most batting categories for the Blazers; RBI (93), SLG (.478), OPS (.794), WAR (4.0), AB (611), H (166), R (89), 2B (49) & K (170). González is under contract for the next two season, so Blazers fans can hopefully look forward to more of the same from him in 2051.
Fan favorite,
Lineu Aldo would finish the season ranked 3rd in batting average. He'd hit .250/.308/.441 in his 528 at bats across 146 games. He'd lead the team in triples at 10 and stolen bases at 46.
So where do the Blazers go in 2051? I think it's obvious they need to do something with starting pitching. Unforutently there doesn't appear to be much help coming via the upcoming free agent market. Granted that could change by the off season. What we do know is that the Blazers will lose
Motonobu Yamashita &
José Rodríguez. Both players refused to sign extensions and will test free agency. If
Coy Skinner who's been injured since July, returns to 2049 form or even pre injury 2050 form
Rodríguez would have been the odd man out. Even though Skinner did normally play DH.
Yamashita is the highest rated SS on the roster but still only appeared in 81 games this season. Which has been his season total high since 2048 when he appeared in 112 for Boise. What will be missed with
Yamashita is his cheap contract, as he was only making $500k this season.
