2055-6 Ludeman Stays, L'Arch Goes

[indiansfan]

Ludeman Stays, L’Arch Goes

In a surprise for Calgary, starting pitcher Leon Ludeman decided not to opt out of his contract and will return to Calgary for $11 million this year. Outfielder Girolamo L'Archibudelli declined his option year and will become a free agent after 5 seasons with the Pioneers

With the ridiculous salaries that free agent starting pitchers have been getting in free agency the past few seasons, the team was sure that Ludeman was going to check out the market. Instead he will come back for a 5th season with the team after starting his career in the GBC. While his numbers weren’t awful this season, he continues to have trouble winning games for Calgary. Posting losing records the past 3 seasons, he is a combined 22-42 during that time.

Complicating things for Ludeman is the retirement of Calgary pitching coach Fox Mulder and the fact that the team has several pitching prospects that are due in Calgary in 2056. He could be put on the market and at his salary would generate interest. It may be decided by who the team selects to replace Mulder in the dugout.

L’Arch played for Calgary in 2050-52 and again in 2054-55 with a season in the GBC in between. The team got top production from him and the last 2 seasons were at the bargain price of $2.6 million per year. During his time in Calgary he hit .317 and amassed nearly 1000 hits as the team’s leadoff hitter.

The team did not expect him to stay around for another season at that rate and he would have been challenged for his starting job by incoming rookie Michael Little. At 35 years old, with a chance to get 3000 hits, it was clear he wants to remain an ever day starter and get paid like one.

L’Arch is one of those guys that is going to bring up some interesting questions. He has 2699 BBA hits, but is at 2886 overall if you include his year in the GBC. Since he played there when it was a major competitive league do those stats get considered for Hall of Fame voting and career records? For Pioneer and current Tropic Adam Backhouse also falls into this quagmire. Does he have 263 HR or 620? As a BBA player whose career began when he was 28 he has no shot at the HOF, but if his overall numbers are taken into place? The BBA has had many sister leagues throughout it’s existence, but the GBC played at a particularly high level.

[Trebro]

For what it's worth, to me it's the BBA Hall of Fame, especially since in my experience most GBC players can't handle the BBA at the same levels of success, with rare exceptions.

But damn if I'm not looking forward to the argument that it counts!