WHIV 2037.8- Hustlers Get Hugill

GM: Matt Rectenwald

Moderator: recte44

User avatar
recte44
GB: Commissioner
Posts: 43001
Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2010 12:14 pm
Location: Oconomowoc, WI
Has thanked: 141 times
Been thanked: 1608 times
Contact:

WHIV 2037.8- Hustlers Get Hugill

Post by recte44 » Wed Jan 16, 2019 7:07 pm

Hustlers Get Hugill
June 30, 2037


"We simply can't get by anymore with the rotation we have," Matt Rectenwald, Hustlers GM, said when announcing the following trade:

Vancouver recieves:
- SS Kagehisa Echi (AAA)
- SP Keith Howard (A)

Las Vegas recieves:
- SP Bert Hugill (ML)

At the end of June, the Hustlers are well positioned to get back to the postseason once again, but their pitching is clearly the weakness of the team. Injuries haven't helped, specifically with Manuel Orozco out for the year, but most notably the Hustlers have been let down by a pair of young pitchers. Rookie Alvin Chartrand opened the season in the rotation and pitched well at the outset, but after a horrible May he was sent back to Milwaukee (AAA) for more seasoning. It's been Jesus Lopez who has been the biggest disappointment of the 2037 season. It looked like he had turned the corner after a solid 2035 season, but here we are at the end of June and he's already allowed more homers (21) than he did all of last season (20), leading to a 6.41 ERA. In June, he's started five games with a horrific 9.45 ERA. "We can't wait for him anymore," explained Rectenwald.

Hugill checks a couple of boxes for the Hustlers. First, he's inexpensive. Secondly, he's a lefty. "Bert has been very solid over the last three seasons, particularly this year as he's become a full time starter," said Rectenwald. "We feel he'll be a nice addition to the rotation."

Vegas didn't have to pay a particularly high price in the trade, either. Echi is a decent shortstop, one who can play everyday against right-handers, and should get that opportunity in Vancouver. Howard is the more interesting piece as a boom or bust prospect. Originally an undrafted free agent out of the 2034 draft, the Hustlers picked him up that summer and he's gone from a 6/3/5 profile to an 8/5/7 with five plus pitches. "He's always pitched well for us and he's grown tremendously to the point where he's a legitimate prospect, especially in a pitchers park like Vancouver," said Rectenwald. "I wouldn't be shocked to see Howard have a really nice career for the Mounties."

With the trade, the Hustlers will option Lopez to Milwaukee (AAA). "We haven't given up on Jesus, but we need to see results," explained Rectenwald. "Sometimes we forget he's just 23 years old, given that he's been in the big leagues going on four years now."

Return to “Las Vegas Hustlers”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests