WHIV 2049.8- Hustlers Skipper Faces The Press

[recte44]

Hustlers Skipper Faces The Press
October 30, 2049

Las Vegas Hustlers manager Edward Allen met with media today at Palace Station Ballpark and Casino, answering several questions about the upcoming Monty Brewster Memorial Series matchup versus the upstart Portland Lumberjacks.

"How do you plan to align your starting pitchers?"

Allen: We're going to start Brian King in Game 1. He's been lights out this postseason and we like the matchup. Then we'll follow with Martin Ross in Game 2, then Jay Hodge for Game 3 in Portland. The current plan is to go with John Rasmussen III for Game 4, but of course that could change depending on how the series goes, and follow from there. Either way, we're getting Brian King at least one start in Portland. Unless we sweep, like the Portland GM says we're going to.

"You added Bob Coutts to the playoff roster for the New Orleans series despite the fact he had never been in the big leagues. Can you explain the thought process?"

Allen: Between myself, the GM and the pitching coach, we decided that we needed to stockpile the pen with some lefties to have available against a left-handed heavy Crawdads offense. Coutts has been on the radar for some time now, and really pitched lights out this year. He was the closest lefty we had to the bigs and so we decided to go for it. He pitched one clean outing and I know that he was absolutely thrilled, and the whole team was extremely excited for him and stoked to see him do his job. He's staying on for Portland, too.

"What happened to Carlos Santillan? Is he in Witness Protection or something?"

Allen (laughing): No, he's still here. It's been tough leaving him off the playoff roster for the first two series, but we were in a crunch and needed some right-handed bats and versatility. He's back on for the Portland series, and he'll probably get some pinch hitting opportunities. The problem this year, if you want to call it a problem, is that Abu Wamakota and Zhai are simply playing too well and there's no place for Carlos to play.

"Steve Warren and Jay Hodge will forever be compared, coming from the same draft, picked fifth and eighth respectively, both fully developed coming out of college. Your thoughts?"

Allen: We're extremely happy with the pitcher Jay has become, as I'm sure Portland is happy with Steve. Both of them had some growing pains, both have had their best season thus far in Year 4. I know our guys will battle for Hodgey as they have been all season.

"Ernest McBride faded in the second half of the season, but still ended up with 53 homers. How will your pitchers approach him?"

Allen (chuckling): With extreme caution. That's how.

"Last year you ran amuck on the basepaths against Yellow Springs. Do you plan to do the same against your former catching tandem of Leeper and Combs?"

Allen: Two great guys. They certainly aren't in Chuck Johnson's league behind the plate. We'll run as the game dictates. If we have opportunities to wreak havoc with steals and aggressive baserunning, we'll do so.

"No other team has won three straight titles in the Brewster. Do you think your team will make history?"

Allen: We're going to take it one game at a time and play our game. The only title we're thinking of is this one, right here and right now. The past is past. Portland may be a surprise to many but they're a really good baseball team that has caught fire at the right time. This is going to be a highly competitive series. Get your popcorn ready. Allen out.

[lordtoffee]

Best of luck. No matter what happens tonight, this Vegas core is going down as one of the best of all time.

[7teen]

Unless we sweep, like the Portland GM says we're going to.

Oh. It’s happening.