2036.26 - The Long Beach Independent - August Again

[Lane]

POOR AUGUST PUTS PLAYOFFS IN DOUBT

August 20, 2036
Long Beach, CA

You all know the story of the Surfers in 2035. Up and down and up and down. This season has been slightly more consistent, but August arrived and is here to wipe out the Surfers.

As it stands today, August 20, the team has gone 4-13, a .235 winning percentage, dropping their record to 64-60. At the beginning of the month, the team was 12 games over .500 and held a healthy 9.5 game lead on the 4th team in the Frick League Wild Card race.

Thanks to the general ineptitude across the Frick League, the Surfers are still 6 games clear of a playoff spot, but Madison and Twin Cities can’t be written off, especially with the return of speedster Mons Raider to the Wolves lineup.

The hitters aren’t hitting, and the pitchers aren’t pitching. Last week, they were outscored by their opponents 42-19. The low point of the week may have been the 1-0 loss to San Fernando on August 13, where they could not capitalize on 7 walks and 6 hits to score even one run despite Mike Bailey and seven relievers combining to hold the Bears offense to just one run.

Long Beach is currently at home against Omaha, on day 5 of 17 consecutive days with games, a stretch that started in Des Moines and will take them to Valencia, Hawaii and Calgary without any days off. With Bailey now out for the season, the team must find a way to get back into gear to maintain their hold on a playoff spot.

With the trade deadline 11 days away, there’s still a chance for the team to add a pitcher to the mix, but there may not be an impact pitcher available. Without a top starter to take Bailey’s place, it is hard to imagine the Surfers making it out of the first round of the playoffs, assuming they are even able to hold on to the final Wild Card spot.

[RonCo]

Baseball is weird.

[7teen]

Madison is done for. You can write us off.

I'd worry about Twin Cities though. Their pythag suggests they could get hot down the stretch. I think Madison has gone 13-11 this month but I don't see that being enough to make up any ground. We cant string together enough of a winning streak I don't think to make up enough ground.

[Lane]

Madison is done for. You can write us off.

I'd worry about Twin Cities though. Their pythag suggests they could get hot down the stretch. I think Madison has gone 13-11 this month but I don't see that being enough to make up any ground. We can string together enough of a winning streak I don't think to make up enough ground.

and your baseruns record is even worse. TWC is neck and neck with us by pyth and baseruns, so that will be the race. thankfully i've got a 6.5 game lead right now.