2044.10 - Shark Bites - September 8

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SHARK BITES

SURFERS NEWS AND NOTES


Surfers Still Lead Pacific
The Surfers are 87-54 and lead by 4.5 games over Hawaii to be precise. Their run differential is +129 (3rd in the Frick, 4th in the BBA) which means they're 2 games over their pythagorean. The Tropics are far from eliminated (magic number is 17, with 21 to play) but they're going to have to outplay the Surfers by a game and a half every week to catch them.

Aguilar Jr. is HOT HOT HOT
The subject of much contrition early in the season (he was hit .155/.221/.268 in April), the 'Second Coming' has really turned it on for the stretch run. In 28 games in August he hit .275/.345/.598 with 10 HR and 21 RBI, and so far in September, his OPS is 1.458. He's almost completely redeemed himself, and if he can keep it up through the playoffs, the fans of Long Beach will surely grow to love Manuel Aguilar, Jr.

Martinez is Player of the Week
He's not been hitting as well as Aguilar Jr, but DH Gonzalo Martinez hit well enough this week to earn the Frick League Player of the Week honors. For the week, he hit .412 with 4 HR, 9 RBI and 9 runs scored. He's up to 30 HR on the season, as is outfielder Lionel Crepin.

Old Man McHone
For the first time since 2025 (yes, 2025) Lee McHone has not been the starting pitcher in a baseball game. You could say it's going well. His ERA through 43 appearances is a miniscule 0.31 (that's 1 ER in 29.1 innings). That's good for a 1406 ERA+ just in case you were wondering. At 36 years old, his stuff isn't quite what it was the last time he was a Surfer, but that doesn't bother us one bit as long as that ERA stays low.