2052.06 - The Long Beach Independent - Surfers Reach .500, But Miss Playoffs

[Lane]

FIRST SEASON AT .500 SINCE '45
22 GAME IMPROVEMENT OVER 2051

October 29, 2052


Though there was hope in the last week of the season, the Surfers were unable to keep pace with the Portland Lumberjacks for the final Frick League Wild Card position. However, the team and fans should be happy about the 22 win improvement over 2051, the third largest season to season win increase since GM Stephen Lane took control of the team in 2026. Lane, who last year passed former GM Jason Russell as the franchise's longest serving GM, has taken the team to the playoffs in 11 of his 27 seasons.

Juan Marroquin, midseason acquisition from Chicago, has reportedly signed an extension with the team. Team sources report that the deal with the right hander has an average annual value of just under $8 million over 5 years and includes an opt out after the second year. The front office did not immediately reply to a request for formal contact, but sources indicate that this deal was a high priority for the team after analysis of the upcoming free agent class. The 28 year old Marroquin is rumored to be disloyal and greedy, but this deal would seem to indicate otherwise.

Our unofficial accounting indicates that the team will have approximately $47 million in cap space for the 2053 season, and will have some spots to fill, notably at third base where 11 time All-Star Alex Ramirez is rumored to be dead set on testing the free agent market. The 36 year old had another solid season, with a .266/.361/.408 line and 4.3 WAR.

[BaseClogger]

Felt like our teams had very similar goals/results in 2052 and unfortunately suffered the same ultimate fate. We both also seem to have kinda crappy farm systems too.

[pandan]

+22 W in one year is good progress -- hope it wasn't a fluke!