As everyone knows, when you make a trade, you need to give up something to get something. Seattle fans had long heard whispers that beloved franchise icon Ken Walter could be on the move, but many seemed unable to handle the thought of Walter playing anywhere other than Seattle. Those fans will now need to adjust to the new normal, however, as Walter has been traded to Long Beach, in a move that is primarily viewed as a salary dump, as Walter had 2 years left on his contract and would have been one of the team's highest paid players. It's clear that Walter was no longer the kind of player that could justify that salary, and Seattle's decision to move on from him is understandable, if sad. However, it's worth taking a moment to appreciate just how good Walter was in the prime of his career, and what he meant to Seattle.
Walter was Seattle's first round pick in 2031, and he surprised some observers by being available with the 21st pick. From the moment he took the mound in Ogden for his first professional start, it was clear that he was something special. Despite Seattle's stated desire to take it slow with Walter's development, there was no justification for keeping him in the minors for any longer than necessary, and he made his major league debut in 2033, as a 19 year old. It was immediately obvious that he belonged, as he made 18 starts and had a FIP of 3.57. The next year was, superficially, a disappointment, as Walter had a 5.04 ERA. However, his .355 BABIP and 3.03 FIP indicated that Walter was well on his way to becoming a star. By 2035 it was clear that Walter, at 21 years old, had become a superstar; in 33 starts he had a 3.38 ERA and a 2.93 FIP, good for 7.9 WAR and a 3rd place finish in the Nebraska race (he was robbed)! Walter's 2036 was one for the ages. He finally won the Nebraska award he richly deserved as he made 33 starts (all quality starts!) and had an ERA of 3.28 and a FIP of 2.51. He also set his career high in strikeouts, with 232. Walter remained an elite pitcher for the next 2 years, and was instrumental in getting Seattle to the Cartwright Cup final in 2038, when he finished 2nd for the Nebraska award. At the conclusion of the 2038 season, Walter was only 24 years old, had already racked up 39.2 WAR, and he had just signed the first of what promised to be multiple long-term deals to keep him in Seattle for the rest of his career.
Walter started the 2039 season the same way he finished the 2038 campaign, until disaster struck. At first, the injury seemed rather innocuous, as a torn meniscus was thought to be a temporary setback that wouldn't have any long-term impact on his career. That injury quickly spiraled, however, and turned into a cascade. Although Walter was able to come back in 2040, it was clear that he was no longer the same pitcher; after never having a FIP above 4, he was never able to bring the FIP below that mark again. In many ways, Walter's ability to battle back and become a serviceable journeyman pitcher is evidence of his resilience and talent that once made him the Brewster's best pitcher. Walter will ultimately leave Seattle with 59.2 WAR, 2159 strikeouts, and the eternal appreciation of Seattle fans. While Storm fans will be forced to think about what might have happened if Walter had remained healthy for his career, they will forever appreciate getting to witness a genuine superstar who called Seattle home for the prime of his career.
Chasing The Storm 2046-5 Saying Goodbye to Ken Walter
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Chasing The Storm 2046-5 Saying Goodbye to Ken Walter
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Re: Chasing The Storm 2046-5 Saying Goodbye to Ken Walter
Great career. That stat about 33 starts, all being QS is mind blowing.
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Re: Chasing The Storm 2046-5 Saying Goodbye to Ken Walter
Isn't that nuts? I couldn't believe it when I saw it.
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Re: Chasing The Storm 2046-5 Saying Goodbye to Ken Walter
Wow that’s insane. Doesn’t even seem feasible with that high of an ERA. Not that it’s a bad ERA, but every start must have been about 7 IP and 2-3 ER.
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Re: Chasing The Storm 2046-5 Saying Goodbye to Ken Walter
You gave up a lot to unload his contract. It would really backfire if he decides to opt out
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