The San Fernando Bears finished the 2043 BBA Season 91-71 which was good for second place in the Pacific Division of the Frick League and a Wild Card berth. The Bears faced the eventual Landis Champs Louisville Sluggers in the Geoghegan Round of the playoffs. The Bears fell to the Sluggers 3-1 in the best of 5 series to end their season.
The Bears lost RF Lionnel Crepin (3 WAR), SP Pancho ‘Teliqua’ German (2.4 WAR), RP Poto Tornatire, RP Marko ‘Boomerang’ Efremov, SP Sergei ‘The Russian Rocket’ Hopkins (2 WAR), RP Gerard Ledermann, C Marc-Andre Pare and RP Carlos Padilla.
The Bears signed LF Lorenzo Palacios for 4 years and $42,000,000. He brings a good bat to the already offensively loaded Bears. San Fernando then signed 1B Albert Gaona to a 1 year $1.9 million contract. He is another guy that can get on base and hit with power.
The Bears pitching staff will be led by Bron Cortez and Felipe Guevara.
Cortez missed 3 months in 2043 with a left shoulder inflammation and made 17 starts going 8-6. He struck out 99 and walked 26 in 108 2/3 innings. He is projected to pitch 133 innings with 124 K, 51 BB and a 4.84 ERA.
Guevara also missed some time going on the IL for 2 months with left elbow soreness. He made 22 starts going 9-4 in 132 1/3 innings. He struck out 105 and walked 37 with a 3.20 ERA. He is projected to pitch 139 innings, striking out 119, walking 45 and post a 4.07 ERA.
The Bears are driven by their offense which is led by 3B Alex Ramirez. Ramirez is the reigning Charlie Puckett Silver Slugger at 3B in the Frick by a mile. He put up some big numbers slashing .333/.397/.593 with 36 HR, 113 RBI, 119 run scored, stole 37 bases and posted a 8.3 WAR. He is a true 5 tool player. He is projected to slash .295/.346/.536 with 30 homers, 28 doubles, 7 triples, 99 runs and steal 30 bases.
Playing beside Ramirez is SS Quinn Richardson. Richardson, the former #1 overall pick, was traded to San Fernando from Charlotte after struggling for 29 games for the Cougars. After the trade Richardson lit up the Frick slashing .301/.348/.493 for the Bears. Combined he ended the season hitting .272 with 23 homers, 65 RBI and 78 runs scored. He is projected to hit .266 with 22 homers, 68 runs and 13 stolen bases.
The San Fernando Bears will have to avoid injury, especially to the pitching staff, to keep up with the other teams in the Pacific.
San Fernando is projected to score 794 runs and allow 869 runs finishing 77-85.
