2044 FINISH: 82-80, 2ND(-14)The Tripoli Piranhas, formerly the Libyan Generals, made the UMEBA post season in just their second season but were quickly dispatched by Bucharest winning just one playoff game. Just like Bucharest and Mumbai, the Piranhas took pitching early and often in the 2044 draft. Unlike those two teams they decided to start their teenagers off slowly keeping them in rookie ball or A ball with a mixed bag of results. Second overall pick Mahad Einan struggled a bit in rookie ball finishing with a 4.46 ERA and a 2-6 record but he appears ready for the big leagues after a good spring showing in which he did not allow an earned run in his nine plus innings. Second round pick Francisco Molina posted a 5.40 ERA in rookie ball but the team admits he still needs some development time and is a couple of years away. Third and fourth round picks Jayden Nicholls(1.63 ERA in R/A) and Cedric Bolitha(2.72 ERA in R) will also get a shot at making the big club after good spring performances. As insurance for the young guys the Piranhas brought in BBA veterans Pepe Jaramillo(1.5 BBA WAR) and Grellan Profit(12 wins/12 saves in BBA last season).
The 2044 Piranhas featured an offense that saw eleven players hit 12 or more homers including OF Virgil Shafer who played only 61 games before missing the rest of the season with should inflammation that required surgery. Shafer teams up with 3B Michael Best to form a potent 3/4 punch in the lineup. The Piranhas will hit a lot of home runs and strike out a lot but it is uncertain if they can get on base and score enough runs to secure their second consecutive playoff appearance.
The uncertainty of the draft pick progress will not allow me to move the Piranhas a lot from their 2044 finish. I'm giving them 81 wins and barely missing out on another playoff appearance.
