Middle Infield, Bullpen Spell Doom for Edmonton in 2056 (Hoppy Endings, post Sim 6) [PP:2056.09]

[neugey]

The OSA, BBA Media Guide and other pundits were of sound mind in predicting a downfall for Edmonton in 2056. It’s mid-May and the Jackrabbits are saddled with a lousy 11-27 record, second-worst only to Chicago in the entire Brewster.

The middle infield, which looked stronger than ever at the start of the season, has been an unmitigated disaster so far. New free agent 2B Billy McKay was off to a fine start, but a nasty base running collision wrecked his shoulder and he’ll need 9 months to recover. Joining him on the IL is SS Damek Korbel, who has a fractured rib that won’t heal and he probably won’t be able to return until late June at the soonest. And literally adding insult to injury and leaving the middle infield even more thin is the recent carelessness of 2B/3B Scott Bell, who got suspended for 6 games by the league office for his actions in an on-field brawl.

GM Mike Bauer has sought reinforcements, but that hasn’t gone well either. Veteran SS Wagaw Fakihi apparently didn’t want to be part of a team at their low point and just turned down a major league offer with Edmonton to sign a majors/minors contract with Vancouver. AA callup Enrique Galvan, who is supposed to be a prized contact hitter, is off to a slow start to his major league career with a .162 average. The Jackrabbits have also put in a waiver claim for Las Vegas veteran 2B Mike England, but some other team will probably have a higher priority slot and deny him from joining the Jackrabbits. It’s just been that kind of season in the middle of the infield for Edmonton.

Another major rough spot has been the bullpen. Stopper Jim Conley has 0 saves and 3 blown ones already. He’s been demoted to middle relief and was probably lucky not to be released outright. The rest of the bullpen is getting hit hard as well, and sources indicate that reliever Ivan Martinez will be called up from AA to try to salvage the team’s closer/stopper situation. If he cannot, things may get even darker.

“This has been the hardest stretch we’ve endured since I’ve been a captain on this team,” admitted OF and utility player Kane Gregson. “I’ve needed to start multiple games at 2B and SS to cover for the losses at those positions. Listen, none of the guys were happy with Bell’s reckless behavior during that brawl. We aired it out in the locker room and it’s a little better now. But bottom line, all of us must pick up the slack and get us out of this funk.”

It's gotten so bad that celebrity guest-singer Anna Kendrick is no longer returning the team’s calls. It’s possible she doesn’t want to be associated with a group of lads this badly out of tune.