Fresh Fur: SP Ishtaq Dar (Hoppy Endings, pre ST Sim 1) [PP:2058.05]

[neugey]

There aren’t many Pakistani players in the BBA, but via Rule V the Jackrabbits managed to land one of them. They tabbed SP Ishtaq Dar from Calgary in the first round of the December draft, with a specific need and usage plan in mind.

“With Matt McCartney leaving in free agency, we needed a new lefty in the rotation,” cited GM Mike Bauer. “I feel leery about having all right-handed starters in rotation and like that balance. We’re hoping Ishtaq will handle the rotation spot and give us something close to the nice output McCartney supplied last season. Ishtaq has some starting experience in the BBA under his belt, yet is still only 28. He’s in the right place at the right time.”

Dar has an eccentric pitch repertoire … slider, forkball, sinker and splitter. He also threw a changeup one time when he was drunk that drew a huge amount of laughter from scouts who have that pitch graded as a 1 out of 10. As a rookie in 2049, he landed in Sacramento after failing to secure a contract with UMEBA Beirut who selected him 10th overall. He spent 3 seasons in the Mad Popes’ farm system before being selected in Rule V in 2052 by Des Moines. Similar to Edmonton, Des Moines had a need for a lefty and Dar filled it. In 2053 and 2054 he worked mostly as a reliever for the Kernels and posted nice numbers. In 2055 he got more work in the rotation, recording a 3.13 in 17 starts over 86.1 innings. In 2056 Dar’s fortune waned and his ERA imploded to 6.11. Then 2057 he landed with Calgary’s AAA outpost, leading to Edmonton’s recent Rule V pickup.

Edmonton is hoping 2056 was an outlier result for Dar and he’ll get back on track as a serviceable lefty. They may not have much of a choice, as quality left-handed pitching is starting to get harder to come by in the BBA.

“I appreciate the interest and opportunity in Edmonton,” said Dar. “I want to prove I still belong in the BBA.”

[Krathan]

I like the Drunk Change detail.

[Jwalk100]

Drunken Changeup Training Program

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[neugey]

Drunken Changeup Training Program

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Most of the BBA players with a 1/10 changeup got it from the same frat party!