All ready for more beatings
Spring is done, no shocks, a couple of perhaps raised eyebrows and more importantly no injuries. We now have to make the final cuts and head back to Wichita to open the 2043 season with a three-game series against the Boise Spuds, a team we won just two out of seven games against at home last year.
It was a rough year for spring performances, the batters were poor and the pitchers worse. Jim Abernathy managed a minute .033 batting average (1-30) while hot prospects Chris Jenkins (6-53) and Raul Lopez (7-54) weren’t much better. Jason Bowen, Hedde Aalbers and Luis Maldonado all hit below .200 as well. Abernathy will stick with the team though because of his defensive ability all round the diamond, the raised eyebrows came with Ernesto Ramirez and Clive Timberlake sticking with the team as they headed for Wichita. Timberlake had had some BBA time at the end of 2042, but wasn’t expected to stick, he’ll start as the regular 2B but there’s a slew of capable 2B’s so that might not last. Ramirez was some sort of surprise though, it was a combination of him playing well and Alfredo Padilla just not rising to the occasion. Padilla was only really any good at third while Ramirez can play first & third and had had a good year in Columbus & Palm Bay. He’ll back up third and some first while joining in with a three headed rotation at DH which will also feature Hector Garza and Luis Alvarez
The Pitching? Well, you might as well roll out a pitching machine. The word on the streets and bars is that it will be truly abysmal this year. Three Rule5 picks, Jose Montoya (yes, he of a 6-16 record in 2042 with an ERA over 7) and a 36-yr-old will make up the rotation, but just what can you do? Even the worst BBA #4 starter is going for more than we can afford. We just have to hope that the six or seven promising arms making their way through the system can put it all together in the next year or two. Everyone will be on a tight pitch count again, hopefully limiting injuries as well as the damage. Three free agents, Bernardo Longoria, Jesus Arce & Luis Miguel Flores will hopefully help the bullpen rescue a few games as will the returning Tony Alomar in the stopper’s role.
Much as I try I just can’t see anything but a season of real pain in Wichita, maybe the hitters will start hitting something (other than the bottle), maybe the Rule 5 guys will be a complete surprise, maybe . . . maybe . . .
#WeAreShitty
