The Morning Glory 2060.06: Out Again

[bcslouck]

After a strong 1st half of the season, the Oysters fell off in the 2nd half and lost game 163 to Las Vegas to miss the playoffs after making it back in 2059.

Through June, the team was 50-34 with one of the best Pythagorean records in the league. While they were still behind in the division race, they were shaping up to be a dangerous Wild Card team. As highlighted before, the team had 9 players make the All-Star game. The offense lead the JL in almost all categories. The bullpen was very good. Defense was also solid. The rotation was shaky but had a bounce back Jamie Barber that gave the team at least a solid guy atop it.

Then July happened. 11-15. August saw them get back on their feet a little, going 15-14. But September was also a struggle going 10-13. That's a combined 36-42. Make that 36-43 after blowing a big lead in game 163 to be eliminated.

Some of the lowlights. The rotation took a step back behind Barber and Denny Taub. Both put of over 3 WAR seasons. The rest of the rotation was just bad. Edgar Chávez threw a no-hitter on 8/30. He still finished the year with a 6.43 ERA, roughly a run and a half higher than last year. Aaron Stevens gave up 11 home runs in 75.2 innings. He gave up 13 in 167.2 last year. And Ken Steele did pitch just under 30 more innings this year but gave up 20 more home runs. The group was a mess and is something that will be changed. On top of all of that, the team didn't have a consistent 3B. It was a rotation of multiple players that didn't produce much while taking away from the OF defense when Federico Linares had to make some starts at the hot corner. That will also be be near the top of the team's shopping list.

For the good? Of course, Max Shepperson had an under the radar historic season. Malik bin Mazin won the JL batting title, adding another notch to Hall of Fame resume. Barber was already mentioned and he has seemingly earned his team option for 2061. And the battery combo of Sloth Fratelli and Tynan Potter combined for 5.9 WAR. Fratelli will probably opt for free agency but the organization could try to keep him around.

Just more bad than good this year. A ton of talent just not enough apparently. The organization is hoping to be aggressive this offseason to close up some of the holes that plagued them this year.

[BaseClogger]

Some of those pitching performances would have driven me mad. I guess you could argue Barber and particularly Taub overachieved but woof.

[bcslouck]

Some of those pitching performances would have driven me mad. I guess you could argue Barber and particularly Taub overachieved but woof.

It did. Stevens and Steele were good enough last year too. That's all I needed with how the offense was but couldn't get that. I should of been more aggressive at the deadline but nothing really jumped out to me. Maybe I just was asleep at the wheel.

[BaseClogger]

Some of those pitching performances would have driven me mad. I guess you could argue Barber and particularly Taub overachieved but woof.

It did. Stevens and Steele were good enough last year too. That's all I needed with how the offense was but couldn't get that. I should of been more aggressive at the deadline but nothing really jumped out to me. Maybe I just was asleep at the wheel.

I’m inclined to be less aggressive when I have players underperforming too. I figure they’ll regress towards their mean.

[RonCo]

Not too much worse than having an underperforming team.

[Trebro]

Given OOTP randomness there's a. good chance they get better in 61.

[bcslouck]

Given OOTP randomness there's a. good chance they get better in 61.

Probably after I trade them...

[ae37jr]

Steele looks like he just had a career year in 2059. 2060 is probably about what he is going to be on a year to year basis.

Stevens I'm not sure what to make of. He just seems inconsistent.

I know your park is very offense friendly. So that makes it even harder to judge. I think Steven should be a good enough back of the rotation pitcher in the long run.

In both cases I would try to add starting pitching with the goal of pushing them both to bullpen. They are definitely good and cheap enough to give you two solid rubber arm relievers who give you injury depth for your rotation.

[BaseClogger]

Steele looks like he just had a career year in 2059. 2060 is probably about what he is going to be on a year to year basis.

Stevens I'm not sure what to make of. He just seems inconsistent.

I know your park is very offense friendly. So that makes it even harder to judge. I think Steven should be a good enough back of the rotation pitcher in the long run.

In both cases I would try to add starting pitching with the goal of pushing them both to bullpen. They are definitely good and cheap enough to give you two solid rubber arm relievers who give you injury depth for your rotation.

Chavez is probably the one I’d find most disappointing.

[bcslouck]

In both cases I would try to add starting pitching with the goal of pushing them both to bullpen. They are definitely good and cheap enough to give you two solid rubber arm relievers who give you injury depth for your rotation.

This what I'm hoping to do.