21 May 2063
Boise, Idaho
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by Tony Toney
Spuds DFA Woywitka, Guzmán
SP Niegloslaw Woywitka
7 G, 7 GS, 8.69 ERA, 29.0 IP, 2.3 K/BB, 1.93 WHIP, -0.2 WAR
The Boise front office announced today that starting pitcher Niegloslaw Woywitka and reliever Juan Guzmán have been designated for assignment. Woywitka has been a surprise and not in a good way. He has a career ERA of 3.89 and 1.23 WHIP in 119 starts across GBA club Sydney and Hawaii. In Hawaii, Woywitka posted a 3.79 ERA including a 3.44 ERA with a 16-6 record in 180.1 IP in 2062. "We're not sure what to make of Woywitka," said Boise GM Ben Teague. "We expect him to turn things around soon. Maybe he just needs this reset." Taking his spot in the rotation will be AAA prospect Felipe Ledesma. Ledesma is hardly a true prospect as he made 6 appearances for the Spuds in 2062 with 4 of those being starts. In that short stint he posted an ERA of 4.40 and 1.04 WHIP in 30.2 IP. The turmoil in the rotation comes as SP Thomas Turner is on the IL for one week, as a precaution, with back spasms. P Buddhapalita Kankipati slides over from the bullpen to take a start for Thomas.
The 37yo Guzmán is a long-time Spud in his 5th season in Idaho. He has logged 22.1 innings in 10 games posting a 5.64 ERA and 1.48 WHIP. Looking at his 2062 numbers it seems clear that, unfortunately, the lefty seems to be running out of steam. He is in the last year of a deal that pays him $1.3m so it's possible the Spuds could decide to release him. Replacing him in the bullpen is the Spuds #1 prospect Alfredo Morán who has appeared in 13 games at AAA Salt Lake City logging a 2.70 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and +0.6 WAR. If he falters, rumors swirl around this year's #1 draft pick CL Cornelio 'Deathblow' Martínez getting the early call. This would upset organization plans for the rookie, but in 3 appearances in AAA he has collected 2 saves and allowed no runs.
Fernando Segura Regresses
2B Fernando Segura
42 G, 6 2B, 2 HR, 15 RBI, .238/.312/.331, +0.4 WAR
April created some relief in the Boise front office as light-hitting second baseman Segura posted a slash of .286/.360/.377 (.737 OPS) with 4 doubles and a homerun. But May has not been kind to the lefty as he is limping by with a .170/.241/.264 with only 7 RBI on a couple of doubles and a HR. The entire Boise lineup has entered a slump so that could be affecting Segura's output, but it's widely known that the Spuds have a short leash on Segura this season after his anemic showing at the plate in 2062. "We just want to see Fernando step up and balance his high-level defense with enough offense to balance the scales. He doesn't have to be someone he's not and he has proven he can be productive at the plate over 1.5 seasons in AAA," said Teague. It's not clear where a replacement would come from isn't clear so the front office may turn to the trade market with an abundance of closers locking in space in the ML bullpen. In the short term the team could turn to 3B Zhi-fu 'Doctor' Huang which would move Segura to a backup role, but Huang hasn't generated any more production that Segura and would leave the team with no immediate backup for 3B Bill Kuhn.
