Tuber Times 2057.18: Sim #8 Recap

[cheekimonk]

Tuber Times
27 May 2057
Boise, Idaho
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by Tony Toney

Boise Spuds 18 32 .360 -13.5 GB -9.5 WGB L10: 4-6, Strk: L3

Even though Sim #8 was a losing one at 2-4, Teague is not that downtrodden as outside of a blowout of Edmonton and receiving a blowout from New Orleans, all the games were close. The season is transitioning into a showcase for players headed to the trade block as Boise remains at the bottom of the JL Frontier division. "We're not pleased whatsoever," says GM Ben Teague. "After making the playoffs in 2056 with mostly the same roster, this squad has made it clear there is no gas in the tank. You ask yourself constantly if the trouble is on your shoulders since the changes to the team were minimal, but it's really a moot point as the team can only move forward from here and we'll turn our eyes to the future." It was a balanced Sim as far as scoring and preventing runs but the performance of the squad has switched to a more player-focused view weighing who will need to move on and who can stay in the fold.

@ Edmonton 9-3 W
@ Edmonton 7-8(10) L
The Sim began in Edmonton in another "Battle of the Basement" vs the Jackrabbits. The Spuds offense carried over its steam from the previous Sim posting 9 runs, including 4 in the 9th, and locking down the win. DH Alfonso Rúbio continued manhandling opposing pitchers delivering 4 RBI while 3B Gary Allen going 3-for-4 with 2 RBI. Most encouraging, however, was seeing embattled reliever Adrián Fox go 2.2 innings allowing only 1 run to close out the game. More on him later (that doesn't sound good...). The 2nd contest saw the Spuds' normally reliable ace Logan Hill log a rare miserable start lasting only 3 innings allowing 5 runs and 2 homeruns. Still, Boise led 7-5 going into the 9th inning when, guess who, the 'Human Pucker Factor' CL Harold Nothard blow another save allowing Edmonton to tie the game. RP Kent Johnson than allowed the walkoff run in the 10th on a solo HR off the bat of CF Kane Gregson.

v New Orleans 8-2 W
v New Orleans 2-7 L
v New Orleans 6-7 L
v New Orleans 1-2 L
The offense surged yet again in the opener of a 4-game set vs the Crawdads. Boise scored 4 in both the 5th and 6th innings to put the game on ice. The boost most came from 2 unexpected sources in LF Grzegorz Kubrick and OF utility player Bill O'Toole. The team was on a high with a good streak so, of course, that had to fall apart. And it did as the Spuds dropped the 3 remaining games of the series. P Bill O'Keefe allowed 5 runs, even if 3 were unearned. Coming in to relieve him was the ever frustrating Adrián Fox came in and allowed 2 runs on 3 hits including a HR in 2.1 innings. Fox inherited 3 runners and all 3 scored. The 3rd game was a back-and-forth, exciting affair even if it didn't end on a good note for the hometown Spuds. Both starters, New Orleans' Arturo Trevino and Boise's Héctor Fuentes, had rough starts. Both bullpens were solid but the Crawdads were able to squeeze 2 runs out of Toshikuni Kubo and Kent Johnson and the Spuds came up just short scoring a run in the 9th but falling 7-6. New Orleans gave Boise fans a classic pitchers' duel in the finale as Spuds' starter Waseem bin Suhayb and the Crawdad's Micah Harrington were superb - bin Suhayd for 7 innings and Harrington over 5.2. But 2 runs surrendered by Boise was just enough as they could only manage one run off reliever Bill Mills.