Santa Clarita Valley Journal | Stars Hope Pepper will Spice up Bland Offense (53.02)

[mragland]

Santa Clarita Valley Journal
Vicente Lamb, Stars Reporter
December 09, 2052

VALENCIA – The Valencia Stars added eight-time all-star second baseman Daniel Pepper to their roster today in what is arguably the club's biggest free agent acquisition in years. A native of Guildford, England, Pepper spent his first nine BBA seasons with the Rockville Pikemen, where he made six all-star appearances, earned two Diamond Gloves, and four Golden Bat awards. For the past three seasons, Pepper played for Valencia Pacific Division foe Vancouver, where he continued to excel. Last year he won his sixth Golden Bat, finished second in Silk balloting, and tallied 8 WAR for the Mounties in a dominant season.

Valencia has had a frustratingly ironic shortage of star power in its lineup the past few years. Pepper might end this dry spell. He enters his age 32 season having notched WAR scores of 6, 6, and 8 in the last three campaigns. The Stars haven't had a 6 WAR position player since 2046, when Aaron Haney had 7.3 WAR in center field, and was the only thing the Stars offense had going for them that season.

The acquisition of Pepper addresses an obvious need for Valencia. They can slot him into the same position recently vacated by the peripatetic Ángel Zalapa, who recently declined his player option to go back on the free agent market. In 2052, the Stars were a middling 8th in runs scored in the Frick, and were also 8th in home runs. Looking at Pepper's 156 wRC+ and 45 HR, you can see how he could elevate Valencia's offense in 2053, while providing above average defense in the middle infield.

[Dington]

I predict a big drop off in production. He will end the season around .700 OPS and 22ish HR.

[mragland]

I predict a big drop off in production. He will end the season around .700 OPS and 22ish HR.

Nostradamus!

It was difficult writing this one with an optimistic preseason perspective.

[Dington]

I predict a big drop off in production. He will end the season around .700 OPS and 22ish HR.

Nostradamus!

It was difficult writing this one with an optimistic preseason perspective.

I didn’t think he would repeat last season, but that was a drastic falloff. Hopefully he rebounds next year.

[Trebro]

I was reviewing some of my older material and lo and behold, *I* used my adversarial avatar to complain about me not signing Pepper!

Here's the article.

I really didn't want to outlay 15 million for multiple years, which is why I ended up not getting into a serious talk with him. If he underperformed, it would kill us because of the Thum-Lee combo. What you experienced was my worst nightmare.

I hope he rebounds in 2054 for you!