WHIV 2056.20- Center Field Depth Keeps Getting Tested

[recte44]

Going into the 2056 season, the Las Vegas Hustlers felt pretty good about their center field position. They signed one of the top free agent options in Jose Leyva, which seemed to solidify the position.

Best laid plans can fail, though. Leyva was so bad offensively that he ultimately was waived and subsequently claimed by Calgary (where he's barely played).

Next man up. Murad Abdul-Alim was signed to a minor league deal with BBA option on April 1st. He played really well for the Hustlers' AAA club, and was called up in May. He began to get all of the playing time against RHP, and played reasonably well through May and June, before hitting the wall offensively in July. Defensively, though, he's been more than solid.

After Leyva was waived, Barry Kelly came up off a rehab assignment and took over the center field job against left-handed pitching. He was outstanding offensively and about neutral defensively. The position looked to finally be solidified for the season.

Again, the Hustlers learned that you have to have backup plans. Kelly came up lame with a strained abdominal muscle, and the doctors project he'll be out about five weeks. Vegas had recently promoted Doug Kindle to Milwaukee just in case he may be needed down the line. Then he went down with a high ankle sprain, and he's now out three weeks. That left, for reasonable internal options, only veteran utilityman Bob Williams as a potential callup.

Vegas decided, instead, to go with on outside acquisition. They were able to pick up veteran Joshua Zorn from the Rockville Pikemen. He's not much of a hitter, not the best fielder. What he brings to the club is the handedness they need in their second centerfielder as well as a guy who is revered league-wide as a "captain" type. "We need a guy like this," said manager Edward Allen. "He'll help us in unmeasureable ways." Vegas sent international complex prospect Rais Wa'il to the Pikemen, who will cover 50% of Zorn's salary this year.

[BaseClogger]

Enjoying your increased writing output this season, commish. As a rebuilding team I'm learning a lot.

[recte44]

Thanks- as my current job basically requires me to sit here and do nothing all day, I get a lot more time to write.

[Jwalk100]

Sometimes you get lucky to find a SS, 2B and CF or you have to go through a bunch to survive. Defense is a big requirement in this game.

[recte44]

I was blessed for so long with Ata, Turton and Korbel. That's a huge reason why I had the championship run I did.

[Trebro]

As the top players defensively age while those behind are not as good defensively, I can see a lot of turnover at CF and SS, plus C to a lesser degree.