Crawdad Chronicles 59.05 - New Orleans Misses Playoffs By 1 Game

[JimBob2232]

The Crawdads missed out on the last wildcard spot by 1 game, failing to make the playoffs. Over the last 2 months of the season, New Orleans got off to a hot start...going 20-9 in May, but otherwise played about .500 ball. It was almost enoguh to hang on. But after ending the game with 2 tough losses to Montreal - their fate was sealed.

Manager Jason Gillstrom was fuming. "We wasted the best starting staff in the Johnson league. We wasted a Great year by Juan Donestaves. Im just so sad for these guys. We gotta do better"

Indeed he is correct. New Orleans starting pitching staff was the best in the JL. But the bullpen was 11th in ERA. But defensively a .668 efficency and a -1.7 team ZR is not going to cut it.

GM Jim Roberts noted that there will have to be some changes. "We love these guys, but our defense has been lackluster for years. We have to find a way to improve - especially up the middle"

SS Carlos Correa was supposed to be that plug. New Orleans sacrificed a bat for a defensive mind. But in 2049, neither happened. And now he is turning 34, so its unlikely he will be back. Freddy Garcia, also 34, was picked up and played well at SS, but only hit .220. 33 year old Thomas Jefferson has a team option for next year, but he was awful at 2B and his bat was barely serviceable. This aging team may have a completly re-tooled infield next year, except for Guenette, unless they put him at 1B or move him to the OF. A star bat..Guenette's defernce is barely serviceable.

So changes abound this offseason. But for now, the emotions are raw. Missing the playoffs is not a thing in New Orleans. Gillstrom knows it.