Off Topic
San Fernando Bears
2060: 82-80 (3rd, Frick League Pacific)
GM: Kurt Imber
Current Fan Interest: 80
2060 saw the Bears go 82-80 finishing 3rd in the Pacific. A big improvement from their 2059 campaign where they finished 7th with a 67-95 record.
Key Additions:
1B Yuu Suzuki was acquired via trade with the Sacramento Mad Popes
SP Tye Whitford
SP Robert Wilson
SP Myung-Joo Pak
RP Michael Sullivan (Acquired in Rule 5 draft from the Nashville Bluebirds)
LF Rafael Marquis (Acquired in Rule 5 draft to the New Orleans Crawdads)
Key Departures:
RP Edmond Thomas sent in the Suzuki trade with Sacramento
Marco Acheson (39-year-old not retained)
SP Felipe Mendez (Lost in Rule 5 draft to the Omaha Cyclones)
SS John McLeod (Lost in Rule 5 draft to the New Orleans Crawdads)
RP Cesar Macias (Lost in Rule 5 draft to the Charlotte Flyers)
RP Eddie Armstrong (Lost in Rule 5 draft to the Chicago Black Sox)
SP Francisco Molina (Lost in Rule 5 draft to the Brooklyn Robins)
Starting rotation
San Fernando employs a strict 5-man rotation strategy led by hard-throwing Morgan Tomsett. 2061 will be Tomsett's fifth season with the club that saw him rack up 143 strikeouts in 2060 due in part to his blistering fastball. In the #2 spot is Ielemia Faletose, who has battled injuries and is currently recovering from a torn UCL that has sidelined him for last 7 months. Faletose has been working with team trainer Dustin Bird this offseason, who has an excellent track record of rehabbing arm injuries. The team expects Faletose back by mid-April if not by Opening Day. Alexander Swanson is a 6-pitch pitcher who has excellent control, winning 9 games for the Bears last season. He has a decent fastball to go along with a solid curve and changeup, as well as a serviceable forkball. All which helped him fan 147 batters in 2060.
Richard Bullock is a big 6'5" lefty from Manhattan, New York. Also in his fifth season with San Fernando, Bullock has an above average curveball and a work ethic second to none. He is popular in the clubhouse and an absolute Iron Man. He hasn't missed a game since the 2051 season (knock on wood)
Closers
Incumbent closer, Bryan Longstaff, had a solid season for the Bears last year going 5-7 with 27 saves and finishing with a 3.56 ERA. Joining Longstaff in the bullpen this offseason is lefty Michael Sullivan. Sullivan was acquired in the aforementioned Rule 5 Draft from Nashville.
Longstaff and Sullivan should provide a solid 1-2 combo to close out games this season for San Fernando.
Infielders
Michael Schultz Schultz is a big power hitting first baseman who belted 30 home runs in 2060. His defense is suspect but worth the trade-off. (Imber may move Schultz to DH in favor of Suzuki at first.)
2B Victor Ramos started 118 games for the Bears last season. His solid range and defense make him one of the better second basemen in the division, if not the league. Kensaku Kato is also a solid option at second base for the Bears to go along with Ramos.
(Mahdi)SS Showcases one of the best shortstops in the league in Qutuz Mahdi. A favorite among fans, Mahdi drove in 50 runs last season and finished with a .265 batting average and 4.6 WAR. Acquired in a trade with Montreal in 2059, Mahdi is as consistent as they come.
3B Jose Perez Perez finished with a solid 3.1 WAR last year and will hold down the third base duties again this season. Perez has a big arm and can gun the ball to first as well as any third baseman in the league.
Catcher and team Leader Dale Olds will be back behind the plate for the Bears this season. He provides solid defense and has an above average arm. Augusto Annis will split time with Olds after a solid 2060 campaign where he finished with a 2.2 WAR.
Outfielders
Newcomer Rafael Marquis joins Hector Garcia in Left Field. The duo combined for 31 homers and 102 RBIs last year. Garcia is a little more solid defensively but Marquis hit .337 last season in the Crawdad's organization.
Tommy Harrison is a well balanced hitter and defender for the Bears and will be starting in Right Field. He has solid range, doesn't make many errors, and has an absolute cannon for an arm.
Starting center-fielder Sonny Bigalow is back for his fourth season with the Bears. He provides leadership and defensive stability in center field, which is in short supply across the league when it comes to many teams at the center field position.
DH
(Suzuki)Saving one of the best for last, San Fernando GM Kurt Imber swung big this offseason by acquiring 2060 All-Star Yuu Suzuki from the division rival Sacramento Mad Popes.
Suzuki hit 42 home runs and drove in a league leading 139 RBIs, bringing another power bat to the Bears lineup. He is off to a hot start in Spring Training, batting .500 with 4 HR already.
2061 Outlook for San Fernando
The 2061 San Fernando Bears look ready to contend for the Frick League Pacific Division title. Early projection models show them winning close to 97 games and finishing tied for 1st place with the Portland Lumberjacks. The Bears will put up good offensive numbers this year and if they can play above average defense, they could go deep into the playoffs.
No way I'm writing that in a team news.