[I'm using this blog to reignite my writing about fantasy baseball. I am no longer the gm for the San Diego Hops in the ABL, but am the proud owner of the Troy Haymakers in the BAL (Thanks, Bill)]
Dateline: Troy, August 1909
RHP John Thomson, 13-5, 3.34, 141K, 161.2 innings
Troy went into the 1909 season with very high hopes. Fresh off a deep playoff run, the Haymakers added some new shiny free agent pieces to their lineup, signing second-sacker Antonio Perez to a seven-year deal, the same week they signed LF Ralph Garr. Then they went and got RF Curt Rojas on a two-year contract, along with closer Joe Smith. Of those four, Perez is contending for the batting title, but it left up and coming star, Matt Kata, in a position quandary, and he's hitting 150 points lower than 1908 while on the AAA to Troy shuttle. Garr is mired in the high minors, waiting his turn, which might not come until September. Rojas has been underwhelming, though he has added twenty points to his batting average this month. Joe Smith has the highest ERA of the pitchers on the roster all season, though the return of John Rocker might help stabilize the bullpen.
With a current record of 55-57, Troy is languishing in the second division in sixth place, a full season-high ten games behind the division leaders. The pitching has been solid, particularly the starters, led by the indomitable Bill Lee, who despite a 7-10 record, is in the top three in Ks and WAR. John Thomson, the former 1904 first rounder, is off to a great start at 13-5. While Marty Rivera is going to surpass his first Troy season after signing as a free agent, at 10-6, with the third best ERA in the division. Kevin Peterson just got off the DL, and that could be the main reason for Troy's dilemma. Peterson is great when healthy, but two long stints on the disabled list in 1908 and now '09, do not bode well. Randy Thompson rounds out the rotation in the five slot, a position any team would love to have a starter of his caliber. Ad Gumbert got a taste of the bigs while Peterson rehabbed, and looks like a rotation regular in the near future. So why is Troy having trouble? Rocker's injury put Tony Rodriguez into the bullpen as the closer where he has mostly succeeded, but has four blown saves and four losses. He may move back into the rotation, Peterson's health being a question mark.
The every day lineup includes some big bats, most noticeably, Vic Oliver. The former scouting discovery has blossomed into one of the most feared hitters in the BAL, leading the league once again in home runs and RBIs, while playing solid defense at 1b, though still quite capable of manning the outfield. Perez has been a force at 2b, while vet Billy Myers has shifted to the hot corner as Nakada's star is somewhat shaded this season. Jose Gonzalez has stepped in full time at SS and leadoff and leads the league in stolen bases, while making only one error in 88 games, with a ZR of +15.3! In the outfield, a state of flux seems to be the Achilles heel of the Haymakers. Johnstone in CF has steadily improved, while on his flanks, Rojas, O'Day, Carter and Treadway have all been modest at best in their offensive production. Dan O'Day, at 42, remains on a HOF career track as he piles up career numbers that are the envy of players half his age.
