This Week In The Trans Atlantic: Week Three 2028

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This Week In The Trans Atlantic: Week Three 2028

#1 Post by Vic »

By Hamish Campbell
The Edinburgh News
04-24-2028

It took a couple of weeks for things to shake out, but we’ve finally reached familiar ground: Havana has started to open a lead in the Trans Atlantic Division and everyone else is starting to gasp for air.

The Leones went undefeated in Week 3 of the regular season, first sweeping a three-game set from Scotland and then another from the San Antonio Calzones of Laredo.

They’re now tied for the best record in the Imperial League with New Orleans, combining a potent attack (95 runs scored, first in the IL) with dominant pitching (a 2.79 ERA, first in the IL). Although the bullpen has been excellent (a 3.08 ERA good for third in the league), the starting rotation has been lights out, with a 2.67 ERA, tops in the IL.

San Juan, second in the division at 11-8, three games back, rivals the Leones in the effectiveness of its starters, who have combined for a 3.00 ERA, good for second in the IL. But the bullpen ranks ninth in the league at 3.79.

How about London and Scotland, you ask? Sore point, buddy. A very sore point.

London’s overall staff ERA is 3.98, “good” for 8th in the IL, although the blame there lies largely with the starters. The Underground’s rotation ranks 9th with a 4.51 ERA, while the relief core has been relatively effective with a 2.74 ERA that ranks it second in the league.

Scotland, meanwhile, ranks dead last in virtually every pitching category you could name: Overall ERA: 4.93, last; Starters’ ERA: 4.82, last; Bullpen ERA: 5.13, last; Opponents Batting Average: .275, last … well, you get the idea. No use stabbing yourself with your own Claymore.

Still, even with all that, the TAD is still the winningest division in the Imperial League, with 42 victories. The Dixie and Seaboard each have a combined 36.

So, yeah, the Trans Atlantic is still back, baby.

It’s just that Havana is a little more back than everyone else.

Mr. Jones is a Big, Big Star
Given Havana’s undefeated stretch, is it any surprise that the Imperial League’s Star of the Week is a Leone?

Certainly not, although the identity of that star might be at least a bit of a surprise: designated hitter Bill Jones.

And hit he did. Jones went 11 for 19, a .579 clip, with three home runs, six RBIs, and 8 runs scored. His slash line for the season: .355/.420/.645, with .9 WAR.

“Not too shabby, eh?” Jones quipped when asked for his reaction to the league recognizing his efforts. As Counting Crows once sang about another Mr. Jones, he was “smilin’ in the bright lights.”

A well-deserved moment of satisfaction for a young (25) star on the rise …

Hou Hao Hot
Try finding a hotter pitcher than San Juan’s Hou Hao.

Go ahead – we double dog dare ya! If you take us up on it, be prepared for an epic fail, because the 29-year-old right-hander has set a blistering pace since the regular season began.

To wit: he’s won all four of his starts, and his ERA is a sparkling 1.57. Over his last three starts, he’s 3-0 with a 0.79 ERA.

Perhaps his most impressive outing was his most recent on April 22, when he flirted with a complete game shutout against Amsterdam.

Hao threw 8.2 innings of three-hit ball, striking out 11 en route to a 2-0 victory. He only came out of the game after loading the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth on a single and two walks. Closer José Gómez came in to nail down the win, inducing Sang-min O to lift a harmless fly ball to right field.

Afterwards, Coqui Manager Sergio Manetti said it pained him to take Hao out.

“I wanted him to get that complete game shutout, but he’d thrown 112 pitches and had finally run out of gas,” Manetti said. “Situations like that are why we have Gómez on the roster – to preserve things of beauty like Hao’s victory.”

And there should be no doubt: it was a beautiful thing – just like Hao’s start to the season.

Shutting Down the Opposition
When his starters falter – which tends to happen when your rotation ranks 9th in a 12-team league, London Manager David Hernández doesn’t need to think twice about tapping his bullpen.

Led by closer Gideon Byrd (5 saves, 1.08 ERA, 7.6 K/9), the Underground’s relief corps has emerged as a real bright spot in the young season.

Ranked second in bullpen ERA (2.74) in the IL, London’s relievers have yet to take a loss. Setup specialist Marcos González, in 6.1 innings of work, has yet to allow an earned run.

“I hope our starters are taking notes,” Hernández said.

Maybe pitching coach Don Mosley should stock up on steno pads.

Worrisome Slump
Amid many concerning developments in the Claymores’ ugly 2-4 stretch in week three (an ineffectual starting rotation, spotty bullpen work, and so-so defense), perhaps most worrisome is the season-long funk of right fielder Vincent Powell.

When the season began, Powell figured to be Scotland’s biggest offensive threat – a cleanup hitter with legitimate power. So far, though, he ranks third on the team in homers with three, behind sizzling left fielder José Guillén (7) and designated hitter Yosuke Imai (4).

Of course, it’s hard to hit homers when you’re just plain not hitting.

Powell hit an anemic .048 in week three, with one home run. His slash line to date is a concerning .164/.253/.313.

“If the Claymores are going to contend this season – or even stay close to .500 – it’s clear they’re going to need to do it with offense,” said BNN analyst Brent Shandler. “Their pitching is … well, not good. But one of the keys to their offense has got be consistent production from Powell. If he can’t pull out of it, Scotland is going to be in for a long, long season.”

Powell, while subdued when talking to reporters last week, counseled patience.

“It’s only April, guys. Once the weather warms up, so will I.”

Let’s hope so, because last week was a long cold one for Scottish fans.

TWITA Notes: If last week was bad for Mike Powell, it wasn’t much better for San Juan’s opening week sensation Mike Rose. Over his last six games, he went 2-21 with no homers – after blasting seven in his first week. His season slash line has now dropped to .224/.329/.582 … Following Havana’s unbeaten string in week three, the Leones have now risen to No. 2 in the weekly power rankings for both leagues, trailing only 17-3 Shin SeikiHow They Stand: On the morning of April 24, it’s Havana 14-5; San Juan 11-8; Scotland 9-10; London 8-11. Lastly, see you next week!
Last edited by Vic on Wed Jan 23, 2019 4:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: This Week In The Trans Atlantic: Week Three 2028

#2 Post by MikeB »

Back to back 3-3 weeks. Be overjoyed to play .500 ball the rest of the year.
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Re: This Week In The Trans Atlantic: Week Three 2028

#3 Post by Fishermen »

After winning the opener against London I thought I was on for a good series but somehow I managed one-run losses in the next two games :angry-cussingblack:
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Re: This Week In The Trans Atlantic: Week Three 2028

#4 Post by Borealis »

These continue to be must-reads for this SL guy!!
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