Ghastly Gazette

[Ghosts]

Ghosts Overcome 0-2 Deficit to win Wild Card Series

Niihama, Japan - October 11, 2039

Planetary Extreme Baseball Alliance pundits who figured the Wild Card between the Niihama-shi Ghosts and Okinawa Shisa would go the distance were right on the mark. The two teams battled back and forth in a spirited series, with Niihama-shi coming out on top thanks to a 5-4 win in the deciding game at Oikake Maze, to wrap things up 3-2. 23-year-old Yoritomo Hayakawa battled Ghosts' veteran Connor Leith, each posting nearly identical outcomes: 8.0 IP, 3 ERs off 5 hits. For a moment, it looked like Earl Lucas lost the series, as he gave up a 10th inning leadoff solo HR to former Ghost 3B Juan Ramos before escaping the inning without further damage. In the bottom of the inning, however, rookie catcher Shojiro Samurakami pinch hit for Julio Elias, and laced a double into one of Oikake Maze's countless alleys to start the inning. 1B Ramon "Ghost" Guzman, perhaps the best speedster in Ghosts history, showed bunt on an 0-1 offering from Hector Anaya and missed. Down 0-2, Guzman showed impressive patience letting two close pitches by, evening the count. On the 5th offering, Guzman turned and snapped his wrists on a fastball, shooting a line drive shot over the left field wall. The walk off HR, Guzman's only postseason HR over 118 PAs, and just the 27th HR of his 12-year career, electrified the audience and earned Ghost a brutal mugging at the plate.

"You get to the last game and anything can happen, so we're overjoyed to come out on top," said Ghosts third baseman Santiago Aranda, who was named series MVP. For the series, Aranda had 7 hits for a .350 average. He had 5 home runs, 8 RBI and scored 5 runs. Each of those 5 HRs came in the last three games, where Aranda was a one-man wrecking crew. His game 4 effort, where he went 3-3 with 2 BBs, 2 HRs, and 7 RBI may have broken a lesser team, but the Shisa were not phased and brought an impressive effort to Game 5.

The Ghosts will face perennial rival Toyoma in the Divisional Series. While team captain Harold Stowe will be eligible to return early in the series, Luppe Van Dam will miss it entirely.

[Ghosts]

2039 Historical Review

The Ghosts have a unique history in the PEBAverse - a team that's participated in three of the nascent leagues since the fall of the MLB: first the LRS, then PEBA briefly, then the WIL, and now back to PEBA. Many left indelible marks on the Ghosts record books during the 33 year history of Niihama baseball. It's hard to imagine anyone every topping two of Nobuhito Hasegawa's career marks: AVG .325 and OBP .416. It's been 14 seasons since anyone in the green and white pinstripes has even had a single season surpassing either of those marks, but his cumulative stat records may be reachable, in particular by Gigantor / Jin-song Zambrano. Gigantor is now 2nd (28.2) behind Hasegawa (41.0) in WAR. After breaking the single season record with 8.0 WAR in 2039, Gigantor seems perhaps just two seasons behind the great Hasegawa. Other totals where Zambrano is on Hasegawa's heels include Runs (-145), Hits (-366), and Total Bases (-277). TBs could be surpassed next season, while Runs will take two seasons and Hits likely three. While it's unclear if the Ghosts will be able to lock Gigantor up long term, even if he just plays out his rookie deal, he will own the top spot in several categories.

Esteban Rodriguez's second consecutive 58 SB season puts him on the single season leaderboard at spots 4 & 5 (in addition to the #2 spot for his 60 SB 2037 season), and to third on the all-time board at 189. That's just two shy of Ramon Guzman's 191 and 30 shy of Tokugawa's record 219 career SBs.

The departed (via trade) Steve McDonald ascended to 4th on the all-time walks list. Gilberto Fernandez ascends to #2 on the all-time HR list, 32 behind Toshiyuki Yoshida. Gigantor and MacVurich also appear on that list in the 6th and 8th positions, respectively. Fernandez's 2nd consecutive 39 HR season was enough to give him the 9th and 10th best single season marks, while his slugging percentage (.559) represented the 8th best mark. Harold Stowe posted the 8th best season from a Total Bases standpoint (312) while Gigantor enjoyed the 7th best doubles season with 46. Stowe's 178 Hits were good enoough to tie for the 6th best all-time season.

On the pitching side, Fernando Valdez and Connor Leith both became eligible to the career rate record lists, with Valdez debuting his career ERA of 2.72 at the top of the Niihama leaderboard. Leith's 3.26 ERA is currently good enough for 6th. Valdez also finds himself atop the WHIP (1.04) and OOPS (.637) leaderboards, 3rd in RWAR, 3rd in OAVG, and 7th in OSLG. Yuji Yamashita continued to climb in several categories despite a down year. He's now 3rd all-time in Wins (63), 5th in WAR (15.4), 2nd in games started (175), and 2nd in Ks (935).

Earl Lucas is now the Ghosts career saves leader (199) after posting a career high 38 saves, the 3rd best mark in Niihama history. Sophomore Dave Lopez put up the 7th best ERA in Ghosts history (2.59), and Valdez's 17 wins is tied for 6th best. Van Dam and Valdez both posted excellent WHIP marks (1.02 and 1.04), good enough for 6th and 7th best.

[Ghosts]

2039 Ends in Bitter Defeat(s)

The Ghosts were swept by the rival Wind Dancers, marking the third consecutive division series loss since the Ghosts won the first such matchup en route to the 2036 championship. The 2039 series was swift and brutal - coming off a tough Wild Card series against Okinawa, which required extra innings in game 5 to resolve, the Ghosts appeared tired while the Windies appeared bloodthirsty. The Ghosts scored 0, 1, 3, and 3 runs while giving up 3, 3, 8, and 5. No game was particularly close, as the offense posted an anemic collective .504 OPS in the series. The Wind Dancers' .833 stood in stark contrast, will certainly provide bulletin board material for the offseason. With only team captain Harold Stowe posting an impressive series (3-10, 2HR), the Ghosts offense will have to answer some difficult questions this offseason. They are hardly alone, however, as the team ERA difference was correspondingly alarming: Niihama, 5.01; Toyoma, 1.74. Anchored by abysmal performances like Fernando Valdez's 0.2 inning, 5 H, 5 ER, 1 BB start and Connor Leith's 4.0 inning, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 HR start, the Ghosts may have to consider reforming their approach to competing with Toyoma.

The organization's minor leagues made playoff appearances at the AAA, AA, and A levels (and narrowly missed in both SS-A and R levels), but each team was summarily dismissed in their first series. The Puckmen won a single game against rival Kyoto Rodan (SS), losing their series 3-1. Former Niihama prospect Carlos de le Garza crushed Namuko pitching, belting 3 HRs and posting a 1.400 OPS for the series. In what would be his final appearance as a professional ballplayer, former Bakersfield Bears pitcher Henry "Cold Smoke" Carter gave up 8 H and 3 BBs, including a HR, en route to a 4.2 inning, 5 ER (6 R) loss. The Warriors blew a 2-0 lead, ultimately losing the series in a disastrous game 5, as regular season standout Félix Crisanto was shelled to open the game. Lasting just 0.2 innings, the 4 ER he gave up would be all that Kyoto needed (though they would tack an extra 6 on), to best the Warriors. Ensenada Cenicienta del Pacifico soundly defeated the A-level Gakidou Onryou 3-1 on the backs of several dominating hitting performances. Four Ensenada starters posted OPS greater than 1.000 for the series, collectively batting .375 with 7 HR and 12 BBs. The Onryou managed just 2 HR and 12 BBs as a team.

[Ghosts]

DH Competition Heats Up

Last year, the DH position was largely split between John MacVurich and Ryuzaburo 'Reezy' Mori. Both players can play adequate left field, however, and it appears the Ghosts are happy to allow MacVurich to field the position full time. That leaves either a hole for a RHB to split time with Reezy (or another LHB) or, preferably, a hole for a true DH capable of hitting lefties and righties sufficiently to free up a roster spot.

The candidates for one of those roles are as follows:
1. Reezy - The 24-year-old is lost vs lefties, and only managed a 95 OPS+ last season despite being well protected from lefties. He’s still young and the office still likes his scouting reports, but the results so far are not encouraging.
2. Matchbox - Claudio Hernandez just signed on a one year deal, and is presumably the favorite for that reason. He of also a lead candidate because of his ability to hit well from both sides of the plate. The 38-year-old hasn’t payed impressive numbers since 2034, though at least part of that is likely due to playing in Aurora’s pitcher friendly park. Id his bat sufficient to lockdown the DH role on the high-powered Ghosts offense? 2039 OPS+ 99
3. Stephen Hooper - The old man, now 43, can still rake vs RHP. He would need a platoon partner, perhaps MacVurich again if the team opts for a 5th outfielder over a righty DH. He’s on a minors/majors deal, though, so while it’s unlikely the team activates his contract to open the season, he could walk if the team opts not to promote him by June. 2039 OPS+ 72
4. Tsuginori 'Mustache' Takahashi - How far the mighty have fallen. Once an untouchable prospect and star of the Bears, Taka now finds himself competing for another shot at a roster spot. On a minors/majors deal like Hooper, he too could walk if not given a shot early in the year. His 2039 OPS+ was only 114, but he also stole 43 bases.
5. Pedro 'Top Thrill' Hernández - The minor league hitter of the year has exceptional power and solid patience, but is lost vs lefties and strikes out far too much. A darkhorse candidate at best.
6. Oscar 'Meatwad' Simons - The Ghosts’ best prospect is HIGHLY likely to start the season in AAA (and likely to finish there as well), but he’s been invited to camp and will see some ML pitching. Maybe he makes such an impression that he launches his career earlier than anticipated.

[Ghosts]

The End of an ERA

Niihama, Japan 23 April 2040

Yuji Yamashita, we will miss you. Thank you for our 2036 championship. Thank you for your all-star season, and all the other seasons deserving of that merit. Thank you for being a career leader in so many of our records:

ERA (7th)
Wins (3rd)
WAR (6th)
GS (2nd)
CG (t-8th)
SO (t-3rd)
IP (2nd)
Ks (1st)
rWAR (5th)

Our strikeout leader. Our champion. A Ghost.