NeTo NoTes: an Akira Blog
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 12:02 am
SPRING TRAINING REVIEW:
April 4, 2027 Neo-Tokyo, Japan The offseason was an interesting one for Neo-Tokyo. Owner Tim Foster has GM Ron Hiscock on a short leash following 6 consecutive losing seasons since joining the PEBA. Three years into his 4 year master plan has seen little progress on the field. Expectations were made clear: play .500 ball or else. There was one other demand made by Foster: Sign aging star Yoritomo Masuda to a long term deal. However, an injury-plagued 2026 campaign and the 37 year old outfielder's contract demands made that a complicated issue. Should the front office acquiesce to Foster's order or risk unemployment? The decision was made to forgo signing Masuda, saving millions that could be used in free agency. With talented OF prospects nearing the horizon there were more pressing areas that needed to be addressed. That savings was used to lure 27 year old SP Luigi Bright into the fold. Bright had 7 consecutive winning seasons with the Arlington Bureaucrats and has been virtually injury free. Coming into the prime of his career made a long term deal a risk worth taking. Bright indeed.
The second major acquisition was 28 year old 3B Guillermo Justavo. Acquired from Duluth for OF prospect Garry Charron, Justavo's All-Leather glove and right handed power filled a major hole in Akira's lineup. He is fresh off winning a PEBA Championship with Duluth where he was a Divisional and Soveriegn League Championship MVP.
The major questions entering Spring Training: would highly touted prospects José Fernández, Alfonso Ramos, Tomás Martínez or Chuck Glass make the roster or continue their development in the minors? A 12-12 record in Cactus League play was good enough for first place in the Rising Sun Division, not mind blowing but an accomplishment for Neo-Tokyo. The decision was made to send all four prospects to AAA Niigata to start the season. There is high expectations that some or all will be promoted at some point this season, depending on their performance in AAA.
April 4, 2027 Neo-Tokyo, Japan The offseason was an interesting one for Neo-Tokyo. Owner Tim Foster has GM Ron Hiscock on a short leash following 6 consecutive losing seasons since joining the PEBA. Three years into his 4 year master plan has seen little progress on the field. Expectations were made clear: play .500 ball or else. There was one other demand made by Foster: Sign aging star Yoritomo Masuda to a long term deal. However, an injury-plagued 2026 campaign and the 37 year old outfielder's contract demands made that a complicated issue. Should the front office acquiesce to Foster's order or risk unemployment? The decision was made to forgo signing Masuda, saving millions that could be used in free agency. With talented OF prospects nearing the horizon there were more pressing areas that needed to be addressed. That savings was used to lure 27 year old SP Luigi Bright into the fold. Bright had 7 consecutive winning seasons with the Arlington Bureaucrats and has been virtually injury free. Coming into the prime of his career made a long term deal a risk worth taking. Bright indeed.
The second major acquisition was 28 year old 3B Guillermo Justavo. Acquired from Duluth for OF prospect Garry Charron, Justavo's All-Leather glove and right handed power filled a major hole in Akira's lineup. He is fresh off winning a PEBA Championship with Duluth where he was a Divisional and Soveriegn League Championship MVP.
The major questions entering Spring Training: would highly touted prospects José Fernández, Alfonso Ramos, Tomás Martínez or Chuck Glass make the roster or continue their development in the minors? A 12-12 record in Cactus League play was good enough for first place in the Rising Sun Division, not mind blowing but an accomplishment for Neo-Tokyo. The decision was made to send all four prospects to AAA Niigata to start the season. There is high expectations that some or all will be promoted at some point this season, depending on their performance in AAA.