Ghastly Gazette

[Ghosts]

Reconstructing the Past: The WIL Years and "Minor League" Hitters of the Year

From 2024 through 2031, the Niihama Ghosts were a member of the World Independent League. The franchise went through a dark time through much of that era, as they won their division just once and reported well over $200M in revenue deficits. History doesn't stop during such times, though, and so we're going to make selections for minor league players of the year during this time period as we attempt to rebuild the lost stories of the Niihama franchise. We'll abide the precedent that with no actual minor leagues, selections should have played at least half the year with little to no prior experience above the AAA level. That is, rookies as far as the WIL is concerned.

2024: 2B Bob Pinksen

The long-time pro got his start with the 2024 Ghosts, and he made it a season to remember for fans. In 98 appearances and 315 ABs, he totaled 91 hits, 24, 2Bs, 7 3Bs, 7 HRs, and 2.1 WAR. His 119 OPS+ was buoyed by his .289 AVG and power.

2025: CF Joe Fairchild

The switch hitting center-fielder never got a real look until his age 27 season in 2025, when he started 107 games for the Ghosts. He earned 2.3 WAR with a 90 OPS+ and his defense, and the Wunderkind Award for his efforts.

2026: SS Maximo Lopez

The 26-year-old shortstop had a modicum of prior pro experience before 2026, so this is a bit of a stretch, but the lack of other candidates makes Lopez the only choice. His prior experience amounted to only 235 PAs, though, so his rookie status isn't far off if at all. Lopez debuted with success - hitting .269/.338/.407 to earn 3.0 WAR. Lopez had talent in many areas, including speed (7 3Bs, 25 SBs), power (48 XBHs), and contact (158 hits).

2027: SS Julian Bleazzard

Bleazzard was a fixture in Niihama until their departure from the WIL, and so it's fitting that his first real action for the team is awarded with the 2027 MiL HotY award. His first season left plenty to be desired, as he posted negative WAR (-0.3) in 81 appearances with a 58 OPS+. His glove was solid, though, and he was the Ghosts only real option for the award, so there's that.

2028: CF Tomas Gonzalez

At age 24, Gonzalez got his first major action, starting in 80 games and earning 1.6 WAR buoyed by his speed and patience. His .367 OBP and 33 SBs in 354 PAs are impressive marks for anyone, let alone a rookie.

2029: 1B Bernardo Gonzalez

The 22-year-old beat out LF Kazunari Ito for the award, who appeared in 82 games and produced 1.4 WAR with an OPS+ of 84 and would move on the Gloucester the next year, where he remains as he hopes to make his PEBA debut in 2035. "Kung Fu Pand", meanwhile, plays for Neo Tokyo and led the league in HRs during his PEBA debut year. His WIL debut, however, came three years prior, where he hit 26 HRs and 122 hits as he slashed .293/.336/.537 and earned 4.5 WAR. Impressive marks for a player that started only 99 games. After two down years with the Akira in '33 and '34, he may have played his last Akira ball, but he has a future somewhere should that be the case.

2030: RF Kiyomitsu Kobayashi

Kobayashi debuted at age 23 and proceeded to knock paint off the walls of Oikake Maze with 32 2Bs and 11 3Bs, earning 1.3 WAR along the way. He's since enjoyed several stints in PEBA with both Niihama and Yuma, and is currently fighting to earn a roster spot for the 2035 Arroyos.

[DrewV]

This is great! I love digging deep into franchise history and I think it's an elegant idea to add these names to the list.

What an interesting character SS Julian Bleazzard is. The mutton chops really complete the unique personality and set of skills.

Really enjoyed reading through this, Dan. Well done!

[Ghosts]

Reconstructing the Past: The WIL Years and "Minor League" Pitchers of the Year

2024 P Juan Alonso

It wasn't much of a season, but he was the only debuting pitcher and he did end the season with a FIP near 3.00.

2025 P Mike Porter

Porter beat out fellow rookie Carlos Rivas for the award by posting a 2.49 FIP in 10 appearances (in addition to 7 appearances with NJ).

2026 P Mike Porter

2026 featured no meaningful debuts and no pitching efforts by youth of note, so Porter wins a second award despite a bad year. Stretching the limits of creativity here since our only other option is no awardee. Given that PEBA players can be awarded repeatedly, I guess it's okay to do so here.

2027 SP Cesar Silva

Another weak selection, Silva pitched 15 innings in 2027 at age 19 and didn't get completely destroyed (4.86 FIP), so congrats, dude.

2028 SP Noritada Akiyama

Finally, a real selection! 2028 featured three worthy debuts including Forrest Carr's and Jeff Ashley's, but Akiyama's was the best. He threw 86.2 innings and earned 0.9 WAR with a 3.50 FIP. Not bad for a 20-year-old in the WIL. Akiyama is currently enjoying some ML success with the resurgent Arlington Bureaucrats.

2029 Forrest Carr

Ok I again have to stretch the rules, as this was Carr's sophomore season, but there were no significant debuts and he was still just 22. His 3.50 FIP was solid and the best of the above trio of young Ghost arms.

2030 P Yoshifumi 'Snuffy' Ohara
The #2 overall pick of the 2029 WIL amateur draft, Ohara debuted with aplomb as he threw 56 innings for the 2030 Ghosts. His 1.18 WHIP and 3.33 FIP were good enough for a 141 ERA+ and 0.9 WAR. Ohara was traded to Kure in an ill-advised trade for Huibrecht Ubbens, whom has been a disappointment while Ohara has continued to improve and is now on the verge of a PEBA debut with the newly reintroduced Hitmen.

[Ghosts]

This is great! I love digging deep into franchise history and I think it's an elegant idea to add these names to the list.

What an interesting character SS Julian Bleazzard is. The mutton chops really complete the unique personality and set of skills.

Really enjoyed reading through this, Dan. Well done!

Thanks! He killed it for Arlington's AAA team last year, especially in the playoffs. Check out the handlebar mustache on Theo Holder.

[Ghosts]

The Ghosts 25: Reviewing the Ghosts Top 25 OSA Prospects in 2034 (25-21)

With the 2034 graduation of the first wave of the great rebuild, the Ghosts farm system is still rated #1, but the depth is starting to wear thin.

25. 1B Álex García - A scouting discovery last December, Garcia made his R level debut in 2034, sort of. He went 1 for 7. Without more information, we can't really judge the lad just yet. Let's see what happens next year. No grade.

24. P Henry Spencer Spencer started the year in R ball, failing miserably as a relative veteran: his 5.18 FIP was better than his 5.53 ERA. Oddly, that latter number was only a 73 ERA+, an indication of the wild hitting nature of the IBC. Once promoted to A ball, though, Spencer performed better: 3.24 FIP in 60.2 innings. His BABIP was more in line with his (low) career norm, a stark difference from the 71.2 innings he pitched in R ball. Henry earns a C+ on the season for the improved but mediocre play at the higher level of competition.

23. P Blaine Julien - The former Supplemental 1st round pick played the year in AAA, consistently overpowering the league's hitters with his devastating stuff. His FIP was a ridiculous 1.05, as he struck out 54 in 46.1 innings of work. Julien had a rude introduction to PEBA, getting hit hard and often, but for his excellent first season at AAA he earns an A.

22. 1B Ramón Fuentes - Another 2033 scouting discovery, Fuentes has yet to debut and cannot earn a grade.

21. P Reece Murray - An 8th round pick in 2034, Murray had a solid pro debut after coming in third in the 2034 ICOL PL Outstanding Pitcher Award voting. Playing for the Gunslingers in SS-A ball, Murray posted 17 starts and put together a 3.21 ERA, 9-4 season. His 3.00 FIP is a solid mark, as is the 1.4 WAR he earned. Murray earns a B for his efforts.

[Ghosts]

The Ghosts 25: Reviewing the Ghosts Top 25 OSA Prospects in 2034 (20-16)

20. LF Jing-bo Tsu - In his sophomore season of R ball, Tsu posted similar numbers to his rookie year. He slashed .300/.350/.421 and saw improvements to his LF defense despite playing mostly at CF as a tryout at the position. Tsu earns a B+ for a good year with limited improvement.

19. SP Yajirobei Matsunaga - He was never supposed to make it this far. He fell past the razor thin first round of the WIL draft to the second round. Few have ever done so and gone on the make an impact in PEBA. Yet, that's what Matsunaga seems poised to do, as he simply keeps performing, much like Anthony MacDonald before him. Starting the year in AA, Yaji quickly earned a promotion to AAA, where he started 24 games, going 15-5 with a 2.40 ERA at age 22. He earns an A for his continued ascent toward the Ghosts rotation.

18. P Júlio Vargas - A 7th round selection in 2034, Vargas debuted in SS-A midseason and was promptly abused. His 3.64 FIP isn't terrible, but his 6.25 ERA (48 ERA+) and 1.78 WHIP certainly were. Vargas will need to pull it together in a hurry to maintain his position on this list. D.

17. RP Robin Castano - Once one of Niihama's top pitching prospects, Castano has since slid off the radar of the top brass in Niihama as his potential ceiling reportedly continues to lower. That said, Castano made the hard leap to AA this season, and put together a respectable performance, especially considering his age (21). His 3.00 ERA is better than his 3.42 FIP, but his .326 BABIP demonstrates some bad luck on the year. Castano earns a B-.

16. LF Li-ben Wa - The Niihama 4th round pick, Wa debuted with the Gunslingers and put together a productive showing over 153 ABs. His slash of .190/.304/.451 betrays his strengths and weaknesses as a hitter, but if he can keep improving his power stroke, he could have a real future. For now, a 148 OPS+ is good enough for an A- in his debut season.

[Ghosts]

The Ghosts 25: Reviewing the Ghosts Top 25 OSA Prospects in 2034 (15-11)

15. P David Walker - A 5th round selection by the Ghosts in 2034, Walker debuted in R ball and struggled a bit. He posted league average numbers and generally appeared uncomfortable. Walker earns a C for a mediocre first look.

14. CF Tommy Millar - The Ghosts other 5th round pick debuted in Dawson City and was quickly impressive. His .252 AVG was decent, but his .392 OBP was excellent. A healthy dose of power (10 HRs, 23 XBHs in 230 ABs) and good defensive metrics at CF yield an A on the season.

13. 2B Vasil Albers - A key piece of the Figueroa trade, Albers played in AAA for Glendale (Reno's system) and in AA for Ikari (Niihama's), so he walked backwards in that respect. It's likely the FO was simply tying to match him to the best coaching staff for his continued development, though, and Albers responded positively to both the trade and the transactions. He earned a 112 OPS+ in AAA and a 109 in AA. Albers earns a B+ for a good season.

12. P José Sánchez - Yet to debut, no grade.

11. CF Bae Ko - The 18-year-old scouting discovery finally debuts, and makes a solid show of it with a 102 OPS+ and decent defensive metrics at CF. He hit for better average than expected (.280) but less power as well (.408 SLG). It was certainly encouraging to see the high average, and power often develops late, so the brass is pleased with his debut. B-

[Ghosts]

The Ghosts 25: Reviewing the Ghosts Top 25 OSA Prospects in 2034 (10-6)

10. SP Alonso 'Shocker' Hernández - The Shocker played the entire season in AAA and had a solid year. His 2.61 ERA was good, his 2.96 FIP was still good, and his 1.7 WAR was decent. He did manage 18 quality starts (72%), but his walks were high (3.86 BB/9) and Ks weren't high enough (6.91 Ks/9). He's only 23, and will likely have the entirety of the 2035 season to continue improving. Shocker earns a B-.

9. P David 'The Rat' Sánz - The Ghosts top selection (3rd round, 98th overall) in 2034, The Rat debuted in Rookie ball and pitched fairly well. He posted league average FIP- (105) and earned 1.1 WAR. Sanz might not stick as a starter, but he also might do just that. Only time will tell. B-

8. 3B Adam Ugurlu - The FO continues to wait for Ugurlu's mythical power potential to manifest. Upon making the jump from R to A ball, Ugurlu hit just 3 HRs, saw his average dip below the Mendoza line (.199), and posted an exactly league average OPS+ for the second straight season. Still, the kid is only 18 and has plenty of time to develop. Ugurlu earns a C+, mostly for not imploding as an 18-year-old in A ball.

7. RF Harold Stowe - A cornerstone of Phase 2 of the Ghosts Great Rebuild, a lot of expectations have been heaped upon Harry. For the most part, he's responded well to this, but Stowe did stumble upon being promoted from AA to AAA. He still ended up with a 138 OPS+, but that's a far cry from the 156 he posted in AA (and the 152 he posted last year). Stowe earns a B for performing good but not great in what was hopefully his final full season in the minors.

6. P Connor 'Tapper' Leith - Much the same can be said for the Ghosts former #4 overall draftee. He played the whole season in AAA and produced inconsistently, ending up with a league average FIP- and just 1.8 WAR. The Ghosts are expected to work intensely with Leith over the offseason to improve his odds of making the rotation at some point next season. Leith earns a B-.

[Ghosts]

The Ghosts 25: Reviewing the Ghosts Top 25 OSA Prospects in 2034 (5-1)

5. 3B José Picaluga - The Ghosts sole IAFA acquisition, Picaluga has not debuted and cannot earn a grade.

4. LF John MacVurich - The former #1 overall pick, "Splits" spent most of his season at AAA after crushing AA pitching (170 OPS+) and proceeded to do much the same at the next level. His 159 OPS+ showed that he's coming soon to a PEBA location near you. Between AA and AAA, he hit 30 HRs on the season and earned 3.3 WAR. Splits earns a A-.

3. SP Fernando 'Biceps' Valdéz - Biceps is just 19, but has already made it to AA, debuting there for one game in the postseason. He played the rest of the year at A ball, putting up a silly 1.65 ERA and going 13-3. He struck out 127 and earned 4.7 WAR (as well as the minor league pitcher of the year award). Biceps gets an A+ for his season.

2. 2B Esteban 'The Celestial Jaguar' Rodríguez - CJ spent his season in the same 1:2 AA:AAA split as the other core hitting prospects, and posted 156 and 149 OPS+ at each, respectively. He totaled 4.2 WAR, stealing 39 bases, hitting 16 HRs, 41 XBHs, and 127 hits in 452 ABs. It's been a long time coming, but the young man is coming soon, and the Niihama faithful should be very, very excited. CJ earns an A.

1. SS Jin-song Zambrano - Little can be said that hasn't already been said for the 2034 Ghosts MiL Hitter of the Year and the AAA MVP, but here's a little more anyway. JZ got BETTER as he moved to AAA, roasting AAA pitching for a 213 OPS+ and earning 7.5 WAR in just 86 games. That projects to over 14 WAR. Surely, though, he can't stick at SS, though, right? In his first season there, he posted +5.0 ZR and 1.005 EFF. All hail the king. A++

[DrewV]

I really enjoyed this detailed review, Dan. Well done!

[Ghosts]

Will 2035 Be the Ghosts' First Winning PEBA Season?

With Spring Training around the corner and the 73 win 2034 season long in the rearview mirror, we examine the possibility of the Ghosts first winning season at the PEBA level in its history. The previous closest the Ghosts came was during the second year of its initial PEBA stint from 2021 to 2023, when the Ghosts won 77 games. Last year's effort was the next closest, and although it doesn't seem to be a huge leap to get from 73 to 82 wins, it very much is in the context of 2035. Internal improvements aside, the powerhouses of the Rising Sun look no weaker than they have while riding roughshod over the Sovereign League, and the Okinawa Shisa feature not only future superstars such as SP Shou Saitou, but also current stars like the recently inked Clarence Carpenter.

With the competition so high in the Rising Sun (and indeed across the Sovereign Leagure) why is the prospect of a winning season even worthy of discussion? The answer lies largely in the wealth of talent projected to land in Niihama relatively soon. The AAA Namuko Puckmen of 2034 featured the following OSA top 100 prospects: SS Jin-Song Zambrano (#4), 2B Esteban Rodriguez (#11), P Connor Leith (#22), LF John MacVurich (#27), and RF Harold Stowe (#83). That's in addition to the rookie sensations of 2034 like Yuji Yamashita, Ernest Middleton, and Shohei Murakami as well as the veteran additions including OF Sean Peters and IF Christian Webb. The Ghosts came relatively close to .500 ball last year while sporting an offense that looked weak on paper and performed even worse. With a new manager, hitting coach, and upwards of 6 new high quality bat additions, the offense should improve markedly. If the pitching can keep pace with 2034, and all indications are that the staff looks at least as strong as last year on paper, then the scales may just be tipped in favor of history for the Ghosts.

[Borealis]

Whether the Ghosts make it to .500 or not, they will be a tough out for all the SL contenders!!

[Ghosts]

Big Bats Arrive with Expectations

Niihama, Japan - 16 April, 2035

Four and a half years ago, the impending promotion of the WIL Niihama-shi Ghosts to PEBA, the penultimate expansion before the league reached its coveted 32 team status, was announced. Since that time, fans have suffered. 2031 was a lost year, for while the Ghosts were still part of the WIL, the minds of everyone, inside the organization and out, were on the return to PEBA. The Ghosts ended up winning a playoff series despite finishing 5th of 6 as all teams were included in the playoffs, but no one cared as the magical re-entry to PEBA loomed. Then, when the re-entry did finally occur, the magic quickly faded. The Ghosts were thinking long term, and the resultant 127 loss season was the worst in Niihama history. Yet, it wasn't all for naught... or so we hope.

The Ghosts earned the #1 pick in the 2033 draft with that painful season, and with it selected GBP (General Baseball Player) John MacVurich. Many criticized the pick, because despite MacVurich's many talents, he had no clear future as a PEBA player. He lacked the athleticism to play 3B, where he spent the bulk of his time off the mound while at Curtis University. He might fit as a left fielder, but again, his limited athletic ability made him a borderline candidate there as well. A transition to first base was possible, but was that the position that maximized his value? There were even suggestions from some that he made a better pitching prospect than offensive prospect, given his athletic limitations and career 1.61 FIP and 0.92 WHIP in 234.0 innings of college work. No one, however, doubted his bat. In 533 PAs in college, John slashed .320/.426/.673 for a 198 OPS+. He hit 40 HRs and earned 7.3 WAR despite bad defensive metrics.

So, what's become of John MacVurich? The Niihama organization trained him to play both 1B and LF, yet appear to have settled on his future as a DH. His offensive performances in the minors have left little doubt in the minds of the Ghosts front office that he can contribute at a high level with his bat alone. Yet, he's also been allowed to mature as a pitcher, and all indications are that he will be allowed to pitch as a last man out of the pen. Today, his contract was purchased from Namuko, and according to Ghosts manager Chris Harris, will be hitting second against LHP Sa-Yoor Choi, whom just five days ago pitched 8 innings of shutout baseball against Niihama.

Also landing in Niihama today will be SS Jin-Song "Gigantor" Zambrano. Gigantor earned the nickname from his large stature and wordless heroics last season in Namuko, where he earned the MVP award. He will be the starting shortstop today, hitting 6th ahead of PEBA legend C Steve McDonald. Gigantor slashed .317/.386/.556 last season in AAA, earning 7.5 WAR in just 86 games, in addition to the 1.1 he earned in AA prior to his promotion. Through two weeks of AAA so far in 2035, Gigantor's 168 OPS+ has done little to discourage the notion that he will make an immediate impact at the PEBA level.

Also of interest is the optioning of stud 2B prospect Enrique Rodriguez to AAA after he made his PEBA debut on opening day. The front office had made every indication that he was only to be promoted in the event of urgent need or overwhelmingly spectacular results, because they believe he still can benefit from some AAA seasoning, but when IF Christian Webb came down with some nagging Spring injuries and started the season on the IL, Rodriguez got his first cup of coffee. After a disastrous first week, The Celestial Jaguar went 6 for 22 with a 3B and HR last week, good for a 150 OPS+, and ends his stint with a respectable .234/.265/.362 slash and 106 OPS+. He may return this season, but with the return of Webb and the early success of lefty IF Vasil Albers and righty IF Miguel Fernandez, the Ghosts appear to be able to afford to maximize his developmental opportunity.

OF Tyan-yu Tung and P/C Takuji Kino have been optioned to AAA to make room for MacVurich and Zambrano.

[Ghosts]

Icy Start To 2035 Season

Niihama, Japan - June 11, 2035

So much hoped dashed in so many ways. The prized rookie bats and heavy hitting veterans were supposed to forge a potent offense. The sophomore pitching was to improve on a solid rookie start. The new management was to lead a new path to winning. And then April and May offered little but cold, rainy skies and broken hearts.

The Rookies
SS Jin-Song Zambrano is perhaps Niihama's most anticipated rookie of all time. He topped lists. He crushed AAA last season in ways rarely seen. He excelled in WinterBall. And how has his arrival gone? B-. He's hitting decently: 125 wRC+, .715 OPS off a .227/.273/.442 slash. He's not fielding particularly well: -2.8 ZR and .975 EFF with 9 errors to date. He's earned a decent but underwhelming 1.2 WAR 40% into the season. For a popular ROTY preseason pick, it's been a disappointment overall. And yet he's been one of the Ghosts most productive bats, ranking third in WAR gained and 6th in OPS. No one on the team owns an OPS over .800. Six players have accrued negative WAR including the exceptionally disappointing John MacVurich (.127/.198/.176 in 102 ABs). Harold Stowe was somehow worse still: .133/.161/.167 in 30 ABs. Enrique Rodriguez has been unable to rejoin the ML roster after a middling early debut that yielded a .627 OPS in 47 ABs. That's partly due to his subpar AAA performance (124 wRC+) and mostly due to the effectiveness of the Albers/Fernandez platoon that's made 2B the most productive position on the Ghosts.

The Vets
C Steve McDonald leads the team in offensive WAR (1.9) and has been the team's best veteran by far. Newly acquired former Royal Raker 2b/3b Christian Webb has been a disappointment, missing time and posting an uninspiring .657 OPS. The weight of his performance is dwarfed, however, by the failure of RF Sean Peters. The man who posted wRC+ lines of 148, 139, & 153 since the Ghosts returned is now sporting a 63. He's earned -0.5 WAR, and that's despite the best week of his season last week. Overall, disappointing results from $55M in salary. At least Garry Charron and his $14M have been solid: .237/.287/.456.

The Pitching
This is where it gets truly dark for Ghosts fans. Ernest Middleton, the team's closer and lone 2034 all-star has been annihilated in nearly every one of his 17 outings. He's earned -0.9 WAR and sports a 6.45 ERA despite a .219 BABIP. Shohei Murakami will end his season with a 4.68 ERA and -0.3 WAR (vs 2.92 and 4.6 WAR in 2034) after tearing his rotator cuff last week. Huibrecht Ubbens, once one of Niihama's best prospects, was DFA'd and claimed by Shin Seiki. Anthony MacDonald continues to struggle with the long ball, giving up 12 HRs and sporting an ugly 78 ERA+. Yuji Yamashita has struggled wildly with consistency and has been significantly worse in his sophomore year in just about every way measurable. Noritada Akiyama was savaged in his homecoming to Niihama as he posted a 10.67 ERA in 5 April starts (though fortunately he's settled in decently once he returned to the pen). Perhaps the lone bright spot for a team that is near the bottom in almost every pitching category has been SP Jerome Evans, whom has been stellar through 13 starts. His 1.98 ERA, 84.6% QS rate, and 0.69 WHIP have earned him plenty of all-star attention.

Where do the Ghosts go from here? Don't be surprised to see veterans get moved if the offer is good. The Ghosts sit 14.5 games back of the division while tied for last place (and that's despite sweeping the division leading Windies last week) and 9 games back of the last Wild Card behind 8 other teams. Even if the team plays as far beyond expectations as they have underperformed to date for the second half of the season, they are likely too far back in too competitive of a league to recover. Once again, Ghosts fans have to find silver linings where they can. Here are a few:
The Ghosts are...

• second in the SL in extra base hits

• tops in the SL with 114 2Bs

• 6-4 in June

• riding a 5 game win streak

AND...

• Steve McDonald is 4th in PEBA in walks with 30

• Vasil Albers is 5th in 2Bs with 16

• Jerome Evans is 3rd in ERA (1.98) and 3rd in OAVG (.170) and 2nd in Opponent OPS (.462) and WHIP (0.69)

[Ghosts]

Webb Traded as Ghosts Punt on '35

Christian Webb was a Niihama-shi Ghost for barely seven months, and in that time he went from fan favorite to dust in the wind, from overpaid zero to middle-of-the-order hero, and from bringer of hope to a pile of future assets. We wish him the very best as he and the Amsterdam Lions hope to chase down playoff glory, but meanwhile, we're staring down the barrel of the 9th consecutive losing season in Niihama.

When Webb was acquired from Florida this off-season, he was traded for a high 2nd to low 3rd pick swap, SP prospect Jose Sanchez, and a 6th round pick. As he exits, he was traded to Amsterdam for a 3rd round pick, young IF Bailey Calvert, and LF prospect Bill Jenkins. A fairly equitable return, or so it appears at this early stage. Webb helped bring what looks to be a record number of fans (projected 4.7+M) to Oikake Maze. In doing so, he's helped to pave the way for the young team to settle in to their pro game as well as into the hearts of fans. Losing fan favorites like Shohei Murakami (season ending injury) and John MacVurich (season delaying suckage) has hurt interest almost as much as the losing record, but surprisingly, despite his popularity, losing Webb doesn't seem to have hurt interest in the team much. Perhaps fans expected the move, perhaps they've not noticed, or perhaps they're excited for the arrival of 3B Roberto Tall, who will take Webb's roster and lineup spot.

Tall has impressed since his unusual acquisition; rumor has it he was illegally rostered late in the Rule 5 process resulting in a backdoor deal that eventually saw him land in Niihama by way of Charleston. Regardless of the legalities, Tall has produced in AAA to an impressive extent. His .281/.337/.542 slash placed him on the leaderboards for HRs, SLG, OPS, WAR, TBs, ISO, wOBA, and WPA. He seems as ready as a 22-year-old can be to take the place of the illustrious Webb, and fans would be forgiven for holding high expectations. Time will tell if such supposed hype is well-founded.