Ghastly Gazette

[Ghosts]

The Ghosts 25: Reviewing the Ghosts Top 25 OSA Prospects in 2033 (11-15)

15. P Shohei Murakami - $16M. Rarely do players get to know their true value in such plain terms, but that was the price Niihama paid for Murakami. Was he worth? Maybe, maybe not, but the season he posted at AAA this year suggests the former. Shohei made 47 late inning appearances for Namuko this year and demonstrated elite stuff. He struck 11.1 per 9 and allowed just 1f earned runs for a 192 ERA+. His walk rate was sufficiently low at 2.7 while his HR rate was excellent (0.4). Between his elite cutter/sinker pairing and the swagger he's developed, Murakami is headed to Niihama soon as the tip of the spear. Murakami earns an A for his season.

14. RP Ernest Middleton The only man perhaps ahead of Murakami on that spearhead is "Professor" Middleton. He debuted at AAA and closed for the Puckmen, earning 27 saves and posting incredible numbers: 0.83 WHIP, 0.5 HR/9, 2.4 BB/9, and 12.9K/9. He earned 3.1 WAR as a closer, and appears to be among the first of the core to reach Niihama. Middleton earned an A+ for his season.

13. P Yoshinobu Okada - A free agent minor league signing, Okada has apparently caught the eye of someone at OSA. He had a good sophomore season at Rookie Ball, earning 2.4 WAR in 15 starts. His 149 ERA+ was excellent, anh his 1.0 BB/9 rate was impressive, though his stuff is middling for someone with his velocity. Okada earns a B+.

12. RP Earl Lucas - The Ghosts second selection and 9th overall pick in the 2032 amateur draft, Lucas is a power pitching righty with a fastball that tops put at 101mph and is offset by a plus-plus slider. Lucas closed for Ikari in his AA debut season, earning 29 saves and posting a 202 ERA+. Though he must learn to improve command, his BB/9 rate was a tolerable 3.6 and his K rate was an impressive 11.8 K/9. Lucas might have the best overall stuff in this organization, and that's saying something. For his excellent AA debut at just 22-years-old, Lucas earns an A.

11. CF Bae Ko -A 2032 scouting discovery, Ko has yet to debut. He recently turned 18 and may earn a chance this season, but scouts love his raw power and athleticism. No grade.

[Hitmen]

Hoping for the best for Murakami as we continue to watch how he progresses in his career.

[Ghosts]

Hoping for the best for Murakami as we continue to watch how he progresses in his career.

So are we! I'm genuinely curious as to how he pans out - especially after winter ball this year. Can't wait to see the Hitmen back! Although it may bring back some traumatic memories from the WIL days.

[Ghosts]

The Ghosts 25: Reviewing the Ghosts Top 25 OSA Prospects in 2033 (6-10)

10. SP Yuji Yamashita - It's unclear what Yamashita did in 2033 to drop from the top of the list. He added an excellent 3rd pitch and dominated in his AAA debut at age 23. His 1.80 ERA and 2.92 WHIP were just two of the stats that put Yuji all over the AAA qualified rookie leaderboards. If he produces like that at the next level, this ranking will look silly. Yamasita earns an A- for his season, sullied only by his manager-marred stats from the start of the AA season.

9. 3B Adam Ugurlu - A Shin Seiki trade acquisition, Ugurlu has toiled in R league since debuting at age 16 last year. He produced an oddly almost identical season at age 17 to his rookie year. His slashes for 2032 and 2033 are .287/.338/.410 and .287/.339/.394. Weird, no? Still just a kid, the projections on his power are nearly off the chart, and so while it's nice to have that promise, it hasn't resulted in much production as of yet. That said, his high average at a young age is very promising. Ugurlu earns a B- for his repetitive if solid season.

8. SP Anthony MacDonald - What is there to be said about MacDonald already, after he won back to back Minor League Pitcher of the Year awards? This season he moved from A to AAA, and dominated at every level. His 2.63 ERA, 2.46 FIP, 0.99 WHIP, and 3.2 WAR in 20 AAA starts were unexpected and astounding. Can he keep this up at the ML level? For his excellent AAA debut at just 22-years-old, MacDonald earns an A+.

7.SP Alonso Hernández The kid appears to have no weakness, at least according to scouts. Alonso debuted at AAA late this season, posting 2 QS in 3 attempts and looking in control. He had struggled a bit at AA, but at least part of that was due to early mismanagement. He also turned 22 just halfway through this season, so even average numbers like his 98 FIP- at AA are solid results. For a productive yet unspectacular season against high competition for his age, Hernandez earned an B+ this season.

6. SS Miguel Fernández - Is he a shortstop? That's the question that will linger over Fernandez for the foreseeable future. While that may be unclear, what is clear is that the kid can hit. This year's Minor League Hitter of the Year in Niihama, Fernandez topped most offensive categories in his AA debut season among qualified rookies. His wOBA was an extremely impressive .380. He hit 24 HRs in 439 PAs. We aren't sure where he'll play, but it will be somewhere in a dark green and pinstripe uniform soon. Fernandez earns an A for his season.

[Ghosts]

The Ghosts 25: Reviewing the Ghosts Top 25 OSA Prospects in 2033 (1-5)

5. Harold Stowe - 2033 was a banner year for Stowe. He went from solid prospect to potential all-star, at least in the eyes of OSA and the team in Niihama. Oh, and his production. Stowe began the year in A ball but quickly jumped to AA, debuting at age 21. He struggled early, posting .631 and .672 OPS in April and May while producing just 7 XBHs in 182 PAs. Once June rolled along, though, he hit 39 XBHs in 356 PAs. His OPS for June, July, and August were .946, .863, and .921. Stowe was first in AVG among qualified rookies, as well as in OBP. He was right behind his Pacific Alliance leading teammate Miguel Fernandez in wOBA and OPS/SLG. For his runner-up Hitter of the Year season, Stowe earns an A+ .

4. 3B/P John MacVurich - The top selection in the 2033 draft was tasked with jumping directly to AA from college, where he was placed as the starting 3B and part time RP for the Ikari Warriors. In a crowded bullpen, MacVurich only appeared in two games, pitching 5.1 innings and looking fairly average. That's not a bad thing considering he wasd playing amongst career AAAA players in the same year that he finished at college. Offensively, he was challenged more but responded well, posting an overall 132 OPS+ and matching his collegiate 13 HRs in 267 PAs. His 3B defense, though, was atrocious. He put up -20.2 ZR with an .881 FP and a grotesque .742 EFF. A transition to LF or 1B may be in his future, but for now Niihama will just have to enjoy their young star's bat. MacVurich earns a B+ for the successful jump to AA in his debut season.

3. SP Connor Leith - The 4th overall selection in 2032 started the year in A ball and dominated to the tune of a 180 ERA+ and 0.88 WHIP. After a promotion a third of the way through the season, Leith struggled to keep up with AA hitting. His WHIP jumped to 1.39, ERA+ to 72, while his K rate was more than halved to 4.4. He also saw his HR rate double. Leith is only 22, though, and so expecting Leith to catch up to and surpass the AA level is more than reasonable for the lefty fireballer. Leith earned an C+ this season.

2. SP Fernando Valdez - Acquired from the Farstriders, the 18-year-old out of Chile played his sophomore season at the R level. He dominated a hitter's league, as he struck out 11.2 per nine while walking just 1.7 and giving up 0.2 HR/9. His 1.96 ERA in 16 starts equated to a 216 ERA+ - good for 3rd in the IBC. His 2.38 FIP was good for second, as was his K rate, while his 3.7 WAR was tops in the league. Valdez earns an A+ for his season.

1. 2B Esteban Rodriguez - The Celestial Jaguar continued his march to PEBA by leaping to AA while still qualifying for Rookie League at age 20. He responded with a .295/.331/.441 slash the earned him a 131 OPS+. He discovered the long ball, hitting 10 in an injury-shortened season, as many as he'd managed in the two years prior, and according to scouts, the tip of the iceberg. His defense improved as well, contributing to his 3.7 WAR in just 105 games played. Esteban is likely to leap to AAA at some point in 2034. For an excellent season, he earns an A- .

[Ghosts]

Ghosts Finalize 26-man Roster Without Notable Rookies

Niihama, Japan - April 2, 2034

With the season opening for Niihama faithful tomorrow in Duluth, the Ghosts have published a finalized 26-man roster that looks disappointingly similar to the roster that ended the 2033 season with 98 losses. Spring Training offered glimpses of a future just out of reach, as star prospects appeared to be competing for active roster spots but ultimately were optioned to AA or AAA. While the hitting prospects invited to ST didn't dominate on the whole, there were some excellent performances.

Perhaps the most exciting hitter in ST was the recently acquired SS/3B Jin Song Zambrano. While continuing to test his mettle at SS, Zambrano torched ST pitching with a .960 OPS in 21 PAs. Small sample size though it may be, it was exciting to see - especially considering the horrific performances turned in by Ghosts SSs and 3Bs in 2033. While Jason Davis was not invited to camp, 26-year-old Darius Freeman appeared to offer just barely enough patience, power, and speed (.716 OPS) to win the starting 3B job ahead of Rule 5 selection Juan Ramos, Zambrano, and UI Darren Kean. Jin Song will continue to work on contact in AA to start the 2034 campaign.

After a disastrous 2033 campaign (.496 OPS in 345 PAs), 2B Carlos Campos has won the starting job ahead of Miguel Maldonado and superstar prospect Enrique Rodriguez after an excellent ST (.796 OPS). E-Rod will also continue to work on his contact in AA while Maldonado won a super utility role as the sole right-handed outfielder on the 26-man.

1B will be Ramon Guzman's for the most part, but is expected to be spelled by veteran Bill Jones, who bullied ST pitchers with a .963 OPS. Jones is expected to take most of his reps as DH, but will share that role at times with Peter Casey, who led the team in ST with an astounding 1.052 OPS. Casey opened the 2033 season as the Ghosts DH, but failed to impress and ceded the role, ultimately posting a 99 OPS+ on the year. 1B prospect Luis Bautista, never a favorite of scouts, looked more comfortable than expected in ST and is another prospect to watch as he works to develop his power in AAA.

Ultimately, the disappointment in this roster comes not from the lineup, which appears solid, if not overpowering, but from the pitching staff. Ghosts pitching was historically bad in 2032 (5.59 team ERA), and while improved in 2033, still posted a 4.16 team ERA. The year-end rotation returns with the very notable exception of the addition of Sang-Hyuk Pak - the Ghosts new ace. He looked comfortable in four ST "starts", giving up 0 runs in 16 innings. The rest of the now-active rotation, though, looked occasionally okay and too often overwhelmed. Manuel Barrios, expected to be the team's #2, posted a 6.89 ERA, was hit too hard too often, and struggled to miss bats. Christian Contreras looked more lucky than good as he managed a 3.94 ERA with a .174 BABIP and 4.51 FIP. Jin-hyun Park appeared the lefty version of Contreras, posting a 2.08 ERA but needing an unsustainable .156 BABIP to produce a 4.12 FIP. After the prospects were optioned to AAA, Takuji Kino rejoined the rotation, looking like yet another Spring lottery winner destined for a downfall: 1.59 ERA, .107 BABIP, 4.08 FIP.

The prospects that will ultimately usurp most of the non-Pak held rotation spots had drastically different Springs. After developing fastballs over the Winter, both Anthony MacDonald and Shohei Murakami looked like they needed time to work those pitches into their respective repertoires. Murakami especially looked lost as a new starter, posting an ERA over 8 in three starts before being optioned to AAA. MacDonald looked a bit better, but still posted a 4.70 FIP and was getting hit hard too often. On the other hand, Yuji Yamashita looked every bit the tip of the spear of the new era of Ghosts baseball as he cruised through ST. In 4 "starts" Yuji posted a 0.56 ERA and 1.89 FIP, looking like the best starter in camp, Pak included. He will also start the year in AAA, but will likely be the first to be called upon when a rotation spot opens.

In the bullpen, Ernest Middleton and Earl Lucas were the most notable prospects that won't start the year in Niihama. They appeared to be two of the best pitchers in the building, posting huge K rates and looking comfortable pitching to some of the league's best hitters. Still, the front office seems to think they need more time to develop before they're called on in Niihama. So, we will see plenty of innings going to arms that fared much worse in ST. That said, the bullpen is the youngest group on the Ghosts, with ages ranging from 22 to 27 and no one with much more than two years of service time. Lucas and Middleton are going to join this group soon enough, but they won't be joining a pen full of grizzled veterans when they do.

[Ghosts]

Opening Week 2034

Box scores are in. Stat lines are filled. Production is king. All is right. With the launch of the 2034 season for the Niihama organization, we take a quick look at key outcomes that will tantalize the Ghosts faithful.

In the bigs:
-Team champion Steve McDonald continued his hot finish to the 2033 season with a .455 OBP, 169 OPS+, and 0.4 WAR.
-Carlos Campos and Ramon Guzman both appeared comfortable, posting 146 and 150 OPS+ marks, respectively.
-Figgy stole 7 bases.
-Charron and Romero forgot to bring their bats back from ST, posting 17 and 13 OPS+ marks on the week.
-Armando Gomez lost his job as closer after a bad spring and a badly blown save in week 1. Hubert Jacobs will assume the job for now.

On the farm:
-Harold Stowe and John MacVurich each homered thrice for Ikara, posting 260 and 208 OPS+ marks
-Teammate Jin-song Zambrano homered twice and put up a 202 OPS+
-Last but not least, The Celestial Jaguar stole 4 bases and added a 196 OPS+ mark. CF Jose Rivera added a 220 OPS+.
-With offense like that, the Ikara went 7-0
-Miguel Fernandez started the year in AAA after demolishing AA pitching and opting to work on his power stroke. He turned in a 220 OPS+ on the week.
-Shohei Murakami may have had a rough spring, but dominated in his first real start: 7IP, 12K, 0BB, 6H, 2R - good for 0.4 WAR.
-Yamashita continued to pitch well, posting a 1.98 FIP over two starts.
-Earl Lucas just keeps missing bats: 16.2K/9 in four appearances, 1/1 save opportunities, 0 BB.

[Ghosts]

Banner Week in Niihama with Five Key Debuts

Niihama, Japan - April 27, 2034

Five key pitching prospects made their debuts for the Green pinstripes this week, marking a key milestone in the team's attempted ascent to PEBA contender status. The youngsters were every bit as impressive as we've hoped they would be. Yuji Yamashita, Anthony MacDonald, Shohei Murakami, Ernest Middleton, and Earl Lucas displaced Cristian Contreras (DFA), Manuel Barrios (DFA), Armando Gomez (AAA to get mojo back), Antony Batticelli (AAA for continued development), and Kyung-tae Yi (AAA for continued development).

Lucas debuted first, recording a 2 pitch out against all-star Raul Ortega of Bakersfield to start the 6th inning. He would not be called on for the remainder of the week.

Middleton debuted next, earning his first save (of many, hopefully) with a perfect 1IP en route to a close victory over the Bears. He earned two more saves on the week, with his lone blemish being a loss against Yuma after giving up a walk-off single. His ERA stands at 1.93 after 4.2 IP in PEBA.

Yuji Yamashita debuted the following day, making a start against the Bears opposite Henry "Cold Smoke" Carter. The two squared off fiercely, but while Carter gave up a run and lasted 5.1 innings, Yuji outpaced him with 7 scoreless innings. While Carter minimized baserunners, walking one and giving up four hits, his mistake against Gary Charron was the difference in the game, as the Ghosts took the game 1-0. Middleton completed a 2.0 inning save to complete Yamashita's 6H, 4BB, 10K shutout effort that yielded a 71 game score.

Anthony MacDonald debuted a few days later, taking a perfect outing into the 6th before giving up a solo HR. Ultimately, the Ghosts lost (Middleton's loss mentioned above), but MacDonald put together a phenomenal start: 7IP, 1H, 1ER, 1BB, 8Ks, and a 78 game score.

Shohei Murakami debuted the next night, also against the Arroyos. He went 8 innings and gave up just two hits, though his 4 BBs allowed Yuma to score 2 ER. He added 7Ks to the effort and amassed a 73 game score.

[Ghosts]

The New Era Continues

Niihama, Japan - May 15, 2034

BREAKING NEWS ALERT -- THE NIIHAMA-SHI GHOSTS HAVE DEFEATED THE SHIN SEIKI EVAS IN CONSECUTIVE SERIES -- BREAKING NEWS ALERT

The month of May looked to be an exceptionally challenging month for the Ghosts, with 10 games vs SS, 8 vs NT, and a road series against Kalamazoo. Halfway through, however, it looks the evolving Ghosts might actually be up for the challenge. A 4-game homestand against the Evas launched the month. The Ghosts took 3 of 4, outscoring the red hot Evas 19-14, buoyed by the newly arrived pitching of Yuji Yamashita, Shohei Murakami, Anthony MacDonald, Earl Lucas, and Ernest Middleton. The Ghosts then flew across the planet to take on the Badgers and managed to take 2 of 3 from them, as well. A return flight to Japan to play the 12th-14th consecutive games without a day off against Tempe followed, and the Ghosts nearly swept the Knights, losing a heartbreaker on a 13th inning walk-off solo shot by former MVP Pat Barry. The Ghosts got their only day off for the entire month of May (thanks, schedulers) on the 11th before heading to Shin Seiki for a rematch against the Evas, who were coming home after beating the Bears and the Malts 2-1 each in 3-game road matchups. The 3-game matchup that pit Vail against Vail once again featured two extra inning affairs, both falling to the Ghosts, and a Sunday 1-3 loss that prevented the sweep and evened the overall series run differential. Still, the Ghosts had won four consecutive series and taken 5 of 7 from the vaunted Evas.

Since the debuts of the aforementioned five pitchers, a few more subtle changes have taken place. #2 overall WIL amateur draftee Jose Rivera took the place of struggling OF Lorenzo Romero, whose -0.9 WAR and .177/.234/.204 slash stand in stark contrast to his 2033 campaign. He's been sent to AAA to try to regain some momentum, and in a short span has delivered a 254 OPS+, so may have the opportunity to carve out a ML role again before long. Rivera hasn't looked that much better offensively, but his CF defense is markedly better. He's earned 0.1 WAR off that defense and a 72 OPS+ in his first 6 games. The backup backstop role has changed hands yet again, after C Steven Trease failed to impress in his ML debut, registering just one hit in 16 PAs, with 8 Ks. Nolan McMahon will be the third catcher to occupy that role so far this season. Last, 2033 37th overall pick, RP Blaine Julien, will debut this week alongside McMahon after impressive AA and AAA showings last year and this year. The fireballer will take the place of Hubreicht Ubbens, who needs to work on regaining his mechanics in AAA.

[Borealis]

[Ghosts]

Ghosts Hitting Prospects Advance to AAA

The Ghosts left the 2033 season with a highly acclaimed class of hitting prospects in AA, several of whom smothered the statistical leaderboards for AA rookies. To the surprise of some, they opened the season the same way instead of allowing those prodigious prospects to advance to Namuko. That situation changed today, as RF Harold Stowe, 2B Esteban Rodriguez, 3B/SS Jin-song Zambrano, and 1B/LF John MacVurich were promoted to AAA. With the pitching prospects having largely landed in Niihama and helping to improve the Ghosts record to 20-24 (they were 3-10 when the rookies arrived), fans have been clamoring for the likes of MacVurich and Rodriguez to lift the Ghosts' pedestrian offense. While these promotions mean that day is closer, it's likely that these prospects' final promotions aren't coming until 2035.

Harold Stowe has been the Ikari right fielder for over a season, accruing a .297/.359/.501 slash - good for a 161 OPS+ and 4.7 WAR. Stowe has looked better and better since the trade that brought him to Niihama from Neo Tokyo, apparently thriving on the stiffer competition that AA offered. Hopefully, the same stays true as he moves on to AAA.

John MacVurich, the controversial #1 overall selection from the 2033 amateur draft, was thrust directly into AA from college, and struggled a bit both offensively (128 OPS+) and defensively while trying to stick at 3B. After seeing a -20.2 zone rating at 3B in 2033, the front office allowed him to move to 1B, where he's done much in 2034 while learning the position. Rumor has it that he will attempt to learn LF while in Namuko, as Luis Bautista is proving to be a formidable presence as Numuko's 1B. This season in Ikari, MacVurich has silenced many critics by posting a prodigious 196 OPS+, a product of his .292/.352/.565 slash. He's hit 11 HRs in 161 ABs, and Namuko's hitting coaches will work to further refine that power stroke.

Esteban Rodriguez opened the 2033 season in AA and has not looked back. He hit .295 in 2033 and earned 3.1 WAR, finishing near the top of the rookie leaderboard in several categories. This season, he's raised his OPS+ from 127 to 180, hitting .305 with a .370 OBP and .489 SLG - good for 2.9 WAR just 43 games into his season. Niihama fans should be particularly excited to see Rodriguez land in green pinstripes.

Jin-Song Zambrano was the top prospect in Kentucky's well-regarded farm system, but after a blockbuster trade sent him to Niihama, he now finds himself compared to the likes of MacVurich and Rodriguez while testing his mettle at SS. He's responded by maintaining an excellent OPS+ (151 in 2034) while holding his own defensively. In two years at AA, one each at Bowling Green and Ikari, he's amassed a .265/.359/.437 slash and 5.5 WAR. He'll return to 3B for the time being as fellow hitting prospect Miguel Fernandez plays SS in Namuko.

[Ghosts]

More Moves Bringing the Future Now (and Again)

Niihama, Japan - June 12, 2034

With the trade of SS Kean, C Trease, and 1B Bautista to Arlington, the Ghosts have created room for IF/OF Miguel Fernandez to join the major league roster while also securing a prime asset for the future. The additional trade of Peter Casey paves the way for trade acquisition 3B Nick Murdock to join the Ghosts, giving the boys in Green pinstripes two new bats to play with. Murdock is expected to platoon with rookie 3B Juan Ramos and hopefully continues to produce within the same stratosphere as he has in London (OPS+ 197 on the season).

Fernandez is one of Niihama's more interesting prospects. His SS play leaves much to be desired, but if he can manage to hold his own defensively, fans can revel in his hitting potential. Last year's minors Hitter of the Year in Niihama, "Headhunter" destroyed AA pitching to the tune of 5.0 WAR and a 154 OPS+, hitting 24 HRs in 110 games. This season, with a nearly identical slash of .270/.352/.507, now in against more formidable AAA pitching, he's accrued 2.7 WAR in 61 games with a 194 OPS+.

[Ghosts]

Can the Next Generation of Rookies Save the Offense? Part 1

Niihama, Japan - August 14, 2034

As the summer blazes on and the Ghosts continue to play decent if mediocre baseball with no hope of a playoff run, we examine the weaknesses of this team and ask how they might be addressed in 2035.

First, a word on improvement: these are not the Ghosts of 2032. With a run differential of -34, they are still being outscored and are thereby expected to be a team that loses a but more than it wins. That said, this team has won 56 games halfway through August, whereas it ended the 2032 season with 35 total wins less than two years ago.

So,they've come a long way, but how far will they go? They seem to have maxed out their modest payroll budget and the attendance has, at best, plateaued this season despite an offseason upgrade that saw the stadium capacity increase to 65k. Their most popular player, catcher Steve McDonald, seems to be on a crash course for free agency as his bat has apparently frozen alongside many others'. This offense was supposed to be competitive, blending speed with aggressive bats, but has sputtered. Currently 10th in the SL in run production, the team has relied heavily on swiping bases as it ranks #1 in the SL there, but no more than 13th in AVG, OBP, HRs, or wOBA. This team needs to get on base more, and hit with more authority, if it wants to even consider competing with the likes of Shin Seiki or Toyoma. Further, the pitching staff, which has landed prized rookies in Anthony MacDonald, Yuji Yamashita, Earl Lucas, Shohei Murakami, and Ernest Middleton, as well as a supposed veteran ace in Sang-hyuk Pak, still only ranks 9th in runs against, 9th in starter ERA, 12th in bullpen ERA, 10th in FIP, and 10th in WAR. These are not the marks of a team pitching well. So if they can't hit and they can't pitch, surely they play stellar defense, no? Maybe. They rank 4th in defensive efficiency, but just 8th in errors and 9th in zone rating. Let's examine a few key players and identify expectations, results, and projections for the coming season to see which, if any, of these weaknesses might be shored up in 2035.

1. OF Lorenzo Romero - After transitioning from the LDBI, Romero signed with Niihama and excelled as their CF in 2033. His 110 OPS+ was buoyed by his very good walk rate and moderate power. His defense was adequate, but with limited range he made a much better LF than CF. Still, it was hoped that he could at least approximate his league average CF play for 2034, but he's been a massive disappointment so far. He sports a 52 OPS+ and -0.8 WAR in 62 PEBA games played and has spent half the season in AAA as a result. His defense also appears worse and the only thing he's doing well is swiping bases. With the arrival of Harold Stowe, Chris Vincent, Jose Rivera as lefty OFs and with Fernandez and MacVurich in the 2035 outfield mix with powerful righty bats, it will be hard to imagine Romero in more than a support role for 2035.

2. OF Garry Charron - The ex-Eva was signed to a $65M deal in the 2032-33 offseason and it was expected that he would clean up for a revamped Ghosts offense. He managed just a 115 OPS+ in 2033, however, despite hitting 31 HRs. That's quite a bit better, though, than his 2034 results to date: 102 OPS+, 14 HRs. If Charron can't remember how to at least tee off on RHP again in 2035, he won't have a home in Niihama for long, even with his annually shrinking salary.

3. SS Sang-min O - Another 2032-33 front-loaded free agent signing, O is following his disappointing 61 OPS+ / 1.6 WAR with another disappointing 55 OPS+ / 1.6 WAR (90 games) season in 2034. It can be argued that his defense outweighs his bat's weakness, but it's hard to stomach a .201/.223/.272 slash even with top notch defense, and O's defense has been good but not great this season. With Jin-song Zambrano playing SS for Nakumo and devastating AAA pitching in the process, it's possible O is playing his last starting days in Niihama already despite still being under contract through 2038.

4. C Steve McDonald - Fans nearly lost their minds with exuberance when the Ghosts acquired the star catcher from the Bears near the 2033 trade deadline, and the man did not disappoint upon arrival. He accrued 4.0 WAR in just 76 starts in the second half of the 2033 season with a 163 OPS+. In his contract, year, however, he's been a severe disappointment, earning just 2.1 WAR with a 111 OPS+. It will take a massive commitment to the 32-year-old to keep him in green pinstripes and perhaps the most pressing question on GM Vail's plate is whether or not "20 Piece" is worth $100M+.

[Ghosts]

Can the Next Generation of Rookies Save the Offense? Part 2

With the extension of C Steve McDonald, at least one question has been answered for 2034. But what are the remaining outstanding questions and who might find themselves on the outside looking in as the 2034 season takes shape?

Who will lose their roster spot to 2B Esteban Rodriguez?

2B has not been the disaster that some other positions have been, but it's far from a strength. With The Celestial Jaguar knocking on the door, it seems unlikely that Campos, Maldonado, and Miguel Fernandez will all make the 2034 roster. Campos, being a lefty, might be the most natural fit to backup E-Rod, but his production hasn't been amazing vs RHP (81 OPS+) and his defense is only adequate. It's likely that E-Rod is already a better hitter vs RHP than Campos, so it's likely that he's playing some of his last significant ball for the Ghosts. Maldonado offers excellent position flexibility, but a fairly limited ceiling. He's hit fairly well vs LHP (107 OPS+) and might still have some upside, but with E-Rod crushing LHP in AAA (161 OPS+), how many at-bats would Maldonado be called upon to make as a righty? Fernandez is in much the same position as Maldonado, but he offers significantly more offensive upside, and is a therefore a more likely option to backup E-Rod at 2B. He might split time in left field as a platoon partner with Garry Charron and offer depth at 2B, 1B, and SS. Yet another option is to drop each of the aforementioned options and simply let Sang-Min O backup all over the infield. The overpaid veteran will likely lose his starting job to Zambrano. A darkhorse candidate for taking at bats at 2B in 2034 is trade deadline acquisition 2B/SS Vasil Albers (AA). His lefty bat could play well if he continues to develop.

Who will be playing 1B/DH for the 2034 Ghosts?

With an underwhelming season by 1B Bill Jones, the front office has to provide an answer that produces at these critical offensive spots. Ramon Guzman is a dynamic player, but he's barely been an average player by OPS (101 OPS+). His value is greater than that, though, as he's sure-handed and is 12 SBs from the team's single season record. He's been subpar vs RHP (85 OPS+) and decent vs LHP (127 OPS+), both slight exaggerations of his more neutral career stats. He might be best as a platoon partner with Jones (106 OPS+ vs RHP) or another lefty. Ira Murdoch isn't the answer, and Jones is not an exciting answer, though is career OPS+ vs RHP is 126. If Jones and Guzman platoon, that leaves DH completely open. Is this where MacVurich fits in? The former 3B is simply not agile enough to play the hot corner effectively. He appears to be a serviceable option in LF or at 1B, but perhaps it's best to keep the live-armed MacVurich at DH to improve his pitching availability.

Can Harold Stowe displace other RF options?

With Figueroa shipped to Reno and the current Vincent/Maldonado platoon producing (110 OPS+ vs RHP, 107 OPS+ vs LHP) at about a replacement level, is Stowe prepared to start at RF in 2034? His AAA season leaves some question. He's crushing RHP (183 OPS+) but appears limited vs LHP (115 OPS+). The Ghosts may be willing to let him just work through struggles vs LHP, especially since Maldonado appears to be the best option for a platoon, and scouts don't believe there's much of an upgrade there.

Who plays 3B?

At the start of this season, Zambrano was the clear answer here. With his move to SS, though, he appears destined to stick there, leaving 3B open for yet another year. This year, Rule 5 pick Juan Ramos has struggled (OPS+ 46), though he's been serviceable vs LHP. 30-year-old trade deadline acquisition Nick Murdock was on fire in London, but has been merely serviceable since arriving in Niihama (99 OPS+). Both have been protected by their platoon partnership. Waiver wire acquisition Noburo Kimura might actually be the most talented 3B in the organization right now (excluding Zambrano), but he's a free agent and hasn't produced at all in limited PEBA opportunities (all outside Niihama). It's possible the Ghosts give him a look as rosters expand, but he's not likely a solution for 2034. Interestingly, standing pat might be the best choice for the Ghosts here, as Ramos is expected to blossom into a balanced hitter, and it's possible he makes strides in that direction in the offseason while the Ghosts retain full control over Murdock.

[Ghosts]

Ghosts Swap Pak for Hill: Salary Dump?

Niihama, Japan - Nov 10, 2034

With the 2034 season's corpse still smoldering after a disappointing 73 win season, the Ghosts have moved on from their blockbuster acquisition of presumed new ace Sang-hyuk Pak after just one season. Pak performed similarly to previous years, but was unable to reach the higher level of play the front office hoped he could reach in Niihama. It's likely his production was limited in part by the now-defunct management of Luke Hall, who was notoriously critical of pitchers on his staff and was not held in high regard by Pak and the few other veterans on the team. In Duluth, he'll enjoy a more seasoned locker room and the absence of Hall. The Ghosts secured their 3B of the future, though, as Noah Hill will don the green pinstripes in 2035, presumably as part of a rebuilt infield that will feature top prospects SS Jin-Song Zambrano and 2B Enrique Rodriguez. 1B Ramon Guzman is expected to be the lone holdover, as SS Sang-Min O is likely supplanted, at least from a starter's role, as are IF/OF Miguel Maldonado and 2B Carlos Campos.

Also departed in the deal, 2B Jesus Ortiz was a high-priced international amateur free agent back in 2032. The Ghosts acquired a 2035 5th round pick from Duluth as the final piece of the deal.