Ghastly Gazette

[Ghosts]

Youth Movement Continues with Arrivals of Tall, Hernandez, and Matsunaga

As the Ghosts season looks more and more lost in mediocrity, injuries and trades continue to open up opportunities for youth. While it is clear that youth has been a significant barrier to consistency in Niihama's 2035 season, the youth movement continues this week as Yajirobei Matsunaga debuted against Shin Seiki on 8/5, posting a quality start as he went 6.0 IP and gave up 7 H, 1 BB, and 3 ER while striking out 6 Evas. Unfortunately, he strained his oblique and is expected to miss several weeks, opening up the opportunity for Alonso "Shocker" Hernandez to debut. He will start 8/7 at Reno and again 8/12 (barring injury) at Duluth. To date, Shocker has been good but not great in his second full AAA season, posting a 2.71 ERA and 1.16 WHIP while struggling slightly with command issues. As previously reported, Roberto Tall is set to take the 3B job against RHP that Christian Webb's trade has left open. He will take the job over Juan Ramos, whom has been similarly impressive in AAA this season after struggling wildly as a Rule 5 acquisition at the PEBA level last season (2035 AAA: 123 OPS+, 2.2 WAR; 2034 PEBA: 47 OPS+, -0.3 WAR).

[Ghosts]

Leith and Zambrano Lead the Way for Niihama Rookies

August 27, 2035

Gigantor and Tapper each started the season in Namucko, but neither allowed themselves to get too comfortable. After annihilating AAA in 2034 (215 OPS+, 7.5 WAR), Zambrano has made the leap to not only the PEBA level, but to the top of the batting order in Niihama. He now hits in the #3 spot regardless of matchup, and he's rewarded manager Chris Harris with a 178 OPS+ vs LHP and a 108 OPS+ vs RHP. His ability to stand in regardless of matchup grants Harris more balance later in games, and keeps opposing managers from loading up on specialists (a favored tact in Shin Seiki). Meanwhile, Leith has impressed since dominating AAA competition (1.88 ERA, 1.4 WAR in 6 starts) with a 3.4 K/BB ratio (bested only by all-star Jerome Evans) and 2.78 FIP (best among Niihama starters). Leith has steadily improved since arriving in May, posting 3.27, 3.15, 2.40, and 1.99 ERA marks in May, June, July, and August (so far) respectively. Perhaps most impressively, Leith has shown rare maturity and composure for a rookie, posting only one sub-50 game score since June 2 (and only three all year), providing a reliable and consistent approach that's made him player of the game 7 times in 19 starts.

While these two were among Niihama's most anticipated rookies to debut this year, others were also heralded and are, perhaps, beginning to show signs of life. John MacVurich went 4-7 since being recalled last week. Harold Stowe is 8 for 24 with 3 2Bs and 1 HR sine being recalled recently, and Roberto Tall is starting to get comfortable, posting a 108 OPS+ in August so far.

Youth begets inconsistency, and while many of Niihama's youngsters have fallen prey to fickle production, Zambrano and Leith have provided steady results that are beginning to make Niihama a more consistent threat to the Rising Sun establishment. Look no farther than the three series victories against SS, TOY, and NT over the last two weeks for evidence.

[Ghosts]

Eight Straight for Streaking Ghosts

September 3, 2035

It may have taken longer than hoped, but Sean Peters, Jin-Song Zambrano, and John MacVurich are leading a red-hot offense (now 5th in the SL) to a winning streak the likes of which Niihama fans haven't seen for a long, long time. The Ghosts took the final two of a four game series against Crystal Lake, and followed that effort up with sweeps against division rivals Neo Tokyo and Okinawa. The Ghosts have now won 5 straight division series, are on an 8 game winning streak, finished August with a 16-12 record, and sit 6 back of the final wild card spot. That spot is likely a pipe dream, of course, but to even be able to mention the possibility seems insane given the struggles this team has endured.

Last week saw some bats catch fire:
MacVurich went 6-12 with 1 2B and 2HRs for a 399 OPS+
Charron went 4-12 with 3 BBs, 1 2B , and 2 HRs for a 326 OPS+
Peters went 5-14 with 2 2Bs and 2 HRs for a 321 OPS+
Gigantor went 9-24 with 4 BBs, 4 2Bs, and 1 HR for a 255 OPS+
NB: He now has a team leading 32 doubles and will need to finish with 45 to break into the team's top ten of all time.
Several others came through in big spots as well, including McMahon's towering HR vs NT, Rivera's defense and timely XBHs in the 12-7 beatdown of NT as well as his scoring of the game's only run in a 1-0 victory over OKA, and E-Rod.Stowe, and Tall combining for 13 hits, 3 2Bs, 1 3B, and 2 HRs.

The Ghosts averaged over 6 runs per game and held opponents to 3.67 over the last week. The pitching, while still far from perfect, is better and has been buoyed by this offense. Rookie Connor Leith got a little banged up and Anthony MacDonald did the same, though that's been par for the course this season. Yuji Yamashita and Jerome Evans, on the other hand, combined for 15 2/3 scoreless innings (well, earned runs anyway).

Ernest Middleton and Theo Holder have been recalled from the postseason-eliminated Puckmen, while Matsunaga and Romero return from the IL as rosters have expanded. These four appear to be the limit to the expanded roster the Ghosts will field, at least for the time being.

Up next, the Ghosts play 3 at home against Madison followed immediately by 3 in Tempe as part of the easiest remaining SL schedule, at least per remaining opponent's win percentage.

[Ghosts]

Ikari Warriors Take 3rd Division Title

September 2, 2035

Since their inception in 2032, the Ikari Warriors have been a force within the PCAL Cherry Blossom division, winning the division title in 3 of 4 attempts. They have yet to endure a losing season, with a combined record of 343-217 after this season's record 91 win effort. Led by starters Fernando "Biceps" Valdez (4.7 WAR), the #15 prospect per OSA, and Antonio Garcia (4.5 WAR), the Ghosts 3rd round pick in 2033, the Warriors rotation has been the backbone that allowed the team to give up the fewest runs in the PCAL and to win their first back-to-back division title. The offense has been excellent as well, ranking 4th in runs and 2nd or 3rd in most other categories. Led by veteran bats Anthony Gamble and Edgardo Acarcon as well as prospects Tsuneari Okuta, Tyan-yu Tung, and Julio Elias, the offense has rarely taken a day off. That's a good thing for the Warriors postseason chances, given that Biceps is on the IL for another 3 weeks after suffering a strained hamstring that has kept him out since late July, and 2nd chair Antonio Garcia suffered a similar, but apparently more minor, hamstring strain this week. Manager Peter Gore is hopeful Garcia can return for the start of the playoffs after Ikari's first round bye.

The days of leaning on future greats like John MacVurich or Enrique Rodriguez are in the past, but that doesn't mean the Warriors have accepted less out of their players. CF Tung was a Rule 5 draft bust and has struggled to produce in PEBA and at AAA, but at just 25-years-old, he has plenty of baseball ahead of him. He just needed to be able to produce consistently. This season, he's done so for Ikari - his .310/.371/.594 slash was good for a 168 OPS+ and 3.9 WAR. He seems to finally have a grip on his ability, and he may find success at a higher level now that he's grounded himself. Okuta, a 10th round pick, may never have been viewed as an impact player, but in his age 26 sophomore season in Ikari, he's posted 4.2 WAR with a 126 OPS+. This has been his best offensive season in the four years since being drafted out of college, and though an older prospect, he's still young enough to improve beyond AA ability.

Expected to rejoin the Warriors after a midseason promotion are CL Dennis Sheffield and RP Matt Rutledge. Both excelled at AA and AAA, and the Ghosts front office is eager for both to earn some rare postseason experience before their expected debuts in 2036. To make room, 21-year-olds Omer Schaar and Faris Bin Jabbar will return to class A ball to try to help push the Onryou into the playoffs. IF/OF Miguel Maldonado will be exchanged with 3rd catcher Austin Moore from the Puckmen, as well.

The Warriors will face off against the Quebec City Frenchies, the AA affiliate of Niihama-shi co-expansion organization Tempe Knights. The Frenchies feature an even more impressive offense than the Warriors, ranked 2nd overall and led by the likes of 2B Ed Lindner (5.3 WAR), 3B Javier Pagan (5.2 WAR), and former Niihama prospect 1B Gerardo Casillas (33 HRs, 179 OPS+, 4.9 WAR). The Frenchies pitching is ranked 4th best and is anchored by SP prospect Carlos Villarreal, whom has enjoyed tremendous success on the season: 2.85 FIP and 5.1 WAR in 28 starts. Without Biceps, the Warriors are probably facing an uphill battle, but these Warriors are seasoned and ready to compete.

[Ghosts]

High-Water Mark for Niihama

Niihama, Japan - September 22, 2035

Four years of rebuilding. Nine years of losing. One historically bad season and eight years of banishment to the WIL. It's been a long, crappy road for Niihama fans. The once proud LRS team that made five playoffs in eleven seasons and only had three losing seasons in its 14 year history has, since the collapse of the LRS, only enjoyed three winning seasons, all those coming after banishment while competing against overwhelmed WIL foes. It's worth noting that the team lost over $175M in those first three WIL seasons.

So to now see the Ghosts, after all that, winning their 78th game with a modest payroll stacked with talented young prospects while projected to make a nearly $30M profit with record setting attendance (4.7M and counting!) is a wondrous sight. The Ghosts need only win five more games in their last 8 to secure a winning record in PEBA for the first time ever. Such a feat would also mean the first winning and profitable season since 2020, the year the LRS was lost.

Today, however, we celebrate the new high-water mark for a franchise desperate to prove it belongs in PEBA. As the only team that's been a member of three different leagues since the collapse of MLB, the Ghosts are PEBA's least storied franchise. 2035 is only their 7th season in PEBA. The Ghosts this season have promoted eleven rookies from the game's top ranked minors system and added them to a roster featuring just seven players age 29 or older. Only four 2035 Ghosts are over 30, and one of those, Orlando Barron, joined the team midseason (although the Ghosts did trade away veteran Christian Webb at the deadline). The point being, this team is incredibly young, and sometime around late August, it figured out how to win. The Ghosts are 19-6 in that window, and have witnessed the emergence of not only young stars like MacVurich (1.136 OPS) and Tall (1.022 OPS) and Stowe (0.936 OPS), but of veterans that needed time to adjust like Sean Peters (1.083 OPS), Gilberto Fernandez (1.087 OPS), and Garry Charron (1.062 OPS). The continued reliability of rotation leader Jerome Evans (5 GS, 2.86 ERA) and the re-emergence of Yuji Yamashita (5 GS, 1.00 ERA) have helped to stabilize the pitching enough to let the red-hot offense lead the team to an outstanding finish.

This is the team fans have been waiting four, nine, or perhaps fifteen years to see, and they are only going to get better as these incredibly talented young players continue to improve. The Ghosts have seen more roster turnaround than perhaps any other team in PEBA since they've arrived, but they are expected to return this team almost entirely in tact next season. They have no major losses upcoming, unless Sean Peters turns down his $16M player option at age 36, or Steve McDonald opts out of the three year, $80M deal that would keep him in Niihama through age 36. Even if those losses occur, one has to imagine they could be accounted for by the $80M in budget that would open up (alongside the Ghosts current $35M cash).

There is a lot of reason for excitement about the future, but for now, celebrate the accomplishment of the day. The winningest season in Ghosts PEBA history... so far.

[Ghosts]

AA Warriors Take Divisional Round Over Stampede

Ikari - September 20, 2035

It may have taken a little extra work, but the Warriors prevailed over the Calgary Stampede (Yuma) after 16 innings of game 7. Pitchers Danny Doyle and Matt Rutledge combined for 6.0 scoreless innings before the Warriors put two on the board in the bottom of the 16th to walk it off. The efforts of Doyle and Rutledge cannot be overstated, given the Warriors struggles without aces Fernando Valdez and Antonio Garcia. Combined with Miguel Luis Freitas (2-0, 1.54 ERA) and Luis Cavazos, the Warriors have had to rely on a number of unseasoned young arms. Among them was also Dennis Sheffield, whose save in game 4 will likely be overshadowed by his 2nd blown save tonight, when he ballooned his series ERA to 6.23 ERA. Warriors manager Peter Gore will surely welcome Biceps and Garcia back with open arms once they are medically cleared, which is expected to happen at some point over the next week during the semifinals appearance against Shin Seiki's Seoul Crushers.

For the time being, however, the Warriors successfully relied on their bats. With DH Gamble (.333, 8 RBI) and LF Ecarcon (.414, 6 RBI) leading the charge as per usual, the Warriors scored an average of 6.14 runs per game against the Stampede. CF Tyan-Yu Tung (.312, 3 HR, 7 RBI) was invaluable, and C Julio Elias (.333, 2 HR, 5 RBI) was another strong offensive force throughout the series.

The offense will certainly have its work cut out for trying to outscore the top ranked offense of Seoul, but at least the Crushers pitching appears vulnerable as they are ranked 8th in total runs allowed. The series will begin Saturday, September 22nd at Ikari.

[Ghosts]

SSA Gunslingers, Wild Card Victors

Dawson City - September 25, 2035

The Gunslingers of yesteryear were a successful team, but one known for excellent pitching and defense. A little bit boring for a team named the Gunslingers - but no more! This year's squad can hit with the best of 'em! A team .282 AVG is 81 points higher than last year (of course, the team ERA is nearly a full run higher, making the teams comparable but opposite). Fans have recognized the shift, and have flocked to watch shootout after shootout, resulting in a 59% increase in attendance over last year's record high showing.

Led by 3B Moos Ippel and RF Carlos de la Garza, the 'Slingers finished first or second in almost every major offensive category. The team led in AVG, SLG, H, XBH, and HR. The pitching, meanwhile, though it featured fine performances from the likes of Mercayo, Ohayashi, and Sunter, struggled overall to finish in 8th-10th place in most categories. Ippel, the team veteran at age 23, had his finest season to date: 1.001 OPS*, 5.5 WAR*, 83 R*, 15 SB, .447 wOBA, .313 AVG*, 25 HR, and a 14.77% BB rate. Garza, the 18-year-old phenom, put up 4.2 WAR with 29 HR*, 128 H*, 8 3B*, 252 TB*, 102 RBI*, .585 SLG*, and a .432 wOBA. RF Eric Smith and C David Phillips tortured pitchers with their patience, with 22.8% and 21.2% walk rates yielding .434* and .421 OBAs. Latecomer 1B Alonso Ruiz made the front office look foolish for not promoting him from rookie ball earlier as he torched SSA pitching with a .426/.500/.543 slash (187 OPS+) in 108 PAs. 3B Nestore Masini's .379 wOBA almost seems like an afterthought amongst so many other prolific seasons.

Against the Fairbanks Grunts (Amsterdam) in the 5-game Wild Card series, the Gunslingers faced the 4th ranked offense and 4th ranked pitching/defense. They were able to prevail, though, after dropping the first game in Fairbanks 5-7. The typically problematic 10th ranked pitching held the Grunts to just two runs per game over the next three contests, yielding three straight wins and a trip to the divisional round against Yuma's Kivalina Bowheads (who own the top ranks in both offense AND defense). Mercayo managed to keep the Grunts in check in game 2 with a 7.0 IP, 2 ER performance for a 3-2 win. Ohayashi only managed 3.1 IP in game 3, giving up 1 ER and 2 runs total, but the pen put up zeroes thereafter and let the offense do its thing, scoring 7 to rout Fairbanks in game 4. Finally, Gisbert Sunter put in a quality start, giving up 2 ER in a 6.0 IP performance that was dicey throughout, but ended up with a 6-2 victory to clinch the series.

"Total team effort, that's the only way we get it done in this one," said Dawson City right fielder Eric Smith, who was named series MVP after a 4-4 effort on the day.

*Team record

[Ghosts]

Warriors Crushed in Semifinals

Seoul, Korea - September 27, 2035

The Shin Seiki Evas are still a terror in the night to the Ghosts, and the Seoul Crushers added to the pile Thursday as they defeated the Warriors 4-1 in the PCAL semifinals. Despite the return of, or perhaps partly because of the return of, SPs Fernando Valdez and Antonio Garcia, the Warriors fell flat in the series. After devastatingly losing two home games to start the series, the Warriors were very hopeful when Valdez returned to start game 3. Unfortunately, he was shelled for 6 ER off 3 HRs in his return from being out for two months. The Warriors still managed to win off a 7 run 9th inning, punctuated by a grand slam by pinch hitter Yoshiaga Endo. That would be the Warriors only win of the series, however, as they dropped the next two in Seoul. Game 5 went to extra innings, and everything looked grand for the Warriors as they scored two in the top of the 11th to take a 12-10 lead. Unfortunately, Matt Rutledge could not close the game, giving up 3 hits, 1 HR, and 4 ER as the Crushers walked off their home field with a 3-1 series advantage. Game 6 was another dramatic affair, as the game was tied 1-1 at 7th inning stretch time. Unfortunately for Ikari, the Crushers would score 4 off Freitas and an overwhelmed and exhausted Matt Rutledge in the bottom of the 7th. The Warriors got one back in the top of the 8th, but then Carl Hughes gave up an additional 4 runs after he botched a defensive play. The Crushers took a 9-2 lead into the 9th, but the Warriors made it interesting as they scored 4 in the top half of the inning, but ultimately fell short.

DH Anthony Gamble, IF Scott Hammond, and CF Tyan-Yu Tung led the offense in the series, each posting superb OPS marks of 1.395, 1.264, and 1.235 respectively. Gamble and Tung hit 4 HR each in the series, but ultimately the pitching was terrible and the Ikari could not keep up. The team posted a 9.07 ERA, 1.99 WHIP, and .323 OAVG over the series. They gave up 17 HRs in 47 innings. Almost no one went unscathed, with perhaps Dennis Sheffield's 1 SV, 2.25 ERA in two appearance performance highlighting the miserable cadre.

Better luck next year, Warriors!

[Ghosts]

The Ghosts 25: Reviewing the Ghosts Top 25 OSA Prospects in 2035 (16-25)

The typical review of the Ghosts farm is going to be pared down a tad this year, and disbursed over three posts instead of five, reflective of a transition away from focusing solely on the minors as the Ghosts gain traction at the highest level. Additionally, the system is starting to recede in quality as so many promotions to the majors take place.

25. CF George Young – Young was a 6th round selection in 2034. His sophomore year in rookie ball saw him make great strides at age 18. He slashed .277/.355/.459, good enough for a 114 OPS+ in the offense-heavy IBC. He posted 1.0 WAR after a horrendous -1.1 WAR season in 2034, and improved defensively as he began to learn the centerfield position. Grade: B+

24. P Gisbert Sunter – Sunter was an offseason signing in 2033 after being signed and released by both London and Hartford in the previous two seasons. He posted a solid 1.8 WAR season in 2034 before earning a promotion to SSA ball after just one start in rookie ball in 2035. Since then, he’s been a strong contributor to the Gunslingers wild card berth. Despite a pedestrian 4.17 ERA (99 ERA+) and 1.43 WHIP, Sunter has contributed with a 9.2 K/9 rate and his endurance, ultimately contributing 1.1 WAR. A solid season, he earns a B- for exceeding low expectations.

23. LF Marv Simmons – What a journey it’s been so far for young Mr. Simmons. A 9th round selection by the Claymores in 2031, he failed to impress in his debut season and was released following the 2032 draft, when Niihama signed him. Since then, he’s spent two seasons each at rookie and SSA ball, and played 2035 for the A level Gakidou Onryou. He had an excellent season, producing 2.6 WAR mostly with his bat: .287/.365/.489 (139 OPS+) with 20 HRs. At this point, the Ghosts are sold on the fact that Simmons has a future in PEBA, especially if he can improve defensively. Grade: A-

22. SS Sang-Yeon Sin – For a 2031 11th round selection in the notoriously thin WIL draft, Sin has had to come a long, long way to convince the Ghosts he may have a future in PEBA. Yet, with his sophomore season for the A ball Onryou, he’s posted a second consecutive 4+ WAR season (4.3). He’s managed to not only demonstrate incredible defensive acumen, with a +11.8 ZR off 1.078 EFF at shortstop, but also posted a .273/.389/.412 (126 OPS+) batting line. He’ll likely earn a promotion to AA next season, and if he can make it there, the Ghosts will be ecstatic with having found such a diamond in the rough. Grade: A

21. SP Hector Pacheco – A 4th round selection in 2033, Pacheco had been a disappointment in his first two seasons of rookie ball. He finished those seasons with ERAs of 6.40 and 6.67 at ages 19 and 20, respectively. This year, however, was an entirely different story… right up until he destroyed his elbow ligament and was lost for a year in July. In his five starts on the season, he posted a 2.52 ERA with dramatic improvements to his HR and K rates. Hopefully he can return at full health for the start of the SSA season in 2036. Grade: B+

20. SP Felix Marin – The 17-year-old scouting discovery has yet to debut and so cannot earn a grade.

19. LF Bill Jenkins – A trade acquisition and part of the deadline sale of star veteran Christian Webb, Jenkins came with not only hype, but the burden of expectation. He managed to adjust to the trade well enough, posting a 101 OPS+ for the final third of the SSA season for the Gunslingers after putting up a 137 OPS+ for Amsterdam’s SSA squad. Hopefully the 20-year-old can help the ‘Slingers as they advance into the post-season. Grade: B-

18. CF Tsuneari Okuta – Selected one pick ahead of #22 prospect SS Sin, Okuta was the Ghosts 10th round pick in the 2031 WIL draft. Another highly successful late round pick from that class, Okuta enjoyed a productive AA season in his sophomore year there, putting up a 4.2 WAR off a 126 OPS+ with 33 SBs and a +7.4 ZR with a 1.041 EFF mark at CF for the Ikari Warriors. The switch hitter improved in just about every way he could have, and will likely make his way to AAA next season. It’s not inconceivable that Okuta even makes a PEBA debut next season, joining his fellow ’31 WIL draftees Jose Rivera and possibly Yajirobei Matsunaga as the 3rd of that class to make it big. That is, if Sin doesn’t beat him to that mark. Grade: A

17. 3B Adam Ugurlu – It seems like he’s been on this list forever, and he’s still only an A level player. Ugurlu has been rather underwhelming since his arrival in the Middleton-Andrews trade with Shin Seiki. Originally acquired as a high power ceiling type, Ugurlu has proven more adept at making contact than driving the ball with overwhelming force. His career AVG in four years of minor league play at the R (2) and A (2) levels is .264 while his slugging is just .387. He did manage to smack 32 2Bs, 5 3Bs, and 8 HRs this season, though, on his way to a solid 2.0 WAR season at age 19. It’s easy to forget how young Adam is, and how impressive it is that he’s competing against players up to age 24 at A ball. Grade: B+

16. 1B Alex Garcia – The 19-year-old scouting discovery is in his second season of rookie ball, but he has just 31 PAs to date and had been unable to crack the lineup against the likes of 1B Alonso Ruiz and newcomer Jonathon Poskitt. Grade: D

[Ghosts]

The Ghosts 25: Reviewing the Ghosts Top 25 OSA Prospects in 2035 (6-15)

15. SP Henry Spencer – Acquired from the Badgers for RF Ricardo Zamora in an easily forgotten deal in 2033, Spencer had yet to impress within the Niihama organization. He played most of his season in A ball, where he posted a 105 ERA+ and 1.6 WAR. A pedestrian showing, but not bad considering his age and track record. Grade: C+

14. LF Li-Ben Wa – The Taiwanese 23-year-old, a 2034 4th round selection, is a fun player to watch. He hit a team record 30 HRs for the Onryou this season, amassing 2.7 WAR. He will almost certainly play for the Ikari next season, with the likely aim of setting that team’s HR record as well – though he might find that difficult given the record was set at 45 this season by Edgardo Acarcon. Grade: A-

13. SP Hector Trejo – A minor league signing in 2031, Trejo spent his first several seasons getting wrecked in rookie and SSA ball, failing to post a better than average ERA until this year when he posted a 1.32 ERA in his first four starts at SSA. That earned him a promotion to A ball, where he’s been getting wrecked ever since. His 5.52 ERA yielded a 5-8 record and just 0.3 WAR over 89.2 IP. Hopefully he can improve next season, but for now he’s not among the most favored in the Niihama FO. Grade: D

12. SP Reece Murray – An 8th round pick in 2034, Murray performed adequately last season in his SSA debut. He worsened to open the year, posting an 85 ERA+ through 8 SSA starts, but was promoted despite that. In 12 starts at A level, Murray is showing he’s overwhelmed: 8.53 ERA, 1.83 WHIP, 1.3 HR/9. As a 22-year-old, he will be eligible for SSA again next year and may be demoted. Grade: F

11. RF Carlos de le Garza – The 18-year-old Costa Rican was an offseason trade acquisition from Arlington. Debuting at SSA for Dawson City, he’s been simply excellent this season. He’s set the team season record for SLG, H, TB, 3B, HR, and RBI. His 163 OPS+ with 29 HRs in tow made him a highlight machine and anchor him high on the FO value board. It seems as though it’s only a matter of time before he joins the Ghosts. Grade: A+

10. SP David Walker – As a 2034 5th round pick, 19-year-old Walker has eyes on him that a slightly later selection would not, but to date he has struggled in rookie ball. After a perfectly mediocre debut season last year (97 ERA+, 0.2 WAR), he’s had a miserable 2035 season (54 ERA+, -0.2 WAR). His 1-7 record is reflective of his horrible command issues (7.5 BB/9, 2.17 WHIP). While still young, Walker is nowhere near where he was expected to be at this stage, and will definitely need a bounce back season in 2036 to get back on track. Grade: F

9. 1B Ramon Fuentes – Has not debuted, no grade.

8. P Jose Picaluga – The Ghosts sole IAFA signing in 2034 (and 2035, since his $3.5M price tag exceeded the limit and sanctioned the Ghosts out of the 2035 market), Picaluga was drafted with a scouting report claiming he was the next Tomas Martinez. A world class bat, and he can pitch a bit too, it was said. Fast forward to some more time with him at the Niihama International Complex, and he’s no longer considered a hitting prospect of any merit. His arm, however, is a solid consolation prize. Niihama scouts consider his stuff off the proverbial charts, with advanced spin mechanics and adequate command to boot. His fastball is modest still (~93 mph), but his splitter is a great out pitch. He debuted at just 17 years of age this season and was immediately installed as the Gohueng closer. He finished the season with a 1.75 ERA and 13 saves. His command was a bit shaky, but he was one of the few Gom pitchers to be truly effective. His peripherals indicate he was probably a bit lucky, but at 17 in a hitter’s league, results are results. Grade: B+

7. SP Alonso “Shocker” Hernandez – Despite the unfortunate nickname, Hernandez remains one of the Ghosts few assets alongside Yuji Yamashita that pre-date GM Dan Vail’s stewardship. A 2029 scouting discovery, the Dominican righty started the year in AAA and posted a 2.71 ERA over 23 starts. That was good for 2.2 WAR and an August call-up. His PEBA debut has been rocky, but three times over ten starts he’s earned player of the game honors. Like many rookies, he’s looked intermittently excellent and terrible, but an 85 ERA+ over his first ten starts is a solid performance. Grade: B-

6. CF Bae Ko – The lefty CF out of South Korea played very well in his sophomore, age 19 season in rookie ball, improving his power and patience remarkably in just one season. His .304/.390/.544 slash was good for a 144 OPS+, and along with his +8.3 ZR and 1.072 EFF, 3.7 WAR on the season. A rangy, speedy, and at times sloppy player, Ko seems to have brought a focus to the season that may have earned him a young promotion to SSA for the ’36 season. Grade: A

[Ghosts]

5. 3B Roberto Tall – The Ghosts came by Tall in an odd series of events. After failed trade negotiations last year, the paperwork to add Tall to the 40-man roster was lost in the wind, and he was inadvertently left unprotected in the Rule 5 draft. Recognizing the opportunity to draft him was unlikely to fall all the way to the Ghosts, Niihama worked the phones until agreeing to terms with Charleston to swap Rule 5 selections after the draft alongside amateur draft compensation that would head to Charleston. The move was controversial in some circles, even earning commentary from the normally neutral Commissioner’s office calling the trade “a rare miss for Niihama”. Tall, however, set out to prove his detractors wrong, and did so with aplomb. Due to additional paperwork confusion surrounding the Rule 5 draft, Tall was allowed to begin his season in AAA. He proceeded to push Juan Ramos out of position to 1B by putting together a 161 OPS+ in May and ended his season in AAA on August 5th by earning a promotion to Niihama. At that point, he’d accrued 4.2 WAR, 21 HR., 24 SB, and a 160 OPS+ in 368 PAs in Namucko. In the remainder of the year as Niihama’s primary 3B, he accumulated an additional 1.7 WAR via a 136 OPS+ in 139 PAs. He also stole 18 bases and hit more XBHs (16) than singles (12). Grade: A

4. RF Harold Stowe – Originally a 2nd round selection by Neo Tokyo, he made his way to Niihama alongside Miguel Fernandez in the Bernardo Gonzalez trade and his been intermittently impressive. Scouts have had mixed reviews on his development, but most agree that he’s exceeded expectations from both a draft value and trade value standpoint. He was expected to make his way to Niihama quickly, but failed to impress during his May callup, where he went 4-30 and accrued an OPS + of 5 (not a misprint). He continued a mediocre year in AAA until he was called back up in August, and decided to challenge Charron, Fernandez, and Zambrano for most productive hitter awards. He hit .323 and .333 in August and September, ending his season with a combined line of .287/.319/.463 (146 OPS+) and 1.6 WAR in 144 PAs: an incredible finish to a previously terrible to mediocre season. Grade: A-

3. LF/P John MacVurich – You don’t see too many LF/Ps around, least of all ones who were the top overall pick in the amateur draft. Was MacVurich the right pick? It’s far too early to tell, but he’s done little to quell excitement in Niihama, although he made an attempt at the start of the year. He was called up in April and periodically throughout the early season. He hit .114, .136, and .139 in April and May, failing to hit a single dinger in 111 PAs for the Ghosts. Meanwhile, he hit .250, .279, and .400 during those frames for the Puckmen, belting 9 HR in 185 PAs. When he was finally recalled in August, something clicked. He went 8-15 with 2 HR in August and 19-63 with 4 HR in September, raising his season OPS+ to 105 in PEBA. Coupled with his prolific AAA season (165 OPS+, 2.9 WAR), he gave the fans some reason to think he’s the real deal. He also made a handful of relief appearances at both levels, but had mixed results (4 scoreless in AAA with 3 saves, a 6.00 ERA in 7 appearances in PEBA). The front office doesn’t think his arm is ready to take on a significant role in the bullpen yet, but expect his bat to be a force in 2036. Grade: B

2. SP Fernando Valdez – The #15 prospect in PEBA, “Biceps” continues to impress both inside and outside the organization. His AA debut came at age 20, a remarkable accomplishment by itself, but of course Valdez not only held his own but excelled. His 2.58 ERA was good for a 152 ERA+ and 4.7 WAR. He missed August and September of the regular season with a strained hamstring, and so that 4.7 WAR number was likely to grow substantially without that missed time. Valdez does everything well. He keeps the ball in the park (0.5 HR/9), he limits walks (1.9 BB/9), he induces weak contact (54% GO), and he misses bats (9.2 K/9). He will, likely in 2037, displace a talented pitcher from the Ghosts rotation. Grade: A

1. 2B Esteban Rodriguez – The 22-year-old “Celestial Jaguar” came into 2035 with more expectation than perhaps anyone outside of Jin-Song Zambrano. He ultimately disappointed. His AAA season was marred by mediocrity: 114 OPS+, 2.2 WAR. He failed to force a callup, and ultimately the performances of Vasil Albers and Miguel Fernandez were strong enough to keep him in AAA until late August. His PEBA performances were average, which is fine for a young rookie, but a letdown given the hype. Ultimately, he slashed .217/.267/.389 with 6 HR and 10 SB (alongside 8 CS) to earn just 0.3 WAR and a 105 OPS+. He will almost certainly be granted the 2B job next season, and there is still full faith that he will fulfill his promise. We just didn’t see much of it this year. Grade: C+

[Ghosts]

Solid Start to the '36 Campaign

Niihama, Japan - April 21, 2036

Two weeks into the Ghosts challenging 2036 April schedule, and fans should be pleased with the results. With the nebulous "tweaks" that PEBA made to increase offensive output this season in full swing and demonstrating clear effects across the league, Ghosts fans should be heartened by the fact that despite the team's sizable investments into the offense, it's the pitching that's been most effective so far. The team stands 7th in runs scored and 6th in runs against to date. Last season, the Ghosts offense flourished but the pitching struggled mightily until August. This season's balance is encouraging, as are the outcomes of two 4 game series against the reigning GL champion Kalamazoo Badgers (6-2) and the split against the SL's perennial powerhouses, the Evas (2-1) and Wind Dancers (1-2). The 9-5 Ghosts won't see a day off until they've played 30 consecutive games on May 8th. Up next is a 3-game trip to Crystal Lake followed by a 7-game homestand against Madison and Yuma. Trips to Bakersfield and Okinawa precede that distant day of rest.

The 2036 offseason was the most stable of the Vail era as the Ghosts returned most of their young roster that took the SL by storm in late 2035. Additions include 2034 Royal Raker Pedro Flores as well as OF Forrest Aldridge and RP Herb Williams. SP Shohei Murakami returned from an injury that ended his '35 campaign early and traumatically. The erstwhile successful debut of SP Alonso Hernandez allowed the team to afford the loss of SP Anthony MacDonald, the key to acquiring star OF Pedro Flores from Kalamazoo.

So far, several of the team's key young players are impressing the league. 2-way player of intrigue John MacVurich is looking like a modern incarnation of Babe Ruth as he's produced a 1.350 OPS through 26 PAs while also throwing 4.1 scoreless innings in 5 appearances. The organization was so impressed with MacVurich that they dealt slugger Garry Charron to SS in exchange for 3B Adrian Fuentes. This will allow MacVurich to DH on a daily basis while also solidifying 3rd base. Last year's predominant 3B, Roberto Tall, looked a bit lost this Spring, as did his platoon partner veteran 3B Orlando Barron, and so the team decided the chance to fix three problems in one fell swoop was worth the risk of returning Charron to Genesis Park.

OFs Harold Stowe and Forrest Aldridge, both young players with less than one year service time, have opened the season red hot and are OPSing a shade over .900 each. CF Jose Rivera continues to prove his detractors wrong, as he is hitting .353 on the young season. Last year's breakout star SS Jin-song Zambrano, RF Sean Peters, and catchers McDonald and McMahon are all struggling so far. That's only to say that once these proven bats come to life, the offense could hit another gear and carry the team to unseen heights.

[Ghosts]

Claudio Casillas is a Gom Amongst Cubs

Goheung, Korea - August 4, 2036

After seven starts of the 2036 season, SP Claudio Casillas is having a season to remember in Goheung. While sluggers like teammate Pedro Hernandez and Arlington/Cairo's Dermott Douglass continue to smash offensive records, Claudio is dominating almost every hitter he's facing. His 0.31 ERA and 1.30 FIP are good enough for marks of 1543 ERA+ and 27 FIP- among all IBC pitchers with at least seven games started. He has yet to give up a home run, which is especially noteworthy when you realize his home-field tends to be a slugger's paradise. Opponents are hitting just .130 against him and OPS-ing just .354 - good enough to lead both categories. He's given up just one run on the season - an incredible feat - and that is perhaps less amazing than the fact that he's given up more than two hits in an outing just once. He's kept his walks to 2 or fewer in each of his starts. He's been remarkably consistent - something that's particularly hard for young players.

Signed out of Costa Rica in November of 2031, Casillas was one of GM Vail's first acquisitions when he first took over the moribund WIL organization that lacked talent across the board. He quietly improved for several years at the team's newly created International Complex, but was lackluster in last year's debut - posting an 86 ERA+ in 11 games started alongside a 1.73 WHIP. The turnaround is incredible, and while it is, to an extent, unsustainably amazing, the organization hopes that it's the start of a long career for the young Costa Rican native.

[Ghosts]

AA Ikari Warriors Seize First Championship

It went down to the wire, but in game seven of the Great Northern Cup Finals, the perennial contender finally won the cup. The Warriors, founded in 2032, have won their division four times in five attempts, but for the first time in their short history, are true champions of the GNL.

Their rotation, anchored by star prospect Armando Sanchez, was able to keep a handle on the Iverness Highlanders (of the Scottish organization) for enough of the series to allow the offense to seize the series. Things looked dire after losing three in a row by game four, but the Warriors took game five in The Fortress at Iverness on a windy Saturday evening, 6-2 behind Sanchez's sterling 8.0 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 2 ER, 7 K performance. A home run by Ryuzaburo Mori in the 7th was enough to seal the victory and bring the series back to Ikari Grounds for games six and seven.

The team cruised from there - winning game six 8-1 behind a 4-4, 2 RBI outburst by young 3B Adam Ugurlu and the rock solid pitching of Luis Cavazos (6.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K). Game seven was an exciting matchup as Iverness opened the game with a 4-run frame in the first, which Ikari eventually matched in the 3rd. With the game tied at the halfway mark, the Warriors exploded in the 5th. Veteran slugger Cayden Maynor's 2-R HR and Gustavo Rivera's solo shot highlighted a 5-run frame that would be the difference maker in the eventual outcome, 9-4.

Manager Peter Gore, named manager of the year in the GNL, was seen holding back tears as he handed the trophy to series MVP 2B Vincente Cerda. Cerda, who went 3-5 on the day, said, "We've got grit. We know how to win when we have to."

[Ghosts]

Ghosts Shock the World, Upset Toyoma in Divisional

Toyoma, Japan - October 21, 2036

A crowd of 69,321 Toyoma faithful looked on in shock as the upstart Ghosts defeated their mighty Wind Dancers in game six of the 2036 SL Divisional. Assured that these Ghosts, fresh off a sweep of the Evas in the Wild Card round, had already played past their ability, Toyoma fans were confident heading into the game despite being down 3-2 in the series. At the end of the day, though, Alonso Hernandez kept the vaunted Toyoma offense at bay for 7.2 innings, limiting them to 2 ER despite giving up 8 hits. Manager Chris Harris gave Devlyn Hale the chance to close out the 8th - and he did so with one pitch, retiring 2B Harada with a fly out.

The game was tight throughout, with the Windies scoring first off Guang Liu's solo shot that he pulled just over the short left field fence in the Castle. The Ghosts responded quickly as a sac fly RBI from Steve McDonald allowed Jin-song Zambrano to score. With the game tied 1-1, Sa-yoor Ch'oe retired the first two batters of the 6th, but then walked Pedro Flores and gave up a single to MacVurich and another walk to Zambrano. With 2 outs and the bases loaded, veteran and former Windies slugger Sean Peters shot a line drive at 113.8 MPH into daylight, scoring Flores and MacVurich. The 3-1 lead would hold despite a John Pulsifer solo shot in the 7th, as Earl Lucas pitched a 7-pitch save in the 9th to end Toyoma's season.

Series MVP Jin-song "Gigantor" Zambrano was quoted as saying, "We aren't ready to go home yet." The Ghosts will face off against the Great Lakes champion Fargo Dinosaurs in the SL League Championship Series.