Ghastly Gazette

[Ghosts]

Ghosts Overcome 0-2 Deficit to win Wild Card Series

Niihama, Japan - October 11, 2039

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

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

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

[Ghosts]

2039 Historical Review

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

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

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

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

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

[Ghosts]

2039 Ends in Bitter Defeat(s)

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

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

[Ghosts]

DH Competition Heats Up

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

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

[Ghosts]

The End of an ERA

Niihama, Japan 23 April 2040

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

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

Our strikeout leader. Our champion. A Ghost.

[Ghosts]

Simons Here to Stay?

Niihama, Japan - 8 June, 2040

An uncharacteristically quiet deadline has left some fans uneasy, as GM Dan Vail is generally expected to be aggressive on the trade market. But with the team in first place and healthy, perhaps the quiet deadline is more about the Ghosts being comfortable with their current roster than it is about missed opportunity. Critics may observe that the team's best reliever and long time closer, is poised for free agency, or that arguably the team's most productive hitter, Tsuginori Takahashi, is similarly not under contract for next season. What that assessment misses, though, are three things:
1. Both are open to re-signing, and the FO has given no statement saying they plan to move on without these players.
2. The organization has invested their minors, and a number of arms and bats stand ready for PEBA opportunities.
3. That 25 of 27 active roster players ARE under contract. This stands in contrast to most other teams.

While we can only speculate on point one, and point three is an assurance that the team will endure the potential loss of Lucas and Takahashi, we can (and shall!) discuss point two. As far as arms go, there are a bevvy of young, majors ready arms in Namuko. Terrence Brown, a recent trade acquisition, has thrown 34.1 innings of AAA relief work, posting a 2.36 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 3.29 FIP. He appears ready and borderline dominant. Kyuso 'Rorschach' Ichihara is also a recent promotee to Namuko, and has also been excellent. The age 22 lefty has a 2.96 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 3.17 FIP in 24.1 innings of AAA work. The Ghosts may also call on another lefty in Tatsukichi 'Canyonero' Yamamoto, whom despite pedestrian numbers (3.79 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 4.66 FIP), has more AAA experience (137 innings) and appears ready to unleash his overpowering, if wild, fastball/change pairing. Lastly, only 26, Sul-shik Chong has made 22 PEBA appearances over the last two seasons and sports a collective 2.67 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 3.81 FIP. The Ghosts have half a bullpen waiting in AAA for someone to give them a chance. This on the heels of promotions to Bob Moore and Anderson Bailey, both of whom have less than one year of ML service time.

Dissimilarly, the Ghosts have been granting a roster spot to Takahashi's likely replacement: Oscar Simons. A 4th round selection in the 2036 draft, Simons threatens elite power alongside a fairly balanced hitting profile against right-handed pitching. He struggles against LHP, and so may not be a true replacement for the more versatile Takahashi, but in his limited role, he's already looking like one of the more dangerous hitters in the league. In 44 PAs, he's slashing .295/.340/.591 with 6 XBH, 3 of which are HRs. If the Ghosts can pair him with a right-handed bat, the result would be a potent platoon. It's possible Simons improves his defense sufficiently to take over Gilberto Fernandez's role as the Ghosts' lefty 1B platooner, but that seems less likely than a future at DH. Regardless, it's hard to imagine the Ghosts deciding to exclude Simons from the stretch run or subsequent playoff series, so he is likely here for the long haul.

[Ghosts]

Spring Training 2041

Another Spring in the bag, another roster crunch. Who won a spot? Who remains on the bubble? Who might we see again soon? Find out here!

The battle for backup catcher behind Samurakami is one that began last year and is still wildly uncertain. Yorikane Morita won this year's duel with Lonnie Dooley, while also staving off darkhorse candidate Carlos Mejia, the formerly prized International Amateur Free Agent and now AAAA nobody with a bat too weak to DH and a glove too weak to catch. Morita offers a balanced offensive profile, with a little bit of talent in every area but no real strength. He's also fairly limited defensively, so if he doesn't maintain a decently productive bat, he's liable to lose his position to his more defensively talented competition. Dooley is a strange player. He's lightning fast on the basepaths, an odd skillset for a catcher, and his pitch framing and blocking are excellent while his arm is borderline useless, a genuine liability in PEBA. No player truly outplayed the other in ST, and so the job went to the optionless Morita. If he can't hold the job, his days in the Niihama organization are limited.

Left Field and DH were positions in question after the departure of last year's DH, Takahashi, and the lack of options for former first round pick Ryuzaburo Mori. For now, the team has allowed John MacVurich to return to DH duties. This allows the team to roster Mori as well as a more defensively capable platoon partner in Alan O'Toole, the team's former 3rd round pick. Losing out were Oscar "Meatwad" Simons, whose AAA performance last season and Spring this season suggest the 22-year-old requires more seasoning. If Mori should fail to produce above average offense for long, the team may move on in favor of Simons. Another darkhorse option for such a contingency is long-tenured 1B Alex Garcia, whom has been productive between AA and AAA over the last three years, hitting 28 HRs in each of the last two seasons. Pat Allen was another ST hopeful that didn't get the call, the defensively mediocre corner outfielder has made strides in contact ability, but his lack of power or speed, as well as a failure to impress in ST, led to his optioning to AAA. He remains high on the team's radar, though, especially if O'Toole can't make the most of his current opportunity. Lastly, OF Mike Lucas has turned a few heads over the last season and might be an option if the team needs a versatile lefty OF. He can play all three positions and appears capable of contributing at the ML level with adequate proficiency in hitting, defense, and speed.

On the pitching side, the team opted not to roster Sul-shik Chong, instead making room for young lefties Bob Moore and Tatsukichi Yamamoto. The addition of star Young-pil Pin will drive Devlyn Hale back to the pen, barring a trade.

[Ghosts]

Successes and Failures in Early 2041

The Ghosts are in the Rising Sun Division lead after 33 games, and that comes despite the resurgence of the Evas and a number of setbacks. While the Ghosts do hold a slim lead early on, they've traded that lead with the Wind Dancers and have benefitted from some luck by the Pythagorean scales. What's worked and what hasn't so far? What adjustments have been made?

The team has officially discontinued the Reezy experiment, as they designated LF Mori for assignment last week. In 68 ABs, Mori posted just a .191/.257/.235 slash while being protected from LHP. His career OPS+ through 639 ABs is just 103, which is not going to cut it for LF/DH with a contending team, especially as a platoon player. Filling his spot is Oscar Simons, who may also be on a short leash, as he has yet to produce well above the AA level in his young career. The team is hoping for a burst of power from Simons, as the team is 12th in the SL with just 25 HRs.

Other slow starts on the offensive side include MacVurich (OPS .623), Park (.620), Canseco (.473), and Morita (.450). Those last two are hard pills to swallow for offense-first backups. The team is reportedly seeking outside options for backup catcher again. MacVurich is earning nearly $10M in his final year in arbitration and is careening towards a divorce from the team that once selected him #1 overall.

On the pitching side, Anderson Bailey is struggling (5.91 ERA) and may be relieved of his stopper role soon. Meanwhile, Devlyn Hale has been shipped to Madison, and "Canyonero" Yamamoto is also struggling (6.00 ERA). Superstar Young-pil Pin has been erratic, sometimes getting blown out and other times appearing dominant. Fernando Valdez is also having an erratic start (4.26 ERA).

On the flip side, Van Dam, Leith, and Lopez are each sporting an ERA in the sub-3 range, leading the team to a collective 8-3 record. Newly appointed closer Curt "Metallica" Merrill is cruising with a 1.08 ERA and 11 saves. Mori's right-handed accomplice, Alan O' Toole, is capitalizing on his new role with a .349/.417/.628 slash in 43 ABs, as is 4th OF Curt Pineau (.902 OPS). Santiago Aranda is leading the offense overall with a 1.002 OPS and Gilberto Fernandez's bat seems to have appeared in the midst of his return to a normal human diet. Shojiro Samurakami is also excelling, providing high quality defense and a .296 AVG.

Overall, neither the offense nor the defense is performing up to expectations as of yet, but the team has also faced extremely tough competition. Two series against each SS and TOY as well as 4-game series against each of Madison (19-13), Fargo (21-12), and Reno (20-12). The other teams played are all also predicted playoff contenders: PS, TEM, and OKA. May could provide some relief, as the team has series against NT (2), BAK, and KAL.