Gary Trundleburry, Shin Seiki Post

11/17/2034: Nagoya, Japan

Heading in to this off season, there had been bitter disappointment in Shin Seiki, but with a sense of begrudging stability.

The game day decisions in game 7 of the 2034 divisional round vs. Toyama caused an uncharacteristically noticeable reaction from the Evas’ front office.  Usually, playoff exits are taken with a healthy dose of stoicism in Shin Seiki. After all, the odds of winning the playoffs are usually low in a given year. As long as you make it there healthy, you take your chances and see where it goes. But not this year. This year there were reports (though no official signs) of rage in the executive suite during the game. Apparently taking your $35,000,000 per season Ace after a mere 9 pitches, isn’t viewed as a good use of resources. Granted, they were 9 very bad pitches that yielded 4 runs. But to yank your ace and then sub in a pitcher with half his talent, (not even a stopper or specialist) who gets shelled for another 3 runs (while recording only one out) – well it doesn’t look good. The Evas’ mop-up relegated legend, Yakamochi ‘Zoom Zoom’ Suitani, got 50 pitches, in contrast.

Paul Woods is a legend in SS. He helmed the team for 12 seasons, making the playoffs each season, and brought home the only two PEBA titles in team history. But it wasn’t all champagne and parades. His temperamental outbursts rubbed many players the wrong way. His willingness to deliver “motivational” speeches in various stages of undress wasn’t popular with the players either. His unwillingness to let the front office guide on-the-field tactics built up frustration over many seasons. And that playoff loss, heavily influenced by his rash and emotional pitching decisions that reportedly involved a series of expletives that would get me fired for even describing, loomed large. It wasted one of the better rosters in the history of the team an might have been one “Woods Moment” too many. Still, the strength of his resume (and his significant contract) made firing him a significant leap. I can confirm that it was being actively considered, though no decision had been made.

Woods spared the Evas’ GM Kevin Vail from having to actually make that call by pulling the plug on his own career. That might be for the best. He can walk away on his own terms as a beloved legend, rather than suffer through a painful firing. It was time for new on the field tactics anyway.

As big as that news was, it wasn’t the most important Eva Era to end this off season.

Long time scouting director, Mr. Yi decided to call it a career as well. His exit was much less eventful. Nothing odd about retiring at 68 years old. He was universally respected and never caused issues. Still, his departure is a major event. For years, his evaluations were part of the basis for every move Shin Seiki made. With a new set of eyes coming in, who know how the organization will view their own and other teams’ players. Should lead to a lot of turnover.

But even changing how the team views every player in baseball isn’t the biggest news for many Evas fans. No, the biggest news by far is the retirement of Evas legend Yakamochi “Zoom Zoom” Suitani.

Suitani’s importance to the Evas is hard to overstate. For 16 seasons – including every season since joining PEBA – he has been the standard bearer for the organization. His on the field excellence isn’t in doubt. His stats confirm his status as an all time PEBA great. He is easily one of the 10 best SP’s in the history of the league to date.

His resume is filled with much more than pure numbers. Some highlights:

• 2019 LRS-JPN SSG Sawamura Award winner
• 2020 League of the Rising Sun All-Star
• 2020 LRS-JPN SSG Sawamura Award winner
• 2021 Planetary Extreme Baseball Alliance All-Star
• 2023 Planetary Extreme Baseball Alliance All-Star
• Top 3 SL Golden Arm award in 2021, 2023, & 2024.
• 2025 Planetary Extreme Baseball Alliance All-Star
• 2027 Planetary Extreme Championship MVP
• 2027 Planetary Extreme Championship with the Shin Seiki Evas
• 2028 Planetary Extreme Baseball Alliance All-Star
• 2028 SL Golden Arm winner
• 2029 Planetary Extreme Baseball Alliance All-Star
• 2029 Planetary Extreme Championship with the Shin Seiki Evas
• 2029 SL Golden Arm winner
• 2030 Planetary Extreme Baseball Alliance All-Star Game
• 2031-07-12 Pitched a NO-HITTER against the Okinawa Shisa with 8 strikeouts and 2 BB allowed!

But he was worth more to the Evas than the stats and accomplishments. He was the last bit of the LRS left on the field in Shin Seiki. Losing that hurts and is something the SS front office is actively looking to somehow remedy (more on this to come). But time moves on and we must all adapt. Expect the PEBA Hall of Fame to soon have to adapt to having its first LRS affiliated inductee soon. He might even wind up being the only one. That would be fitting.

We should soon see moves from the Evas front office to fill the new vacancies. More analysis to come when that happens.