March 10th, 2036: Newark, NJ

As spring training arrives at our doorstep, New Jersey GM Michael Czosnyka and Manager, Hugh MacLardy make the long-rumored move official. The former ace-outfielder turned manager Ieyoshi Ishikawa has been transitioned to bench duties of his former team after one season managing the ailing SS-A squad, Hilo Hoops.  Ishikawa’s name still litters the Hitmen’s batting record books despite being gone 15 seasons from the team and 9 from the league. He still stands as the most consistent force with 6 straight seasons patrolling Center out in Mercer County Waterfront Park. And while he was not able to bring much glory to the Hoops, he does have a knack with knowing how to teach the younger generation and guide them forward. That is what excited MacLardy the most about adding Ishikawa to his staff after the exit of Bench Coach Chance Hatcher.

With the young staff in New Jersey, guidance and a steady hand are needed to help mold the club back into the contenders they once were, and the Champions, they made themselves into during the WIL run.

Replacing Ishikawa in Hilo is another former Hitmen returned back into the fold, former SP/RP Bryant Duncan who like Ishikawa is making his managerial debut within Hilo. While pitching is his forte, baseball itself has always been his passion and he can’t wait to give back to his former franchise as well. Through 15 seasons within PEBA, one can argue the 7 he spent in New Jersey were the highlight of his career and the ones he will remember the most fondly, as it was during his time in New Jersey that the standout reliever got a chance to show he could be a starter just as well, putting together a 47-28 record in 104 starts. Despite his stellar starting performance, Duncan would go on and return as strictly a reliever for the remainder of his career and polished off a solid career with a 103-78 record with 82 saves, a career 3.21 ERA, and 1,305 strike outs. Duncan brings a lot of game experience to the franchise, and we are excited to have back another standout Hitman.

Ishikawa has been quick to dive right into his work as the new Bench Coach and has immediately gotten himself familiar with all of the new faces he hopes to mold.

“There are some good kids here, good talent. We have veterans like Chris ‘Liver’ Pate, and eager youngsters like Young-jae Yi. There is competition everywhere. I’m really hoping to help some of our young bats though. ‘Horror Show’ struggled last year, but I hope to get him to trust himself like I do. The veterans aren’t always going to be here to lead the way and one day these kids will be the veterans, so I want the kids to step up. I need Denis Johnson to become ‘The Don’ and take control of the outfield and this lineup. I need him to understand he is the future of this club along with others like Chan-su ‘Prick’ Chang and Mark Anderson. So, I made Denis an offer he couldn’t refuse… win an All-Star nod this year, and a new car was on me. I am going to force him to be the star we all think he can be.”

Johnson and others will have the leadership of recent acquisition Tomás Martínez to lean on, as well as veterans like Lee Ray, Kazunari Ito, and Marvin Miller. The pieces are there, maybe not to take West Virginia’s place, but at least to have an all-out brawl in the ever-competitive wild card picture of the IL.

– @alleatherKohler