Saturday, October 8, 2011

Scattershooting while wondering whatever happened to Vida Blue…

Hot sauce: Since signing with Neo-Tokyo on July, 5-time ABSF All-Star Enrique Ortíz has hit 16 homeruns in only 204 at bats, a rate of 1 homerun every 12.75 AB.  That is a better rate than any of the top 20 homerun hitters in the LRS, including Morihiro Nakamura (1 HR every 13.00 AB) and Ton Nakamura (13.95).

Something we said?: Despite posting more wins than any other season since 2007, NeTo finished with their worst attendance since 2008, a drop of 13.4%.

All or nothing: Despite hitting the 5^th-highest HR total in the LRS, NeTo is on pace for a.224 team batting average, which would be the worst team BA in league history.

How the greedy have fallen: During the 2010 campaign, 1B Kunicichi Nishiyama, one of the few power threats in the Akira lineup, stood firm in his demand for a 2-year, $12 million extension.  GM Ron Hiscock took a pass and allowed Nishi to test free agency.  He attempted to make the jump stateside to the PEBA, signing a minor league contract with Tempe.  Half a season later, he was released after hitting only .184.  He then returned to the LRS in July, signing a minor league contract… with Neo-Tokyo.  At least he got to travel the world…

Back to school?: Update on the 2010 draft class… Top pick Kata Nakamura lost 10 games in 21 starts since turning pro, although he had a respectable 3.17 ERA… 2^nd overall pick Takiji “Eager Beaver” Mitzutani lost his first 8 decisions as a pro, finishing 1-8, but had an impressive 2.26 ERA… 2^nd rounder 1B Koto Murakami has struggled at the plate, batting only .145 with 1 HR in 255 AB… fellow 2^nd rounder Shinkichi Ohayashi hasn’t fared much better, with a .221 BA and 1 HR in 321 AB.  Hopefully there isn’t something in the water in Nagano…

One day the Devil challenged the Lord to a baseball game.  Smiling, the Lord proclaimed, “You don’t have a chance.  I have Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and all the greatest players up here”.  “Yes,” snickered the Devil, “but I have all the umpires.”