August 5, 1920
Thomas Campbell, #5 pick in the draft by the Hadestown Broncos just one month ago has announced his retirement from the game after a horrific injury in just his fourth minor league game.
The pitcher was a risky pick for the Broncos. The High Schooler had spent most of his high school career injured and received a lot of criticism for the pick.
August 7, 1920
We're officially one month from the end of the regular season and the number crunchers have figured that the Spice District Roosters, Dustland Sharks, and Sugar Factory Elephants are locks for the playoffs.
That leaves only one spot left to fill with the Saffron Turtles in the driving seat there.
August 8, 1920
Common sense knew this a long time ago but mathematics confirmed it today after a 4-2 loss to the Whiskeytown Ducks: the Crimson Forest Falcons will not be in the playoffs this season.
The Falcons started the season off 0-9 and never really got any better. Their dirty laundry was aired publicly when 1B Zeke Reynolds demanded a trade and accused the team of fostering slackers. He was eventually traded to the Dustland Sharks where he has flourished (in his first series back against his former side, Reynolds hit a home run in each game as the Sharks swept the Falcons)
Right Fielder Jonathan Palka was often a lone beacon for the side. The only player with a OPS+ over 100. He hit .313/.393/.516 with 18 home runs -- often for a losing effort. Other players of note included two players gunning for the 20/20 club: LF Augie Hanson and 1B Gaby Williams who also provided some good defense. On the pitching side, there's literally nothing good to talk about.
Preseason predictions put them at 60-84, they'd need to get 25-3 for the rest of the season just to meet that. RIP Falcons.
August 10, 1920
Shawn Marsh and the Salt Quarter Penguins make an absolute statement against the Saffron Turtles with Marsh decimating the batting lineup with a no-hitter.
As the playoff race heats up, the Penguins move ever so closer to the wildcard spot held by the Turtles. Marsh was so good, only one early walk prevented this from being a perfect game.
August 11, 1920
The woes of the Turtles continue when they took on the Unicorns. The bats simply had no answer to Tijs Oudenkerk who threw a complete game shutout with just one hit and 17 K's. It was exactly one month ago today that Oudenkerk pitched a 17K game against the Turtles. He certainly has their number.
Here's where the standings sit. The battle is on for the last wildcard spot.
