March 28, 1922
Previews are done, so here's the full set of predictions.
It's striking how much better the East is versus the West. The Third best team in the East is
20 games behind the leader in that division but still projected to have a better record that the top Western team.
Also out today is the top prospects list with last year's #1 pick Kevin Stump making the top of that list.
The Prospect Pipeline predicts that he'll be up in 1923.
You can see his details here from when he got drafted. Some of these names like Daniel Irvine and Ezra Varalli are already in the bigs and hoping to making an impact this season.
Onto the opening day games and we got a huge pitching matchup for opening day as 1921 Pitcher of the Year Elijah Shumate went up against 1920 Pitcher of the Year Max Steel. Unfortunately it was a bit of a letdown as Steel went off injured after only 4 innings and the Rooster bats completely failed to fire against a dominant Shumate. Ultimately, a 3-0 win to the Polar Bears.
Steel is out for 6 weeks.
Meanwhile, Jaxon Darnall and the defending champion Dustland Sharks stomped out the Saffron Turtles for a 5-0 win with Darnall even getting himself a triple to round the game out.
March 29, 1922
It goes from bad to worse for the Spice District Roosters as they lose outfielder Johnny Pfeifer for 6-7 weeks though luck be have it, it's his replacement in the game that hits the winning home run in the top of the 12th to win their game against the Polar Bears.
March 30, 1922
As the season starts more of the big-name free agents are picking up contracts. Peyton Kramer, a member of the Championship Dustland Sharks will go to the Whiskeytown Ducks on a 1 year deal.
April 1, 1922
A solo home run by 1B Kyle Lownes in the 2nd inning was all the offense that Penguin pitcher Jared Way had to work with but it was all he needed to get his side the win. Way put up a dominant display against the Dolphins with a 2-hit complete game shutout with not a single walk given away and 11 K's dished out.
April 3, 1922
The Sharks simply never get into a groove against the Unicorns but the game is still tied 1-all in the bottom of the 9th. The bases are loaded but they've just got to get one more out to force extra innings but Kian Lehn can't control Trey Kelly's Forkball and gives just enough time for the runner on third to scamper in for the win. It's a walk-off passed ball.
Logan Phillips is the next big-name to sign with a team as he reaches an agreement with the Sugar Factory Elephants for a one year deal. Immediately after they finish negotiations over a box of beer, the two-time All-Star is told he'll need to pitch that day -- against his former team: the Whiskeytown Ducks. It's a disaster, Phillips gets pulled after 4.1 innings with the Elephants down 8-1.
April 5, 1922
Amelia City's CF Sawyer White is the third highest paid player in baseball and doesn't even start for his team. He's only 27 so I'm not totally sure how he got such a contract but he certainly did his best to earn his money today when he blasted a 3-run pinch hit home run in the bottom of the 9th to... still lose.
Sorry buddy. Try hitting a grand slam next time like your opponent did.
The Salt Quarter Penguins bolster their pitching rotation by picking up another of the quality free agents on the market: this time with Adam Brookshire. That leaves Dalton Deschenes as the only member of the quality pitchers still on the market.
April 9, 1922
The Port Magnolia Dolphins have just beaten the Crimson Forest Falcons in walk-off fashion three times in a row.
And over in the University Leagues, 3B Maddox Riker of the Northlands College of Technology is on a 31 game hit streak that stretches back to last season. He's .438/.534/.644 for the season so far (and that's not even the best batting average on his team that's started 14-4). We'll be sure to keep an eye on Riker.
Anyway, here's the COBRA standings after the games on April 9.
