Off Topic
Door Gets Extra Workout As Team Prepares for Anything
February 25, 2059: Catalina Island – With spring training a day away, it surprises almost no one that the Bikini Krill have invited a full contingent of seventy players to their camp. The contingent includes 34 pitchers and 37 hitters (or take one from either to account for interesting two-way player Bob Gentle, who will be returning to showcase his versatility as both a backup catcher and a relief pitcher.
“It’s always great to be able to preserve a roster spot if we can,” said manager Richard Lawson as he surveyed the ballpark this afternoon. “That means we’re all rooting for Bob. It will be great to get everyone out here and see where we stand. It’s like night and day right now, the way everything feels. Last year we were trying to find an identity. This year, between growth of the kids and the arrival of Felix (Vidaca) and Jeffrey (Smith) everyone is really buzzing. It’s like everything is brand new. I can’t wait to get started.”
Another thing that’s new is the team’s hitting coach, Joaquin Romero, who joined the staff after Frank Thomas made a surprise retirement—and first base coach Mario Franco, who was recruited for his ability to work with the club’s catchers.
“We’ve been working on the whole organization,” assistant GM Dustin Zuniga said. “I suppose everyone says that. But I can tell you that no one in the E-suite took a day off all off-season long. It’s been an exhilarating couple months, what with setting up the new Skill Skool and focusing on the kids, as well as courting Felix and Jeffry.”
Rumors are that the club was in on the game for veteran ace Alaric Wullenweber, too, but came up short.
“We did our best,” Zuniga said. “Maybe next year we’ll be in the right place financially to make that last little push. But I think it’s fair to say that our fans would have been proud of just how far we went. The goal is to win the division now, you know? We call the mantra out every morning at our close-the-ranks get together Nothing Matters But the Pacific Pennant.”
We’re sure fans are excited to hear that, but the fact is that the mountain that is the Pacific Division appears to be another tough climb this year. Sacramento and Long Beach aren’t going anywhere. San Fernando made the post season after a rough start last year, and they are just as strong this season. Vancouver might have stepped back, but might not have, too. They’ll be without Phil Cole, but after a chaotic off-season, they still look dangerous. Then there’s Valencia, who has a solid core, and is bouncing back from injury, and Portland, who’s airwaves are buzzing uncontrollably after a front office…um…shakeup, and the signing of guys like Wullenweber, Marroquin, and Sammy McNeill. It’s kind of a “just add water” thing there. The Lumberjacks are instant contenders. The Wildcard here Might be Hawaii, who have been an enigma wrapped in an enigma for a couple seasons. The Tropics have had a fairly quiet off-season, but it’s hard to know if that’s good or indifferent.
Time will tell.
Regardless, as players from the Krill and the Surfers arrive on Catalina Island to begin their already traditional Spring Training rituals, fans are anxious.
What will 2059 bring?
Adventure, we think. Total adventure. All we know for sure is that seventy Krill are coming to the Island, and that for the next six weeks those seventy players are going to see a lot of baseball.
In other words: It's going to be great.
February 25, 2059: Catalina Island – With spring training a day away, it surprises almost no one that the Bikini Krill have invited a full contingent of seventy players to their camp. The contingent includes 34 pitchers and 37 hitters (or take one from either to account for interesting two-way player Bob Gentle, who will be returning to showcase his versatility as both a backup catcher and a relief pitcher.
“It’s always great to be able to preserve a roster spot if we can,” said manager Richard Lawson as he surveyed the ballpark this afternoon. “That means we’re all rooting for Bob. It will be great to get everyone out here and see where we stand. It’s like night and day right now, the way everything feels. Last year we were trying to find an identity. This year, between growth of the kids and the arrival of Felix (Vidaca) and Jeffrey (Smith) everyone is really buzzing. It’s like everything is brand new. I can’t wait to get started.”
Another thing that’s new is the team’s hitting coach, Joaquin Romero, who joined the staff after Frank Thomas made a surprise retirement—and first base coach Mario Franco, who was recruited for his ability to work with the club’s catchers.
“We’ve been working on the whole organization,” assistant GM Dustin Zuniga said. “I suppose everyone says that. But I can tell you that no one in the E-suite took a day off all off-season long. It’s been an exhilarating couple months, what with setting up the new Skill Skool and focusing on the kids, as well as courting Felix and Jeffry.”
Rumors are that the club was in on the game for veteran ace Alaric Wullenweber, too, but came up short.
“We did our best,” Zuniga said. “Maybe next year we’ll be in the right place financially to make that last little push. But I think it’s fair to say that our fans would have been proud of just how far we went. The goal is to win the division now, you know? We call the mantra out every morning at our close-the-ranks get together Nothing Matters But the Pacific Pennant.”
We’re sure fans are excited to hear that, but the fact is that the mountain that is the Pacific Division appears to be another tough climb this year. Sacramento and Long Beach aren’t going anywhere. San Fernando made the post season after a rough start last year, and they are just as strong this season. Vancouver might have stepped back, but might not have, too. They’ll be without Phil Cole, but after a chaotic off-season, they still look dangerous. Then there’s Valencia, who has a solid core, and is bouncing back from injury, and Portland, who’s airwaves are buzzing uncontrollably after a front office…um…shakeup, and the signing of guys like Wullenweber, Marroquin, and Sammy McNeill. It’s kind of a “just add water” thing there. The Lumberjacks are instant contenders. The Wildcard here Might be Hawaii, who have been an enigma wrapped in an enigma for a couple seasons. The Tropics have had a fairly quiet off-season, but it’s hard to know if that’s good or indifferent.
Time will tell.
Regardless, as players from the Krill and the Surfers arrive on Catalina Island to begin their already traditional Spring Training rituals, fans are anxious.
What will 2059 bring?
Adventure, we think. Total adventure. All we know for sure is that seventy Krill are coming to the Island, and that for the next six weeks those seventy players are going to see a lot of baseball.
In other words: It's going to be great.