The problem is that this current trade market is completely absurd. The asking price for a part-time catcher or bullpen arm is one of our top prospects. Teams aren't even interested in discussing anyone else. We recently placed Garrett Mitchell -- a possible top-five overall pick in the coming MLB draft, with 80 speed and 70 power -- on the Selling forum. We received one offer. One. That, alone, is indicative of where this trade market is at the moment.
So, while we patiently wait for opportunity to knock, we take a look back at our first chapter.
The Good
Rafael Devers (.431/.488/.798 with 10 HR and 43.6 RC) was not only our team's MVP, but will likely be the Ozzie League's Hitter of the Chapter. He was on fire from Opening Day to the final series of the chapter.
Trea Turner (.340/.384/.505, with 11 doubles and 9 SB) was outstanding as our leadoff hitter. Tom Murphy (.409/.458/.705) got the job done against lefties, as did Nick Senzel (.333/.413/.590). Ramon Laureano (.317/.363/.695) and Cameron Maybin (.286/.397/.612) were excellent as well.
As mentioned above, Wendelken (0.73 ERA in 12+ IP, with 3 SV) was our most reliable closer. Taylor Rogers (1.88 in 14+) was excellent out of the bullpen as well.
Our starting rotation was not bad, but it was nowhere near as good as we expected. Stephen Strasburg went a perfect 4-0, with a 2.98 ERA. Anibal Sanchez (2-1, 2.70) turned in a strong performance. Jon Gray (2-2, 3.19) and Sonny Gray (3-1, 3.51) were great at times and mediocre at others. Sonny came within one out of pitching a no-hitter against the Iron Spider Pigs -- and then nearly blew the game! Our $15.5 million investment, Max Scherzer (3-2 3.58), pitched two decent games and four not-so-decent.
The Bad
Shohei Ohtani has been as disastrous in right field as we expected. What we didn't expect was that he'd be mostly disastrous at the plate as well. He hit just .236/.306/.345 with one home run in Chapter One. He needs to do better.
We removed Andrew Benintendi from our Jumbotron after last year's Jumbotron Jinx apparently infected his play. Unfortunately, he still can't hit: .234/.295/.312 for the chapter.
The Ugly
Alex Avila (.162/.295/.270) has been pretty much useless behind the plate. Not only that, but we over-used him. We need to plug that hole at some point.
Ryne Harper (3 IP, 9 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR) was...not good. Neither was Felix Pena (6+, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 2 HR). Kyle Ryan also allowed 4 runs in his 1+ inning of work. Between Ryan and Avila, it's a real mystery as to how they used up so much of our VORP cap this season.
This "Ugly" section wouldn't be complete without mentioning our ugly series loss to the lowly Darien Blue Wave. The series began with Wendelken, of all people, serving up a walk-off home run. We then lost the final two games to Drew Pomeranz and Spencer Turnbull. We managed to score one run on six hits in their fourteen innings combined. Which is just beyond stupid.
