[mikev]

Crusaders Storm Out Of The Gate

Well, it appears the Crusaders were anxious to get the season started.

California opened up the 2009 campaign by taking 2 of 3 from hapless Vegas, 3 of 4 from Long Beach, and sweeping Valencia back down to Southern California. That means that we're 8-2, have the best record in the GUBA, and a 1.5 game lead over Los Angeles

The funny thing about the first week of the season? The team looks like a complete opposite of last year's squad. The league's best offense combined with a passable pitching staff in 2008 isn't what the 2009 Crusaders look like... so far.

Earned Run Average  2.02 - 1st in MBBA
Starters' ERA    2.12 - 1st in MBBA
Bullpen ERA    1.71 - 1st in MBBA
Runs allowed    22 - 1st in MBBA
Hits allowed    64 - 1st in MBBA
Opponents AVG    .200 - 1st in MBBA
BABIP    .241 - 1st in MBBA
Home Runs allowed    3 - 1st in MBBA

ickles:

Right out of the gate, starter Henry McHaney is looking like he'll be a pitcher of the year candidate. 3 games, 3 wins, 0 runs given up, 2 complete game shutouts, 18 strikeouts, 4 walks. Dude's only given up 5 ****ing hits in 23 innings. That's some Nebraska-esque **** right there. Naturally, the asshole who was doing the simming decided to give him dead arm and he's out another week or so. Nice. Oh, and I'm totally confident that he'll keep up his 0.88 BABIP and his .207 opponents OPS :yasmiley:

Turk Lopez, thought to be possibly traded to make room for other younger bullpen arms, has come out and saved 4 of the first 10 games of the season. Management is rethinking their stance on moving him.

At the plate, Jakob Forest is awesome. .419/.581/.742 with 12 walks and 4 strikeouts LOLZ0RZ. I hope his head size isn't growing eds:

Now I think I'm going to go look into writing some Ridiculously Early Projections. I miss that ****.

The Next Crusade

4/17 - v. New York
4/18 - v. New York
4/19 - v. New York

4/21 - @ Baltimore
4/22 - @ Baltimore
4/23 - @ Baltimore

4/24 - v. Jackson
4/25 - v. Jackson
4/26 - v. Jackson