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ifspuds · 02-12-2008, 08:43 PM

Allison Spelunkers
5-Season Record: 188-218 (.463)
Best Season: 51-47 (2017)
Best Finish: 4th (2017, 6.5 back)
Top Hitter: Walter Sebring (2015-2018: .290/.404/.493, 63 HR, 192 runs, 173 RBI)
Top Pitcher: Kyle Richardson (2014-2018: 45-54, 3.58 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 960 K in 973.2 IP)

We'll take our 5-year retrospective through the league in order of overall 5-season record. We begin our 5-year retrospective with the Allison Spelunkers, a team many have expected to put together a better run than they've managed so far. The major culprit appears to have been the pitching, as the team ERA has climbed every season, outpacing the increase in offense their batters have put together.

The Spelunkers play in the rough-and-tumble mining capital of Allison, in the south of the Outposts, and many have suggested that it's the environment that has kept the squad from reaching their full potential. The Spelunkers are a rowdy bunch, just like their home fans, so it's probably not much of a stretch to suggest that maybe they should carouse less and practice more.

While Walter Sebring, the #1 pick in the 2015 draft, is their top hitter, it's hard to talk about Allison offense without mentioning two other players: 3B Jeff Anderson and 2B Alton Strong. Anderson has the highest career average for the Spelunkers (.326) but doesn't have a tremendous amount of power: 9 HR in 5 seasons. Still, he's one of the few steadying forces the squad has, a quiet leader that tries -- but more often than not fails -- to keep things in order in the clubhouse. Strong is different -- a player that's expected to break out every season, but until the 2018 season, had never managed to reach his enormous potential. He's 31 years old now, and many wonder whether or not his .313/.402/.539 season is something he can continue for a few more years. Still, three quality hitters isn't enough to compete with the Elliott Springs Tornadoes of the world, not when the pitching isn't a great support.

Speaking of that pitching, Kyle Richardson has to be one of the Bay League's best examples of a million dollar arm and a ten-cent head. He's a tremendous talent, and like teammate Alton Strong, is expected to break out every season. But after posting a 3.02 ERA at age 21 in 2014, he's been getting progressively worse ever since, until a disastrous 9-16, 4.14 season in 2018 that has a lot of Spelunkers fans wondering if he's done some lasting damage to his arm. He did miss a month and a half in 2017 with bone chips in his shoulder, so it's entirely possible. Bobby Edwards was a solid #2 for the Spelunkers until he was practically given away to the Silver Beach Whales before the 2018 season for old and mediocre returns. Andre Logan has been quite serviceable, but like Richardson, suffered through an uncharacteristically poor 2018 season.

The Spelunkers need everything to fire on all cylinders to have a shot, but it seems like when one half the team is up, the other half is down. They've also made some poor trades and had bad luck with the draft, keeping their fans wondering when -- or if -- they're ever going to figure it all out.

02-12-2008, 08:43 PM	#229 (permalink)
ifspuds Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 2,092	Allison Spelunkers 5-Season Record: 188-218 (.463) Best Season: 51-47 (2017) Best Finish: 4th (2017, 6.5 back) Top Hitter: Walter Sebring (2015-2018: .290/.404/.493, 63 HR, 192 runs, 173 RBI) Top Pitcher: Kyle Richardson (2014-2018: 45-54, 3.58 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 960 K in 973.2 IP) We'll take our 5-year retrospective through the league in order of overall 5-season record. We begin our 5-year retrospective with the Allison Spelunkers, a team many have expected to put together a better run than they've managed so far. The major culprit appears to have been the pitching, as the team ERA has climbed every season, outpacing the increase in offense their batters have put together. The Spelunkers play in the rough-and-tumble mining capital of Allison, in the south of the Outposts, and many have suggested that it's the environment that has kept the squad from reaching their full potential. The Spelunkers are a rowdy bunch, just like their home fans, so it's probably not much of a stretch to suggest that maybe they should carouse less and practice more. While Walter Sebring, the #1 pick in the 2015 draft, is their top hitter, it's hard to talk about Allison offense without mentioning two other players: 3B Jeff Anderson and 2B Alton Strong. Anderson has the highest career average for the Spelunkers (.326) but doesn't have a tremendous amount of power: 9 HR in 5 seasons. Still, he's one of the few steadying forces the squad has, a quiet leader that tries -- but more often than not fails -- to keep things in order in the clubhouse. Strong is different -- a player that's expected to break out every season, but until the 2018 season, had never managed to reach his enormous potential. He's 31 years old now, and many wonder whether or not his .313/.402/.539 season is something he can continue for a few more years. Still, three quality hitters isn't enough to compete with the Elliott Springs Tornadoes of the world, not when the pitching isn't a great support. Speaking of that pitching, Kyle Richardson has to be one of the Bay League's best examples of a million dollar arm and a ten-cent head. He's a tremendous talent, and like teammate Alton Strong, is expected to break out every season. But after posting a 3.02 ERA at age 21 in 2014, he's been getting progressively worse ever since, until a disastrous 9-16, 4.14 season in 2018 that has a lot of Spelunkers fans wondering if he's done some lasting damage to his arm. He did miss a month and a half in 2017 with bone chips in his shoulder, so it's entirely possible. Bobby Edwards was a solid #2 for the Spelunkers until he was practically given away to the Silver Beach Whales before the 2018 season for old and mediocre returns. Andre Logan has been quite serviceable, but like Richardson, suffered through an uncharacteristically poor 2018 season. The Spelunkers need everything to fire on all cylinders to have a shot, but it seems like when one half the team is up, the other half is down. They've also made some poor trades and had bad luck with the draft, keeping their fans wondering when -- or if -- they're ever going to figure it all out. __________________ Jeff Watson TWB (co-commissioner): Pittsburgh Pirates GM (team dynasty here, #5 Dynasty of 2005!) (TWB Champs 1966, 1967, 1973, NL Champs 1968, NL East Champs 1969, NL Champs 1970, 1971 NPBL: Illinois Jethawks GM Outpost League: A Fictional World Dynasty (#9 (tie) Dynasty of 2005!)