[mikev]

McKain Hurt, Crusaders Season Effictively Over

Well, the season for the Crusaders is effectively over, and there's a good chance that next year was taken along with it.

Reigning Golden Arm winner, staff ace, team leader, helper of children, handsome man, and all around good guy Ken McKain suffered a torn back muscle, ending his season and shelving him for the next 8 months.

Any hope of the playoffs is pretty well shot, and next year isn't looking so hot now either.

As an added bonus, McKain already saw talent lumps, his movement dropping from a 4 to a 3, and his velocity down from 91 to 87-89. Waa-hoo.

So far this season, McKain was 17-6 in 34 starts, witha 2.90 ERA and 232 strikeouts in 251 innings pitched. Consideration for a repeat pitcher of the year award is likely gone, and with his talent drops McKain is now looking like an expensive third starter - assuming he doesn't get ruined while injured.

It wasn't all bad news last sim, though. we were greeted with this before seeing McKain's lump:

George Adams: Movement versus Lefties Increases from 6 to 7
George Adams: Overall Movement Increases from 6 to 7
George Adams: Control Talent Increases from 3 to 4
George Adams: Movement Talent Increases from 3 to 4
George Adams: Movement versus Righties Increases from 6 to 7

Well ****, we had better hurry up and sign this guy long term before he wants 18 million bucks a year. At least he can replace McKain as the #1 next season.