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2001 record:
27-135 (.167); 4th place in NL West
Major additions:
OF Delino Deshields, 3B Olmeado Saenz, 2B Pat Meares
Major loses:
OF Derek Bell, LHP Jeff Fassero, RHP Jason Johnson
2001 Review:
Much like the so-bad-they-are-good movies of fabled director Ed Wood, the Metropolis Avengers were so pathetic you could not help but be entertained in 2001. Their unfathomable 27-win season will surely be a low-water mark that no team will ever plummet to again. That is, unless, they can match the feat again themselves this year.
Despite a coaching staff full of superheroes, powerhouses they were not. Their offense was the worst in all of BRASSball, scoring only 3.3 runs per game. Their pitching staff was the worst in all of BRASSball, allowing 7.5 runs per game. That, my friends, is utter ineptitude.
Bright spots? Well, you had to feel for veterans like OF Derek Bell (.254, 17 HR, 66 RBI) and LHP Jeff Fassero (126 IP, 4.14 ERA, 92 K). They deserved a better fate than this. Thankfully, both are free from their indentured servitude and now with new teams in 2002.
2002 Outlook:
In all fairness to the Metropolis front office, a plan is indeed in the works. A few seasons back, the team recognized that is was not going to complete anytime soon. Rather than waddle through a few 70 win seasons, the Avengers traded all current talent for prospects and other future considerations. The Avengers have also stayed far away from the free agent market, giving them a bulging bank account.
Thankfully for Metropolis fans (if there are any left), the future is now close at hand. Metropolis recently opened up their checkbook and announced the long-term signings of RHP Tony Armas Jr. (eight years), OF Pat Burrell (eight years) and 3B Aramis Ramirez (ten years). The team will also almost surely give major league trials to a number of their minor league studs, possibly such prospects as RHP Juan Cruz, 1B Carlos Pena and SS Rafael Furcal to name just a few.
While 2002 will be another long year in terms of the won-loss record, the sun is finally rising on Metropolis and there will be some (but not many) talented players on the field. With any luck, the team will reach .500 in the next 2 or 3 years and then be poised for a long run of contention throughout the mid- to late 2000s.
Projected lineup
SS Enrique Wilson
CF Delino Deshields
3B Aramis Ramirez
LF Pat Burrell
DH Olmedo Saenz
2B Pat Meares
C Tom Prince
1B Know Anyone Interested?
RF Your Name Here
Rotation
Tony Armas Jr.
Antonio Sabato, Jr.
Larry
Moe
Curly
Closer
Mark Petkovsek
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