EXPLICIT CONTENT
... Brad Anderson press conference feed ...
... Brad Anderson press conference feed ...
The Bruins lately have been playing under .500 ball, granted, the month has been games at 1st place Sacramento, 1st place Denver, 2nd place Pocatello, 2nd place Maui, 2nd place Boston, 1st place Hendersonville, and 2nd place Sacramento with only a day off in-between but the Bruins have stalled, and stalled, and stalled.
The team trails Sacramento by 7.5 games. They are 0-5 versus the Mentalists this season. Coupled with the team losing in the 8th inning or later three times, manager Brad Anderson has been extremely critical of the teams 6th ranked bullpen.
" We can't fucking hold a lead to save our lives. " said Brad Anderson before being asked a question after the first loss in a four-game set versus the division leading Mentalists. " Swept at home. Swept in Sacramento it's looking like. Who are we, the fucking Somerton Spartans? "
He has a point. The team is also 3-4 against the second place Tropics this season blowing two saves late, as All-Star closer Juan Morlaes has seemingly went out and lost his mojo.
Morlaes has been second to only Martin Griffin of Oklahoma (H'Ville fame) in total save oves and save percentage three years A.D. (After Draft) and had been a complete monster.. finishing on the leader boards at 7, 1, and 3 in games finished and 5, 1, 2 in games saved.
" Of course I'm concerned about Morales. "said Anderson, face sunk into hands - getting redder by the minute, " He's been pitching like pussy. All our arms have. "
Team is sixth in bullpen ERA, not last, however this is something the Bruins haven't been used to in years past... in past years, the game would start. The starter would go 7. The bullpen would end the game.
" You wanna talk about problems, " insisted Brad Anderson, egging himself on... " How about our fucking lineup. Garner is hitting .300 and Sagar .301 since coming over from New York which is FANTASTIC given our park and it's effect on our averages. But fucking aye... Newell's at .238 and the next highest batters are Pena at .238,... JARMILLO at .208 and Jong-Min Kim at .168 below the fucking mendoza line by .31 points. It's utterly ridiculous. Last in runs scored, OBP, Slugging, OPS, Hits, and hitting with RISP. I'm beyond myself. "
Anderson throws a water bottle at the wall before everyone in the press conference begins to mutter amongst themselves.
" Fact: we suck. Fact: our entire lineup is under-performing. "
Bill Plaschke interupts...
" Brad, granted your 7 games out of the division, but only one our of the wild-card. Your schedule has been one of the toughest/if not thee toughest in the league so far. Why the massive over reaction. "
" I agree, " chimes in TJ Symers, " Why? Your teams not awful, just massively under-performing. "
... Brad Anderson just stares at TJ.
" Get the fuck out of my building. " says Anderson, " I hate you. "
TJ stands there, stunned.
" Do I look like someone happy with a wild card birth? Would I take it, yes? Do I want it no. The division title isn't good enough, the wild card isn't good enough. Making the playoffs is not good enough. Win or go home. Just win baby. Whatever you call winning the BSA Championship, that's what we are striving for. "
The camera shows Declan Parsons, Earl Harper, Jesus Moran, and Ricky Bolden who have all walked in and are listening to their manager speak.
" This is LA... " says Anderson, placing his face in his hands again, " This isn't a place where we have been so starved for a winning franchise we'll take anything at this point. GM/Owner Mike Brouillette has opened his pocket, spent his money and brought in a team good enough to win the whole fucking thing. Our bats need to start producing. How do you sit a two-time gold glove shortstop whose gotten continually better as the years have progressed and is only 25? How do you stop his development when he has provided in years past? I guess if this is still the case in August we address the issue, but I have to hope my stars will be my stars. That my players will do what's needed to be done to win. "
All in all, many fans around the BSA are confused as to why the Bruins are just an average team this year. Some point to the changes, however, Pena Garner Newell Brouthers Kim Jarmillo were all in the teams lineup and the team has only added upgrades with Sagar a top5 hitter in the entire league over Hunter, struggling former #2 overall pick Harle has been replaced by Maestas and UTL man Juan Padilla being replaced by Pena (whose hitting .270 with 15hrs 38rbis on the year, most of which in NY).
Upgrades have been made. Injuries while they have happened haven't been on the season long variety as of yet (soon, I'm sure. Every year hit with 2 or 3).
The rotation has more less been as advertised, and while the bullpen has allowed runs - they are sixth. The utter confusion that is the Bruins loses woes will continue to haunt GM Brouillette until he A) figures out what to do, or B) gives up on the season.
The offense is loaded with good players. Average at worst according to rankings positonally.
Nor the matter, the Bruins were cautiously optomistic before last sim, now, not so much. Hopefully we do what we always find a way to do, win in the end.
