In spite of the complaints about the format of this Golden edition of the World Baseball Classic, the Sarzonian national baseball team are sitting in a good position right now.
The Stars are 9-3 heading into the off day, two games clear of runners up Valanora at the top of the Group 2 table. The top of manager Geoff Yancey's rotation appears to be rounding into form nicely. Offensively, they're getting timely offence for the most part.
For the most part largely because Sarzonia have only been able to use designated hitter Luke Brinkley in the cleanup spot for games at Fleetwood Park. The other teams in Group 2 have all opted not to use the DH. It's a subject that bitterly divides the baseball multiverse, but Yancey pointed out that the rule even divides Sarzonians.
"The Incorporated League still use the designated hitter whilst the Sarzonian League doesn't," Yancey said. "If an Incorporated League team win the Sarzonian Series and were to play a Delaclav team in another Cyanea Series, they would be at a disadvantage at the matches south of the border."
As a matter of fact, speaking of the Cyanea Series, Sarzonia bench coach Brad Howland managed the Woodstock Mountaineers in what has thus far been the only Cyanea Series ever played, a marathon series that went the full seven games that saw the Mountaineers win each of the four games by one run, including three extra inning games. One of the Quinniville Conquistadors victories was a 15-0 bludgeoning in Game 5. Game 7 lasted 22 innings with Woodstock prevailing 5-4.
"That was an epic series," Howland said. "So many great memories."
Lefthander Jeff Parrish vindicated Yancey's decision to bump him from No. 3 in the rotation to become the team's ace with a dominant complete game shutout to open the World Baseball Classic against Megistos. Righty Mark Conroy, the previous ace, also pitched well after struggling in his debut against Northwest Kalactin in Sarzonia's 5-1 loss.
"Mark took [the demotion to No. 2] as a wake-up call," pitching coach Noah Channing said. "He treated it as motivation to pitch better."
Brinkley also has worked to get better as he spent hours improving his fielding skills in the hopes that he could also platoon at first base with Cody Frazier and get at bats against tough lefties. Third base and infield coach Lyle Menifee said Brinkley's defence has become "more passable each day," and he said Yancey no longer worries about the prospect of starting Brinkley at first. However, Yancey added that Frazier would likely be a defensive replacement in a tight game.
"When we need a glove at first, that's why Frazier's there," he said. Frazier has also been shagging fly balls in left and right field so he could be available there in an extra innings situation.
"Anything I can do to help the team," he said.
