Bounding to the Top in 2005

By Merimas Tussock

BYWATER - With the new season around the corner, the question on everyone's lips is can the Bounders recover from last year's collapse, and the answer most people have is "maybe". The franchise has certainly made some changes in the off-season, but for all the good news there's still a worry that the team might not come through. Something that hurt the team a lot was the loss of their previously strong batting. With ace batters like Elraugast Elralbo showing their age, the exhaustion was obvious as Bywater tried to wring as many games out of them as possible, and when these guys could barely stand, the team seemed to adjusting their lineups every week in an attempt to find someone capable of filling the void that was left. The team was unable to find any respite on the mound either. Bywater has never really scared other teams in this area, but in 2003 they were at least fairly reliable. 2004 saw the Bounders acquire quite probably the worst record in the league. Dryadpoker and Facecrusher lead quite well and Balldicer anchored the team, but when Balldicer was injured the rot really set in.

So what's changed? Well new manager Sir Kenneth Iggette has promised a calmer, more reserved approach this season. "Last year was just too frantic, and the team seriously under-performed as a result," he said. "This year we'll go back to playing like gentlemen; it should elevate our game and make a few people choke on their caviar I can tell you."

Such talk may impress some people, but it's expected even more will be won over by some of the signings that have been made. And the biggest talking point in taverns around Bywater must be the arrival of Elrilmer Elriawyn from Misty Mountain. Some have suggested that The Witch King is too old and will be eating into the team's wages too much, but most people seem confident that this 2-time All-star player and winner of the 2003 Gandalf Pitcher Award will be sending the Bounders to new levels. Whatever happens, everyone agrees he's big news. Elriawyn's arrival was largely funded by a sponsorship agreement with Hobbiton Cobblers; with Elriawyn also making an undisclosed sum from their forthcoming "Hair Elriawyn" range.

But the progress hasn't stopped there. The Bounders also snapped up a couple of players in free agency to help strengthen the team in other areas, including former All-star player Paurk Goblinshaker who should help provide some much needed depth in the outfield. But even with these changes you can't help but feel there are gaps in the team still.

Time will tell if the Bounders are making progress, but this reporter is hopeful.

Posted at January 25, 2004 07:30 PM | more from Bywater