Irontearer moved to bullpen
ROHAN - Rohan pitching has come to the end of an era as SP Libur Irontearer will be taken off the starting rotation this week.
Irontearer has been leading the Rohan pitching staff for the past 7 years. Only last year he was signed to a generous 11.4 million/4 year contract with both parties hoping Libur would continue star pitching for another couple of years. Yet now it has become clear the ace has become tired. 'The arm stays stiff despite of fysiotherapy and it has become very hard for me to get fully rested in between the games,' a dismayed Libur told the press. Sadly Rohan doctors say nothing can be done. 'It's just age catching up on him.'
Manager jools does not regret his decision on the 4 year contract. 'I don't begrudge Libur the money he has rightly earned. He has stayed loyal to the team through all these years and never demanded too much. And who knows, maybe he will play an important role yet in the bull pen this season, teaching the younger guys how to throw a mean ball.' That being said, jools immediately stated Irontearer will be protected against fouling his brilliant statistics so far. 'It's no good wearing him down to the point he no longer can perform at the level we're used from him. Even if that means a preliminary retirement.’
In the mean time Rohan management has taken appropriate action ro replace Irontearer. Dol Guldur SP Drogo Loamsdown has been contracted to fill in the vacancy. Despite Drogo's disappointing performance so far, Rohan is pleased with the young man (26). ‘We hope he will improve and maybe playing for a winning team will help.’
In order to claim Loamsdown, Rohan had to let go one of it's most intrigueing players of the last couple of seasons: Olli 'Bolli' Pimmelgrim. At first it was thought Pimmelgrim would be a decent utility only, but this season it has become clear he has a lot more up his sleeve. 'Bolli' has developed into a major slugger, with 11 HR and 14 Doubles for 174 at bats this year. Percentage wise that's well into the Mordor League top ten for both doubles and homeruns. Also he's getting a huge amount of BB's. Pimmelgrim has 34 for 174 at bats, which puts him up 1st in Mordor League percentage wise. Add to this his excellent running capabilities and decent fielding ratings, and he might be THE discovery of Middle Earth baseball this season.
'We're sad to see Bolli go,' jools commented, 'but it's give and take. Hopefully the fans won't be disappointed, because he's a spectacular player to watch. With him at the plate you know it will be either a home run, a walk followed by hazardous base running, or a strike out. He will be missed, but hopefully he will have a wonderful career with Dol Guldur.’
The departure of Pimmelgrim will no doubt be a relief to infielders Sandybanks and Duhm-Krom, with whom he was in fierce competition for an infield position on the roster. 'That was also a reason for chosing to let Olli go,’ says jools. ‘A player like him should have a permanent spot in the line up and with Sandybanks and Duhm-Krom, we could not guarantee that. And of course we hope it will bring back some rest in the team. Now that decisions have been made, the team's strategy is clear for the future, and all noses are pointing in the same direction again (as goes the Dutch expression).'
Posted at April 5, 2006 04:00 PM | more from Ravenhill