Mar 14 2063: Bears land generational prospect with first-round pick - by buffmckagan on January 26th, 2024
SCRANTON — The Bears selected shortstop/second baseman Troy Walker, a 17-year-old from Moncton, New Brunswick, with their first-round pick in the 2063 Draft. He now becomes the first prospect in team history to have a 17 potential.
A-five-tool player, he already demonstrates incredible contact, and is very rangy. He is capable of developing more power, with a 1.019 OPS in his high school career. Walker was named Canada's Most Outstanding Youth Player in 2062, his senior season, on the way to a provincial championship.
The team's most highly-touted prospect of all time, and certainly the most anticipated Canadian national in a half-century, Walker still has some work to do in his fielding ability, but ultimately projects on the major-league level as a second baseman, the position he was announced as by the team.
He will join the team later this afternoon to participate in spring training before beginning the season in Rookie ball. Team officials hope he can weather the high expectations at such a young age; Walker will begin his career as the top prospect in all of Broken Bat, with local media already dubbing him "The Chosen One."
Feb 19 2048: Bears brass: "Don't crown us yet" - by buffmckagan on November 19th, 2020
SCRANTON — Fresh off a second league title in two years, the Scranton Bears' management says they're taking nothing for granted just yet.
The club is appearing in Legends League play for the first time in franchise history, something owner buffmckagan has sought since the 2016 season -- where the then-Windam Park (IA) Colts began play in League VI.
"100 wins in three straight seasons is quite an accomplishment, but this should be the hardest schedule we'll have ever had," buffmckagan said in a pre-season press conference via Zoom on the eve of Spring Training. "We were all proud to finish number one in the overall rankings, but it's the team who wins the Legends League that truly is atop the game. We haven't done anything yet; don't crown us yet."
The Bears have a shot at five of the game's top 20 teams this season in division play - the 2046 champion Minneapolis Tigers; the Murfreesboro Moo Cows, back for a second stint, and with experience defeating Scranton in league play; two-time division champion Bloomington, and second-year squads Concord and Saratoga.
The black stripes plan to rely heavily on the starting rotation, headlined by ace Andrew Long. The former eighth-round pick-turned Cy Young winner has had a sub-3 ERA the past two seasons, with 17+ wins and 150+ strikeouts both years. He hopes to become the first two-time winner in club history this year.
"The competition's going to be harder, but I'm ready for it," Long said at the press conference. "Hanging 20 wins on these guys would be really special."
Offensively, the team looks to see major strides from right fielder Eddie Merchant, who took home a Rookie of the Year award last year. Center fielder Eduardo Agosto, second baseman Nathan Humphreys, designated hitter Oscar Herrera, and first baseman Levi Cowan all have high hopes for this season.
The Bears open league play with a four-game series against the Murfreesboro Moo Cows. Scranton native and president-elect Joseph R. Biden, Jr. is expected to throw out the first pitch on Opening Day, as Bears fans and Americans alike hope for greater things to come.
Oct 02 2044: Farrell's historic save streak ends at 58 - by buffmckagan on March 18th, 2020
WESTON, FL — Scranton Bears closer and Cy Young candidate Gorman Farrell's unbelievable save streak came to an end during tonight's game vs. the Weston Wranglers.
"Mr. Automatic" set a franchise record with 58 consecutive save attempts without blowing a save.
The streak began at the end of the 2043 season on his way to his first All-League selection. His prolific streak has all but guaranteed his second straight year with an All-Star appearance and a spot on the All-League squad.
"We had really hoped to be talking about this at the end of the year with an intact streak headed into next year," owner buffmckagan said at the press conference after the game. "Gorman is the best closer in all of Broken Bat. Even the best guys can't always get it done."
Farrell was poised to make it #59 after some late-game heroics from Donnie Tyree, who put the Bears back on top with a two-run double in the top of the ninth. Wranglers' veteran Adrian Storm did the unthinkable, hitting a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the inning. Scranton went on to win the game in 13 innings.
"You can't depend on your teammates to get it done for you," Farrell said. "I had the chance to put the game away and put the pitch in the wrong place."
Farrell remains atop the III.2 leaderboard with 50 saves on the season, as the only Bear to ever earn 50 saves twice.
The team is set to face longtime rival Fall River in a four-game series, as both clubs look to overtake Hilton Head for the division crown.
Jul 21 2041: Bears announce "I'm Gonna Get a Burger" Night - by buffmckagan on July 11th, 2019
SCRANTON — IT’S B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-BURGER TIME IN SCRANTON!!!!!!!
Star pitcher “Big Dick” Curran shocked the baseball world when he lost a perfect game in the top of the ninth against the Brownsville Bulldogs by giving up a walk, and was able to overcome the call to finish with a no-hitter. Nonetheless, team officials say they're fed up with umpiring -- and are using fans to voice their displeasure at the result.
The team announces it will sell its concession stand burgers at half-price at his next home start on July 26th to commemorate the performance on the mound.
Concession officials promise you will intentionally be served a burger cooked so poorly you either get a raw patty that’s still bleeding so badly, it’ll ruin your team jersey; or overcook your meat so badly it’ll break your teeth off.
The team will pass the butthurt onto you by pulling all other food options for the entirety of the game, with the only drinks flat beer and sodas and water that’s sat out in the sun all day.
Fans are encouraged to show their displeasure with Big Dick’s disappointing finish by harassing the home plate empire, and hissing and booing at anything that’s not a strike right down the middle.
"First, he's prevented from going to the All-Star Game for the umpteenth time, and now this??" owner buffmckagan said during a postgame Twitter tirade. "When I said Big Dick would get a**, I meant the love of a woman, not god awful umpiring!"
buffmckagan is expected to serve a three-game suspension on Aug. 3-5.
May 10 2039: Bears, Roberts part ways after 15+ years - by buffmckagan on January 20th, 2019
SCRANTON — The Scranton Bears and longtime manager Billy Bob Roberts have mutually agreed to part ways.
In a release, the team thanked Roberts for his hard work, calling him "the greatest leader our team has known."
He had been on the hot seat for the past two years, as fans called for his firing after being relegated after the 2037 season, but management backed him nonetheless. Privately, the ownership group met with other managers on a casual basis, but no hire was made.
A manager known for dealing best with pitchers, three starters had ERA flirting with or greatly exceeding 6.00. The team also announced it was cutting longtime ace Young Nam Park, best known for his Cy Young-winning season in 2033.
Roberts went 1,315-1,114 in his 15+ years with the team, winning two league titles and four divisional pennants.
A.J. Tackett will take over the team on an immediate, full-time basis, as the team looks to continue its retooling.