Meteors eye offseason after disappointing playoffs

[Bob_Meteors]

The Melbourne Meteors, one year after winning the WBA championship, were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round, losing the series 4-1 to the Mumbai Cobras. Melbourne's offense played alright in the series, scoring 23 runs in 5 games (an average of 4.6 per game), but the pitching was terrible. The experiment of using reliever Irmazighen Kitur as a starter did not work, as Kitur gave up 5 runs on 6 hits through just 3 innings. So as Mumbai gears up to face Black Forest in the IBL Championships, Melbourne turns their eyes to the offseason.

Melbourne's first priority is to lock up some pending free agents. With closer Magtanggol Baladad, outfielder Gong Jiang, and relievers Sun-Woo Chong and Bereket Ainran scheduled to head into free agency, the Meteors need to move quickly to sign them to extensions. First baseman Sasha Matyushenko is also going to be a free agent, and rumors are surfacing that Melbourne plans to let him go. Matyushenko hit .312 last season, but he is 38 years old.

Depending on how the negotiations go, Melbourne might or might not have enough money to sign some free agents. The first and only obvious position of need for the Meteors is starting pitcher. After deciding not to pursue Serhat Karpat last year, Melbourne finds itself in desperate need of a SP with not much talent available. Karachi Falcons pitcher Kipchoge Kemboi's contract expires at the end of the year, and his name has been floated as a potential free agency target. Analysts have also speculated that a one-year contract aimed at Mumbai's aging closer Falco Venema might be a possibility.

Melbourne's future seems uncertain. Without a big signing, it seems unlikely that they can get back to the WBA Championships. However, they have the young bats to make a run, including shortstop Tamirat Sifiye, outfielder Bhuvanacandra Dwijen, and catcher Itri Jela. It certainly seems like the Meteors are just one or two good pitchers away from a championship run.

Meteoric Bob

Meteoric Bob is a beat writer for the WBA Times. He covers the Melbourne Meteors and the WBA.