In a week that should be full of celebration a dark cloud hangs over the Mustangs organization. It is hard to complain when the Mustangs halted their brutal seven game losing streak and closed the season with four wins. The last three coming on a sweet sweep of the hated rival Tornados. The Mustangs happily sent Kansas City into the off season by throwing out a runner at home in the bottom of the ninth of a one run game. That's just awesome.
Most importantly the Mustangs did just enough to stay out in front of Eureka in the wild card race and enter into the post season for the first time. It was quite a roller coaster getting swept in a four game series by the Jokers to lose the division, then have to turn around and root for them to beat the Hornets. Thank you Jokers for the assist by the way. No envy here for Maple. Vegas is not the team I would want to face right now.
In spite of all the great news, it is hard to smile right now. Eric "Flash" Black took a hard shot to the head doing what he does best out in center field. Making a miraculous play. Doctors confirmed that he is done with baseball. Black really was the heart and the soul of the team. He embodied everything that the Mustangs are. Speed, defense and work ethic.
Black was a budding star that just entered his peak. His numbers were trending towards MVP caliber all the way across the board. Here is how they break out over the last three years:
Batting Average, .224 to .251 to .2270
On base Percentage .296 to .364 to .377
Home Runs 5 to 17 to 25
Zone Rating 20.3 to 22.7 to 28.5
In 2014 he made only one error in 136 games played. He also stole 43 bases.
Black was due to go to arbitration next year but the Mustangs had read the writing on the wall early in the season and had locked him up with what was looking to be an unbelievably team friendly deal. He was due to be the every day starting center fielder and lead off hitter for the next 6 years at under $5 million per.
This is a franchise changer. The cupboard is not bear. Daniel Rodriguez, Danny Hardy and Raymundo Gaias all look to be reasonable options to contribute solidly in center field. But it may be a long time before we see another player like Flash.
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