The big talk of the offseason has been of a growing rivalry between the Florida Shark Waves and the New York Pride of the Yankees, the past two WS champions. The battle for AL supremacy likely must go through one of these teams.
The Bet: Florida’s head coach, rawdk, made a bold prediction during this offseason, stating that Florida would finish at least 10 games better than New York. NY’s talkative head coach, domiisgod, fired back, issuing a challenge with a gift card on the line. The talk amongst head coaches has led to bad blood between the players, with Al Martinez, NY’s fantastic young catcher stating that “those Florida p*ssies better stop talking sh*t or they might not be standing at the end of our first game.” Florida’s players have remained publicly silent in the wake of Martinez’ comments, but inside sources claim that newly-acquired Kordell Menechino has taken the comments personally and will have no problem head-hunting if need be.
I will be providing coverage of the head-to-head matchups between these teams throughout the year and will be periodically checking in on the bet.
Recap
The game was quiet until the top of the fifth inning, with only four hits through the first four, and only one player reaching second base. Hideki Lim started off the top of the fifth by smoking a line drive to right off of Florida’s brightest young pitching prospect, Harry Mieses. After a Ronn Boyd fly out, Mieses walked Eli Candeleria, and Sting Bailey flew out, Jeremi Riggs stroked a double over the head of CF Felipe Candeleria (no relation) that scored both runners.
Florida answered right back in the bottom of the fifth on a Zach Charles single off of Juan Martin that plated Luis Martin (again no relation – maybe HBD should get more names) to cut the score to 2-1.
Florida would get no closer as relievers Bronson Jeffries and Will Daneker combined to allow four hits in four scoreless innings of work. Hideki Lim stretched the lead by himself with two solo homeruns, one in the seventh and one in the ninth, to make the final score 4-1 New York.
Following the game, Menechino, Florida’s starter, answered 13 straight questions with the answer, “whatever, it’s spring training,” before finally walking away from the podium.