By Tomasz Kamien / NewJerseyHitmen.blogspot.com
March 1st, 2013: Trenton, NJ - Finally making it official, the New Jersey Hitmen today introduced the teams new General Manager, Holleb Kasprowicz. A virtual unknown to the PEBA world of baseball, Holleb hails from the Kraków Towers of the small international league the PBO (Polish Baseball Organization). In his seven seasons as the team’s manager, Holleb amassed an impressive 595-429 record with a .581 winning percentage. He led the team to seven playoff appearances, four division titles, and two White and Red Championships. Truly impressive numbers for any one manager, but the question remains as to how this will translate into the much bigger and impressive PEBA baseball experience. 
In his final two seasons of managing in Kraków, the team had begun to lose a bit more than they were accustomed to and they limped into the playoffs second in the Central League having to depend on the Wild Card to continue their consecutive playoff appearance streak. Holleb will have to adjust and fast as the Hitmen are not the Towers. New Jersey has not made the playoffs or posted a winning season since 2009. Another big factor for the Towers winning ways was having strong pitching which was lead by PBO Hall of Famer Gerek ‘Big Red’ Huratiak. The legend lead the league in career wins (211), ERA (2.46), win percentage (.740), shutouts (14), strikeouts (2818), and the list goes on and on. New Jersey’s most efficient pitcher came in 2007 when Luis Peña went 16-6 with a 2.52 ERA leading the team to a 108 win season and an inaugural season championship win for the Hitmen; their only Planetary Extreme Championship win and appearance to date. He was rewarded by being traded in the following season. There is no doubt that Holleb will have his work cut out for him, but experts wonder if the odds are already stacked too high against him and his PEBA debut. Lacking any sensible starting rotation, losing their stud catcher in a risky trade with Dixie powerhouse Florida, touting a super young offense which currently looks to start two rookies in the infield, and an average starting lineup age of 25 years only the Hitmen have a long road ahead of them. Despite improving their record last season, the team has yet to break .500 since 2009 and the experts don’t put their 2013 hopes above 78 wins. To make matters worse, Holleb does not speak a word of English which will be a huge hurdle for the team this coming year. An interpreter has been hired for the team although he has yet to make it to camp and whether he will make it in time for ST is not yet known. PEBA only has one Polish speaking player in the league and that is Nikodem 'Eagle Eye' Schulz , who plays in the Alianza Béisbol Al Sur de la Frontera league.
One thing fans can be happy about though is the fact that Holleb does know and understand baseball which is a large step up from previous GM and now owner, Michael 'Szef' Czosnyka who was only able to put together a 136-188 record. Little is known into how Michael was able to make the transition from GM to owner, but some say that his impressive control of the teams finances helped and look to put the team into the green as soon as this season. Others point to rumors of a hostile takeover or backroom shady deals. At this point though, anything is possible.
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