...since we had any MiLB stories, so I thought I'd share one.
It's the halfway mark in the minor league season, the draft was a couple of weeks ago, and decisions about guys' futures are being made. Tense time.
I've just discovered an amusing place where the teams park a pitcher they have plans for but is struggling, without taking up a valuable roster slot: the DL. Now it may list a sore elbow or a pulled hammy, but what the guy is actually suffering from is an Inflamed ERA.
One such pitcher said he recently approached his manager and asked, "How long do you think it'll be before my ankle is better?"
"They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance." --- Terry Pratchett
Orlando is correct and this happens on all levels. I also understand that some players who are fatiqued use the DL for rest periods. This is supposedly common in spring training for those who arrived out of shape and now hurt like all h*ll and need a break. Are we giving away secrets to the profession?
Posts: 11019 | Location: South Florida | Registered: July 28, 2003
My former starting-pitcher-turned-relief-pitcher was asked to start two games while the organization sorted things out with the guy he was spot starting for ... sore elbow but not on the DL. The bullpen guys were floating back and forth between AAA and the majors while the FO figured things out. Finally my starting-pitcher-turned-relief-pitcher-turned-spot-starting-pitcher is back in the bullpen for good. He will do anything they ask of him but he is very happy to be back in the pen ... hopefully he can get that ERA, which became inflamed after his 2 starts, to settle down soon.
Mary Ann * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 [8/21/08]
Posts: 3937 | Location: Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight ... | Registered: January 02, 2003
Originally posted by Orlando: One such pitcher said he recently approached his manager and asked, "How long do you think it'll be before my ankle is better?"
JT
Posts: 3563 | Location: Lynchburg, VA | Registered: January 15, 2003
Further updates ... son started another game on Sunday and based on a 'text' conversation I had with him the next day, I realized he was in the stands during the game and that meant that he was not back in the pen. He told me that he is going to make at least 2 more starts ... that would take him up to the All Star break.
We also discussed his feelings about the whole situation and I assured him that I admire his ability to stay the course, even tho the course keeps getting switched from day to day.
Ahhhh ... but he is living 'the dream' ... (big smile)
Mary Ann * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 [8/21/08]
Posts: 3937 | Location: Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight ... | Registered: January 02, 2003
Son is playing close to home so I'm able to make the home games Met a few of the players wives (my goodness they are so young) what a strange life they live right now!!!. They also live with host families. Most don't have jobs because they just don't know how long they will be in this location... A group of ladies decided to follow the guys on a road trip. The night they are to leave the driver's husband gets the word he is moving to another level. Shes out and the wife of a new player (who they just met 3 hrs earlier) was in...
The wives...girlfriends are mostly college educated but their careers are on hold while their husband follows his dream...they are self sufficient but are helpless in determining their future....
What an adventure. what special people ! ah to be young!
Posts: 1193 | Location: NJ | Registered: December 30, 2002
You have nailed that so well. I sincerely believe that it takes a very special lady who loves her husband enough that she can set some of her own goals aside so he can follow his dream. It is fun to watch these gals, especially when you have a chance to meet them and 'follow' them over the course of several seasons. And as the level gets higher, and the couples get older, we have fun watching these young couples bringing little ones into the world, somehow juggling their querky lifestyles well enough to be able to include the challenges of parenthood along with all the other surprises minor league baseball brings.
We have always been so appreciative of the love our daughter-in-law has for our son that she supports him in his dream. She has gotten to be a real moving maven when it is time to pack up their little 'household' and find new lodging. The Lord has been good to them as they have always found a place to lay their heads at night, and even if the situation wasn't the best, they have each other at the end of the day.
Lots of people do not understand how minor leaguers can balance married life with the world of MiLB baseball. But I remember so well talking with our dearly departed Doug McMillan in 2004 at a game in Sacramento, and sharing with him that AJ had gotten engaged ... he was so positive about the prospect of AJ having a wife to travel through this crazy lifestyle with ... and I felt so much more peace based on Doug's attitude because I respected him so much and he had such a wonderful way of making people feel at ease with the challenges their sons would face in professional baseball.
Mary Ann * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 [8/21/08]
Posts: 3937 | Location: Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight ... | Registered: January 02, 2003
I remember reading an article years ago in SI about baseball wives...and the radical difference (and Caste System) between the women who married minor leaguers out of love and dealt with all that that entails and the (ahem) trophy wives who married established MLB players. You know where the respect went.
"They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance." --- Terry Pratchett
That was a good sharing story. My son has some friends who are married, most don't travel during season as they can't afford it. Most have been sweethearts since first year in HS or met while first year at school.
My son can't do both. Two girls he could consider getting serious with, told him they understood where his priorities were, yet both tried their hardest to try to make him jealous whichever way they could for attention, one included dating his roomate, whom she later became engaged to. Past spring, while engaged, she hooked up with another player on the team. I have a feeling she was more interested in who might make more bonus dollars. Mine has no patience for that stuff, though I am sure he would really like to have a female to share his life with other than sister and mother.
Posts: 11019 | Location: South Florida | Registered: July 28, 2003
Most of the players at this level are 22 so the guys with long term relationships met their ladies in HS/college. TPM With this risky career players need a solid support system not DRAMA....
Posts: 1193 | Location: NJ | Registered: December 30, 2002
Originally posted by njbb: Most of the players at this level are 22 so the guys with long term relationships met their ladies in HS/college. TPM With this risky career players need a solid support system not DRAMA....
Posts: 11019 | Location: South Florida | Registered: July 28, 2003
I’ll start, but you might be sorry you asked, lol.
Not new, but a continuing saga.
Son wondered if when he got healthy he would be released, but so far so good. It took 21 months between appearances in a regular season game. He lost the whole 2007 season recovering from labrum surgery. His velocity still hasn’t come all the way back but according to some who have had the same surgery it could be another six to eight months to get it back, if at all. With 18 pitchers (13 relievers) on the team, IMO he doesn’t get the necessary reps to stay sharp even thought he’s thrown as much as any of them. It’s hard to throw bullpens on off days as relievers never know when their turn will come up. The coaches simply tell them before the game if they are available or not.
He’s had good and not so good outings, but his last one was his best so far. Three innings, 1 hit (double), 0 walks, 1 unearned run (2 errors on a pickoff attempt) and 7 strikeouts (all swinging). Second inning he had 4 K’s and still wasn’t out of the inning!!
Okay, who’s next?
______________ "If you can read this, thank a teacher, and since it's in English, thank a soldier !!"
Posts: 1710 | Location: Pueblo,CO,USA | Registered: December 27, 2002
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