OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

Jason · 09-30-2005, 05:08 AM

February 20, 2006, 9pm, Lakeland, FL:

Well, it was an eventful first day of my professional baseball career.

I never told anyone in the Tigers' organization that I planned to leave as soon as I could become a free agent but they sealed the deal less than ten minutes into my first day. Skipper Alan Trammell calls me into his office and says that we need to talk before I head out for drills. I'm thinking it's going to be some pep talk about not letting the big bonus go to my head or how it's a long shot to make the major league roster.

Instead, the first words from Trammell's mouth are "you're not going to be the third baseman for this team." I was stunned and didn't know what to say. It's as if Trammell was getting off on bossing around the young kid with the big money. Skip then starts talking about Darrell Weatherly and how he's a true professional baseball player, how he's valued by his teammates, how the fans love him, etc.

I tell him that's fine and to trade me as soon as possible. Trammell laughs and calls Kirk Gibson into the room. Skip then tells Gibson and they both laugh. I really felt like crap and I could tell these guys were enjoying themselves immensely. Once they stopped laughing, Gibson turns to me and slaps me on the shoulder.

"Kid, you have no idea the great s*** ahead of you," Gibson says and he walks out of the room.

"You're moving to second base," Trammell says. "How would you like to be the starting second baseman for the Detroit Tigers?"

I'm stunned. Sure, I'd played a few games at second base during my high school days but I was mostly a third baseman. I told Skip that I would be lying if I said I didn't want to play in the major leagues right away but that I didn't know if I could make the change that fast.

"Sure you can," Skip said. "Your speed and glove will get you to balls up the middle most second basemen could only dream about."

So now instead of competing with Weatherly, I'm up against last year's starter Guy Schott and Erik Colgan. Drills today went well and I only made one real mistake fielding a ball up the middle. I should have just hung onto the ball instead of throwing but I wanted to try and really impress my new teammates.

I can say on day one, I was the best second baseman out there. I'd still rather be playing third. Maybe Skip will come to his senses.

I wasn't ready for the press. Heading out for the workout no one bothered me but as soon as I walked off the field there were a dozen cameras in my face and people were shouting questions about why I was at second base. I really didn't know what to say so I just said I was happy to be a member of the Tigers organization and I'm happy to be playing baseball again. I looked like an ass on SportsCenter. Peter Gammons said it wasn't a good beginning if I was moved out of my natural position already and that I might be another in a long line of Tigers busts.

Then I get to my locker and find that the crotches of the four pair of pants in my locker have been cut out. There's a typed note sitting on top of them that says "welcome to the big time, Bonus Baby."

So I'm sitting there in my uniform just staring at the pile of pants. I felt like crying but I didn't. I felt like shouting and ranting and raving but I didn't. After about five minutes, someone hangs a new suit in my locker. I look up and it's eight time All Star Wilfredo Salinas.

"Over the next twenty years you're gonna take a lot of crap if you're as good as we all think you are," he looks down at me and says. "If you react to every bad surprise as well as you responded to this you'll be just fine."

I turned around to see pitchers Marzano, Centers and Sparks along with starting catcher Croteau and Gibson standing there smiling. They took me out to the Texas Cattle Company for a steak dinner...and made me pick up the tab. Rookie initiation, they said. Considering I was able to spend three hours talking to Kirk Gibson about being a professional baseball player I think it's money well invested.

Still, I'm ready to get to bed and sleep. I have to be in by six tomorrow morning because I'm taking extra batting practice. If I have to go to the minors I'm going to make it as hard as possible on Trammell to send me down.

09-30-2005, 05:08 AM	#4
Jason Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 3,855	February 20, 2006, 9pm, Lakeland, FL: Well, it was an eventful first day of my professional baseball career. I never told anyone in the Tigers' organization that I planned to leave as soon as I could become a free agent but they sealed the deal less than ten minutes into my first day. Skipper Alan Trammell calls me into his office and says that we need to talk before I head out for drills. I'm thinking it's going to be some pep talk about not letting the big bonus go to my head or how it's a long shot to make the major league roster. Instead, the first words from Trammell's mouth are "you're not going to be the third baseman for this team." I was stunned and didn't know what to say. It's as if Trammell was getting off on bossing around the young kid with the big money. Skip then starts talking about Darrell Weatherly and how he's a true professional baseball player, how he's valued by his teammates, how the fans love him, etc. I tell him that's fine and to trade me as soon as possible. Trammell laughs and calls Kirk Gibson into the room. Skip then tells Gibson and they both laugh. I really felt like crap and I could tell these guys were enjoying themselves immensely. Once they stopped laughing, Gibson turns to me and slaps me on the shoulder. "Kid, you have no idea the great s*** ahead of you," Gibson says and he walks out of the room. "You're moving to second base," Trammell says. "How would you like to be the starting second baseman for the Detroit Tigers?" I'm stunned. Sure, I'd played a few games at second base during my high school days but I was mostly a third baseman. I told Skip that I would be lying if I said I didn't want to play in the major leagues right away but that I didn't know if I could make the change that fast. "Sure you can," Skip said. "Your speed and glove will get you to balls up the middle most second basemen could only dream about." So now instead of competing with Weatherly, I'm up against last year's starter Guy Schott and Erik Colgan. Drills today went well and I only made one real mistake fielding a ball up the middle. I should have just hung onto the ball instead of throwing but I wanted to try and really impress my new teammates. I can say on day one, I was the best second baseman out there. I'd still rather be playing third. Maybe Skip will come to his senses. I wasn't ready for the press. Heading out for the workout no one bothered me but as soon as I walked off the field there were a dozen cameras in my face and people were shouting questions about why I was at second base. I really didn't know what to say so I just said I was happy to be a member of the Tigers organization and I'm happy to be playing baseball again. I looked like an ass on SportsCenter. Peter Gammons said it wasn't a good beginning if I was moved out of my natural position already and that I might be another in a long line of Tigers busts. Then I get to my locker and find that the crotches of the four pair of pants in my locker have been cut out. There's a typed note sitting on top of them that says "welcome to the big time, Bonus Baby." So I'm sitting there in my uniform just staring at the pile of pants. I felt like crying but I didn't. I felt like shouting and ranting and raving but I didn't. After about five minutes, someone hangs a new suit in my locker. I look up and it's eight time All Star Wilfredo Salinas. "Over the next twenty years you're gonna take a lot of crap if you're as good as we all think you are," he looks down at me and says. "If you react to every bad surprise as well as you responded to this you'll be just fine." I turned around to see pitchers Marzano, Centers and Sparks along with starting catcher Croteau and Gibson standing there smiling. They took me out to the Texas Cattle Company for a steak dinner...and made me pick up the tab. Rookie initiation, they said. Considering I was able to spend three hours talking to Kirk Gibson about being a professional baseball player I think it's money well invested. Still, I'm ready to get to bed and sleep. I have to be in by six tomorrow morning because I'm taking extra batting practice. If I have to go to the minors I'm going to make it as hard as possible on Trammell to send me down.