OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

bcimmet · 01-04-2004, 12:15 PM

The Journal of Christopher Quinn (2b, Pittsburgh Double-A)

AUGUST 2, 2004

In the two games following my “injury,” I go 0-8 with three strikeouts. I haven’t been this bad since I was about four. Larry and I go to the bar, and I can’t shut up about how lame I am, how I don’t belong in Kingston, how I barely belonged in Wilkes-Barre. Larry is trying to keep me sane, but I keep throwing back the drinks. I am plastered by the time I stagger home at 4am. Of course, I’ve forgotten we have a 1pm start the next day. I show up at the field, still drunk. Go figure this one: I go 5-5. That night, I get drunk again, and then last night, I’m 4-4. I know ballplayers get superstitious about things. I mean, Oriol hasn’t changed his socks since he started hitting better. But I don’t know if I can keep drinking like this. It’s not safe. For me. For anyone!

Cruz Moreno was signed to an extension for $16.5 million over three years. He made the all star team this year, and so far, he’s 14-5 with a 3.38. He’s about the only reason we’re still vaguely contending the NL Central. Cristobal Ortiz went to the all-star game as well. He’s playing a lot better this year than last. I can’t believe I grew up following his career, and now we get our paychecks from the same organization. Still haven’t met the man, of course, but...

Poor Otter still can’t hit at the AAA level. He’s reconsidering that scrap metal job. He’s at .142 so far, and not looking forward. Meanwhile, I’ve been rated the 2nd best prospect in baseball. Who’s number one? Atlanta’s pitcher, Michael Taylor – who has already been in the big leagues both in 2003 and 2004 (0-3, 11.90 career).

Downtown in Wilkes-Barre, Baby J Rios was tearing up the league when he got hurt – he’s back now, but weaker than before. Gonzo has all but disappeared, and what happened to Joel Hunt? He was such a hot prospect, and now he’s mired in A-ball with no way out, it would seem. Haven’t heard from Gerner in a while, but I know he hasn’t gotten out of AAA yet in Atlanta.

AUGUST 11, 2004

Explain this. After recovering from my injured finger with brilliant results (13-18 over a four-game stretch in last week), I get shifted down to the 5-spot in the lineup. What? I promptly go 3-19 and then... I GET A CALL TO AAA PLAINFIELD! This is too exciting. I’m packing as I write this, and I’m driving there tonight. We have a game tomorrow, and I want to be ready.

What led up to this? Nothing in particular, it seems. Bauza has been hitting .266, this new guy Bill Tyrell is working primarily as a replacement. But I got the call. And I’m slated to bat leadoff tomorrow night against the Mets’ affiliate. I caught up with Otter immediately, and he caught me up on everything so far. Although his numbers aren’t very good (still hitting around .140), he’s paying attention to everything. Getting quite the education. He tells me that Bauza has been missing practices, and he might get cut from the squad. Tyrell is a nice guy, but he can’t play. Simple as that. Doesn’t have any movement to his left, which is no good for a middle infielder. Hai Harris and Dominic Compo are both primarily third basemen, but they’ve both seen a little action at second. However, neither has much offense to show.

The AAA club isn’t winning as many games as we were in Kingston (or even Wilkes-Barre). But the prospect of being just a phone call away from the show is pretty exciting. It doesn’t matter much at this point, I guess, but I finally reached number one on the Prospect Ranking.

My numbers in A and AA so far this year:

Code:

YEAR TEAM     GP    AB    H   2B  3B  HR  RBI    R   BB    K  SB  CS   AVG  OBP  SLG  OPS
2003 PIT,A    23    91   39    3   4   2   14   19    7   15   6   5  .429 .480 .615 1.10
2003 PIT,AA   87   362  127   25   4   6   52   74   27   47  35   5  .351 .401 .492 .893

I’ve got so much adrenaline rushing through me... I’m just barely 20 years old, and I can smell Pittsburgh from here.

Okay, that sounds weird. I didn’t mean it that way.

AUGUST 15, 2004

I’m a little scared and a lot excited. I went 4-4 in my first game, 5-5 in my second here for AAA Plainfield. I shouldn’t say anything more for fear of a jinx.

AUGUST 16, 2004

4-4 last night. No jinx in sight. Are New York’s minor league pitchers that bad?

All the hits are singles. I’ve scored four runs and stolen one base. We don’t play today... Will the day off hurt me?

AUGUST 18, 2004

4-4 again... This is really creepy. I’ve never had a stretch like this. Are you kidding me? Seventeen consecutive hits? I also had four steals tonight.

Here’s a weird stat – my OBP is lower than my batting average. I had one sacrifice bunt in the game this evening – that must be what did it. I’ve never before seen an OBP lower than a batting average.

Are there records for consecutive hits? Although I guess I blew that streak with the sacrifice... But I’m 17-17. That must mean something...

AUGUST 19, 2004

Streak is over. I grounded out to third base in the second. We won the game 2-0, and we’re 4-0 since I came up.

01-04-2004, 12:15 PM	#18
bcimmet Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New York City Posts: 65	The Journal of Christopher Quinn (2b, Pittsburgh Double-A) AUGUST 2, 2004 In the two games following my “injury,” I go 0-8 with three strikeouts. I haven’t been this bad since I was about four. Larry and I go to the bar, and I can’t shut up about how lame I am, how I don’t belong in Kingston, how I barely belonged in Wilkes-Barre. Larry is trying to keep me sane, but I keep throwing back the drinks. I am plastered by the time I stagger home at 4am. Of course, I’ve forgotten we have a 1pm start the next day. I show up at the field, still drunk. Go figure this one: I go 5-5. That night, I get drunk again, and then last night, I’m 4-4. I know ballplayers get superstitious about things. I mean, Oriol hasn’t changed his socks since he started hitting better. But I don’t know if I can keep drinking like this. It’s not safe. For me. For anyone! Cruz Moreno was signed to an extension for $16.5 million over three years. He made the all star team this year, and so far, he’s 14-5 with a 3.38. He’s about the only reason we’re still vaguely contending the NL Central. Cristobal Ortiz went to the all-star game as well. He’s playing a lot better this year than last. I can’t believe I grew up following his career, and now we get our paychecks from the same organization. Still haven’t met the man, of course, but... Poor Otter still can’t hit at the AAA level. He’s reconsidering that scrap metal job. He’s at .142 so far, and not looking forward. Meanwhile, I’ve been rated the 2nd best prospect in baseball. Who’s number one? Atlanta’s pitcher, Michael Taylor – who has already been in the big leagues both in 2003 and 2004 (0-3, 11.90 career). Downtown in Wilkes-Barre, Baby J Rios was tearing up the league when he got hurt – he’s back now, but weaker than before. Gonzo has all but disappeared, and what happened to Joel Hunt? He was such a hot prospect, and now he’s mired in A-ball with no way out, it would seem. Haven’t heard from Gerner in a while, but I know he hasn’t gotten out of AAA yet in Atlanta. AUGUST 11, 2004 Explain this. After recovering from my injured finger with brilliant results (13-18 over a four-game stretch in last week), I get shifted down to the 5-spot in the lineup. What? I promptly go 3-19 and then... I GET A CALL TO AAA PLAINFIELD! This is too exciting. I’m packing as I write this, and I’m driving there tonight. We have a game tomorrow, and I want to be ready. What led up to this? Nothing in particular, it seems. Bauza has been hitting .266, this new guy Bill Tyrell is working primarily as a replacement. But I got the call. And I’m slated to bat leadoff tomorrow night against the Mets’ affiliate. I caught up with Otter immediately, and he caught me up on everything so far. Although his numbers aren’t very good (still hitting around .140), he’s paying attention to everything. Getting quite the education. He tells me that Bauza has been missing practices, and he might get cut from the squad. Tyrell is a nice guy, but he can’t play. Simple as that. Doesn’t have any movement to his left, which is no good for a middle infielder. Hai Harris and Dominic Compo are both primarily third basemen, but they’ve both seen a little action at second. However, neither has much offense to show. The AAA club isn’t winning as many games as we were in Kingston (or even Wilkes-Barre). But the prospect of being just a phone call away from the show is pretty exciting. It doesn’t matter much at this point, I guess, but I finally reached number one on the Prospect Ranking. My numbers in A and AA so far this year: Code: YEAR TEAM GP AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB K SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS 2003 PIT,A 23 91 39 3 4 2 14 19 7 15 6 5 .429 .480 .615 1.10 2003 PIT,AA 87 362 127 25 4 6 52 74 27 47 35 5 .351 .401 .492 .893 I’ve got so much adrenaline rushing through me... I’m just barely 20 years old, and I can smell Pittsburgh from here. Okay, that sounds weird. I didn’t mean it that way. AUGUST 15, 2004 I’m a little scared and a lot excited. I went 4-4 in my first game, 5-5 in my second here for AAA Plainfield. I shouldn’t say anything more for fear of a jinx. AUGUST 16, 2004 4-4 last night. No jinx in sight. Are New York’s minor league pitchers that bad? All the hits are singles. I’ve scored four runs and stolen one base. We don’t play today... Will the day off hurt me? AUGUST 18, 2004 4-4 again... This is really creepy. I’ve never had a stretch like this. Are you kidding me? Seventeen consecutive hits? I also had four steals tonight. Here’s a weird stat – my OBP is lower than my batting average. I had one sacrifice bunt in the game this evening – that must be what did it. I’ve never before seen an OBP lower than a batting average. Are there records for consecutive hits? Although I guess I blew that streak with the sacrifice... But I’m 17-17. That must mean something... AUGUST 19, 2004 Streak is over. I grounded out to third base in the second. We won the game 2-0, and we’re 4-0 since I came up.