OOTP5 Psychology Experiment Dynasty - Same Skills but Different Personalities

[AgPete]

Meet the Brady Brothers. Mr. and Mrs. Brady remarried and each brought two children from previous marriages into their new family but unlike the T.V. show, the four children happen to be boys and twins to boot. If the Bradys are going to pay off the bills required to raise two pairs of twins in this day and age, their boys will need to be pro baseball players and receive the lucrative contracts all ballplayers are paid in the 21st century. On top of this, the Bradys hope to launch the most famous baseball family in MLB history.

Mr. and Mrs. Brady have taught their twins to play ball since childhood but both have taken two different directions. Realizing that pitching is a lost art in today's game, Mrs. Brady taught her twins to be starting pitchers because she feels it gives them the best chance for a job. Mr. Brady however has confidence in his sons to succeed so he taught his twins how to be outfielders because heavy bats are where the $25 million a year contracts are at.

Each set of twins has identical skills and physical stats give or take a few pounds. The only difference is somehow each boy has a different personality. The Bradys prepared their sons for pro baseball by teaching them the necessary physical skills but never took into account that their psychological profiles may help or hinder their baseball careers. Some of the boys must win at all costs, some of them don't care, some of them choke in crunch time, some excel in it, some are too lazy to perform on a consistent basis, and some are hard workers always putting forth the same effort.

Meet Mrs. Brady's boys, THE PITCHERS --

Both twins are decent starting pitchers. Both were born on 1/1/1982 and are 21 at the start of the 2003 season. They are average sized at 6'0, 200 lbs. They're talented but major league scouts aren't sure how good they will be. If they remind scouts of anyone, it's a young Brad Radke. (I imported Brad Radke's 1996 ratings for both of them.) Given the right situations, no injuries or off the field distractions, they could probably go to an All-Star game at least once in their career. Both have worked their way through the minors for the last 2-3 years and have had occasional stints in the major leagues. Both twins had full season rookie debuts last year with 28 GS, an 11-14 record with a 5.32 ERA. Not the most impressive season but enough that as long as they don't collapse in spring training, they have a great chance of making the team for a second year. The twins are eligibly for salary arbitration next year. The Brady pitchers are:

Bob Brady - Bob was drafted by the struggling Kansas City Royals. Bob is a very intense individual who plays well in the clutch and is a carbon copy of the player he is named after, Bob Gibson. Bob doesn't take crap from anyone and is only on the mound to win! Bob is a loyal player but not to any extremes. Bob must win and won't play with teammates that think otherwise. Given the right situation, Bob can carry a team on his back and lead them to victory. Bob would work great with an organization like the Yankees but unfortunately, he is stuck in the Royals organization where his intense demeanor may not work with a perennial loser. (Loyalty-Normal, Needs Winner-Yes Needs Winning Team, Leader Ability-Great Leader, Clutch Performance-Great, Consistency-Good) Although the Royals don't have baseball's best farm system, they don't consider him a prospect to keep an eye on. The Royals don't have much competition in the majors and Bob could find his way in their rotation out of the team's desperation but he may have to wait for other AAA players to get their chance first.

Denny Brady - Denny is the opposite of his brother. Denny is actually named after Dennis McClain, baseball's last 30 game winner. While Denny has some great skills, many question his dedication to baseball. Denny has little loyalty and will take the largest contract he can find especially if it helps him pay off his gambling debts. Denny does not need a winning team and is more concerned with having a good time. His party lifestyle doesn't make him a leader and he can be inconsistent at times, especially after a hangover. Denny isn't known as a clutch pitcher but he can occasionally surprise you. Denny was drafted by a team that would probably be a better fit for his brother, Bob. The Diamondbacks own the rights to Denny and the veteran roster doesn't have much time for free rolling rookies. (Loyalty-Minimal Doesn't Care, Needs Winner-No Doesn't Care, Leader Ability-None, Clutch Performance-Normal, Consistency-Very Inconsistent) Denny will have a difficult time sticking with the majors as there is a great veteran staff on the Diamondbacks. There are also many pitchers in Arizona's minor league system that the team would prboably turn to first. The age of Arizona could play into Denny's hands though as rapid retirement could quickly clear a space for him.

Meet Mr. Brady's boys, THE HITTERS --

Coincidentally, Mr. Brady's sons were born on the same date as Mrs. Brady's boys and are about the same size at 6'0 and 200 lbs. Mr. Brady's kids are similar to Bob and Denny in that they're better than the average rookie but scouts aren't sure yet what they will become. They certainly have talent. Scouts aren't sure if they have enough power to bat cleanup but they do show signs of it. Making contact isn't much of a problem for both of these Brady boys. One name mentioned often when watching the Bradys play is Milwaukee outfielder Geoff Jenkins. (I imported Geoff Jenkin's 1999 ratings for both of them.) They even demonstrate similar fielding skills as both brothers have strong arms in the outfield but need to work on their range. Both Brady sluggers had half season last year and batted .229 with 9 HR, 28 RBI and 33 RUN. Their teams have high hopes but just like the Brady pitchers, a poor spring training or first month could land them back in AAA. They are eligible for salary arbitration next year. The Brady sluggers are:

Mickey Brady - Mickey is an easy going player, just like the famous ballplayer he is named after, Mickey Mantle. Mickey likes to be one of the boys but his charisma and party lifestyle sometimes makes him a leader among his peers as they look to the Mick to have a good time. Mickey is loyal to his team but probably more loyal to his buddies rather than management. Mickey likes to have a good time and when his team is winning, that's exactly what's he having. He is known for stepping up during crunch time and will do the best he can for his teammates. Mickey was drafted by the Chicago Cubs and while he enjoys the Windy City's lifestyle, his cool head may be more useful on a team that wins the World Series more than once every century. (Loyalty-Loyal Endorses His Team, Needs Winner-Yes Needs Winning Team, Leader Ability-Some Ability, Clutch Performance-Great, Consistency-Average) Mickey will probably play in the majors on a regular basis in no time at all. He doesn't have much competition on the Cubs. There are several prospects rated higher than Mickey so the Cubs may not be in a hurry to rush his development.

Roger Brady - Roger Brady isn't like his brother. Roger is named after Mickey Mantle's real life buddy, Roger Maris, and shares similar traits. Roger is easy flustered and if the pressure is too much he can actually lose his hair. Roger is not loyal to any particular team, he just wants a normal life and little pressure. He doesn't look to lead his team but just do his job. Roger is not concerned with winning the World Series but would rather go home to his family and play with his kids. Roger is usually consistent but watch out, he can go hot and cold in a matter of a few seasons. Roger was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles, a team desperately looking for its future savior and another World Series appearance. Roger isn't concerned with the Orioles goals but will do everything asked of him as long as he can play his favorite pasttime on a regular basis. (Loyalty-Minimal Doesn't Care, Needs Winner-No Doesn't Care, Leader Ability-None, Clutch Performance-Suffers, Consistency-Very Inconsistent) Roger has more competition than his brother Mickey in the majors including a buddy at leftfield in AAA who is also rated high. Roger though is listed as Baltimore's #1 prospect so the team expects big things from him.

(Note - All farm systems have been filled with fictional players, there is no salary cap nor maximum yearly cash limit. I'm playing with the TotalMinors/GForce beta roster and am not controlling any team but just letting it sim out. The pitchers have the same skills but different personalities and the same goes for the batters. It will be interesting to see how their careers turn out.)

[AgPete]

From: The Brady Brothers Agent
To: Mr. and Mrs. Brady
RE: 2003 Summary

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Brady,

I am happy to inform you that all four of your sons had impressive seasons in 2003 and two of them are even considered among baseball's rising stars! I am excited about next season and expect to grab some nice contracts through arbitration! Please allow me to tell you about each boy's season:

Bob - As you know, Bob had no problem winning a spot on the Kansas City rotation this spring. Poor Bob, he wants to win so bad but his team was 68-94 this year and 4th in the AL Central. Bob should be proud though of his accomplishments. Even though he was fifth in the rotation, he had better numbers than most of his peers. Bob went 12-10 with a 4.59 ERA. He still isn't much of a strikeout pitcher with only 107 but we're working on that! Bob has been lucky and seems to be injury free. With the exception of some minor shoulder problems that forced him to miss a start in August, he has been very healthy. Judging by his competition, Bob should be the ace of the Royals staff in no time at all. Especially if he has more games like the 2-hit shutout he pitched against the Dodgers. If Bob can get some star power I'm going to lobby Kansas City to get rid of their pitching coach who Bob complains about as being "very average."

Denny - Denny shocked the world and won a spot on Arizona's starting rotation this spring. I don't think the vets up there liked him though because he was demoted back to AAA even with an ERA close to 4.00. I think your son was a victim of talent saturation because Arizona promoted another promising young pitcher in his place. Luckily, the Cincinnati Reds decided to save Denny. If the Diamondbacks were too dumb to realize the kind of pitcher they had, the Reds sure weren't because they traded for him and immediately gave him back a spot on a pro team starting rotation. Denny pitched pretty good for someone who had just switched teams and it was fun having him in the same division as his brother Mickey on the Cubs. I don't know what Cincinnati's problem is though because they decided to trade Denny for a veteran pitcher on Cleveland and your son was once again sent packing. Considering it was a new league, Denny played pretty well for the Indians and Denny secretly confided in me that they have a 'good' pitching coach that will be able to help him more than the last two teams' coaches. It will be fun watching Bob and Denny pitching against each other in AL Central competition next year. Poor Denny, all three of his teams were in the basement this year but I don't know how much that bothers him. An inflamed bicep tendom has been bothering Denny at the end of the season and he hasn't been able to start on a regular basis but considering what he did on three teams (24 GS, 9-8, 4.39 ERA, 96 K's), I think I'll be able to tell Cleveland next year, "Money talks and," well, you get the idea.

Mickey - You should be very proud of Mickey. He is one of baseball's brighest stars! I knew that 'excellent' hitting coach on the Cubs would do him some good. The Mick led his team in batting average and RBIs this year, VERY impressive considering the limited major league experience he's had. Mickey finished the year with a .312 AVG, 28 HR and 106 RBI! The Cubs already have so much faith in the young lad, they usually bat him 3rd or 5th in the lineup. If everything goes right and Mickey remains as injury free as he is now, I'm going to get him some serious buckeroos in future contracts! Mickey even told me how excited he was that the Cubs got hot at the end of the year and managed to finish above .500 at 82-80. The future is bright for Mickey!

Roger - I tell you what, the press just loves this Brady Brother story. Roger helped add fuel to the fire in Baltimore because he came out on fire just like Mickey. After securing himself a spot in spring training, Roger matched Mickey in stats all year long and even won Player of the Month in September! Roger told me that his hitting coach leaves a lot ot be desired and maybe that's true because the team only finished 71-91 but no one faults Roger for the poor showing. He batted .310 with 23 HR, 96 RBI and 89 RUN. He even lead the team in RBIs this year! The Orioles have such high hopes for Roger they're already batting him cleanup against left-handed pitchers! Your son is good at giving me an "Aw Shucks" attitude about his new popularity but I know this boy will be signing some nice contracts in the future!

[potatoman]

this is great...

[Modern Relic]

Very nice!

[blubbla]

Nice idea!

[AgPete]

From: The Brady Brothers Agent
To: Mr. and Mrs. Brady
RE: 2004 Summary

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Brady,

It was another fine year for the Brady family. I'm sad to report that none of your sons made it to the postseason this year but if it gets to be a problem your boys are unhappy with, I'll make the appropriate arrangements. ESPN loves this story of two sets of twins from the same family. Nike is talking to us now! Look to see your boys in a commerical next year!

Bob - I would like to apologize for Bob's 2004 salary. We thought we could get at least $2 million in arbitration early this year but we lost and only received $957,600. Unfortunately, the Royals kept the same pitching coach and while Bob loves the man's desire to win, he feels he could get better coaching somewhere else. The Royals used the fifth overall pick in 2004 to pick the second best pitching prospect in the nation so help is on the way for Bob. I think the constant losing is pulling Bob down with it. The Royals had another gloomy year and finished 69-93 and 4th again in the AL Central, just barely beating out the Tigers for last place. The team had confidence in Bob and started him third in the rotation but as his ERA rose above 5.00 his spot in the rotation lowered. Bob did improve near the end of the season and finished with a respectable 11-11 record, 4.57 ERA and much improved 162 K's. Did Bob tell you about his first major league hit? He hit a beauty off of Byung-Hyun Kim in interleague play! With as many games as the Royals and Indians played against each other, I thought for sure both Bob and Denny would get a chance to pitch against each other but it didn't happen. Between you and me, if this organization wants to make any money at all, they'd better start scheduling games like that if for nothing else than some extra media attention. Bad marketing and a bad team. Don't worry, I'll get Bob out of here if it gets any worse.

Denny - Denny got a similar contract to Bob's at the beginning of this season and I'm sure it's going to help him pay off that weekend in Vegas, but I'll let him tell you the details. Denny had another fine season with the Indians, especially since he only had to play on one team this year. Denny started third in the rotation just like Bob but managed to keep his spot all year long. He collected an impressive 15-14 record, 4.04 ERA and 128 K's. He even led his team in wins this year! I'm going to ask for some big bucks next season if Cleveland wants to watch their young prospect continue to grow. Denny also got his first career hit this year! He's nothing to write home about at the plate but he can occasionally make contact. Cleveland was 3rd in the AL Central this year at 76-86 and it looks like their rebuilding phase may be starting to form something although Denny has told me he won't be apart of it if they don't pay him good when he becomes a free agent.

Mickey - I hope you are enjoying the new house Mickey bought you. He could certainly afford it after we forced the Cubs to fork out $2.2 million during arbitration. Mickey was excited about the 2004 season as soon as free agency began. The Cubs brought in John Smoltz, a terrific closer, to help them win some of the close games they lost last year and they still have one of baseball most promising young squads. You should be proud of Mickey, of all your sons, his team was the only one that still had a shot for the postseason near the end of the year. He still continues to receive 'excellen't coaching from his hitting coach. He's lucky to have him. I'm not too happy with the Cubs' latest experiments with Mickey. Can you believe they made that boy a leadoff hitter?! He still bats third in the line-up against righties but it looks like the Cubs will try anything to win games. Taking away his RBI numbers is going to hurt my negotiations, you can expect me to do something about it if it continues. Even playing some at the leadoff spot, Mickey was a star again this year and led the team with a .302 AVG and 95 RBIs. He also collected an impressive 23 HR and 88 RUN on top of that. Your son was HOT in the final part of the season and won the Player of the Month in September! Don't blame Mickey that the Cubs only managed an 82-80 record again this year. Mickey did his best to try and raise Chicago out of 3rd place in the NL Central! I can hear Ben Franklin and the other dead Presidents calling his name in the future. Don't get accustomed to your new 3 bedroom house because Mickey will be buying you a mansion soon if he continues to play like this.

Roger - I don't know how we did it but even with Mickey's better year, we managed to get the Orioles to pay $500,000 more than Mickey's arbitration contract. This is the kind of team I like working with, if you know what I mean. Did Roger show you pictures of his new farm? Mr. and Mrs. Brady, did you know that you have an All-Star in your family now?! That's right, Roger was one of two Baltimore selections in the 2004 All-Star game. His player of the month award in June sure didn't hurt his selection. He even had a hit and 2 RBIs in the AL's 8-3 thrashing of the NL. Just like his brother Mickey, Roger beat his teamamtes out for the best batting average. (.316) He was second on the team in RBI and RUN with 102 and 83 and also had 27 HR. The Orioles think so much of Roger that he usually bats clean-up and it didn't hurt that Baltimore traded for Gary Sheffield who provides a good bat behind him in the line-up. Roger is a star in the making and I'm going to make sure Baltimore knows it when it comes time to signing a check! Baltimore finished 71-91 this year, good for 4th in the AL East, but Roger doesn't seem to bothered about it yet. I think he's just getting use to his new stardom and not worrying about things out of his control.

[potatoman]

Denny - Denny shocked the world and won a spot on Arizona's starting rotation this spring. I don't think the vets up there liked him though because he was demoted back to AAA even with an ERA close to 4.00. I think your son was a victim of talent saturation because Arizona promoted another promising young pitcher in his place. Luckily, the Cincinnati Reds decided to save Denny. If the Diamondbacks were too dumb to realize the kind of pitcher they had, the Reds sure weren't because they traded for him and immediately gave him back a spot on a pro team starting rotation. Bob pitched pretty good for someone who had just switched teams and it was fun having him in the same division as his brother Mickey on the Cubs. I don't know what Cincinnati's problem is though because they decided to trade Denny for a veteran pitcher on Cleveland and your son was once again sent packing. Considering it was a new league, Denny played pretty well for the Indians and Denny secretly confided in me that they have a 'good' pitching coach that will be able to help him more than the last two teams' coaches. It will be fun watching Bob and Denny pitching against each other in AL Central competition next year. Poor Denny, all three of his teams were in the basement this year but I don't know how much that bothers him. An inflamed bicep tendom has been bothering Denny at the end of the season and he hasn't been able to start on a regular basis but considering what he did on three teams (24 GS, 9-8, 4.39 ERA, 96 K's), I think I'll be able to tell Cleveland next year, "Money talks and," well, you get the idea.

u made a mistake there

[AgPete]

Thanks potato, it's fixed now.

[potatoman]

no problem man

[Kelric]

I love this idea and those are good write ups, keep it going.

[AgPete]

From: The Brady Brothers Agent
To: Mr. and Mrs. Brady
RE: 2005 Summary

Did you catch the Nike commercial? Wasn't it funny!? One of your sons approached me with a great idea. We're going to sell autographed pictures with all four of your sons to baseball card shows! Brady Fever, catch it!

Bob - Let me start by saying there is some good news and bad news. The good news is Kansas City replaced their pitching coach. The bad news is the replacement may not be an upgrade. Actually, I have two bits of bad news. Bob didn't get a raise. We lost our arbitration case again and Bob had to sign for $957,600 for a second straight year. I don't think Kansas City is the appropriate organization for Bob. Just between you and me, I think he's gone downhill since arriving here. He still hasn't purchased a house in the Kansas City area and lives like Joe Dimaggio, hotel to hotel. But this year may mark a change in the club's recent history. You see, the Royals were actually on top of the AL Central for most of this year. It was an intense race as Kansas City, Minnesota, Chicago and Cleveland were all within five games of each other through most of the season. I'm sad to report that Kansas City had a small collapse in the end and finished the season with a respectable 85-77 record but only 3rd in the AL Central. Still, not bad for a team that has the fourth lowest payroll in baseball. I saw a fire in Bob's eyes that didn't exist before this year. Your son is always telling me how much he loves to win but I'm not sure what that did for his performance because he had a year very similar to last. Bob finished 11-10 with a 4.55 ERA and 93 K's. It's a career low ERA for him but not by much. I may have a tough time convincing Kansas City to keep Bob around if they're not looking to spend big bucks.

Denny - At the beginning of the year, Denny and I were not impressed with any of the new coaches the Indians brought in but the Indians turned both of our frowns upside down when they were forced to give Denny $2.8 million in arbitration! This means that Denny can now play at the high roller tables.....I mean give more money to charity! I'll have to work on the Royals and convince them pitching talent runs in the genes so I can get Bob a salary like this. By the way, did you see Denny's new Ferrari yet? Cleveland went on a spending spree during the winter and brought in one of the league's best pitchers, Derek Lowe, at $14 million a year. (Mama mia, I can't wait until one of the Bradys signs a contract like that!) We knew Cleveland's pitching staff was bound for a shakeup after the new free agent signings but I didn't expect Denny to be a casualty. I guess the Indians didn't feel Denny was a part of their future because they traded him to the San Diego Padres for a good veteran outfielder. At least we know Denny's trade value is going up. Denny doesn't seem to mind the trade. He told me the women look better and he's closer to Vegas in southern California. The Padres were 74-88 last year, so I don't think Denny will see much improvement around him. Denny was lucky enough to have a good pitching coach in Cleveland and San Diego's coach looks to be a downgrade which could hurt him. The Padres seem to think a lot about Denny because they made him their starting ace. Denny didn't disappoint them either because he finished the season with a team best 3.39 ERA. The boy pitched like a pro but he also had the misfortune of playing on the second worse team in baseball and had little run support so his 9-11 record doesn't accurately reflect how good he was this year. 9-11 records bring a pitcher's value down no matter how low their ERA is so I'll see what I can do if San Diego doesn't improve. By the way, Denny hit his first career and only (so far!) major league homerun this year! I think Mickey and Roger's influence rubbed off on him.

Mickey - I am impressed with the Cubs. They're cheapskates and only gave Mickey a small raise of $600,000 raising his salary to $2.8 million through arbitration but boy did they improve their coaching staff! Your son is now working with a legend who will probably help him work on his swing! Both of us are excited to see what he can learn from the new hitting coach and the benefits he provides for the Cubs' offense. Even though he was excited about the year, I think his exuberance has died down a little because once again the Cubs struggled to remain above .500. I know Mickey can feel the postseason on the tip of his tongue and wants to taste it in the worse way. The Cubs were actually in striking distance of the NL Central lead throughout most of the season, especially because it's such a weak division this year, but they never could get there. I had small scare when your son had to leave a game after coming up injured while diving for a fly ball but it ended up being nothing more than a broken finger. A minor injury for an outfielder but still something that can hurt negotiations for his contract next year. Mickey made due with the time he had and finished the season batting .309 with 19HR, 81 RBI and 75 RUN. Can you believe the Cubs are still trying their crazy theory that Mick can make a good leadoff hitter?! He still bats leadoff sometimes and I'm none too happy about it and the millions it takes away from his future contracts!

Roger - The Orioles are a team after my own heart. I was shocked when Baltimore offered Roger a $4 million contract for 2005. I think they're afraid they may lose their new star. Negotiating a long-term contract shouldn't be too difficult. Thanks to Baltimore, Roger was able to expand his farm by an additional 300 acres. Like his brothers and their losing teams, Roger's team also enacted a large coaching change but I'm not sure the new hiting coach will help Roger learn anything new. Oddly enough, both Mickey and Roger were placed in the exact same spot on their teams lineups. Both boys began the season hitting third against righties and second against lefties. That's where the similarities end though because Roger is clearly becoming a bigger star than Mickey. He was awarded with a second straight All-Star appearance this year and certainly earned it. Roger is Baltimore's MVP by a longshot! He leads the team in AVG (.320), HR (30), RBI (105), RUN (100) and OPS (.950)! The Orioles even showed some improvement this year finishing 80-82 and 3rd in the AL East. If the Orioles want to continue to win, they'll need to open their wallets and sign Roger to the monster contract he deserves!

[Redhead_Alaskan]

Roger is turning into the star of the family. I think Denny would be good if he could get some offense around him, too.

[AgPete]

From: The Brady Brothers Agent
To: Mr. and Mrs. Brady
RE: 2006 Summary

Well, it was a year full of disappointments and celebrations. Brady Mania is officially over. We lost some of our endorsements this year and some of your sons will need to step up if they want me to negotiate a large contract. Next year is very important as it is the last one before the Brady Brothers are free agents, please talk to your sons and make sure they come ready to play next spring.

Bob - Please talk to your son and tell him I'm doing the best I can. I apologize for losing his arbitration hearing again this year. Kansas City seems to be stuck at $957,600 until he becomes a free agent. I think Bob is willing to forgive them though because they brought in two great coaches to help the team. That's right, Bob finally has an improved pitching coach! Bob tells me he is an 'excellent' addition to the coaching staff. The two new coaches and Kansas City's surprise performance last year caused Bob and I to expect the best but the Royals frustrated many people this year. They reverted back to their old ways and finished fourth in the AL Central with a 72-90 record. If there is any good news it's that the Royals were last most of the year and were on pace for an even worse record until improved play after the All-Star break. Bob had one of his worse full seasons yet with an 11-11 record, 4.27 ERA and 119 K's. It would appear the new pitching coach didn't help Bob in the slightest.

Denny - It looks like both of your pitching sons have coaching upgrades this year. After last year's disasterous record, the Padres found themselves a 'good' pitching coach to help Denny and the rest of its staff. They also demonstrated a willingness to keep Denny a Padre as they gave him a one year extension for $2.9 million. It's only a tiny raise but positive for a team with the 6th lowest payroll in baseball. Which is why I was shocked when the Padres sent Denny down to AAA! Yes, that's right, your son was demoted! I don't understand what the Padres want from him. He had a 10-7 record and 3.96 ERA AND a three game winning streak and 2.25 ERA in his last few starts before his demotion. Mr. and Mrs. Brady, you need to have a serious talk with your son. Obviously, his off the field problems and poor work habits have angered Padres management. San Diego, as many teams in his career have, are giving up on Denny. Denny needs a major personality change if he is going to have a long future in pro baseball. At 2-3 with a 4.70 ERA, Denny's numbers in AAA were actually worse than the majors. I'll try my best to get him traded but I don't know if he can find any teams anymore that are willing to take a chance on him.

Mickey - Mickey and I are still excited about the Cubs' future but we would really like to see them start winning now. They didn't sign any huge stars in free agency and stuck with cheaper talent. They did raise Mickey's salary to $3.4 million for 2006 but I think Mickey is starting to feel a little down about the team's annual struggle to remain above .500. And Mickey felt even worse when Chicago finished the 2006 season with a 69-93 record and 5th in the NL Central. It was a terrible season for the Cubbies and their inability to advance is starting to affect Mickey. He finished with a .277 AVG this year, his lowest since earning a starting spot. He was second on the team with 98 RBI and posted good numbers with 32 HR and 90 RUN. Also, Chicago stopped their leadoff experiments with Mickey and he usually bats 5th or 6th in the lineup. Still, Mick's numbers are going down at the wrong time. He needs to improve his play if I am going to land a fat contract when he becomes a free agent.

Roger - Hmmmm... Roger may be one of the game's best leftfielders in a few years (if he isn't already) but the Orioles didn't raise his salary. They've also dropped to the 5th lowest payroll in baseball. I don't know if these are the same Orioles that once spent big bucks on Albert Belle. Luckilly, they did hire a better hitting coach to help out their struggling offense. Roger didn't seem to have an opinion on it but I know deep down inside he's thrilled. As you know, the Orioles got off to a miserable start and had the worse record in baseball. I don't know if management decided to rebuild or maybe never had plans for Roger in their future but they traded your boy to the 1st place Texas Rangers. The Rangers have one of the deadliest offenses in baseball and lead MLB with their team batting average. Roger joined a large list of deadly weapons including stars Hank Blalock, Mark Texeira and Jason Giambi. And while your other sons had disappointing seasons I'm happy to finish this memo off with Roger who had a terrific season. He didn't go to the All-Star game this year because he was going down with the rest of the U.S.S. Baltimore Orioles but once he was traded to the Rangers, he started playing like the Roger of old and finished the season with a .271 AVG, 29 HR, 108 RBI and 96 RUN. He was 3rd on the Rangers in HR, RBI and RUN. Texas finished the year with the best record in baseball at 103-59. And as soon as the postseason began, your humble farmboy caught on fire! Roger single-handedly made sure the Rangers made it past the divisional playoffs for the first time in their career. Helping the Rangers beat their 90's playoff foes, the New York Yankees, 3 to 2 games, Roger hit 3HR, had 13 RBI and batted .409! Roger cooled off a little in the AL Championship Series but won a critical game for the Rangers in Game 5 with the series tied 2-2. He had 4 of the Rangers 5 RBIs and lifted Texas to a 5-0 win and inevitable 4-2 series win. Facing the Dodgers in the World Series, it was the battle of the blue and Roger once again contributed to his team's postseason success helping the Rangers win the World Series 4 to 2 games. All together, Roger's postseason numbers were a very impressive .329 AVG, 4 HR, 26 RBI and 15 RUN! Without Roger, the Rangers NEVER would have won their first World Series in team history. You should be proud of Roger, I know I am, especially when it comes time to sign a new contract with the Rangers!

[potatoman]

go roger

[RoyalsBlue]

Agpete,

Let me start by saying this is quite the original idea and I've enjoyed reading it thus far. However, I do have a bone to pick with you.

Originally posted by AgPete
Bob would work great with an organization like the Yankees but unfortunately, he is stuck in the Royals organization where his intense demeanor may not work with a perennial loser.

Harumph....while the Royals may be in the midst of a 8 year losing streak, that hardly qualifies them for a perennial loser. The Cubs are perennial losers, the Brewers are perennial losers, but not my beloved Royals!

AUGHHHHHHHH!!!!



Seriously though, man, keep up the good work. It's a fun read.

Rob

[AgPete]

Sorry RoyalsBlue, honestly, I didn't want to single out any team but I had to go with the dynasty's idea. I hope Bob signs a long-term contract with the Royals, it would be nice to see that in today's baseball, especially with a small market team.

[potatoman]

twud be great to see em all on the mets

[AgPete]

From: The Brady Brothers Agent
To: Mr. and Mrs. Brady
RE: 2007 Summary

Like I told you last year, hopefully this season would be a career year for your sons because free agency depended on it. I don't know what happened but for the most part, your sons had frustrating years. I once thought I could find some $10 million contracts for at least one of your boys but I don't know if that will ever happen.

Bob - The Royals decided to give their new coaching staff a chance to rebound from last year's disappointing performance and there were no significant hirings this year. Bob was happy to hear the Royals forked out some big bucks for star closer Ugueth Urbina. The Royals made a few good free agent moves this year and even signed another decent closer, Jorge Julio, whom I assume they will be turning into a set-up man. It looks like 2005 was a fluke because the Royals finished dead last in the AL Central this year. Bob still managed to tie his career high for wins and had a record of 12-10. He posted respectable numbers with a 4.58 ERA and 95 K's but let's be frank, I don't think Bob will ever be an All-Star in this game. He has the attitude of a winner and always uses every bit of god given talent he's been blessed with but unfortunately it's just not enough to make him a star in this game. I believe that's why Bob didn't hesitate to sign the three-year $2 million contract Kansas City offered him. I know he would enjoy winning but job security is probably better for him at this point in his career, especially after watching his twin brother get the sham by baseball. Don't worry Mr. and Mrs. Brady, I'll get your boy a one million dollar contract one of these days. Good news! He bought a nice 6-bedroom house in Kansas City and as you know, just got married. Bob is also active in the community and is a regular volunteer at the local children's hospital. Bob may never be Bret Saberhagen, but he has made a name for himself in the Kansas City community.

Denny - Denny is at a crossroads. I don't know how we did it but Denny landed himself a $2.9 million contract this year as the arbitrator seemed to agree that Denny's record last year didn't deserve a AAA demotion. But even with a generous contract, Denny didn't prove himself in spring training and failed to make the team's starting rotation. He began the year in AAA and sadly, he finished the year in AAA. In Denny's defense, a broken hand kept him out off the roster for two months and he never really recovered from it. Denny's numbers in AAA were 7-5 with a 3.62 ERA. That would probably be good enough for some clubs but I think the "incident" last year angered San Diego management and Denny will have to post phenomenal numbers if he ever wants to pitch for the Padres again. Denny was offered a small contract to play in the minors this year but after a long talk, we came to the conclusion that Denny should test free agency and see if he can find a new team to start over with next year. I'm worried about your son's spending habits. Honestly, I don't know if he's saved anything from these million dollar contracts I've landed him. I hope he rebounds and demonstrates the skills he used to have.

Mickey - I'm sad to report there were no drastic changes anywhere in the Cubs organization this year. They even kept Mickey at the same salary of $3.4 million. We can only hope the team plays better with what they're given. I told all your sons to have a career year in 2007 because their free-agent contracts depended on it and it looks like Mickey was the only one to take this to heart. The Mick had one of his best years with a .321 AVG, 28 HR, 100 RBI and 92 RUN and was even awarded the NL Player of the Month in July. Forgive me but your son can be stubborn sometimes. I tried to convince him to hold out until the winter and see what kind of contracts he could pull but Mickey seems to be somewhat loyal to Chicago. He told me he'd hate to be far away from O'Callahan's Grill and Bar which I guess is a popular hangout for Chicago ballplayers. Even with a 66-96 record and last in the NL Central, Mickey decided to accept Chicago's 3-year $12 million contract extension. As I write this, he's checking out condos in Chicago. Your son is quite the engaging personality and even landed himself on Chicago's 100 Most Eligible Bachelors list in the local paper. Hopefully, Mickey will settle down one of these days because I think his numbers may go up which means his contract will too.

Roger - Did I tell you about the 'outstanding' hitting coach Roger is working with now on the Rangers. His coach was a great help last year and probably a factor in Roger's improved performance after being traded to the Rangers. I expected a big year from Roger, especially because of free agency next year. I guess the Rangers weren't impressed with Roger's postseason play and kept him at $4 million this year. Mr. and Mrs. Brady, I have some bad news for you, Roger didn't have his best season. I think the pressure of playing for a defending world champion got to him. He had career lows in most categories and the Rangers even started batting him at the bottom of the lineup. He finished the year with a .260 AVG, 17 HR, 79 RBI and 72 RUN. I warned him how this may affect his free agency value and I think he took it to heart as he agreed to the Rangers' offer of a 3-year $9.6 million contract. I thought he should have held out for a larger contract that was more honest to his previous play but Roger doesn't like to rock the boat and wanted to stay with the same team especially since he just bought a 150 acre ranch near Dallas. Texas didn't have the best year. Other players had postseason letdown just like Roger but they did manage to complete the year at 91-71 and 1st in the AL West again. It was a terrible postseason though because the Rangers were beat 3 games to 1 by the Cleveland Indians in the divisional playoffs. The Indians pitching shutdown the lethal Rangers offense but your son did have the best batting average (.400) of his teammates so don't blame him for their collapse. Roger was the only one who came to play. Did he send you a picture of his new daughter? That's three kids and counting now. Unlike Mickey, Roger loves the family life.


I thought I would prepare a handy memo to chart the Brady Brothers progress under my representation. If you'd like to see your kids' annual stats and other important information, please click here.

[LivnLegend]

Great stuff AgPete!

[RoyalsBlue]

I liked the summary of all 4 with the pics.

However, giving Bob Brady number 5 is borderline heresy!

Excellent stuff, man. This is one of the best reads on these boards.