Inspired by Mr. Rowley...

TLBOrioles · 03-07-2003, 05:40 PM

I've created myself in a league based off GForce rosters and joined the 2004 draft pool. I'm a second baseman, B range, speed, steals. Good in hits and walks, poor in hr, 2b, 3b, avg in strikeouts--a nod to my little league days when id hit .680 or so by spraying grounders everywhere, then steal second and third.

This made me a 23 year old 3-star prospect in the 2004 draft pool. Oakland wildly overestimated my talents (thought I was Brilliant in hits and Avg in homers!), and took me in the first round with the 18th pick.

Of course, following the luck that seems to be going around with people creating themselves, my first season was cut short by a Torn Groin Muscle. Ouch! Thankfully, no talent hits.

With season #1 already over, my stats are .306/.358/.342 for a .701 OPS in A-ball for Oakland. 9 steals as well.

TLBOrioles · 03-07-2003, 06:22 PM

11/1/2004

The rest of the 2004 season was pretty uneventful for me. I got to watch from the bench as our A-ball team compiled a .620 winning percentage. We really have some great guys in the system who I know are gonna do big things in the majors. I just wish I could be out there with them! The trainers tell me I did a good job rehabbing my groin. It's November now and I feel like I've really just started to get my running ability back.

It was also a pretty great year for my parent club, the A's. They went 98-64, though unfortunately, the hated Rangers knocked them out in the first round of the playoffs. I can't help but wish I could have been out there with them, but that's probably a long way off, especially since I lost so much of this season. Hopefully next year I'll be able to go out there and make an impact!

TLBOrioles · 03-07-2003, 06:34 PM

3/1/2005

Baseball America just published its list of the top 50 prospects. I made the list at number 21, and believe me, I'm as surprised as anybody!

Here's their take on my game:

"This is the kind of guy who with the right breaks could easily develop into a leadoff hitter at the major league level. He's got the ability to read pitchers well both at the plate and on the bases. Takes the ball the other way well, and keeps it on the ground where he can leg out some infield hits. His eye is generally good, but he does have a problem with taking hacks at bad pitches in the dirt.

His glove is above average at second base, and even if he never develops into the type of pure hitter we think he can, his defensive abilities are likely to get him into the majors. His range is excellent, he positions himself well, and his agility makes it easy for him to turn the double play.

There are some question marks though. Can he recover from the torn groin muscle that ended his 2004 campaign? Will he ever develop any pop in his bat whatsoever? If he stays healthy and continues to develop, look for him in the majors in 2006 or 2007."

The guys in the clubhouse are really giving me a hard time now that I'm apparently a big-time prospect. There's not a whole lot of publicity down here in Modesto though, thankfully. I just want to get out there and put a full season in this year, and show some people what I can do.

TLBOrioles · 03-07-2003, 06:44 PM

7/7/2005

I got some great news today. I'm going to Midland to join the AA squad! I can't wait to meet Terrence Long. I remember watching Terrence on TV when I was in college. He's had a couple of tough injuries in the last few years, and he could probably teach me a lot about bouncing back from them. I'm leaving some friends behind in A-ball, but I think that some of them might join me here soon enough.

I've been having a pretty good year so far I guess. I'm not the same kind of player I thought I'd be though. My groin never really healed the way I wanted it to, so my first step hasn't come back, and I'm not stealing bases the way I used to. On the other hand though, I've been hitting the weight room a lot, and for the first time in my life I feel like if a pitcher makes a mistake, I can take one out of the park.

(statline at A Modesto:

321 AB, 103 H, 7 2B, 6 HR, 40 RBI, 44 Runs, 77 K, 28 BB, 13 SB, 5 CS

.321 AVG, .386 OBP, .399 SLG, .785 OPS)

TLBOrioles · 03-07-2003, 06:58 PM

9/1/2005

The minor league season is over, and that means my season is over. It went pretty well I think. I stayed healthy, I'm playing better than ever, and we managed to finish second in our league. I was hoping that I'd see a September callup. A lot of my AA teammates did, but I guess they don't have any use for me up in the majors yet. I know I can get there soon though. It doesn't look like we're going to the playoffs anyway. The A's are sitting 9 games out of the wild card.

Double A is a really different experience than A-ball was. People just want it more around here. The clubhouse this past month has been a lot more intense than I remember it in Modesto. That's probably because we have so many guys here in Midland who have played in the bigs, and want badly to get back there.

I'm also starting to feel a bit old when I look around the clubhouse. My good buddy Mike McBeth and I are both 25, and I look around here and everyone else is 19 or so (or they're on a rehab assignment). I know once I get to 26 or 27 nobody is going to take me seriously as a prospect anymore. So this offseason I've really got to push myself and improve if I'm ever going to have a shot in the majors.

(statline at AA Midland:

201 AB, 65 H, 6 2B, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 28 Runs, 35 K, 13 BB, 7 SB, 3 CS

.323 AVG, .373 OBP, .368 SLG, .741 OPS)

TLBOrioles · 03-07-2003, 07:22 PM

4/1/2006

Great news! I'm going to be in Sacramento this year. I'm not sure what a River Cat is, but I'm happy to be one.

Our Triple A team is pretty unusual. I'm the youngest guy there, and I'm almost 26. We have a lot of experienced major leaguers in the clubhouse. They've taken to calling me "Baseball America" (I was previewed at #41 this year--the highest Oakland player). I guess I can take a little good-natured abuse. I could learn a lot from these guys. I've been hanging out with Jermaine Dye a lot for batting practice. Man, can that guy hit some long balls. It's also nice to be around John Johnson, our Triple A coach. He's mostly known for developing young pitchers, but I think he's done a great job with me, especially in the field.

I'm kind of upset that the club didn't resign Terrence Long. It was hard to see him leave the team. Nobody offered him a deal in free agency either. He admits he's not the player he used to be, but he's not giving up on baseball yet. Hopefully somebody will pick him up. I guess it just shows what a ruthless sport this can be. One minute you can be a star, but opinions can turn on you in a hurry, and before long you've got nothing.

I find myself looking ahead to the majors. We signed Bret Boone in the off-season, and he's an amazing hitter, but I know he won't be around forever. For the first time I can see that I'm close to having a shot. There's definitely room for me on the Oakland roster if I can put in a good year here in Sacramento.

TLBOrioles · 03-07-2003, 07:40 PM

8/19/2006

Happy birthday to me! The bad news is I'm 26, and like I said before, opinions change overnight. One day I was a prospect with a bright future, the next I was "a cup of coffee guy at best." Well, forget what they say, I know I can contribute. I hear from my coach that I'll probably get called up in September, and I hope he's right.

I do think that my groin never really healed though. I feel slower and slower. I can still read the pitcher on the basepaths as well as ever, but I'm just not quick enough to get to second before the throw the way I was a couple years ago. It's hard when you know what you have to do, but your body just doesn't respond the way it used to. It's even worse that I'm saying this at 26.

TLBOrioles · 03-07-2003, 07:47 PM

9/1/2006

Well, another season of minor league ball ends, and unfortunately, the callup never came. Maybe that's a good thing though. Coach says Bret Boone is considering retirement, and that the club didn't want to waste a year of major league service on me yet. So who knows. Next year I could be playing in Sacramento again, or I could be starting for the Oakland A's.

All in all I guess I did ok here in AAA this year. For the first time in my life, I had a hard time hitting singles. The pitchers at this level made me look foolish the first few months. But by July I had gotten my stroke back. I'm not the baserunner I used to be, but I still have a good glove, and I think I can definitely help a major league team now , whether that's Oakland or somebody else.

(statline at AAA Sacramento:
528 AB, 142 H, 21 2B, 7 HR, 47 RBI, 80 Runs, 10 SB, 2 CS
.269 AVG, .331 OBP, .348 SLG, .680 OPS)

TLBOrioles · 03-07-2003, 08:05 PM

3/1/2007

Well, it looks like my big break may never come. I went into the offseason hoping I might compete for the starting job at second base for Oakland. And they'll tell me I'll still get a shot to, but I'm certainly not the favorite at this point.

Bret Boone decided to stick around for another year. I actually talked to him about it in the offseason. He said that everyone told him he was crazy to consider retiring, considering how good his skills remain, and how much they're paying him.

We also signed Brandon Larson as a utility guy. He plays all the infield positions, and left field as well. He's an old Cincinnati guy, won a championship with them. Flat out kills the ball. I don't know if I've ever seen an infielder with power like this guy has. He's certainly not gonna be playing left with Adam Dunn around, and we still have Eric Chavez and Miguel Tejada in the infield. So he's probably direct competition.

Then there's Herbert Tolliver. He was actually drafted behind me in the same draft. I see a lot of myself when I look at him. He hits for a little more power and a little less average than I do, but we're pretty much the same on the field and in the basepaths. He came out of the draft more polished than me, and backed up Bret last year.

I'd like to think I still have a shot at making the club, but I know they're not gonna take four second basemen. So I need to get it done in spring training, or this won't be my year either.

TLBOrioles · 03-07-2003, 08:14 PM

4/1/2007

Well, I plugged away for a month in spring training, wondering if I could beat out the competition. Today, I got the best news of my life--I'm an Oakland Athletic!

The bad news is that I don't think I'll see a lot of playing time. Coach decided to take three second basemen: me, Boone, and Larson. And we have a utility guy by the name of Freddy Bynum who plays just about everywhere.

Right now supposedly they're gonna play Bret against lefties, Larson against righties, use Bynum as a defensive sub, and use me to rest the starters. I can't say it's what I hoped for a while back, but I'm happy just to make the club.

All I can do for now is learn from the older players and try to make the best of my opportunity.

Rowleyball · 03-07-2003, 08:14 PM

Good luck getting a spot in the majors and keeping it. It's not easy.

AgPete · 03-07-2003, 10:34 PM

Fun read. Hope your guy makes it!

TLBOrioles · 03-08-2003, 12:28 AM

4/4/2007

We went on the road to Texas today, and I saw my first action in the bigs!

We were holding on to a 2-1 lead after 6 innings, and he brought in some guys to improve the defense a little. However, he had already pinch hit for Eric Chavez, who doesn't handle lefties very well, leaving us without a third baseman on the bench. I was stunned when Coach Howe told me that I was going to make my major league debut at third! I hadn't played there since little league.

I got my first at bat in the top of the seventh, with Matt Holliday standing on first and nobody down. C.J. Wilson was pitching for Texas. He threw me a fastball over the plate on the first pitch, and I couldn't contain myself. I took a good cut at it and did what I do best--took it the other way for a clean single to right.

My good buddy from the minors Marcus McBeth (who's also a reserve on the major league squad now followed that up with a single of his own, driving Matt in and moving me over to second. Brandon Larson went down swinging, then Adam Dunn knocked a clean single into left-center field. I was gone as soon as the ball was hit hoping to score. Initially I thought the left fielder would get to it, but it ended up going to Gabe Kapler in center, and he's got a cannon arm. I knew I had to be flying to get to the plate in time. It was close - VERY close - but I just did sneak in under the tag. So I singled and scored my first time up in the bigs! We ended up pulling in 5 runs in the inning to break the game open, and went on to win 7-2.

Of course my work wasn't done as I trotted out to third for the first time in my life. I only saw one play in the three innings, a routine grounder. It was odd to be standing over there, but I think I could learn to play it.

I came up again in the top of the ninth; this time I was a little more patient. Victor Santos was pitching for Texas, and I ran the count to 3-1 on him. Then he gave me a good pitch to hit, another fast ball out over the plate. I turned on it and ripped it hard, but unfortunately I ripped it right at their third baseman, Mark Teixeira.

So far I'm hitting .500 for my career! It was great to get out there and play, but most of all, it was good to help the team win the game. I'm ready to admit I'm not as talented as some of the guys on this team, but I give all the effort I can. Today it was good enough to help out.

TLBOrioles · 03-08-2003, 12:49 AM

5/1/2007

Well, it's the end of my first month in the bigs. I've got into a few more games.

On the 6th I got to pinch run for Erubiel Durazo. We always give him a hard time about how slow he is. On the 11th I came in and played second in the ninth inning as we clung to a one run lead, but the ball never came my way.

On the 21st coach showed that he's developing some respect for me, and threw me in to pinch hit for Juan Pierre in the bottom of the ninth. Unfortunately, we were up against J.C. Romero, and he's tough. All I could manage was a weak groundout.

On the 27th, we were playing the Twins again and again coach went to me in the ninth, this time to lead off as we trailed by 2 runs. I didn't let him down, as I singled to left off Kris Keller. Again my team helped me out with two more singles to drive me in, this time from Juan Pierre and Miguel Tejada. Something really started to happen in the dugout. The rally caps were on, and suddenly, the Twins couldn't get any of us out. Adam Dunn doubled to tie the score. They walked Erubiel Durazo. Andruw Jones gave us a sac fly to take the lead. Bret Boone doubled to drive in two more. Matt Holliday beat out an infield hit. They walked Cody Ross.

Now all of the sudden, I was up again after pinch hitting, in the same inning! There was still only one out, and the bases were loaded. I drew a walk off Luis Pineda to get my first major league RBI. And later on in the inning Adam Dunn doubled to drive me in again. We ended up scoring 12 in the inning to win the game 15-5.

So I've got 5 plate appearances so far, and I've scored 3 times. I'm also leading the team in hitting at .500, as I remind all the guys in the locker room. Of course, they remind me that the farthest I've hit the ball is about 160 feet.

So I'm getting some action in key situations these days. I still hope I can be a regular soon. My only complaint is the slow start we're off to as a team. We're 10-18, and with the talent we put on the field, there's really no excuse for it. There's a lot of stress in the locker room. Most of these guys aren't used to losing, and of course, no professional athlete can stand it. Luckily it's still early and I know we can turn things around.

TLBOrioles · 03-08-2003, 01:02 AM

5/31/2007

I've been getting into games here and there, but I finally got my first start today. It didn't go so well. I did manage a single in 4 trips to the plate, but I also grounded into a double play.

Mostly I'm upset with myself for making my first career error. Worse yet, I did it in the bottom of the ninth with us holding on to a one run lead. I don't know what happened. I just took my eye off the ball or something, and it squirted off the heel of my glove. It's a play I could make in my sleep, but today I didn't make it, and suddenly they have Ichiro on first with one out.

Thankfully our pitcher forced a double play to end the game, but I'm still kicking myself over this one. The last thing to do when you're fighting for more playing time is to make stupid errors, and risk a win for a team that needs them. We're 24-31 now, and I think the team is beginning to gel a little, but we've still got a hole to climb out of if we want to be in the playoff hunt.

TLBOrioles · 03-08-2003, 01:22 AM

7/30/2007

I can't believe what happened today. The phone rang at 5 AM. My agent was on the other end. "I've got good news and bad news," he told me. "The good news is, you're about to be an everyday player. The bad news is, you'll be in Tampa Bay."

I'm going to miss Oakland. I'll miss Marcus McBeth and Bret Boone and the rest of the guys in the clubhouse. And to tell you the truth, I wouldn't have said a week ago that I'd be happy to be on a team that's rebuilding, like Tampa. But when I heard what Tampa Bay gave up to get me, I was impressed. They sent one of the top relief pitching prospects in the league, AND two other guys to Oakland just to get me.

I've been told I'm going to be the starter at second, and I'll be hitting 6th in the lineup. If they're willing to make this kind of effort to get me, you can bet I'm gonna work my tail off for them.

Tomorrow's an off day, but we're in Detroit the day after. I can't wait to get out there!

TLBOrioles · 03-08-2003, 01:34 AM

8/1/2007

Well, my first game for the Rays went well. We killed Detroit, and I mean slaughtered them. We won 18-7, and I was 4 for 7 with 4 RBIs on a double and three singles. I might have been player of the game, but Aubrey Huff got six hits. If we play like this, there's hope for this team. Unfortunately we're 42-66 right now, last in the division. But we have some guys who can get the job done, and we're a young team.

Oh, and you'll never guess who got the win today. Another old Oakland guy--Tim Hudson! He came to Tampa Bay in a trade just a week before I got here. The management here is making a lot of moves to make the team better.

TLBOrioles · 03-08-2003, 01:43 AM

8/15/2007

Got my first homer in the majors today in Baltimore, off Chris Nichting. It just barely cleared the right field scoreboard they have down there, a tape-measure blast (note sarcasm!) of 343 feet.

Tampa is so different compared to Oakland. All of the sudden I feel like I'm an old man or something when I look around the infield and see Leland Shepherd and B.J. Upton. Those guys have some serious talent, and if they pan out, we'll have a solid infield for quite a while.

TLBOrioles · 03-08-2003, 01:45 AM

8/18/2007

I was named player of the game for the first time today. I was 3 for 4 with a double, a homer, a single, and 3 RBI as we beat Baltimore 9-8.

TLBOrioles · 03-08-2003, 01:55 AM

10/02/2007

Well, the season is over in Tampa. We finished 64-98, worst in the American League, but I'm hopeful for next season. I think we have some talent, and that's only going to get better since we'll pick second in the draft this year. I hate losing, but I feel like we've got a lot of hope, and the fans are being surprisingly supportive. They're coming out to see a young, exciting team.

Personally I'm not very happy with my performance. I haven't done much of anything to justify what Tampa gave up to get me, and I've got a lot to work on in the offseason.

(stats for 2007:
223 AB, 52 H, 8 2B, 3 HR, 30 RBI, 28 Runs, 39 K, 17 BB, 5 SB, 1 CS
.233 AVG, .286 OBP, .309 SLG, .596 OPS)

03-07-2003, 10:34 PM	#12
AgPete Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 43	Fun read. Hope your guy makes it! __________________ OOTP5 Dynasty - Rebuilding Baseball's Junk Teams OOTP5 Dynasty - Psychology Experiment, Same Skills but Different Personalities Click here to view the OOTP5 Texas Rangers Skin! AgPete's Text-Based Sports Sim Page

03-07-2003, 05:40 PM	#1
TLBOrioles Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 188	Inspired by Mr. Rowley... I've created myself in a league based off GForce rosters and joined the 2004 draft pool. I'm a second baseman, B range, speed, steals. Good in hits and walks, poor in hr, 2b, 3b, avg in strikeouts--a nod to my little league days when id hit .680 or so by spraying grounders everywhere, then steal second and third. This made me a 23 year old 3-star prospect in the 2004 draft pool. Oakland wildly overestimated my talents (thought I was Brilliant in hits and Avg in homers!), and took me in the first round with the 18th pick. Of course, following the luck that seems to be going around with people creating themselves, my first season was cut short by a Torn Groin Muscle. Ouch! Thankfully, no talent hits. With season #1 already over, my stats are .306/.358/.342 for a .701 OPS in A-ball for Oakland. 9 steals as well.

03-07-2003, 06:22 PM	#2
TLBOrioles Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 188	11/1/2004 The rest of the 2004 season was pretty uneventful for me. I got to watch from the bench as our A-ball team compiled a .620 winning percentage. We really have some great guys in the system who I know are gonna do big things in the majors. I just wish I could be out there with them! The trainers tell me I did a good job rehabbing my groin. It's November now and I feel like I've really just started to get my running ability back. It was also a pretty great year for my parent club, the A's. They went 98-64, though unfortunately, the hated Rangers knocked them out in the first round of the playoffs. I can't help but wish I could have been out there with them, but that's probably a long way off, especially since I lost so much of this season. Hopefully next year I'll be able to go out there and make an impact!

03-07-2003, 06:34 PM	#3
TLBOrioles Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 188	3/1/2005 Baseball America just published its list of the top 50 prospects. I made the list at number 21, and believe me, I'm as surprised as anybody! Here's their take on my game: "This is the kind of guy who with the right breaks could easily develop into a leadoff hitter at the major league level. He's got the ability to read pitchers well both at the plate and on the bases. Takes the ball the other way well, and keeps it on the ground where he can leg out some infield hits. His eye is generally good, but he does have a problem with taking hacks at bad pitches in the dirt. His glove is above average at second base, and even if he never develops into the type of pure hitter we think he can, his defensive abilities are likely to get him into the majors. His range is excellent, he positions himself well, and his agility makes it easy for him to turn the double play. There are some question marks though. Can he recover from the torn groin muscle that ended his 2004 campaign? Will he ever develop any pop in his bat whatsoever? If he stays healthy and continues to develop, look for him in the majors in 2006 or 2007." The guys in the clubhouse are really giving me a hard time now that I'm apparently a big-time prospect. There's not a whole lot of publicity down here in Modesto though, thankfully. I just want to get out there and put a full season in this year, and show some people what I can do.

03-07-2003, 06:44 PM	#4
TLBOrioles Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 188	7/7/2005 I got some great news today. I'm going to Midland to join the AA squad! I can't wait to meet Terrence Long. I remember watching Terrence on TV when I was in college. He's had a couple of tough injuries in the last few years, and he could probably teach me a lot about bouncing back from them. I'm leaving some friends behind in A-ball, but I think that some of them might join me here soon enough. I've been having a pretty good year so far I guess. I'm not the same kind of player I thought I'd be though. My groin never really healed the way I wanted it to, so my first step hasn't come back, and I'm not stealing bases the way I used to. On the other hand though, I've been hitting the weight room a lot, and for the first time in my life I feel like if a pitcher makes a mistake, I can take one out of the park. (statline at A Modesto: 321 AB, 103 H, 7 2B, 6 HR, 40 RBI, 44 Runs, 77 K, 28 BB, 13 SB, 5 CS .321 AVG, .386 OBP, .399 SLG, .785 OPS)

03-07-2003, 06:58 PM	#5
TLBOrioles Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 188	9/1/2005 The minor league season is over, and that means my season is over. It went pretty well I think. I stayed healthy, I'm playing better than ever, and we managed to finish second in our league. I was hoping that I'd see a September callup. A lot of my AA teammates did, but I guess they don't have any use for me up in the majors yet. I know I can get there soon though. It doesn't look like we're going to the playoffs anyway. The A's are sitting 9 games out of the wild card. Double A is a really different experience than A-ball was. People just want it more around here. The clubhouse this past month has been a lot more intense than I remember it in Modesto. That's probably because we have so many guys here in Midland who have played in the bigs, and want badly to get back there. I'm also starting to feel a bit old when I look around the clubhouse. My good buddy Mike McBeth and I are both 25, and I look around here and everyone else is 19 or so (or they're on a rehab assignment). I know once I get to 26 or 27 nobody is going to take me seriously as a prospect anymore. So this offseason I've really got to push myself and improve if I'm ever going to have a shot in the majors. (statline at AA Midland: 201 AB, 65 H, 6 2B, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 28 Runs, 35 K, 13 BB, 7 SB, 3 CS .323 AVG, .373 OBP, .368 SLG, .741 OPS)

03-07-2003, 07:22 PM	#6
TLBOrioles Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 188	4/1/2006 Great news! I'm going to be in Sacramento this year. I'm not sure what a River Cat is, but I'm happy to be one. Our Triple A team is pretty unusual. I'm the youngest guy there, and I'm almost 26. We have a lot of experienced major leaguers in the clubhouse. They've taken to calling me "Baseball America" (I was previewed at #41 this year--the highest Oakland player). I guess I can take a little good-natured abuse. I could learn a lot from these guys. I've been hanging out with Jermaine Dye a lot for batting practice. Man, can that guy hit some long balls. It's also nice to be around John Johnson, our Triple A coach. He's mostly known for developing young pitchers, but I think he's done a great job with me, especially in the field. I'm kind of upset that the club didn't resign Terrence Long. It was hard to see him leave the team. Nobody offered him a deal in free agency either. He admits he's not the player he used to be, but he's not giving up on baseball yet. Hopefully somebody will pick him up. I guess it just shows what a ruthless sport this can be. One minute you can be a star, but opinions can turn on you in a hurry, and before long you've got nothing. I find myself looking ahead to the majors. We signed Bret Boone in the off-season, and he's an amazing hitter, but I know he won't be around forever. For the first time I can see that I'm close to having a shot. There's definitely room for me on the Oakland roster if I can put in a good year here in Sacramento.

03-07-2003, 07:40 PM	#7
TLBOrioles Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 188	8/19/2006 Happy birthday to me! The bad news is I'm 26, and like I said before, opinions change overnight. One day I was a prospect with a bright future, the next I was "a cup of coffee guy at best." Well, forget what they say, I know I can contribute. I hear from my coach that I'll probably get called up in September, and I hope he's right. I do think that my groin never really healed though. I feel slower and slower. I can still read the pitcher on the basepaths as well as ever, but I'm just not quick enough to get to second before the throw the way I was a couple years ago. It's hard when you know what you have to do, but your body just doesn't respond the way it used to. It's even worse that I'm saying this at 26.

03-07-2003, 07:47 PM	#8
TLBOrioles Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 188	9/1/2006 Well, another season of minor league ball ends, and unfortunately, the callup never came. Maybe that's a good thing though. Coach says Bret Boone is considering retirement, and that the club didn't want to waste a year of major league service on me yet. So who knows. Next year I could be playing in Sacramento again, or I could be starting for the Oakland A's. All in all I guess I did ok here in AAA this year. For the first time in my life, I had a hard time hitting singles. The pitchers at this level made me look foolish the first few months. But by July I had gotten my stroke back. I'm not the baserunner I used to be, but I still have a good glove, and I think I can definitely help a major league team now , whether that's Oakland or somebody else. (statline at AAA Sacramento: 528 AB, 142 H, 21 2B, 7 HR, 47 RBI, 80 Runs, 10 SB, 2 CS .269 AVG, .331 OBP, .348 SLG, .680 OPS)

03-07-2003, 08:05 PM	#9
TLBOrioles Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 188	3/1/2007 Well, it looks like my big break may never come. I went into the offseason hoping I might compete for the starting job at second base for Oakland. And they'll tell me I'll still get a shot to, but I'm certainly not the favorite at this point. Bret Boone decided to stick around for another year. I actually talked to him about it in the offseason. He said that everyone told him he was crazy to consider retiring, considering how good his skills remain, and how much they're paying him. We also signed Brandon Larson as a utility guy. He plays all the infield positions, and left field as well. He's an old Cincinnati guy, won a championship with them. Flat out kills the ball. I don't know if I've ever seen an infielder with power like this guy has. He's certainly not gonna be playing left with Adam Dunn around, and we still have Eric Chavez and Miguel Tejada in the infield. So he's probably direct competition. Then there's Herbert Tolliver. He was actually drafted behind me in the same draft. I see a lot of myself when I look at him. He hits for a little more power and a little less average than I do, but we're pretty much the same on the field and in the basepaths. He came out of the draft more polished than me, and backed up Bret last year. I'd like to think I still have a shot at making the club, but I know they're not gonna take four second basemen. So I need to get it done in spring training, or this won't be my year either.

03-07-2003, 08:14 PM	#10
TLBOrioles Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 188	4/1/2007 Well, I plugged away for a month in spring training, wondering if I could beat out the competition. Today, I got the best news of my life--I'm an Oakland Athletic! The bad news is that I don't think I'll see a lot of playing time. Coach decided to take three second basemen: me, Boone, and Larson. And we have a utility guy by the name of Freddy Bynum who plays just about everywhere. Right now supposedly they're gonna play Bret against lefties, Larson against righties, use Bynum as a defensive sub, and use me to rest the starters. I can't say it's what I hoped for a while back, but I'm happy just to make the club. All I can do for now is learn from the older players and try to make the best of my opportunity.

03-07-2003, 08:14 PM	#11
Rowleyball Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 265	Good luck getting a spot in the majors and keeping it. It's not easy.

03-08-2003, 12:28 AM	#13
TLBOrioles Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 188	4/4/2007 We went on the road to Texas today, and I saw my first action in the bigs! We were holding on to a 2-1 lead after 6 innings, and he brought in some guys to improve the defense a little. However, he had already pinch hit for Eric Chavez, who doesn't handle lefties very well, leaving us without a third baseman on the bench. I was stunned when Coach Howe told me that I was going to make my major league debut at third! I hadn't played there since little league. I got my first at bat in the top of the seventh, with Matt Holliday standing on first and nobody down. C.J. Wilson was pitching for Texas. He threw me a fastball over the plate on the first pitch, and I couldn't contain myself. I took a good cut at it and did what I do best--took it the other way for a clean single to right. My good buddy from the minors Marcus McBeth (who's also a reserve on the major league squad now followed that up with a single of his own, driving Matt in and moving me over to second. Brandon Larson went down swinging, then Adam Dunn knocked a clean single into left-center field. I was gone as soon as the ball was hit hoping to score. Initially I thought the left fielder would get to it, but it ended up going to Gabe Kapler in center, and he's got a cannon arm. I knew I had to be flying to get to the plate in time. It was close - VERY close - but I just did sneak in under the tag. So I singled and scored my first time up in the bigs! We ended up pulling in 5 runs in the inning to break the game open, and went on to win 7-2. Of course my work wasn't done as I trotted out to third for the first time in my life. I only saw one play in the three innings, a routine grounder. It was odd to be standing over there, but I think I could learn to play it. I came up again in the top of the ninth; this time I was a little more patient. Victor Santos was pitching for Texas, and I ran the count to 3-1 on him. Then he gave me a good pitch to hit, another fast ball out over the plate. I turned on it and ripped it hard, but unfortunately I ripped it right at their third baseman, Mark Teixeira. So far I'm hitting .500 for my career! It was great to get out there and play, but most of all, it was good to help the team win the game. I'm ready to admit I'm not as talented as some of the guys on this team, but I give all the effort I can. Today it was good enough to help out.

03-08-2003, 12:49 AM	#14
TLBOrioles Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 188	5/1/2007 Well, it's the end of my first month in the bigs. I've got into a few more games. On the 6th I got to pinch run for Erubiel Durazo. We always give him a hard time about how slow he is. On the 11th I came in and played second in the ninth inning as we clung to a one run lead, but the ball never came my way. On the 21st coach showed that he's developing some respect for me, and threw me in to pinch hit for Juan Pierre in the bottom of the ninth. Unfortunately, we were up against J.C. Romero, and he's tough. All I could manage was a weak groundout. On the 27th, we were playing the Twins again and again coach went to me in the ninth, this time to lead off as we trailed by 2 runs. I didn't let him down, as I singled to left off Kris Keller. Again my team helped me out with two more singles to drive me in, this time from Juan Pierre and Miguel Tejada. Something really started to happen in the dugout. The rally caps were on, and suddenly, the Twins couldn't get any of us out. Adam Dunn doubled to tie the score. They walked Erubiel Durazo. Andruw Jones gave us a sac fly to take the lead. Bret Boone doubled to drive in two more. Matt Holliday beat out an infield hit. They walked Cody Ross. Now all of the sudden, I was up again after pinch hitting, in the same inning! There was still only one out, and the bases were loaded. I drew a walk off Luis Pineda to get my first major league RBI. And later on in the inning Adam Dunn doubled to drive me in again. We ended up scoring 12 in the inning to win the game 15-5. So I've got 5 plate appearances so far, and I've scored 3 times. I'm also leading the team in hitting at .500, as I remind all the guys in the locker room. Of course, they remind me that the farthest I've hit the ball is about 160 feet. So I'm getting some action in key situations these days. I still hope I can be a regular soon. My only complaint is the slow start we're off to as a team. We're 10-18, and with the talent we put on the field, there's really no excuse for it. There's a lot of stress in the locker room. Most of these guys aren't used to losing, and of course, no professional athlete can stand it. Luckily it's still early and I know we can turn things around.

03-08-2003, 01:02 AM	#15
TLBOrioles Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 188	5/31/2007 I've been getting into games here and there, but I finally got my first start today. It didn't go so well. I did manage a single in 4 trips to the plate, but I also grounded into a double play. Mostly I'm upset with myself for making my first career error. Worse yet, I did it in the bottom of the ninth with us holding on to a one run lead. I don't know what happened. I just took my eye off the ball or something, and it squirted off the heel of my glove. It's a play I could make in my sleep, but today I didn't make it, and suddenly they have Ichiro on first with one out. Thankfully our pitcher forced a double play to end the game, but I'm still kicking myself over this one. The last thing to do when you're fighting for more playing time is to make stupid errors, and risk a win for a team that needs them. We're 24-31 now, and I think the team is beginning to gel a little, but we've still got a hole to climb out of if we want to be in the playoff hunt.

03-08-2003, 01:22 AM	#16
TLBOrioles Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 188	7/30/2007 I can't believe what happened today. The phone rang at 5 AM. My agent was on the other end. "I've got good news and bad news," he told me. "The good news is, you're about to be an everyday player. The bad news is, you'll be in Tampa Bay." I'm going to miss Oakland. I'll miss Marcus McBeth and Bret Boone and the rest of the guys in the clubhouse. And to tell you the truth, I wouldn't have said a week ago that I'd be happy to be on a team that's rebuilding, like Tampa. But when I heard what Tampa Bay gave up to get me, I was impressed. They sent one of the top relief pitching prospects in the league, AND two other guys to Oakland just to get me. I've been told I'm going to be the starter at second, and I'll be hitting 6th in the lineup. If they're willing to make this kind of effort to get me, you can bet I'm gonna work my tail off for them. Tomorrow's an off day, but we're in Detroit the day after. I can't wait to get out there!

03-08-2003, 01:34 AM	#17
TLBOrioles Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 188	8/1/2007 Well, my first game for the Rays went well. We killed Detroit, and I mean slaughtered them. We won 18-7, and I was 4 for 7 with 4 RBIs on a double and three singles. I might have been player of the game, but Aubrey Huff got six hits. If we play like this, there's hope for this team. Unfortunately we're 42-66 right now, last in the division. But we have some guys who can get the job done, and we're a young team. Oh, and you'll never guess who got the win today. Another old Oakland guy--Tim Hudson! He came to Tampa Bay in a trade just a week before I got here. The management here is making a lot of moves to make the team better.

03-08-2003, 01:43 AM	#18
TLBOrioles Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 188	8/15/2007 Got my first homer in the majors today in Baltimore, off Chris Nichting. It just barely cleared the right field scoreboard they have down there, a tape-measure blast (note sarcasm!) of 343 feet. Tampa is so different compared to Oakland. All of the sudden I feel like I'm an old man or something when I look around the infield and see Leland Shepherd and B.J. Upton. Those guys have some serious talent, and if they pan out, we'll have a solid infield for quite a while.

03-08-2003, 01:45 AM	#19
TLBOrioles Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 188	8/18/2007 I was named player of the game for the first time today. I was 3 for 4 with a double, a homer, a single, and 3 RBI as we beat Baltimore 9-8.

03-08-2003, 01:55 AM	#20
TLBOrioles Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 188	10/02/2007 Well, the season is over in Tampa. We finished 64-98, worst in the American League, but I'm hopeful for next season. I think we have some talent, and that's only going to get better since we'll pick second in the draft this year. I hate losing, but I feel like we've got a lot of hope, and the fans are being surprisingly supportive. They're coming out to see a young, exciting team. Personally I'm not very happy with my performance. I haven't done much of anything to justify what Tampa gave up to get me, and I've got a lot to work on in the offseason. (stats for 2007: 223 AB, 52 H, 8 2B, 3 HR, 30 RBI, 28 Runs, 39 K, 17 BB, 5 SB, 1 CS .233 AVG, .286 OBP, .309 SLG, .596 OPS)