Exhibition games

Biggie Fries · 06-13-2003, 02:44 PM

I am going to need to bring up a new starting pitcher or two next year. (A 39 year-old starter whom I still like told me at the beginning of the season that he planned to retire.) I have three of so candidates, including a guy who is currently 19-1 with a 1.something ERA in AA ball. (I can't bring myself to promote him to AAA when he still might win 20 games!) I was wondering whether one can "audition" them around Spring Training time by scheduling Exhibition games. This would presumably mean having them on the 25-man roster in March. In which case, would their contract clocks and so on start, even if I decided they couldn't get major league hitters out yet, and had re-assigned them to the minors before the season began?

Biggie Fries · 06-13-2003, 08:56 PM

Um, okay, so no one seems to know; and, as it turns out, it really doesn't matter. This was all set up by me thinking (in August) What's going to happen when my #5 guy retires as announced at the end of the season? (Wants to spend more time with family.)
Anyhow, on August 31, I have pulled within a game of the lead. My pitcher--my number 2 guy, Steffen Grinder--is shooting for Pitcher of the Month. He is 3-1 in August with a low ERA, having pitched a shutout in his previous start. He's got another one going, in the seventh inning, when he tears his rotator cuff and his career is over! Only 27 years-old, in his fourth season, with better and better ERAs each year. The News in my league announces, all on the same screen, "Steffen Grinder pitches 2 hit shut-out!" "Steffen Grinder is Eastern League Pitcher of the Month" and "Career ending injury for Steffen Grinder."
This is the first time, in eleven years of my fictional league, that I have lost a pitcher for his career. Or maybe I should say had lost, since two days later, my #4 guy went out for his career! Unbelievable. I'm tied for first place with 24 games to go and have just lost two of my five pitchers.
And with the other guy slated to retire, I no longer need to worry about auditioning two or three guys for next year--they are all going to have to pitch, whether they are ready or not.
This game is keeping me humble.

Long_Long_Name · 06-13-2003, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Biggie Fries
This game is keeping me humble.

Great posts, but that line in particular put a grin on my face

.

Biggie Fries · 06-13-2003, 09:33 PM

So on September 3rd, I am now tied for the lead with Baltimore. We are just starting our big three-game series with them. I still haven't had to deal with the losses of Grinder and the #4 guy Kamp. My #1, Barrientos, beats Baltimore; he goes to 19-4 on the season; we take a one-game lead. There are a lot of open dates left; I have great relief pitchers and more of them up from the minors. Maybe I'll go to a four-man rotation and make it through.
On September 4th, the #5 guy--the one who is going to retire at the end of the season--goes out for three weeks.
Markus doesn't even kow who I am; how can this be happening?

Long_Long_Name · 06-13-2003, 09:38 PM

I've had something similar happen to mode me once. I had 6 starters at the beginning of the season and at one point I was down to two. Yes, TWO. My 3 best batters were also on the DL. I still won my division by a landslide though (solo is getting too easy...).

06-13-2003, 08:56 PM	#2
Biggie Fries Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Bryn Mawr, PA USA Posts: 115	Um, okay, so no one seems to know; and, as it turns out, it really doesn't matter. This was all set up by me thinking (in August) What's going to happen when my #5 guy retires as announced at the end of the season? (Wants to spend more time with family.) <p>Anyhow, on August 31, I have pulled within a game of the lead. My pitcher--my number 2 guy, Steffen Grinder--is shooting for Pitcher of the Month. He is 3-1 in August with a low ERA, having pitched a shutout in his previous start. He's got another one going, in the seventh inning, <i>when he tears his rotator cuff and his career is over!</i> Only 27 years-old, in his fourth season, with better and better ERAs each year. The News in my league announces, all on the same screen, "Steffen Grinder pitches 2 hit shut-out!" "Steffen Grinder is Eastern League Pitcher of the Month" and "Career ending injury for Steffen Grinder." <p>This is the first time, in eleven years of my fictional league, that I have lost a pitcher for his career. Or maybe I should say <i>had</i> lost, since two days later, my #4 guy went out for his career! Unbelievable. I'm tied for first place with 24 games to go and have just lost two of my five pitchers. <p>And with the other guy slated to retire, I no longer need to worry about auditioning two or three guys for next year--they are <i>all</i> going to have to pitch, whether they are ready or not. <p>This game is keeping me humble.

06-13-2003, 02:44 PM	#1
Biggie Fries Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Bryn Mawr, PA USA Posts: 115	Exhibition games I am going to need to bring up a new starting pitcher or two next year. (A 39 year-old starter whom I still like told me at the beginning of the season that he planned to retire.) I have three of so candidates, including a guy who is currently 19-1 with a 1.something ERA in AA ball. (I can't bring myself to promote him to AAA when he still might win 20 games!) I was wondering whether one can "audition" them around Spring Training time by scheduling Exhibition games. This would presumably mean having them on the 25-man roster in March. In which case, would their contract clocks and so on start, even if I decided they couldn't get major league hitters out yet, and had re-assigned them to the minors before the season began?

06-13-2003, 09:33 PM	#4
Biggie Fries Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Bryn Mawr, PA USA Posts: 115	So on September 3rd, I am now tied for the lead with Baltimore. We are just starting our big three-game series with them. I still haven't had to deal with the losses of Grinder and the #4 guy Kamp. My #1, Barrientos, beats Baltimore; he goes to 19-4 on the season; we take a one-game lead. There are a lot of open dates left; I have great relief pitchers and more of them up from the minors. Maybe I'll go to a four-man rotation and make it through. <p>On September 4th, the #5 guy--the one who is going to retire at the end of the season--goes out for three weeks. <p>Markus doesn't even kow who I am; how can this be happening?

06-13-2003, 09:38 PM	#5
Long_Long_Name Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Montréal Posts: 7,065	I've had something similar happen to mode me once. I had 6 starters at the beginning of the season and at one point I was down to two. Yes, TWO. My 3 best batters were also on the DL. I still won my division by a landslide though (solo is getting too easy...). __________________ Beta Baseball. Join it!