Diary Of A Can't Miss Prospect

[Football23]

Great stuff, thanks for posting again

[Faroo6]

I actually wish I could take a 2x4 to Dealba

[plubbr]

I miss this story.

[canadiancreed]

Originally Posted by plubbr

I miss this story.

Makes you wonder whatever happened

[kenyan_cheena]

For some reason, DaED doesn't post here anymore.

[canadiancreed]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

For some reason, DaED doesn't post here anymore.

Too bad. He should have continued with such works, its' the third dynasty that's died because of board politics

[orin2]

Board politics???! Why not just move the story somewhere else? I would go elsewhere to keep reading. Heck, make a blog on livejournal or blogspot or something and this could have a huge following. In fact, what about a blogsite devoted just to stories like this one and similar? Would you guys go there and read them?

[Jason]

June 12, 2007, 11:15pm, Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
(Detroit is 37-24, 4½ games ahead of Cleveland. Stats: .350, 14 HR, 45 RBI)

“I’m going to kill that son of a bitch,” Salinas said as he spat at the radio. “I thought it was a setup but damn it part of me wants to believe there’s good in everyone.”

“There is,” I said. “Now shut up and let the doctor work.”

Salinas was lying on the trainer’s table as Dr. David Gallagher, the team’s orthopedic surgeon, wrapped up his examination of Salinas’ left leg.

“I don’t think it’s torn,” Dr. Gallagher said to the room. “It’s certainly sprained and you’re going to need to be off it at least a month.”

“I’m not surprised this happened,” a voice said from the radio in the corner. “It’s karma and it’s coming back on all the people I thought I could count on.”

“Turn that damn thing off,” I said as I flipped a hand toward the radio.

“NO,” Salinas said quietly but forcefully. “I want to hear what he says. I want to hear how deeply he’s digging his own grave.”

I turned and looked at the black box tuned to 1130 The Fan. Cody Dealba was talking to Mike Stone about tonight’s game and how it was a direct result of our team’s refusal to strike back when he was hurt.

“God had to do this,” Salinas said. “Because if I could walk I’d go right to that weasel’s apartment and rip off his other leg.”

Two hours earlier Salinas was rounding second base on a single to right when somehow his cleat stuck in the second base bag. The video of the leg twist put a knot into my stomach and therefore was going to be heading up SportsCenter for the next three days. We ended up dropping our tenth straight game and the injury just added to the feeling of pressure and depression in the clubhouse.

“I still have two good legs,” I said. “And a very large collection of bats.”

“Shut up boys,” Ryland’s voice boomed. I turned to see our manager standing in the doorway of the training room. “I want to hear this too.”

“In case you’re just joining us,” Stone voice said from the round speakers, “we’re chatting with injured Tigers catcher Cody Dealba who’s revealing some very interesting information about not only his injury but the atmosphere in the team clubhouse that might explain the big losing streak.”

“Might?” Dealba said with a laugh. Both men enjoyed a good laugh.

“Cody,” Stone said after gaining composure, “you know there are going to be people who doubt what you’re saying to me, right?”

“I know,” Dealba said. “I also know this means that most likely my time with the Tigers is going to come to an end although I hope it doesn’t happen. I love the fans of this city and I want this team to win and win big. I hope these issues I’m raising can be fixed by strong team leadership which we don’t have right now.”

“Did you operate on him, Doc?” Salinas asked.

“No,” Dr. Gallagher said with a laugh. “He demanded his own personal doctor because he wanted a doctor without bias.”

“Are you biased?” I said with as much sarcasm as I could muster.

“I am now,” Gallagher replied with a sly smile.

“SHUT UP!” Ryland snapped.

“I begged them to get some revenge for me,” Dealba said in his best wounded and wronged voice. “I asked them to at least intimidate the guy. Buzz him in around the ribs and let him know that as a team we don’t take lightly what he did to me.”

“And Ellison refused?” Stone asked.

“Yes,” Dealba said.

“Well, you know I’m not a big fan of his…” Stone said.

“Nor I of you,” I quipped.

“…But he always seems like a hard playing competitor to me,” Stone said.

“He wants you to think that,” Dealba said. “He’s like Terrell Owens mixed with a savvy politician. He makes you think what he wants you to think. I know for a fact that he’s dogged it many times when he’s just not feeling it.”

“Mother…” I started to say when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

“Easy,” Ryland said in his calm, stern voice. “Easy.”

I just looked at my manager and then back to Salinas doing his best to fight off the pain in his leg. For the first time in a long time, I felt my age. I didn’t know what to do or to say.

“Salinas was worse,” Dealba said. “He even said some really unkind things to my wife when she brought up our faith. That was surprising because I thought Salinas was all about family and faith. I guess the truth is out now and karma paid him back for what he said.”

“I just have a hard time buying this,” Stone said.

“Yet you allow him to run on and on,” Salinas said to the ceiling.

“I know Salinas can have an anger problem at times but he doesn’t seem like the kind to insult a player when he’s hurt let alone his wife,” Stone said.

“I know,” Dealba said. “Hopefully team management will finally do what’s right and get these two men in check so we can have a clubhouse that’s pointed toward winning. You wouldn’t see ten game losing streaks if we had real leadership. Men who stood up for each other. A real brotherhood in the clubhouse.”

“How are we going to fight this?” I said to no one in particular. “It’ll look like we’re spinning to minimize damage and it’s he said he said.”

“I know,” Salinas said. “The bastard got us good.”

“And this has all worn on your family too,” Stone said. “You and your wife have separated according to a report in the paper today.”

You could have heard a pin drop in the training room.

“Well, this is a very stressful time,” Dealba said with his hurt voice. “Maria really struggled with seeing me go through this painful rehab. She’s also had to deal with all the hateful comments about me. We decided it would be best for her to go spend time with her family while I get through the most intensive parts of my rehab.”

“Interesting,” Salinas said.

“Very,” Ryland added.

The interview concluded with Stone thanking Dealba. After Cody was off the phone, Stone went on to say he was surprised with what Dealba said but that something was wrong in the clubhouse of the team. Stone promised to stay on top of the story and he would try to track down his “good friends” Salinas and I.

“I guess I can’t tell him to take his lips off Cody’s ass,” I said to Ryland.

“That wouldn’t be helpful here,” he answered.

“But it would be fun to do,” Dr. Gallagher said as he approached Salinas with a leg brace. The four of us had a good hard laugh.

“So now what?” I asked Salinas.

“Can I make a suggestion?” Dr. Gallagher said.

“Shoot, Doc,” Ryland said.

“His wife didn’t leave because of his rehab,” Gallagher said. “He hasn’t started physical therapy yet. He still has a few weeks of recovery.”
Ryland looked at the Doc for a full minute then turned to me.

“Does your girlfriend know Dealba’s wife?” Ryland asked.

“No,” I said.

“Get them introduced,” Ryland said. “The ass you save will be your own.”

[legendsport]

Great stuff DAED, glad to see you back.

[canadiancreed]

Originally Posted by legendsport

Great stuff DAED, glad to see you back.

Hear hear. A clutch post indeed

[ifspuds]

An early Christmas present! Thank you, Santa! Just what was on my list.

[orin2]

ALL RIGHT! I can't thank you enough DAED. I am so happy to see this return.

[GCCWolverine]

Welcome back! Looking forward to the next installment.

[Jason]

June 13, 2007, 2:28pm, Northville, MI

"Hello?" Maria Dealba's voice said from the speaker.

"Hi Maria," Tammi said. "You don't know me but my name is Tammi..."

"You're Ellison's girlfriend," Maria said quickly and quietly.

"Uh oh," Salinas said as he looked at me. Salinas, Weatherly, Spurrier and I were sitting in the game room listening on a muted speakerphone while Tammi made the call to Cody Dealba's estranged wife.

"This could be ball game already," Weatherly said.

"Yes," Tammi answered. "I'm Dale's fiancee."

Three heads snapped toward me.

"She works with battered women," I said. "I'm guessing she's saying fiancee so it sounds like we're a little more serious."

"Oh," Spurrier said with a sigh. "I was hoping for bachelor party."

We all laughed and missed part of the conversation. Salinas hushed us.

"...and I know it can't be easy on you," Tammi said.

"How did you get this phone number?" Maria asked.

"Jennifer in the PR department gave it to Dale for me," Tammi said.

"She's nosy," Maria said.

"Tell me about it," Tammi said.

"Wait," Maria said then paused bringing all the men listening to the end of their chairs fearing the game was up. "Aren't you the one that works with the battered women's group?"

"Yes," Tammi said with obvious relief in her voice. "I am."

"I tried to talk to a group down here," Maria said, "But they said since Cody never hit me there was little they could do for me."

"What's wrong, Maria?"

"I filed divorce papers this morning," Maria said.

With the speed and dexterity of a fifty-year-old sea otter, Weatherly leapt from his chair and ran around giving high fives to all of us. Then he did a very bizarre dance that I could only assumed meant he thought things were going well in the conversation. Salinas hit him with an ice cube.

"I'm so sorry," Tammi said.

"It's ok," Maria said. "Cody's been telling me for years that I'm worthless and that I can't do anything unless he tells me first. We'll see how he likes this."

Tammi and Maria spent half an hour talking about the divorce and what Maria should expect over the next few months. Salinas and Spurrier started playing the Playstation 3 while Weatherly fell asleep on the couch. I just sat next to the speakerphone waiting for something...anything...that could help us stem the tide of crap that was about to hit us.

"Maria," Tammi said. "There's one thing I need to talk to you about that's not pleasant."

"It's about Dale?" Maria said.

"Yes," Tammi said. "I...I really need to know if he did what Cody accused him of."

"Very smart," Salinas said with a nod of approval. "You need to be careful. This one might be too smart for you."

"I already know it," I replied with a smile.

"No," Maria said. "Neither Dale nor Salinas did the things that Cody accused them of on the radio."

"You knew about that?" Tammi asked.

"I have the satellite radio and I listen to the games," Maria said. "I love baseball and hanging out at the ballpark is how I met Cody."

The next fifteen minutes were Maria lamenting the relationship she once had with Cody. It started to get to me and I could see Salinas' mood starting to change. The sentimental moment ended when Weatherly snored, rolled over and broke wind right next to Spurrier.

"At least one of us did something manly," Salinas quipped.

"Shut up and get me a Snickers," I said.

"Maria," Tammi said, "You realize that what your husband said also hurt me because I love Dale so much."

"I know," Maria said. "It's hard to hear someone you love criticized and it's twice as bad when the criticism is not true."

"I don't know what to do," Tammi said. "If they come out and say they didn't do it then it's just their word against Cody's and right now he has the media in his corner."

"That was his plan all along," Maria said. "He wanted to be the center of attention and force out the stars already there."

"Help me help Dale, Maria," Tammi said.

"I can't," Maria said. I looked over at Salinas and he just shook his head.

"I need your help," Tammi pleaded. "You're the only person who can stop this."

"I can't go to the press and embarrass Cody like that," Maria said. Then after a pause, she added: "Although if they came to me I would tell the truth."

"What?" I to the speakerphone.

"What?" Salinas to the speakerphone.

"What?" Spurrier said to the speakerphone.

"What's making all this noise?" Weatherly said as he woke up.

"What do you mean, Maria?" Tammi asked.

"I'm saying that I won't go to the press," Maria said before slowly repeating, "but if they come to me I won't lie to them."

"You mean if perhaps a reporter from the newspaper called you in half an hour or so?" Tammi said.

"Yes," Maria said. "Exactly that."

"Well," Tammi said with an obvious conspiratorial tone, "let's hope that someone with the Free Press doesn't find out this number!"

Salinas flipped open his cell phone to call John Lowe, sportswriter for the Detroit Free Press.

"Yes," Maria said with a tired sounding laugh. "Let's hope not."

"Thank you Maria," Tammi said.

"Dale is a good man," Maria said. "Hang on to him."

"I plan to," Tammi said.

"Yeah, John?" Salinas said. "This is Deep Throat."

Spurrier, Weatherly and I laughed as Salinas gave Lowe the phone number for Maria Dealba and some inside info. Lowe promised to keep the source confidential.

"You know," Salinas said, "we should probably call Dombrowski and let him know what's coming."

"I have a better idea," I said. "Let's call Croteau down in Texas and let him call Dombrowski."

The four of us were laughing so hard we didn't see Tammi come into the room. When we looked up she was standing there shaking her head like a mother looking at her rowdy teenage sons.

"I'm owed a giant steak dinner and a night of passion," Tammi said as she pointed to Salinas, Spurrier and Weatherly. "You three better call for reservations somewhere."

"What about the night of passion?" Spurrier said with a smile.

"Let's just say that Dale Ellison might be too tired to make the lineup tomorrow," Tammi said as we all laughed.

[Y0DA55]

Originally Posted by Faroo6

I actually wish I could take a 2x4 to Dealba

"

After not reading for a while, I finally got caught up. DAED, I would love it if you would update this more! Still loving the story.

[plubbr]

Finally!

I was about to post that I missed this thread last night, but didn't have the energy to find it. This is a great story. Keep it up.

[Jason]

(Author's Note: I had a hard drive crash and lost this season's info. When I rebuilt the computer I didn't feel any compulsion to put 2006 back on the machine when I had 2007. I took a backup of the 6.5 file from the start of the season and imported it into 2007. I had to start over anyway...so why not go 2007? The problem is a very good team in 6.5 and 2006 has become almost superhuman. I've had to edit some of the players down in talent level to make them more competitive with other teams. The only player not edited was our main character.

Downside to all this is standings, stats, etc. had to be reset. So there's some disconnect in the stats and standings. Please forgive it. Nothing can be done about it. And I hope the stats in 2007 settle down a little bit...)


June 14, 2007, 10:02pm, Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Detroit is 48-14, 13 games ahead of Cleveland. Stats: .397, 13 HR, 57 RBI

Bottom 8th. Detroit leads San Diego 9-1.

“Hey Ellison!” the heckler in the Tony Gwynn jersey was yelling from behind me as I knelt in the on-deck circle. “You got a problem with Hispanic players? That why you won’t stand up for Dealba?”

I turned slightly toward the dugout where Salinas was sitting on the bench. He just shook his head and laughed. I smiled and turned back to watch Salerno take a pitch right down the heart of the plate for strike two. We were pounding the Padres and the only Padres fan in the greater Detroit area decided it was time to really heap on the abuse. It reminded me that in my next contract I should ask for beer sales to be cut off by the fifth inning.

“Hey Dale!” the heckler continued. “You should ask the ump for a pair of balls since you don’t have any!”

I turned around and looked the guy in the face.

“That’s the first good insult you’ve had all night,” I said. “Try bringing out your best stuff in the early innings before we really start kicking your team’s ass. It’s more effective then.”

The language he used was enough to make a sailor’s mother blush.

Security was on him within a few seconds and was asking him politely to accompany them to the exits. A few guys on the bench were giving a “thumbs up” sign.


I looked back in time to see Salerno strike out for the third time in the game. I slowly stood up and walked to the batter’s box.

“Hey Ellison,” Al Donaldson, the Padres’ catcher said. “I heard you didn’t have Dealba’s back after he got hurt.”

“Well, there’s a lot to the story,” I said as I stepped in to face Raul Lopez for the first time tonight.

“Funny thing about Dealba,” Donaldson said as Lopez went into the wind-up. “We all think he’s a dick.”

I couldn’t swing because I was laughing so hard to myself I was shaking. Fortunately, the pitch was low and away.

“Damn,” Donaldson said. “I was hoping we’d go up in the count.”

“So you didn’t mean that?” I said as I set myself.

“Nope,” Donaldson said. “Meant every word of it.”

The pitch was right down the middle of the plate. Apparently in his rush to the major leagues someone didn’t tell Lopez to check his scouting reports. I crushed it toward deep center but I knew I didn’t have all of it. I took off at full speed and was around second before Bill Sandell could reach the ball. I flew face first into third base just ahead of the relay throw.

“Damn man,” third baseman Josh Otterson said. “You’re up by nine. Can’t you take it easy on us?”

“Don’t know how,” I said with a smile. Otterson laughed and trotted back to position as Ben Ruppe dug in. He took the second pitch and planted it 400 feet into the left field bleachers. I trotted home and into the dugout.

“You’re done,” Ryland said. “Go ahead and hit the showers.”

“How about I turn them on and stand under one?” I asked with a smile.

“How about I send your ass to triple A?” Ryland said with an equally large smile.

“Good hot dogs down there,” I said as I walked down the steps toward the locker room. Salinas followed me down the steps.

“Dombrowski’s in Ryland’s office,” Salinas said. “I’ll bet he’s here because the paper contacted him about Dealba’s wife.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it,” I said. “It’s really going to hit the fan once that article gets in the paper. It’s going to be nice to have the hecklers go back to things like my girlfriend or my mother.”

I turned the corner into the locker room and saw Dombrowski and someone else standing in Ryland’s office. The television was tuned to the game and they didn’t notice as we slipped past them. I really didn’t feel like talking with Dombrowski. I zipped over to my locker and stripped down for a shower. Sometime during the waves of wet warmth that I let soak in the guys finished up a 15-1 drubbing of the Padres. The noise in the locker room kept rising and when I looked out and noticed Ryland’s door was closed with some of the guys milling around outside it.

“Hey Sparks,” I said as Bill Sparks walked past the showers. “What’s going on?”

“Don’t know,” Sparks said. “But Dombrowski’s giving Ryland hell. I did hear your name and Dealba’s name come up but not much else.”

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised,” I said. Just then the door opened and Ryland walked out.

“Salinas!” he snapped at Will. “In here. Where’s Ellison?”

“In the shower,” Salinas said.

“Someone get him a damn towel and tell him to get in here now,” Ryland said and went back in his office.

I grabbed a towel off the nearest table and wrapped it neatly around my waist. I gave a sinister smirk to Spurrier as I walked toward Ryland’s office. I could hear the snickers as I walked in and grabbed a chair.

“You could have put some pants on,” Dombrowski said sternly.

“Ryland said now,” I said. “He’s the Skip.”

“Just make sure that towel stays on the chair,” Ryland said with a slight smile.

“This is serious, Jack,” Dombrowski said.

I looked at Salinas who just shot back a look that said to shut up.

“Gentlemen,” Dombrowski said, “we have a serious issue here with the two of you and Cody Dealba.”

“We’ve had a serious issue for a while,” Salinas said.

“Just shut up,” Dombrowski said. “You can speak when we tell you to speak.”

It was a long time since I saw Salinas give the look he gave Dombrowski. It’s a good thing there were other people in the room or it would have been very bloody very quickly.

“Both of you gentlemen need to take a look at your contracts,” Dombrowski said. “There are clauses in there that allow us to terminate your deals at any time should you take actions that are detrimental to the Detroit Tigers or our staff. Mr. Barron, our lawyer, can verify all of this for you.”

“Mr. Salinas and Mr. Ellison,” the lawyer began to say when Salinas held up his hand.

“Continue, Dombrowski,” Salinas said.

“We have had it come to our attention that a friend of Dale’s contacted Cody’s wife regarding a personal matter,” Dombrowski said. “That she practically forced Maria Dealba to talk to a reporter from the paper regarding the state of their marriage.”

“Tammi didn’t force anything,” I said.

“Fortunately,” Dombrowski continued as he ignored my comment, “The reporter in question had the good sense to call me before he went to press. We were able to meet with him and persuade him that it wouldn’t be in the paper’s best interests to run a story that could ruin a player’s marriage when the statements he was given were made under coercion. Maria has recently been diagnosed with a mental illness and she’s currently having in-patient treatment at a facility in Florida.”

I looked at Ryland who slowly shook his head back and forth.

“So we think it would be in the best interests of all involved if we just put this matter behind us,” Dombrowski said. “This will allow you to focus on your recovery, Will. And Dale, it will allow you to focus on your play.”

“You can call me Mr. Salinas,” Salinas said slowly.

“And I’m Mr. Ellison,” I added.

“And Jack is going to focus on building team unity,” Dombrowski said with a bit of hesitation in his voice. “Right, Jack?”

“Sure,” Ryland said in a non-committal voice.

“So what do you guys say?” Dombrowski said with a smile. “Are you going to be team players or not?”

“You first,” I snapped.

“I’m sorry,” Dombrowski said with a harsher tone although the smile was still intact. “I didn’t quite hear that.”

“I said,” as I spoke slowly and pronounced every syllable, “You first.”

“Mr. Ellison,” the lawyer said, “Insubordination to a superior is grounds to have your contract terminated at any time. If you continue…”

“Mr. Barron, is it?” I said.

“Yes,” he replied.

“Keep your damn mouth shut,” I said.

“Easy, Dale,” Ryland said.

“I am being easy, Skip,” I said coolly. “Cody Dealba smeared my reputation in the media and now Dave is here to try and save his golden boy that he traded for before the season. If Salinas and I go down as the bad guy then it saves Dave’s ass. Right, Dave?”

Dombrowski met my look and then turned toward the lawyer as if he wanted him to step in. Barron just slowly backed toward the wall and leaned on it with his hands in his pockets.

Well, Dale,” Dombrowski said, “The ownership doesn’t quite see it that way.”

“You’re not ownership,” Salinas said.

“I represent the owner of the ballclub,” Dombrowski said.

“I want to hear it from him,” I said.

“What?” Dombrowski said.

“I want to hear it from Illich himself,” I said. “I want to stand face to face with him and have him tell me that the ownership of the Detroit Tigers wants two of it’s players to allow their reputations to be smeared just to save face in the midst of a growing scandal.”

“Mr. Illich doesn’t answer to you,” Dombrowski said.

“He better answer and he better back you up,” I said. “Otherwise, at noon tomorrow I’ll be on the Jim Rome show telling everyone nationwide about Dealba, his wife, her statement and how she’s being quieted down. I’m going to tell them about this conversation and then I’m going to say that as much as I love the fans of Detroit that I want traded immediately.”

“Don’t threaten me,” Dombrowski said.

“I’m not threatening,” I said calmly. “I’m promising.”

“You’re just a second year punk,” Dombrowski said. “You’ll get blackballed in this game. No one will take you. You’ll be seen as a distraction and a cancer in the clubhouse. You’ll never get the big money and your name will always be used by owners when they talk about greedy players who don’t care about their team.”

“I’ll take that chance,” I said.

“Me too,” Salinas said as we all snapped our heads to look at him. His silence to this point was surprising. “I’ll be right there with Dale. You can cut both of us. I think we’ll have no trouble finding a major league club to sign us.”

“You’re at the end, Mr. Salinas,” Dombrowski spat out. “Plus, you’re injured. You’re an injury risk. No club will pay you what we’re paying you.”

“Perhaps,” I said. “Cut us and find out.”

“Gentlemen,” the lawyer with his back to the wall said, “I think we all need to take a deep breath and back up for a moment.”

“Good idea,” Ryland said.

I walked out of the room with Salinas on my heels. We walked to our lockers without a word and dressed to go home. After agreeing to meet for breakfast tomorrow morning to discuss what we would do next I headed out the door and toward the player’s parking lot.

“Mr. Ellison,” a voice said from a Cadillac Escalade parked next to mine. I turned to see Mr. Barron sitting at the wheel.

“Nice ride,” I said. “I guess you make more than major league ballplayers.”

“Only the utility players,” Barron said with a smile. In spite of what I felt like doing, I laughed at the joke.

“What can I do for you?” I asked in my most civil tone.

“In addition to being the team’s lead attorney,” Barron said, “I’m also the personal attorney for Mr. Illich. After hearing that episode in Ryland’s office and after a follow up chat with Mr. Ryland I think it might be in the team’s best interest if you and Mr. Salinas did speak with Mr. Illich. How is tomorrow morning at 8am? We can meet at my office and talk over breakfast.”

He started writing on a card and handed it to me.

“That’s my office number,” he said. “My cell is on the back. If either of you can’t make it, please call me any time.”

“We’ll be there,” I said as I looked up from the card. “We’ll be there.”

[Football23]

Awesome, thanks for writing again, can't wait for the next installment.

[Y0DA55]

I love it when a new chapter comes out. Looking foward to the meeting with the owner.

[Jason]

.