A real feel-good baseball story

edrooney · 09-07-2007, 10:00 AM

Unlike that cheating cheater Rick Ankiel.

(and come to think of it, the non-sarcastic legitimately great feel-good story seemingly getting very little national attention - Jon Lester.)

Anyway, my favourite feel-good story at the moment is that of Tom Shearn. Nice article here.

11 year career minor leaguer. Living in a trailer round the back of the AAA clubhouse a month or so ago to save on rent. Young daughter.

I know that these stories are less rare than a Rick Ankiel - or even a Josh Hamilton - but I love it when career minor leaguers like Shearn get a chance at the bigs.

He's 2-0 after three starts with a 151 ERA+!!!! Cy Young next year!!

1998 Yankees · 09-07-2007, 10:57 AM

I read someplace else that he still likes hanging around the groundskeepers, because that is what he did part-time in the minor leagues.

Erich Ingram · 09-07-2007, 10:59 AM

Last year it was Chris Coste in Philly and now Shearn this is becoming an epidemic :P

edrooney · 09-07-2007, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1998 Yankees

I read someplace else that he still likes hanging around the groundskeepers, because that is what he did part-time in the minor leagues.

That's right. In fact, the trailer he was staying at in the grounds of the AAA ballpark was owned by the head groundskeeper.

myasu · 09-07-2007, 11:32 AM

Did not know anything about him, but I love the story.

Thanks edrooney, for the link.

RchW · 09-07-2007, 11:49 AM

If it is OK because it was not illegal at the time then why does McGwire get trashed for the Andro. I remember seeing interviews with the stuff visible behind him. At least he never tried to hide it.

I still find it fuzzy logic that players can use polarizing contacts that increase the contrast between the ball and the hitting background and that is ok, but if they took a supplement that improved their eyesight, that would be bad.

Consider a player with a serious back injury. The doctor gives him two scenarios.

1. We do surgery you will be out for 1 year minimum and maybe 1 more year to get back to 100%.

2. We give you injections of formula XYZ. After 6 months you can start working out. After another 6 months you can possibly play in the minors. Within a year you should be back at 100%.

Why is 1 ok and 2 not?

edrooney · 09-07-2007, 12:03 PM

In the spirit of posting links to good stories, here's a corker.

I have to confess that I found this quite moving. It's also extraordinarily well written.

edrooney · 09-07-2007, 12:03 PM

dola, credit to THT for the link.

darkhorse · 09-07-2007, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edrooney

Unlike that cheating cheater Rick Ankiel.

(and come to think of it, the non-sarcastic legitimately great feel-good story seemingly getting very little national attention - Jon Lester.)

Anyway, my favourite feel-good story at the moment is that of Tom Shearn. Nice article here.

11 year career minor leaguer. Living in a trailer round the back of the AAA clubhouse a month or so ago to save on rent. Young daughter.

I know that these stories are less rare than a Rick Ankiel - or even a Josh Hamilton - but I love it when career minor leaguers like Shearn get a chance at the bigs.

He's 2-0 after three starts with a 151 ERA+!!!! Cy Young next year!!

I'd been meaning to post something about Shearn for a couple of days. Thanks for sending it up.

Joshv02 · 09-07-2007, 01:02 PM

Free health insurance for life, too. Good for him.

The Red Sox promoted (then outrighted off the 40 man) Jeff Bailey, a mid 20s 1B who used to be a catcher before he developed modified-Steve-Blass sydrome. Played him for a weekend, then sent him down - health insurance for life.

A nice gig.

darkhorse · 09-07-2007, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshv02

Free health insurance for life, too. Good for him.

The Red Sox promoted (then outrighted off the 40 man) Jeff Bailey, a mid 20s 1B who used to be a catcher before he developed modified-Steve-Blass sydrome. Played him for a weekend, then sent him down - health insurance for life.

A nice gig.

One reason I would strongly encourage an athlete to make football his last choice for a professional endeavor. With Gene Upshaw as your union leader, you're pretty much ****ed if you have health issues. And, that's pretty much a given for that sport.

Erik W. · 09-07-2007, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RchW

If it is OK because it was not illegal at the time then why does McGwire get trashed for the Andro. I remember seeing interviews with the stuff visible behind him. At least he never tried to hide it.

I don't think McGwire is trashed for the Andro. That had been common knowledge since '98, but the trashing didn't commence until he went to the Congressional hearing on steroids and pretty much implicated himself of doing that.

myasu · 09-07-2007, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edrooney

In the spirit of posting links to good stories, here's a corker.

I have to confess that I found this quite moving. It's also extraordinarily well written.

This is a great story.
Thanks a lot once again edrooney, for sharing this with us.

Being a father of two kids myself, I was moved by this very much.
And you are right, this is very well written.

Kekkonen · 09-07-2007, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myasu

And you are right, this is very well written.

Yup. That guy should go into journalism once he's played all the baseball he's gonna play.

mikev · 09-07-2007, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edrooney

In the spirit of posting links to good stories, here's a corker.

I have to confess that I found this quite moving. It's also extraordinarily well written.

It would have been a lot more moving to me if they hadn't needed to find out that the child was terminally ill before treating him so nicely.

One of the joys that I've found in minor league baseball is that the players are so very accessable and willing to chat and just be "people" as opposed to uberfamous gazillionaire baseball players.

OldFatGuy · 09-07-2007, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RchW

If it is OK because it was not illegal at the time then why does McGwire get trashed for the Andro. I remember seeing interviews with the stuff visible behind him. At least he never tried to hide it.

I still find it fuzzy logic that players can use polarizing contacts that increase the contrast between the ball and the hitting background and that is ok, but if they took a supplement that improved their eyesight, that would be bad.

Consider a player with a serious back injury. The doctor gives him two scenarios.

1. We do surgery you will be out for 1 year minimum and maybe 1 more year to get back to 100%.

2. We give you injections of formula XYZ. After 6 months you can start working out. After another 6 months you can possibly play in the minors. Within a year you should be back at 100%.

Why is 1 ok and 2 not?

Don't waste your time Rich, while your dead on right, it won't get you anywhere. I've made this same argument till I'm blue in the face and you just get odd looks as to why your face is blue. This country is the most hung up country in the world when it comes to sex and drugs.

Same argument with an antibiotic. Get an infection, I say stay out until your body naturally wards it off. Why if you take antibiotics, it inflates your stats (performance enhancing) because you're able to play more games. Perfectly true, yet it gets nowhere.

Big Hugg · 09-07-2007, 10:56 PM

Shearn played his high school ball in the Columbus City League, which is pretty awful for baseball. He's the 2nd big leaguer in the last 10 years or so to come out of the City League unless I'm forgetting someone. The other was Eric Crozier, who accomplished a whole lot of nothing.

akw4572 · 09-07-2007, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Hugg

Shearn played his high school ball in the Columbus City League, which is pretty awful for baseball. He's the 2nd big leaguer in the last 10 years or so to come out of the City League unless I'm forgetting someone. The other was Eric Crozier, who accomplished a whole lot of nothing.

Other than to become one of about 13,000 people in history to play in the major leagues. That's a major accomplishment in itself.

Big Hugg · 09-08-2007, 12:38 AM

Well true, I certainly can't argue that.

Crozier was actually a decent prospect for the Indians for a while, but he fizzled out. It would have been great if he made it, he played at the high school that is literally in my back yard. Walk through a gate and I'm there.

darkhorse · 09-15-2007, 04:16 PM

Tom Shearn outdueled Ben Sheets yesterday to run his big league record to 3-0.

http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=270914108

09-07-2007, 10:00 AM	#1
edrooney All Star Reserve Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 688 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	A real feel-good baseball story Unlike that cheating cheater Rick Ankiel. (and come to think of it, the non-sarcastic legitimately great feel-good story seemingly getting very little national attention - Jon Lester.) Anyway, my favourite feel-good story at the moment is that of Tom Shearn. Nice article here. 11 year career minor leaguer. Living in a trailer round the back of the AAA clubhouse a month or so ago to save on rent. Young daughter. I know that these stories are less rare than a Rick Ankiel - or even a Josh Hamilton - but I love it when career minor leaguers like Shearn get a chance at the bigs. He's 2-0 after three starts with a 151 ERA+!!!! Cy Young next year!! __________________ I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore.

09-07-2007, 10:59 AM	#3
Erich Ingram Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 2,201	Last year it was Chris Coste in Philly and now Shearn this is becoming an epidemic :P __________________ Erich Ingram (Rolen17) IOSBL San Diego Aztecs 2010, 2012,2013, 2014 World Series Champions Maelstrom Padres 2026 World Champions eMLB Washington Nationals

09-07-2007, 11:32 AM	#5
myasu All Star Starter Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 1,491	Did not know anything about him, but I love the story. Thanks edrooney, for the link. __________________ myasu Bill Spaceman Lee- "The other day they asked me about mandatory drug testing. I said I believed in drug testing a long time ago. All through the sixties I tested everything."

09-07-2007, 11:49 AM	#6
RchW Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Toronto ON by way of Glasgow UK Posts: 15,629	If it is OK because it was not illegal at the time then why does McGwire get trashed for the Andro. I remember seeing interviews with the stuff visible behind him. At least he never tried to hide it. I still find it fuzzy logic that players can use polarizing contacts that increase the contrast between the ball and the hitting background and that is ok, but if they took a supplement that improved their eyesight, that would be bad. Consider a player with a serious back injury. The doctor gives him two scenarios. 1. We do surgery you will be out for 1 year minimum and maybe 1 more year to get back to 100%. 2. We give you injections of formula XYZ. After 6 months you can start working out. After another 6 months you can possibly play in the minors. Within a year you should be back at 100%. Why is 1 ok and 2 not? __________________ Cheers RichW If you’re looking for a good cause to donate money to please consider a Donation to Parkinson’s Canada. It may help me have a better future and if not me, someone else. Thanks. “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” Frank Wilhoit

09-07-2007, 12:03 PM	#7
edrooney All Star Reserve Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 688 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	In the spirit of posting links to good stories, here's a corker. I have to confess that I found this quite moving. It's also extraordinarily well written. __________________ I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore.

09-07-2007, 10:57 AM	#2
1998 Yankees Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Yankee Stadium, back in 1998. Posts: 8,645	I read someplace else that he still likes hanging around the groundskeepers, because that is what he did part-time in the minor leagues.

09-07-2007, 12:03 PM	#8
edrooney All Star Reserve Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 688 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	dola, credit to THT for the link. __________________ I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore.

09-07-2007, 01:02 PM	#10
Joshv02 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: , " Posts: 3,082	Free health insurance for life, too. Good for him. The Red Sox promoted (then outrighted off the 40 man) Jeff Bailey, a mid 20s 1B who used to be a catcher before he developed modified-Steve-Blass sydrome. Played him for a weekend, then sent him down - health insurance for life. A nice gig. __________________ Brookline Maccabees. RIP

09-07-2007, 10:56 PM	#17
Big Hugg All Star Reserve Join Date: May 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 933	Shearn played his high school ball in the Columbus City League, which is pretty awful for baseball. He's the 2nd big leaguer in the last 10 years or so to come out of the City League unless I'm forgetting someone. The other was Eric Crozier, who accomplished a whole lot of nothing.

09-08-2007, 12:38 AM	#19
Big Hugg All Star Reserve Join Date: May 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 933	Well true, I certainly can't argue that. Crozier was actually a decent prospect for the Indians for a while, but he fizzled out. It would have been great if he made it, he played at the high school that is literally in my back yard. Walk through a gate and I'm there.

09-15-2007, 04:16 PM	#20
darkhorse Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: fort worth, tx Posts: 10,850	Tom Shearn outdueled Ben Sheets yesterday to run his big league record to 3-0. http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=270914108 __________________ "The Human Torch was denied a bank loan."