Minor League Bug - My Pitcher Only Hits, Never Throws!

no2ss · 03-18-2003, 05:16 PM

Haven't seen this covered elsewhere (though it may have been), but I've noticed something of a bug.

At the beginning of the season I drafted a 19 yr old MR named Johnie Barker who appears to have some potential (3 stars). He quickly blew through single A (7 games/3.38 ERA), and on the advice of my scouts was promoted to AA. However... I'm not sure what's wrong with my AA manager, but Johnie Barker seems to only bat - and has yet to pitch - despite being there for about half a season.

According to my minor leage report, he's *played* in 62 games, but all as a batter (219 ABs - so he's not just pinch hitting either)! He's only batting 0.119 because he's not there to hit. He's a pitcher. But, he's yet to throw a pitch in AA ball.

I've done all the obvious things. He is *not* in my minor league lineups. He *is* in my minor league pitching staff. I've even moved him around to different spots on the staff, hoping that would generate enough interest to get him in a game... and yet, my manager keeps throwing him up there to hit. There's room on the pitching staff (it's him and 4 other relievers... so they all have spots in the pen). Certainly, the team is a bit short on position players (only 1 right now), but that's never really mattered before.

I have no idea what position he's even playing for the team, but I really wish he would throw a few pitches. I'm worried that his talent/skills are going to diminish as he's being completely wasted.

Any ideas on what to do? Is this a bug? Is this a "feature" I don't know about? Has my AA manager just gone bonkers?

Help please...

Thanks.

MrWorkrate · 03-18-2003, 05:20 PM

This may sound obvious, but what is his listed position?

He might have somehow learned a position and now is being listed as a position player when he's actually a pitcher.

If so, just switch his position (just like you'd move a starter to a middle reliever or closer)

no2ss · 03-18-2003, 05:40 PM

His listed position is Pitcher and his role says Middle Reliever...

Everything says he's a middle reliever... except the AA manager, apparently.

Modern Relic · 03-18-2003, 06:01 PM

I have had this occur at the major league level as well. I've got a MR who has started every game in the OF and two of my four OF'ers are not playing at all, despite being inserted into both the lineuip AND the depth charts.

I Am The Game · 03-18-2003, 10:38 PM

Try putting him back in Single-A to get some innings in since he hasn't pitched in 3 months. After a couple weeks bring him back up to Double-A and try again. Either that or keep him in Single-A long enough to just bypass the weirdo you got managing Double-A and go right to Triple-A.

no2ss · 03-18-2003, 10:40 PM

I thought about both options (dropping him back to A ball or moving him up to AAA), but in both cases, I'm afraid that he'll suffer talent/skill-wise because of it.

Of course, the fact that he's not pitching at all can't help his skills much either.

I Am The Game · 03-18-2003, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by no2ss
I thought about both options (dropping him back to A ball or moving him up to AAA), but in both cases, I'm afraid that he'll suffer talent/skill-wise because of it.

Of course, the fact that he's not pitching at all can't help his skills much either.

Give it a shot. Might hurt more for him to not pitch at all then to pitch at Single-A.

no2ss · 03-18-2003, 10:48 PM

Of course, the other problem with dropping him down to single A, is I really don't have room for him in the pen at single A - though, there is a pitcher there I've been considering moving up to AA.

Oh well. Thanks for the suggestions, I just wish he would start pitching at AA.

03-18-2003, 05:16 PM	#1
no2ss Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 22	Minor League Bug - My Pitcher Only Hits, Never Throws! Haven't seen this covered elsewhere (though it may have been), but I've noticed something of a bug. At the beginning of the season I drafted a 19 yr old MR named Johnie Barker who appears to have some potential (3 stars). He quickly blew through single A (7 games/3.38 ERA), and on the advice of my scouts was promoted to AA. However... I'm not sure what's wrong with my AA manager, but Johnie Barker seems to only bat - and has yet to pitch - despite being there for about half a season. According to my minor leage report, he's played in 62 games, but all as a batter (219 ABs - so he's not just pinch hitting either)! He's only batting 0.119 because he's not there to hit. He's a pitcher. But, he's yet to throw a pitch in AA ball. I've done all the obvious things. He is not in my minor league lineups. He is in my minor league pitching staff. I've even moved him around to different spots on the staff, hoping that would generate enough interest to get him in a game... and yet, my manager keeps throwing him up there to hit. There's room on the pitching staff (it's him and 4 other relievers... so they all have spots in the pen). Certainly, the team is a bit short on position players (only 1 right now), but that's never really mattered before. I have no idea what position he's even playing for the team, but I really wish he would throw a few pitches. I'm worried that his talent/skills are going to diminish as he's being completely wasted. Any ideas on what to do? Is this a bug? Is this a "feature" I don't know about? Has my AA manager just gone bonkers? Help please... Thanks.

03-18-2003, 05:20 PM	#2
MrWorkrate All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,262	This may sound obvious, but what is his listed position? He might have somehow learned a position and now is being listed as a position player when he's actually a pitcher. If so, just switch his position (just like you'd move a starter to a middle reliever or closer) __________________ I used to come here a lot. Now, not so much.

03-18-2003, 05:40 PM	#3
no2ss Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 22	Listed position His listed position is Pitcher and his role says Middle Reliever... Everything says he's a middle reliever... except the AA manager, apparently.

03-18-2003, 06:01 PM	#4
Modern Relic All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,266	I have had this occur at the major league level as well. I've got a MR who has started every game in the OF and two of my four OF'ers are not playing at all, despite being inserted into both the lineuip AND the depth charts. __________________ American Folklore Baseball League (closed): Commissioner/GM - Mudville Nine (ruled!) Former member of Boys of Summer: GM - St. Louis Browns (doormats!) Former member of the OTBL: GM - Gashouse Gorillas (also ruled!) "People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Rogers Hornsby

03-18-2003, 10:38 PM	#5
I Am The Game All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Red Sox Nation Posts: 691	Try putting him back in Single-A to get some innings in since he hasn't pitched in 3 months. After a couple weeks bring him back up to Double-A and try again. Either that or keep him in Single-A long enough to just bypass the weirdo you got managing Double-A and go right to Triple-A.

03-18-2003, 10:40 PM	#6
no2ss Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 22	I thought about both options (dropping him back to A ball or moving him up to AAA), but in both cases, I'm afraid that he'll suffer talent/skill-wise because of it. Of course, the fact that he's not pitching at all can't help his skills much either.

03-18-2003, 10:48 PM	#8
no2ss Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 22	Of course, the other problem with dropping him down to single A, is I really don't have room for him in the pen at single A - though, there is a pitcher there I've been considering moving up to AA. Oh well. Thanks for the suggestions, I just wish he would start pitching at AA.