Not important... fiction mirrors life - Another Griffey thread?

cooper_gd · 04-24-2003, 10:33 AM

Not Griff really . . . but...

--Sportswire---
02/22/2004

Louisville General Manager cooper_gd today pulled the trigger on one of the biggest trades in the history of the CBL. Known for his uncanny ability to manage a low payroll while fielding a dominate team, Cooper arranged a sign and trade of Louisville's thirty-three year old eight time All-Star RF Francisco Aldred and a minor league pitching prospect to Charlotte for former Rookie of the Year, three time All-Star LF and two time Platinum Glove award winner Johnny "Big Time" Calligan (27).

Aldred, coming off the best of his 9 seasons for the two time defending champs, hit .278 this year while launching 50 longballs, 44 doubles and driving in 144 runs. He was among the league leaders in runs, OSP and doubles - and led the league in homers and RBI! Many insiders believed he was robbed of the Patriot League Juggernaught Award because of his anti-war stance. He was, however, named the team post season MVP posting .356 9 22 numbers in the playoffs - and he dominated the World Championship in a quick four game sweep of Calligan's Charlotte team.

Calligan has lived up to his nickname since being called up to the show. His on-base-percentage of .443 was among International League leaders last year - as was his 41 homeruns, 127 RBI, .322 BA and 111 base on balls. Big Time even chipped in with 11 steals without being caught. He was named an IL All-Star for the third straight year and racked up his second straight Platinum Glove. His unrivaled range in the outfield and sniper arm makes him as much of a defensive threat as offensive.

Cooper, a shrewd observer of talent, noticed Calligan's gifts during the world championship series. Calligan's performance was one of the few bright spots for an overmatched cinderella Charlotte team against the defending world champs Louisville. Cooper saw a young man who was durable and could only get better - he quickly claimed the top of Cooper's wish list.

Cooper and Aldred, an unrestricted free agent, had a heated off season and their relationship quickly soured. Cooper wanted to keep together a team that had a chance at dynasty status. With two straight titles Louisville had all their key componets signed to multi year deals except for Aldred - their cornerstone. With limited payroll room by owners decree, Cooper was still able to offer Aldred 12.5 million over 5 years. Aldred, however, wanted still more and opted to free agency.

The free agency period was active for Louisville and Cooper. Cooper was able to creatively re-structure some less important parts of his line-up and trade away some vertern AAA contracts. That left room under the owner imposed salary cap for Cooper to go back after Aldred in the wide open free agent market.

The bidding war was immense, just as Aldred wanted - to be sure! Cooper's main competition was the World Championship afterthought - Charlotte. The bids fired in one after the other, but Cooper and Aldred pulled the trigger on a 6 year, 14.75 million per year deal.

That's when Cooper, still bitter at Aldred's greed, pulled the carpet from under him and sent him packing south - to Charlotte, while Cooper's dream player, Calligan, moved with his new wife to the hills of Kentucky.

---Sportswire---
07/09/04

Disaster struck the Louisville camp today. Outfield goldenboy Johnny Calligan blew-out an ACL and was put on the DL for the remainder of the season. Calligan, in a pressure filled first season with the two time defending champs, has so far been a dissapointment - batting .254 with 10 HR and 44 RBI.

---Sportswire---
10/16/04

Louisville lost a heartbreaking one run game today in round one of the CBL playoffs - and lost the series 3-2. It marks the first time in four years they have not been to the World Championship Series.

---Sportswire---
10/30/04

George Aldred was named the IL Juggernaught Award winner today. He barely missed winning the triple crown for Charlotte as he batted .334 with 57 HR and 177 RBI. His RBI total is a new all-time record. His Charlotte team lost in the League Championship Series.

---Sportswire---
04/18/05

A little over year after the huge trade that brought him to the Louisville Knights, Johnny "Big Time" Calligan suffered his second straight season ending injury. Trainers for Louisville are concerned about his recovery - he seemed to have lost a step, some pop from his bat, and contact consistancy from his previous injury. Insiders say he may be through if it happens again.

He was hitting just .121 1 HR 4 RBI.

----------------

Aurthor's note: Calligan's ratings has gone from

Code:

Good/Brilliant/Good/Brilliant/Good/Brilliant
to 
Average/Briliant/Average/Good/FAIR/Brilliant

WLight · 04-24-2003, 01:51 PM

Those are some fine articles.

You really got hosed on that one.

Gastric ReFlux · 04-24-2003, 01:55 PM

Griffey's not injury prone!

Mariner and Giants Fan · 04-24-2003, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gastric ReFlux
Griffey's not injury prone!

Yeah and neither was Mickey mantle

cooper_gd · 04-24-2003, 04:28 PM

Calligan is making a bouce back in his third year with the club... some of his talent ratings have increased to get him close to 5 star status again... currently .297 19 58 at the AS break... league leader in RBI.

JAttractive · 04-24-2003, 04:32 PM

Wow I love drama's like this! Great articles as well.

Black Lightning · 04-24-2003, 04:41 PM

Thanks for the read Cooper.

Rose14 · 04-24-2003, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Griffey's not injury prone!

Thank you Mr. Sahaf. I didn't realize you had taken the job of Reds Information Minister.

04-24-2003, 10:33 AM	#1
cooper_gd All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: PopBunker.net Posts: 1,011	Not important... fiction mirrors life - Another Griffey thread? Not Griff really . . . but... --Sportswire--- 02/22/2004 Louisville General Manager cooper_gd today pulled the trigger on one of the biggest trades in the history of the CBL. Known for his uncanny ability to manage a low payroll while fielding a dominate team, Cooper arranged a sign and trade of Louisville's thirty-three year old eight time All-Star RF Francisco Aldred and a minor league pitching prospect to Charlotte for former Rookie of the Year, three time All-Star LF and two time Platinum Glove award winner Johnny "Big Time" Calligan (27). Aldred, coming off the best of his 9 seasons for the two time defending champs, hit .278 this year while launching 50 longballs, 44 doubles and driving in 144 runs. He was among the league leaders in runs, OSP and doubles - and led the league in homers and RBI! Many insiders believed he was robbed of the Patriot League Juggernaught Award because of his anti-war stance. He was, however, named the team post season MVP posting .356 9 22 numbers in the playoffs - and he dominated the World Championship in a quick four game sweep of Calligan's Charlotte team. Calligan has lived up to his nickname since being called up to the show. His on-base-percentage of .443 was among International League leaders last year - as was his 41 homeruns, 127 RBI, .322 BA and 111 base on balls. Big Time even chipped in with 11 steals without being caught. He was named an IL All-Star for the third straight year and racked up his second straight Platinum Glove. His unrivaled range in the outfield and sniper arm makes him as much of a defensive threat as offensive. Cooper, a shrewd observer of talent, noticed Calligan's gifts during the world championship series. Calligan's performance was one of the few bright spots for an overmatched cinderella Charlotte team against the defending world champs Louisville. Cooper saw a young man who was durable and could only get better - he quickly claimed the top of Cooper's wish list. Cooper and Aldred, an unrestricted free agent, had a heated off season and their relationship quickly soured. Cooper wanted to keep together a team that had a chance at dynasty status. With two straight titles Louisville had all their key componets signed to multi year deals except for Aldred - their cornerstone. With limited payroll room by owners decree, Cooper was still able to offer Aldred 12.5 million over 5 years. Aldred, however, wanted still more and opted to free agency. The free agency period was active for Louisville and Cooper. Cooper was able to creatively re-structure some less important parts of his line-up and trade away some vertern AAA contracts. That left room under the owner imposed salary cap for Cooper to go back after Aldred in the wide open free agent market. The bidding war was immense, just as Aldred wanted - to be sure! Cooper's main competition was the World Championship afterthought - Charlotte. The bids fired in one after the other, but Cooper and Aldred pulled the trigger on a 6 year, 14.75 million per year deal. That's when Cooper, still bitter at Aldred's greed, pulled the carpet from under him and sent him packing south - to Charlotte, while Cooper's dream player, Calligan, moved with his new wife to the hills of Kentucky. ---Sportswire--- 07/09/04 Disaster struck the Louisville camp today. Outfield goldenboy Johnny Calligan blew-out an ACL and was put on the DL for the remainder of the season. Calligan, in a pressure filled first season with the two time defending champs, has so far been a dissapointment - batting .254 with 10 HR and 44 RBI. ---Sportswire--- 10/16/04 Louisville lost a heartbreaking one run game today in round one of the CBL playoffs - and lost the series 3-2. It marks the first time in four years they have not been to the World Championship Series. ---Sportswire--- 10/30/04 George Aldred was named the IL Juggernaught Award winner today. He barely missed winning the triple crown for Charlotte as he batted .334 with 57 HR and 177 RBI. His RBI total is a new all-time record. His Charlotte team lost in the League Championship Series. ---Sportswire--- 04/18/05 A little over year after the huge trade that brought him to the Louisville Knights, Johnny "Big Time" Calligan suffered his second straight season ending injury. Trainers for Louisville are concerned about his recovery - he seemed to have lost a step, some pop from his bat, and contact consistancy from his previous injury. Insiders say he may be through if it happens again. He was hitting just .121 1 HR 4 RBI. ---------------- Aurthor's note: Calligan's ratings has gone from Code: Good/Brilliant/Good/Brilliant/Good/Brilliant to Average/Briliant/Average/Good/FAIR/Brilliant

04-24-2003, 04:28 PM	#5
cooper_gd All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: PopBunker.net Posts: 1,011	Calligan is making a bouce back in his third year with the club... some of his talent ratings have increased to get him close to 5 star status again... currently .297 19 58 at the AS break... league leader in RBI. __________________

04-24-2003, 01:51 PM	#2
WLight Major Leagues Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: CA Posts: 314	Those are some fine articles. You really got hosed on that one.

04-24-2003, 01:55 PM	#3
Gastric ReFlux Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Member #3409 Posts: 8,350	Griffey's not injury prone!

04-24-2003, 04:32 PM	#6
JAttractive All Star Starter Join Date: May 2002 Location: St. Catharines, Ontario Posts: 1,135	Wow I love drama's like this! Great articles as well.

04-24-2003, 04:41 PM	#7
Black Lightning Minors (Single A) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 54	Thanks for the read Cooper.