Rusty Priske - Future Hall of Famer

[rpriske]

We lost three more pitchers in the expansion draft.

The Florida Marlins took Rod Nichols and Healthcliff Slocumb

The Colorado Rockies took Scott Service.

[rpriske]

Nov. 23rd, 1992

A trade!

We are going to have a new closer as Jeff Russell was shipped to the Mariners, along with some cash.

We got a couple of minor leaguers named Jordan Mejias and Kevin McGehee.

What is going on here? Rebuild time?

[rpriske]

We were picking 4th in the First Year Player Draft and got a 20 year old Dominican OF named Manny Ramirez

After that we took a 17 year old pitcher named Alex Ramos,
a 20 year old 1B named Cliff Floyd,
a 21 year old 3B named Phil Nevin,
a 17 year old SP named Victor Hermosillo,
a 17 year old RF named Robby Rodriguez,
a 18 year old 2B named Jose Vidro,
a 15 (!) year old SP named Ryan Kendrick,
a 21 year old 3B named Kevin Millar,
a 20 year old SP named Andy Tinoco,
a 19 year old SP named Justin Thompson,
a 17 year old OF named Torii Hunter.

and lots more. The Draft went 100 rounds.

[rpriske]

On Dec. 18th we signed first big Free Agent.

Otis Nixon signed for 4 years!

Seems a bit iffy for a guy who can't hit.

[rpriske]

In the Rule 5 Draft we lost Craig Lefferts to the Red Sox and took James Terrill from the Expos.

[rpriske]

1993

[rpriske]

Tom Seaver and Reggie Jackson are being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

One day that will be me.

[rpriske]

Ken Caminiti has signed with the Giants to play 3rd!

4 years!

[rpriske]

RF Von Hayes has signed a two year deal!

[rpriske]

Spring Training is here!

March 1st, 1993

We beat the Marlins, 6-0

I went 1 for 2 with a single.

March 2nd

The Cubs beat the Giants, 3-1

I went 0 for 2.

March 3rd

The Giants beat the Padres, 8-4

I went 0 for 1

March 4th

The Braves beat the Giants, 5-4

I went 0 for 2.

March 5th

The Expos thumped the Giants, 12-2

I went 0 for 1.

March 6th

The Giants beat the Reds, 4-2

I went 0 for 2.

March 7th

The Astros beat the Giants, 12-7

I went 1 for 2 with a solo homerun.

March 8th

The Giants beat the Phillies, 4-1

I went 0 for 0 with a walk and a stolen base.

[rpriske]

March 9th

The Dodgers beat the Giants, 5-4 in 11 innings.

I went 1 for 2 with a single, a walk, and a run scored

March 10th

The Cardinals beat the Giants, 4-1

I wnet 1 for 2 with a single and a stolen base.

[rpriske]

[rpriske]

March 12th, 1993

The Mets pounded the Giants, 11-3.

I went 1 for 2 with an RBI single.

March 13th

We beat the new Rockies, 5-1.

I went 1 for 2 with a 2-run double, a run scored, a walk, and a stolen base.

March 14th

The Pirates crushed us, 10-1.

I went 0 for 2.

March 15th

We beat the new Marlins, 7-1.

I went 1 for 3 with a single, a run scored, and a stolen base.

March 16th

We beat the Cubs, 5-4.

I walked twice, stole THREE bases, and scored once.

March 17th

We beat the Padres 6-5

I went 0 for 1 with a walk and a run scored.

March 18th

We were shut out by the Braves, 5-0.

I went 0 for 2.

March 19th

We beat the Expos, 5-3.

I went 1 for 3 with an RBI single and a stolen base.

March 20th

The Reds beat us 7-1.

I went 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

March 21st

We beat the Astros, 4-2 in 14 innings.

I went 0 for 2.

March 22nd

The Phillies beat the Giants, 7-3.

I went 1 for 2 with an RBI single, a run scored, a walk, and a stolen base.

March 23rd

We beat the Dodgers, 8-5.

I went 1 for 1 with a single and a walk.

March 25th

We beat the Cardinals, 2-1 in 10 innings.

I went 0 for 3.

March 26th

We lost, 2-1, to the Mets.

I went 0 for 2.

March 27th

The Rockies shut us out, 2-0.

I went 1 for 1 with a single and a walk.

March 28th

The Pirates beat the Giants, 4-2.

I went 0 for 2 with a walk and two stolen bases.

March 29th

We beat the Marlins, 2-1.

I went 0 for 2 with a walk.

March 30th

We beat the Cubs, 5-4, in 10 innings.

I went 2 for 2 with a double, a single, an RBI, and a run scored.

March 31st

The Padres shut out the Giants, 4-0

I went 1 for 3 with a single.

April 1st

We lost, 7-5, to the Braves.

I went 0 for 2.

We went 14-16 this spring.

I hit .264 with 11 stolen bases and 7 RBI. I had a .391 OBP.

[rpriske]

DFA'd at the end of Spring Training were Bobby Thigpen, Max Venable, Pat Combs, and Jesse Reid.

Bobby and Pat were pretty surprising.


Our Opening Day Roster

Rotation

John Burkett
Al Leiter
Charlie Vinson Jr.
James Terrill
Bryan Hickerson

Bullpen

Mike Perez (C)
Mark Ross
Kip Gross
Joe Boever
Bret Lachemann
Joe Hall
Russell Garside

Lineup

RF - Ruben Sierra
3B - Ken Caminiti
1B - Alvin Davis
LF - Manny Ramirez
2B - Craig Grebeck
CF - Otis Nixon
SS - Rusty Priske
C - Antonio Martinez

Bench

Joe Hall - C
Scott Powers - IF
Bryce Bernadin - OF
Matt Mieske - OF

The writers have us going 75-87 and finishing 5th in the NL West (ahead of the Braves and Rockies)

Manny Ramirez is listed as the #3 Prospect in baseball.

[rpriske]

April 6th, 1993 OPENING DAY

We are opening things on the road, in St. Louis.

We have John Burkett facing Pedro Martinez.

I am hitting seventh.

In the bottom of the 1st, Bernie Williams and Andy Van Slyke scored on a Luis Gonzalez double.

Then Ed Taubensee hit a three-run homer.

Cardinals lead 5-0

I came up in the 2nd with two outs and Otis Nixon on 1st. I popped out to Jose Valentin at short.

With two out and the bases loaded int the bottom of the 2nd, Matt brought in Russell Garside to pitch.
He got out of it.

I led off the 5th by walking.
Then Antonio Martinez walked.
With one out I stole 3rd - my first of the season.
We were left on the corners.

I next came up in the 6th with two out, Manny Ramirez on 3rd, and Otis on 1st. I hit an rbi single to left - our first hit of the game and season.

Cardinals lead 5-1

In the bottom of the inning, Rafael Palmeiro hit a solo home run.

Cardinals lead 6-1

Bret Lachemann took the ball for us in the 7th.

I caught a Van Slyke pop for the 2nd out in the bottom of the 8th.
But then Wade Boggs scored on a wild pitch.

Cardinals lead 7-1

I came up in the 9th with none out, Otis on 2nd, and Enrique Burgos on the mound. While I was at the plate, Otis went to 3rd on a wild pitch. Then I walked.
Otis scored on a I went to 2nd on a single by Antonio.

That is all we could do and we lost, 7-2.

I went 1 for 2 with a single, a walk, an RBI, and a stolen base.


After only one game, Scott Powers was sent down and Eduardo Perez was called up.

[DD Martin]

Good grief Rusty is only 25 now!!!!! Seems like this story has been going on for many more seasons than just 7 or 8. He could challenge for a lot of records. The stolen base crown will fall by the time he is 30 or 31 and has anyone every had 2,000 hits by age 30? Not even Pete and Ty have done that. He needs 848 which means over the next 5 seasons he would have to average roughly 170 hits per season to do it. He walks a lot though so the odds are that the 2000 hit milestone will come in his age 30 season late if he averages 142 hits per season which seems more doable since he has never hit 170 in a single season.

I imagine he hits an incredible amount of infield singles, but OOTP doesn't track that stat.

He will need to stay very healthy to catch Rickey's 2295 run scored record, but he certainly has a shot at it.

[rpriske]

I am glad you are enjoying it!

I was pretty disappointed at not leading the league in stolen bases this past year, but 'future Hall of Famer' looks to be very likely.

[rpriske]

April 7th, 1993

Trying to get our first win of the season.

Today the Cardinals are pitching Doug Drabek and the Giants have Al Leiter.

I am hitting seventh.

In the bottom of the 1st, Bernie Williams scored on a Luis Gonzalez sac fly.

Cardinals lead 1-0

I led off the 3rd by flying out to Williams in centre.

In the bottom of the inning we turned a Priske - Grebeck - Davis double play.
But then Wade Boggs scored on a Gonzalez double.

Cardinals lead 2-0

We got on the board in the 4th when Alvin Davis scored on an Otis Nixon sac fly.
I grounded out to end the inning.

Cardinals lead 2-1

In the bottom half, Kevin Stocker scored on a Boggs single.
Then Williams and Boggs scored on an Andy Van Slyke double.

Matt brought in Joe Hall to relieve.
He got out of the inning.

Cardinals lead 5-1

I came up in the 7th with one out and Otis on 1st. I moved Otis up a base on an infield single.
We were stranded.

I took care of a Van Slyke grounder for the 1st out in the bottom half.
I then caught a Rafael Palmeiro pop for the 2nd out.

The 8th went a little better for us.
Ruben Sierra singled then moved to 2nd on a wild pitch.
Ken Caminiti singled. Ruben to 3rd.
Alvin Davis struck out.
Bobby Smith received for St. Louis.
Bryce Bernadin singled. Ruben scored. Len went to 3rd.
Craig Grebeck doubled. Ken scored. Bryce to 3rd.
Eduardo Perez pinch ran for Craig.
Bryce was thrown out at home on a fielder's choice by Otis. Eduardo to 3rd.
I doubled. Both Eduardo and Otis scored.
Antonio Martinez struck out.

Game tied 5-5

Mark Ross took the ball for us in the bottom of the 8th.
They broke the tie fairly quickly with Ed Taubensee scoring on a Jose Valentin double.

Cardinals lead 6-5

We couldn't get it back in the 9th and lost again.

I went 2 for 4 with a double, a single, and two RBI.