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It's been a while

O Orlando1,000+ posts
...since we had any MiLB stories, so I thought I'd share one.

It's the halfway mark in the minor league season, the draft was a couple of weeks ago, and decisions about guys' futures are being made. Tense time.

I've just discovered an amusing place where the teams park a pitcher they have plans for but is struggling, without taking up a valuable roster slot: the DL. Now it may list a sore elbow or a pulled hammy, but what the guy is actually suffering from is an Inflamed ERA. Cool

One such pitcher said he recently approached his manager and asked, "How long do you think it'll be before my ankle is better?" Wink
"They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance." --- Terry Pratchett
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TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
Orlando is correct and this happens on all levels.
I also understand that some players who are fatiqued use the DL for rest periods. This is supposedly common in spring training for those who arrived out of shape and now hurt like all h*ll and need a break.
Are we giving away secrets to the profession? Eek
Last edited by TPM
FutureBack.MomFutureBack.Mom1,000+ posts
My former starting-pitcher-turned-relief-pitcher was asked to start two games while the organization sorted things out with the guy he was spot starting for ... sore elbow but not on the DL. The bullpen guys were floating back and forth between AAA and the majors while the FO figured things out. Finally my starting-pitcher-turned-relief-pitcher-turned-spot-starting-pitcher is back in the bullpen for good. He will do anything they ask of him but he is very happy to be back in the pen ... hopefully he can get that ERA, which became inflamed after his 2 starts, to settle down soon.
Last edited by FutureBack.Mom
FutureBack.MomFutureBack.Mom1,000+ posts
Further updates ... son started another game on Sunday and based on a 'text' conversation I had with him the next day, I realized he was in the stands during the game and that meant that he was not back in the pen. He told me that he is going to make at least 2 more starts ... that would take him up to the All Star break.

We also discussed his feelings about the whole situation and I assured him that I admire his ability to stay the course, even tho the course keeps getting switched from day to day.

Ahhhh ... but he is living 'the dream' ... (big smile)
N njbb1,000+ posts
Son is playing close to home so I'm able to make the home games Smile Met a few of the players wives (my goodness they are so young) what a strange life they live right now!!!.
They also live with host families. Most don't have jobs because they just don't know how long they will be in this location...
A group of ladies decided to follow the guys on a road trip. The night they are to leave the driver's husband gets the word he is moving to another level. Shes out and the wife of a new player (who they just met 3 hrs earlier) was in...

The wives...girlfriends are mostly college educated but their careers are on hold while their husband follows his dream...they are self sufficient but are helpless in determining their future....

What an adventure. what special people ! ah to be young!
Last edited by njbb
FutureBack.MomFutureBack.Mom1,000+ posts
njbb ...

You have nailed that so well. I sincerely believe that it takes a very special lady who loves her husband enough that she can set some of her own goals aside so he can follow his dream. It is fun to watch these gals, especially when you have a chance to meet them and 'follow' them over the course of several seasons. And as the level gets higher, and the couples get older, we have fun watching these young couples bringing little ones into the world, somehow juggling their querky lifestyles well enough to be able to include the challenges of parenthood along with all the other surprises minor league baseball brings.

We have always been so appreciative of the love our daughter-in-law has for our son that she supports him in his dream. She has gotten to be a real moving maven when it is time to pack up their little 'household' and find new lodging. The Lord has been good to them as they have always found a place to lay their heads at night, and even if the situation wasn't the best, they have each other at the end of the day.

Lots of people do not understand how minor leaguers can balance married life with the world of MiLB baseball. But I remember so well talking with our dearly departed Doug McMillan in 2004 at a game in Sacramento, and sharing with him that AJ had gotten engaged ... he was so positive about the prospect of AJ having a wife to travel through this crazy lifestyle with ... and I felt so much more peace based on Doug's attitude because I respected him so much and he had such a wonderful way of making people feel at ease with the challenges their sons would face in professional baseball.
Last edited by FutureBack.Mom
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
That was a good sharing story.
My son has some friends who are married, most don't travel during season as they can't afford it. Most have been sweethearts since first year in HS or met while first year at school.

My son can't do both. Two girls he could consider getting serious with, told him they understood where his priorities were, yet both tried their hardest to try to make him jealous whichever way they could for attention, one included dating his roomate, whom she later became engaged to. Past spring, while engaged, she hooked up with another player on the team. I have a feeling she was more interested in who might make more bonus dollars.
Mine has no patience for that stuff, though I am sure he would really like to have a female to share his life with other than sister and mother. Roll Eyes
FrankFFrankF1,000+ posts
I’ll start, but you might be sorry you asked, lol.

Not new, but a continuing saga.

Son wondered if when he got healthy he would be released, but so far so good. It took 21 months between appearances in a regular season game. He lost the whole 2007 season recovering from labrum surgery. His velocity still hasn’t come all the way back but according to some who have had the same surgery it could be another six to eight months to get it back, if at all. With 18 pitchers (13 relievers) on the team, IMO he doesn’t get the necessary reps to stay sharp even thought he’s thrown as much as any of them. It’s hard to throw bullpens on off days as relievers never know when their turn will come up. The coaches simply tell them before the game if they are available or not.

He’s had good and not so good outings, but his last one was his best so far. Three innings, 1 hit (double), 0 walks, 1 unearned run (2 errors on a pickoff attempt) and 7 strikeouts (all swinging). Second inning he had 4 K’s and still wasn’t out of the inning!!

Okay, who’s next?
FrankFFrankF1,000+ posts
It was actually pretty funny to listen to the announcers. They were stating that they had seen 4 K's in an inning but never 5. Josh had thought about going for it but after the error at first he just wanted out of the inning.

Here's the recap:

Danville Bottom 6th


Jesus Sucre strikes out swinging.
Kuyaunnis Miles strikes out swinging.
L. V. Ware strikes out swinging. Wild pitch by pitcher Josh Faiola. L. Ware to 1st.
With Shayne Moody batting, L. V. Ware steals (4) 2nd base.
With Shayne Moody batting, throwing error by Josh Faiola on the pickoff attempt, L. V. Ware scores. Throwing error by center fielder Jason Rook.
Shayne Moody strikes out swinging. Wild pitch by pitcher Josh Faiola. Shayne Moody to 1st.
Joel Campusano reaches on fielding error by first baseman Elvin Polanco. Shayne Moody to 3rd.
Chris Shehan lines out to third baseman Brian Conley.


His slider was working the best it has in a loooonnnng time. Lefties were swinging over his changup which was ending up in the dirt. The catcher has a cannon but not the best footwork. He was replaced before the next inning, lol. They were recorded as wild pitches but the announcers thought that if the catcher had played them better they should have been outs.
Last edited by FrankF
FutureBack.MomFutureBack.Mom1,000+ posts
quote:
They were recorded as wild pitches but the announcers thought that if the catcher had played them better they should have been outs.


That's the problem when a pitcher has a wicked slider that is working well ... he gets charged with a wild pitch instead of the catcher being charged with a passed ball because the slider broke so well it ended up in the dirt.

Sounds like Josh is coming around well and I fully understand what you are saying about staying sharp without mid-appearance bullpen work. Tough to do for these guys ...
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
Wicked slider, or a FB that has movement. Smile

I don't always get the wild pitch stuff, to me a wild pitch is a wild pitch, not when teh catcher can't handle the ball. But then again, mine's the pitcher. Big Grin

Son had one rehab inning today, he said he did well, 10 pitches, whatever that means, haven't seen the box score yet. They will bring him back slowly in rookie league.
O Orlando1,000+ posts
What are these passed balls of which you speak? Wink I thought they were all wild pitches! (Well, I would, wouldn't I?)

There's another possibility -- getting crossed up. And that can be either's fault, down to a lack of communication, a pitcher getting "creative", the catcher not knowing enough about the break of the pitcher's pitches.

In MiLB, it can be pretty much anything. Mine's gotten the chance to catch a few rehabbing MLers ; he fell in love ---- when they throw a pitch that's meant to break 7 inches, it breaks 7 inches....every time. His LE pitchers may throw the "same" pitch....that will go five different ways out of 5 pitches. Their whole emphasis at his level is consistency....heaven knows it isn't holding baserunners! Roll Eyes


Hooray!!!!!! I'm listening to the game now and guess who just came in to pitch to my boy! Prepster's son --- battery mates again! His Dad e-mailed me just as I was leaving the office so I called Aeden and he was over the moon. He was in the locker room at the time and he whooped --- "Rob's coming! The guy hits his spots and wants to win!" K'd his first batter, too. The two boys must be pleased, comforting to get to a new team and know your catcher; great to know the new pitcher from the catcher's view as well. Line out to 1B for the second out. Announcer (who calls a pretty good game) is complimenting Rob's mechanics. Poop, broken bat single. Getting ahead of his batters consistently. Another K! Nice introduction to High A, RW!


Rob KremerRob Kremer1,000+ posts
How cool, Aeden catching Prepster son!

As a catcher's dad, I still think that a WP on strike three borders on being an oxymoron. Sure, there can be cases of some batter swinging wildly at some horrific pitch.

But in general, CU's and CB's in the dirt? Catcher's job is to block those things. If the batter swings at a pitch in the dirt and the catcher lets it go past him, my view is the pitcher did his job and the catcher did not.

JMO
O Orlando1,000+ posts
Well, RK, we'll have to agree to disagree Wink. The pitcher did his job if he threw the pitch called with some degree of consistency as to where that called pitch is expected to go. Add in the obstacle of a swinging bat with a factor for speed of pitch and spin as it hits the dirt. Not a clear-cut decision as to PB or WP.

OK --- (PM gang please excuse the redundancy) There has been a change in my son's life:

Aeden was released from the Padres last week. Given playing behind Canham and Aeden's appalling BA for the few opportunities he got, it wasn't exactly a shock. He got so many opportunites last year to show his worth, and so few this year. But that's the chance an NDFA takes. With it getting close to the end of the season, I was a bit relieved that it was done now, rather than his just not being invited to ST.

He arrived home, and then there was a week of phone calls to and from coaches (Padres and his UK National Team) putting his name out, and some excellant advice and assistance from several of our beloved websters here.

It was a bit like watching a World Cup match --- we're close to the goal, close to the goal, blast! didn't score...close to the goal, blast! Here, of course, was where was the last-month timing was unfortunate; barring an injury, Indy ball was playing with what they had and Affiliated ball was pretty much giving their own guys a Last Chance.

So there were the soul-searching talks. Hang 'em up and start 'real life'? Take an in-person tour of the Frontier League? Take advantage of a place to stay, job offer & free personal trainer but no baseball in Columbus and hope the Mariners aren't jiving him on the ST invite? Go to an adult league with a job but digs issues in Atlanta where there has been scout interest in him as a pitcher? He's 23 with no attatchments; me, I figure you've got a lot of years to be responsible....follow your heart.

But it's more complicated --- Aeden does not have the body type "expected" of a catcher. He has stamina and strength, and his only injury ever was the Infamous Testicle Incident of 2004, but...oh, well, people see better than they think. And he has never been a power guy. As BA & power are still more important than pitcher handling and defense, is he, indeed SOL as a catcher? But he loves catching. What to do, what to do.

His UK National Coach (well connected) and Lance Painter have both always seen Aeden projecting as a pitcher as he pitches for the UK, including impressive performances against top European teams (arguably High A equivalent). So, with all these half-chances and possibilites, should he be working towards catching or pitching? (heavy sigh)

Intersperse Real Job discussions, leaning heavily toward working for Amnesty International. (Not to get political Wink)

So...intense time.

So Tuesday, I called him during lunch to hear a very discouraged young man frustrated with the 'almosts' and unwilling to take the broadest option in Atlanta as he felt he would be "putting all his eggs into one very shakey basket"

A couple of hours later, I get a call from him with a sad gravitas in his voice that made my heart turn over. He explained that he felt it was time for him to grow up and get a real job, forget chasing Indy ball, and that he didn't feel that trying to piece together the Atlanta Option was anything other than grasping at straws. I went into Full Mom Mode, and told him he should be sure of what he wants, and to have no regrets. Whatever he wanted to pursue baseball or not, I'll back him anyway I can. "No, Mom, no regrets, it's time for me to get a real job (beat of about 4) like the one the Pirates just offered me!"

Punked me good. And I'll tell you, Mommy's Darling Boy was then called names normally reserved for Longshoreman use. He's done this to me before, but had always betrayed his words with just a touch of upbeat in his voice. Not this time --- particularly with the lunchtime call, hook, line and, indeed, sinker were already being digested by The Mom.

The contact was made through his UK coach. He'll catch at Low A in Hickory, NC for the next month while they get his arm into pitching shape. Then he'll go to Instrux and they'll all see what they've got. Yes, we know the Pirates' rep (So It Goes); but it's the perfect solution right now and he's d*mn grateful for it!

Catches his first game with them tonight. Light candles, sacrifice live chickens, send good mojo starting at 7pm ET

All part of Aeden's rich baseball tapestry.

What a life!
FutureBack.MomFutureBack.Mom1,000+ posts
Some days, you just wish that the powers that be would decide what they want to do with a player and stick with the plan. AJ was always a starter, and continued in that role till last season when they moved him to the pen. Initially, I think he wasn't happy but because of the kind of pitcher he is (= not 90+ mph), he found that he enjoyed the role quite a bit. During spring training, the Dbacks' personnel told him he would have 3 roles on the team - - - relief, long relief, spot start - - - and it seemed okay initially but he has now started as many games as he has relief appearances. And his dad and I have been officially banned from attending any home games where he is starting because it has driven his ERA up ridiculously.

We spent our 32nd anniversary watching our poor son give up lots of hits (not many hard hit ones, either) and runs last night, including a granny in the 2nd inning. When he came out in the third, he had already given up 8 runs, and the first batter he faces in the 3rd gets a single on a broken bat blooper to left field. He got mad and just started firing the ball as hard as he could ... don't know what his velocity was but he ended up striking the next three batters out to end his outing.

His dad commented that he needs to throw like that more often ... instead of being so deliberate. The problem is, he can't do that when he first gets out on the mound for a start because the powers that be are expecting him to eat up innings, which he used to be able to do and can even do in a relief role. But that starting role is soooo different, especially if you are not a fireballer.

But we went out to dinner afterwards and enjoyed seeing him and his wife nonetheless. God is good.
Last edited by FutureBack.Mom
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
FBM,
I am not really understanding an organization taking a player who fits a role really well and trying to fit a square peg in a round hole (if you understand where that's coming from). Dave had to play two roles this year, start and relief. They had this philosophy that beginning a new inning in relief is like starting, but the preparation and mind set is completely different. Two different roles brought two different results and

Unfortunetly, starting pitchers are badly needed and this is minor league life, let's just keep putting them out there (as starters) and see what works and what doesn't.

I am not sure that anyone (even us) can really understand what players have to endure to chase their dream.
Rob KremerRob Kremer1,000+ posts
What a great story! And what a way to tell Mom that he got picked up by the Pirates! I hope you gave him a good tongue lashing indeed!

You do realize what this means, don't you, Orlando? If he's going to pitch, then you're
going to start agreeing with me on that WP/PB question!

Congratulations! I am really jazzed for you and Aeden!
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