Robin19 released [reply 251: New contract - a must read]

[ewizabeff]

This just in: player and GM had some further contract talks. Player is not ready to commit to any team right now, possibly still recovering from being released from his previous team during the off-season. Since GM has contract-signing anxiety, she is willing to leave the door open for future scouting, with no promise of commitment from either side.

[thablingster]

Sorry to hear the contract negotiations stalled out a bit. Allowing the player to come back for future BP and workout sessions could inevitably be profitable for both sides, especially if the prospect continues to develop the talent the GM and other organizational staff saw in him.

 

I think there are a lot of people with contract-signing anxiety, it is the fear of being burned by the big contract; a history of being burned by a big contract; or the fear that out of the available talent you're wasting your resources on the wrong one.

[GAME05]

(uh, oh. the news releases don't sound so good lately).

 

This weekend's tryouts looked to be altogether sucessful for GAME05. It would appear he has signed on to play in the low minors or at least extended Spring Training, but at this early stage yet, GAME is hesitant to place a specific label on his role with the team. His only comment was that he is happy to be getting at-bats.

 

There was an incident at the last workout, however. The GM and GAME05 were participating in baseball-related activities, and coincidentally, both suffered injuries that left marks on their necks. GAME05 was spotted with the injury during his regular Monday-Friday gym workouts by a field reporter. The field reporter assumed that the injury was suffered during a collision at home plate (pun intended, but i do hope that's not a strike-worthy comment), but GAME05 was quick to point out that it was not caused by a baserunning error, but only from a harmless throw and catch. GAME05 left a message with the GM apologizing for her injury, but his call has yet to be returned, leading to some slight concern on GAME05's part for the fragile nature of his yet-undetermined status with the team.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

After scouting the Minnesota Twins vs Brewers series, I was nearly released on the spot from my organization. I was cited for being a nuissance to the team and a troublemaker in the organization. It is not a good idea to get into a shouting match with other scouts from the other organization. The organization I am with has huge ties to the Minnesota Twins. Luckily I am a good talker and got my way back into the organization as an AAA player, but it will be a while before I get called back up to the big leagues. There will be no paydays anytime soon for this guy.

[thablingster]

After scouting the Minnesota Twins vs Brewers series, I was nearly released on the spot from my organization. I was cited for being a nuissance to the team and a troublemaker in the organization. It is not a good idea to get into a shouting match with other scouts from the other organization. The organization I am with has huge ties to the Minnesota Twins. Luckily I am a good talker and got my way back into the organization as an AAA player, but it will be a while before I get called back up to the big leagues. There will be no paydays anytime soon for this guy.

I hope if they renegotiated your contract you included a stipulation that if you're not called up to the bigs in such and such a time you can request your release. Being in the clubs doghouse is no fun. Otherwise if it is more of a routine demotion where the team is trying to teach you a lesson and you had options remaining anyway, good luck to you. I'm sure if you keep your nose clean and perform well on the field you'll get called back up in no time.

 

[dikapalooza]

Dikapalooza has been designated for assignment, the league reported today. Being a player with more than 3 years of service time, he must first clear waivers before being sent down to the minors, if he should accept the assignment. Mainly a steady player for the local team, the player was quoted as saying, "Although I very much enjoyed my time with the team and the fans in the city, I feel that the organization and I have differing philosophies for the future." He went on to say that while he is not seeking to join another team this season, he is available on a short-term basis in the case of injury as a bat off the bench. Dikapalooza certainly still has the talent to play in the bigs, although he hinted that he may retire from the game, sip drinks on the beach, and maybe play the occasional pick-up softball game.

[davego]

that 'bat off the bench' role seems...intriguing.

[DHonks]

After his 26 years in Rookie Ball, Dhonks had his first prolonged shot at the higher minors, working his way to AAA for a bit. He even spoke of the majors. But after a bit more than 9 months, Dhonks went to management and decided that his heart just wasn't in it any more.

 

Translation:

after 26 girlfriend-less years, Dhonks made it into a relationship, even having a girlfriend worthy of considering marrying. But after 9+ months, dhonks decided they just weren't as compatible as he'd thought, especially considering her 5 year old son. While a good kid, Dhonks simply wasn't ready for that responsibility, given that he'd never had a girlfriend previously.

 

However, Dhonks has also been contacted by an agent looking to find him a perfect match. With girlfriend 1, Dhonks wanted to play OF, while she wanted him to DH. The differences of opinion helped sever ties. However, this new opportunity apparently is looking for someone with the tools, skillset, and temperment of Dhonks.

[dikapalooza]

that 'bat off the bench' role seems...intriguing.

 

Well, if some other team needs a spark to get going...

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

I got a chance to do some scouting on North Ave on Friday night and it was a very enjoyable time. Thanks for fetching the bartender for me, Liz!

[jason21nl]

after what I have been through and have done in the past 2 months, I think that I'm going to go into an early retirement.

[UndraftedFA]

What is the SABRmetric formula for the youngest player allowed to be drafted? I was always told Your Age/2 + 7.

 

A coworker has been trying to be an agent for his daughter. She seems like a good catch, but violates the formula by one year. 28 and 20. Makes me a bit hesitant along with the fact I work with her agent. We went for a workout at an event she set up Friday night. I kinda felt like the old guy in the minors hanging on to a dream because most of the people at the workout were young. She is also tiny in size with the same hair color, style, and mannerisms as a former player. Leads me to think at some point I will use the wrong name when speaking to new prospect. Former player has also been calling a lot lately.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

As long as your player is not on the wrong side of 30 then you should be on the right track.

[GAME05]

i don't know, i think of what a vastly different player i was at 28 vs. 20 and it was world's apart.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

Well you should be entering your prime at age 28. Most baseball players have their peak years from age 27-31. You might be like Prince Fielder where the best year in your career was when you were 23.

[BuckyTuba]

I'm still kicking around minor-league contracts and hoping to get the call to the big leagues sometime this summer...

[UndraftedFA]

Oh, I definitely had prime years back then. I play for a new city now, so it has taken longer than I hoped to get comfortable here. When I signed here in AZ, I was thinking my old teammate was going to sign a FA contract here to, but she was still in arbitration back then. She didn't like AZ much when she came to visit, and wanted to stay in WI with family once arby was up. That's understandable, but it really kept me from having fun in the new city. I was too occupied with recruiting her here.

 

The new prospect is pretty young, but I think pretty mature. She keeps herself pretty busy doing a lot of coaching activities. I don't see her getting distracted by many of things that most us did at that age. I guess if her agent is so excited for it, maybe I should not worry about the age so much. He would know both of us well. There's definitely a stigma I feel, but I have always been a person that put a lot of funny rules on the prospects I would look to sign.

 

She's taking me to the Dbacks/Brewers game for my birthday. Regardless, I am just glad I am finally doing things to feel like I fit in a bit more. AZ had a bunch of teammates(friends) that I really liked, but most left in Free agency. (finished PhD's and moved on)

[Jimbo]

GAME05 appeals to the players union of brewerfan.net for any advice it might have to offer on this matter

I'd say take this to kangaroo court. Brewerfan Nation can be the judge.

[GAME05]

yeah, i'm slowly thinking that I haven't done too much horrible wrong or anything. Players meet new GMs and that's just the way it goes. maybe a little intentional/unintentional manipulating her emotions and exacerbating the situation on my part, but it wasn't intended to hurt her, though to a degree selfish on my part, admittedly. She's too good a person for what I offered her, anyway, so it's definitely for the best, though she probably doesn't see that right now.

 

I'll offer friendship if she wants it, won't go into any real explanation and will have to cut it off if she gets accusatory and end the phone call. just have to remind myself that i'm not going to be able to make her feel better over this phone call and that i can't allow her to make herself feel better by making myself feel worse. of course I say that now...

 

the email wasn't too cool, i know, and she'll call me on that, but i had a hard time reaching her otherwise, and couldn't let this last any longer while I am seeing my new GM, who is awesome.

[AmyintheSouth]

As a female, I can understand how the former GM might be angry, but honesty is the most important part in these negotiations. You tried to get in touch with the GM to no avail -- I assume she never called you back and not that you were not taking her calls when she did. She doesn't have to like it, but at least you told her of your decision. An email is better than nothing and a call placed immediately after the email shows an appreciation for the team. I was once trying out for a team in another division, so travel was involved. The team came out to visit on my birthday, knowing full well they had already signed a team in yet another division. That was information I much rather would have received in an email.

 

As far as the SABR formula, it depends on the players involved. I'm currently several years younger than the formula dictates for the team I'm trying out for, but it's a fun team to play for and our philosophies are similar.

[GAME05]

thanks for the good words. the phone call with the old GM went better than I thought (i figured some yelling). The old GM feels very used and also seems to think that if i have no feelings now, that i never had any feelings. though I told her that wasn't true, i can understand that her head must be swimming right now.

[joshua502000]

For those of you interested, I played in a Japanese league for six years. The style of ball played was very traditional. A lot of small ball over there, sarifice bunting, hit and run, just to get a run home. The GM of the team wanted to insert a bigger bat into the lineup than could be found on the free agent market so a search into the US was done. Now this is not me saying I swing a huge bat or anything, I am average for american leaguers but somehow I impressed. I truely appreciated the experiance and consider the time well spent but when your cultures are approx 5500 miles away and you cannot dedicate 100% of the time to learn their game the owner of the team convinced the GM to go another direction and stick to only natural born japanese players in the long run.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

As a female, I can understand how the former GM might be angry

You coming to Zims on Friday to watch the game? It'd be great to talk Brewers with Liz, Don, Tom, and the gang!

[AmyintheSouth]

You coming to Zims on Friday to watch the game? It'd be great to talk Brewers with Liz, Don, Tom, and the gang!

I would love to, but I live in Massachusetts. My Milwaukee trip is coming next summer!

Big tryout tonight, y'all. But my fancy uniform is too big.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

I would love to, but I live in Massachusetts. My Milwaukee trip is coming next summer!

Big tryout tonight, y'all. But my fancy uniform is too big.

Good luck! I'd go with the retro uniform because it's Friday night.