A Shot of Redemption: The Story of Will Kane

AUTHOR’S FOREWORD

Hello and welcome!

For those of you unfamiliar with me, where the h*** have you been!?

All kidding aside, it’s great to start another dynasty. My first project, Trapped in the Basement, was prematurely ended due to some computer troubles, but with a brand new machine, this dynasty appears to be set for the long haul!

If you are familiar with my reports from Trapped, I’m going to try writing a more story-centric dynasty this time around. Any and all suggestions are welcome. I love to incorporate reader participation, so please feel free to ask questions.

HOUSE SETTINGS

- I will be simulating games or watching from GM Mode in PbP.
- BBM 2009 Ver. 11.20
- I have decreased Fan Loyalty, Scouting, Farm System, and Medical Staff all to D-. All other settings are default.
- PEAKS ARE TURNED OFF! This should prove interesting in terms of talent evaluation.

HOUSE RULES

1. a) FREE AGENCY
I will follow a modified version of OldFatGuy’s rules for both free agents and expiring contracts on my team. I will deal with Arbitration on a case-by-case basis. I am also limiting myself to 2 FA signees per calendar year: one during the traditional off-season, and one during the season.

1. b) TRADES
I solemnly swear to not rip off the A.I.

Seriously, I’ll limit my trading to 1 per calendar year. I will allow myself a 2nd trade ONLY in the case of a season-ending injury.

1. c) PENALTIES
Should I violate any of the above rules, I shall impose a heavy fine on my organization.
1st Offense: Loss of $1 Million
2nd Offense: Loss of 1 of my 3 Top Prospects to open market (as rated on the BM Main screen)
3rd Offense: Loss of all 3 Top Prospects to open market
4th Offense: Loss of 50% of Cash reserves
5th Offense: Banishment from baseball.

2. a) AMATEUR DRAFT
There will be no restrictions on my 1st round pick. Every subsequent selection must fit these qualifications:
- Must be compatible with my team (‘B’ or better)
- Must have Overall rating at least 10 points lower than my #1 selection
There also must be at least 2 position players and 2 pitchers in each draft class. The remaining 2 picks are uncommitted.

2. b) RULE 5 DRAFT
I will be conducting a Rule 5 Draft before the start of Spring Training each year. Rules will be the same as the Major League version. Each team will be able to protect 15 minor league players. I'll determine this for each team prior to starting the draft.

3. MISCELLANEOUS
I reserve the right to change history, yadda yadda yadda. Any questions, you know what to do.

*

TABLE OF CONTENTS

VOLUME I – 1990: LAYING THE BRICKS IN THE EMERALD CITY
1. Meet William Kane
2. The First Press Conference
3. Lineup Issues
4. Mariner Monday on KJR
5. Opening Day Roster 1990
6. First Pitch
7. My 'Meeting' with Jeff
8. April, Part I
9. A Brief Diversion from our Hero
10. April, Part II
11. "I Left My Heart in San Francisco..."
12. May, Part I
13. How to Recognize Different Types of Trees from Quite a Long Way Away…
14. May, Part II
15. May, Part III
16. 'Tiger'
17. June, Part I
18. Feeling A Draft
19. The Board
20. June, Part II
21. "Watch out for cow s***..."
22. ???
23. A (Not-so) Rude Awakening
24. September, Part I
25. Back to Work
26. My 'Double Date' with Courtney
27. September, Part II
28. The Place We All Want To Be: October
29. So Much To Do, So Little Time
30. Window Shopping

VOLUME II - 1991: FAST-TRACK TO A DYNASTY
1. A 2nd First Impression
2. 1991 Seattle Mariners Opening Day Lineup
3. Opening Day 1991
4. April: Where It All Begins Again
5. Seriously Considering Shooting the Messenger
6. The First Time in a Long Time
7. Another Reason I Don't Like Kansas City
8. My Own Ultimatum
9. Righting the Ship with Some Left Turns
10. Stealing the Old Block
11. Front Page News
12. Mother, May I?
13. Backseat Driving
14. May the Force Be With Us
15. Storm's A-Brewin'
16. Night Swimming
17. Number One, with a Bullet
18. Adios, Au Revoir, Auf Wiedersehen? (part 1)

Reserved

1. Meet William Kane

Press Release from Royals Management
December 12, 1988

Royals Assistant GM William Kane has been dismissed from his position. We wish him well in his future endeavors.

*

...continued

I had sat out the season of 1989. Apparently, no one had wanted to hire me. I had practically been blackballed by the Royals. That, or word spread quickly around the league. Everywhere I went, people knew. They knew that I was the one, and they were hesitant to pull the trigger on hiring me. Much more hesitant than I was. It’s not often that an assistant GM gets to have the final say in a trade…

GM John Schuerholz was grooming me for my own GM job one day. I was his right hand man for 3 years. The Royals were a good team, and soon someone would come calling. It probably would’ve been Cleveland, which I would’ve accepted in a heartbeat. Being raised just outside the city, I would’ve been hailed as a prodigal son returning, hoping to resurrect a long dormant franchise. But one mistake ruined all that…

*

Awesome so far!

WHAT WAS THE MISTAKE!!!

I wanna know!

He... he hired Metsguy!!!!! That was what caused the downfall!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RedsoxRockies

He... he hired Metsguy!!!!! That was what caused the downfall!!!

---

No, he broke up Alice in Chains! :eek:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by metsguy234

No, he broke up Alice in Chains! :eek:

---

I would kill William Kane and feed his intestine to Binglebop if he did that...

Was the mistake naming his son Citizen?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OregonDuck1989

Was the mistake naming his son Citizen?

---

Citizen Kane was before this though :p.

twinsGM: Thanks! It's always good to start on a high note. Now if only I can keep it up...

rockiesfan4ever: You think I'm going to give away a major plot device on the first page? Not in your life! You're going to have to keep reading, my friend! :D

RedsoxRockies: Close, but no. And you might want to get a handle on those anger management issues...

Metsguy234: Again, close but no. Although I am in Seattle... :D

OregonDuck1989: No, Will Kane is unmarried and has no children.

Actually, I stole the name from one of my favorite westerns, High Noon. If you like Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, and 'rounding up posses', it's tailor-made for you! And if you just like good movies, well, there you go...

YEAH DAAAAWG: Thanks for the assist!

*

...continued

I arrived home from my shift at Burger King. A long fall, I know: from assistant GM on a World Series winner to drive-thru attendant at a fast-food chain in Cleveland. Anyways, there was a message on my machine. Some lady telling me that Jeff Smulyan wanted to talk to me. Probably just some prank call, but I dialed anyway. Straight to the machine.

“Hi, this is William Kane returning your ca-”

“William! William!” A man’s voice spoke rapidly through his end of the receiver. “I just walked in. This is Jeff Smulyan of Emmis Communications.”

A communications company? Probably better than my Burger King job, but it was a little weird, to say the least.

“Hello Mr. Smulyan, I was just returning your call from earlier.”

“Oh yes, actually, I wanted to arrange to meet with you in person. You’re still in Cleveland correct? Well, I’ll be driving up that way early next week. How about lunch?”

“Is Burger King okay?” That’s really sad, I thought to myself.

“No, and it won’t be for you either soon. I’ll buy.”

*

I do love roundin up posses! :D

And yes I know Citizen Kane was before this. But maybe Will was a big fan.

OregonDuck1989: Well, there you go!

And Will's favorite movie is also High Noon. I think it's because he can relate to the protagonist... :D

...continued

I arrived at the restaurant 15 minutes before I was supposed to. That was due to a combination of nerves and a lack of stuff to do today.

I had no idea what Jeff wanted to talk to me about. I'd never worked in communications before, and my degree was in business law.

Jeff arrived right on time, carrying a big hunk of plastic that must've weighed about 5 pounds.

"Sorry I'm late, I just had a meeting run long. You know, you really ought to get one of these mobile phones," he said, pointing to the huge plastic object. "They really come in handy for people like me that are always on the go."

"No offense, Jeff, but I don't go anywhere, and I have to work within a budget, so I'll have to pass this time."

Jeff muffled a chuckle. "You've got a sense of humor. I love that. So, Will...is it alright if I call you Will?"

"Sure, just don't call me Stupid."

"We'll let history be the judge of that, my friend. So, do you know what you're getting?" Jeff stared down at the menu

*

Is Will going to be roundin up any posses in this dynasty?

"Come on Pokes, Let's go save Major League Baseball!"

Could you make a new player named Dick Head who is a SS with awesome contact and fielding, ok speed, and little power? :)

OregonDuck1989: We'll see. If the situation warrants a showdown, he might have to...

RedsoxRockies: Born in 1972, Richard Givens Head always had dreams of playing major league baseball, despite his unfortunate name. As he graduates high school in 1990, he is the top rated SS in the country, and is expected to be one of the top draft picks in the 1990 draft.

...continued

1 hour later, I sat back in my chair. That was the finest meal I've had in a long time, perhaps some of the best Italian cuisine I've ever tasted. Jeff was still picking at his cannoli when he pulled out a folder stuffed with papers.

"What's that?" I asked.

"That is what I wanted to talk to you about. Let's take a walk. I'll meet you outside in 5 minutes."

*

Ahh! Your posts are too short! And thanks on making "Richard" Head

RedsoxRockies: Yeah, I was initally going to keep myself at a slow, steady pace, but I think I'm losing people. So I'll start making posts bigger. And we can call him Dick. :D

*

We walked along the shores of Lake Erie, forcing small talk about families, politics, and current events.

“Look, Jeff. I’m not an idiot. I know something’s up.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Jeff, I’m not an idiot. You wouldn’t drive 6 hours from Indianapolis just to have dinner with me. What are you here for?”

He sighed, then continued: “Will, I’m part of the ownership group that just bought the Mariners. We want you to be a part of that.”

A chance to get back into baseball sounded too good to be true. “I’ll have to think about it…”

“I’ll give you a week. You have my number?”

“Yep.”

*

I tossed and turned. I couldn’t sleep. It was the usual nightmare.

Quote:

---

“What’s it going to be, Will?”

“Come on Will! I need to call them back!”

“It’s your decision, Will. Now make one!”

---

“NO!”

I screamed as I sat up in bed. I was sweating, and breathing heavily. Another night with no sleep. I rolled over and turned on the TV. It was 3am, and nothing was on.

I couldn’t help but think about the offer. It was tempting. I would be able to get out of my dingy apartment, stop working at a fast-food chain, and get back into baseball.

Jeff was offering me a 2nd chance. I’d be foolish not to take it.

*

i don't think the posts are too short, just to much time between them :)

Yeah, man, I'm really interested in this. Please, pick up the pace haha.

It looks great so far, as your dynasties always do :)

jshaw: Sorry. Just trying to pace myself!

soxfan93: Thank you! Hope to keep you interested!

*

2. The First Press Conference

Flashbulbs were popping everywhere as I adjusted the microphone. The neatly-pressed white shirt and the royal blue necktie hid the lump in my throat the size of a small cup of coffee.

“Good afternoon, everyone. I’d like to thank the Mariners organization for giving me the opportunity to mold this team into a pennant contender. With several talented young players, I feel that that dream isn’t far off. I’ll take questions now.”

And now, the 500-pound gorilla: “Mr. Kane, you were dismissed from your position with the Royals over a year ago. Can you shed some light on your firing?”

Quote:

---

“They’re willing to offer a 3-for-2 trade.”

---

“It was a difference of opinions in terms of player management. Needless to say, I used all 3 strikes, so I was called out. I have no qualms against the Kansas City organization. But I’m not here to talk about the past: please kindly keep all questions toward this Seattle team.”

“Mr. Kane, how about a timetable for the Mariners winning the World Series?” A lot of laughter in the room; perhaps a joke?

“Well, as you probably know, this franchise hasn’t had a winning season yet in its history. We’ll look to change that this season. I think it goes 1) winning season, 2) compete for division, 3) win division, 4) win pennant, 5) win World Series. Steps 1-5 will be complete by the end of the decade, hopefully sooner.”

“How do you see the AL West shaping up this season?”

“There is no doubt in my mind that the AL West is the best division in baseball. The champion will have a huge edge over the East division winner, simply because there are tougher opponents. I mean, you have the reigning World Champs in Oakland, you have to figure that the road to the ALCS runs through them. You also have strong teams in California and Kansas City, as well as teams in Texas and us Mariners that may surprise some people. It’s tough to tell.”

“2 more questions.” The press secretary was under strict orders to get me out of the press room in a hurry.

“Mr. Kane, how do you plan to deal with the logjam at the 3 outfield spots?”

“I’ll deal with that when the time arises. I’m still trying to familiarize myself with my surroundings, I can’t get caught up in position battles just yet.”

“Last question.”

“Mr. Kane, the team you’re inheriting may be undergoing some serious changes soon. With the potential for 18 players in the final year of their contract, how do you plan on keeping this team intact for the World Series title you guaranteed us?”

“An excellent question. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. Hopefully the fans turn out to see Alvin, Junior, and the rest of the Mariners, and we’ll deal with contracts during the offseason.”

*

Quote:

---

Quote:
“They’re willing to offer a 3-for-2 trade.”

---

What in the hell did Will Kane do? I can only think of one thing dastardly enough to cause this kind of trouble...tell me that you didn't

Another great beginning...good prose.

filihok: I have no idea what you're talking about, but I'll slowly reveal some details on what Will Kane did. He didn't kill a h**ker, if you were wondering...

Mizerak: Thanks! Hope you keep reading!

*

3. Lineup Issues

“WHAT THE HELL!? KANE! GET OUT HERE!”

Oh crap. What did I do?

I poked my head out of the ‘office’ at Mariners Spring Training Headquarters in Tempe, AZ. It wasn’t really an office, it was more like a smattering of mobile homes that constituted an office park. Honesty, I’m only there for 45 days a year. I’m not too worried that I don’t have “furnishings” or “secretaries” or “desks”. Besides, everything was packed up to be shipped up north to Seattle. Opening Day was only 3 days away.

Pete O’Brien was marching my way, with hitting coach Gene Clines in hot pursuit.

“Kane! We need to talk, NOW.”

“Right this way, Pete.” I ushered the big man into my shed. “What’s going on?” I asked Clines.

“Found out he wasn’t starting on Opening Day.”

*

“When I signed my contract, [former Mariners GM Woody] Woodward told me that I was his starting first basemen, and when I get to camp, I find out that Davis is at first, and that prick Leonard is DHing.”

“Well, in fairness to them, you were the last one here…”

O’Brien’s fiery Irish temper broke out of control, as he lifted me up and slammed me against the aluminum wall. “Now listen here, you has-been! I want to start or I want to be traded to a place I can start. You have until next week.” He threw me down into the corner of the trailer before stomping out.

I picked myself up and dusted myself off. I turned to Gene.

“Better make sure he doesn’t find Alvin or Jeffrey.”

The coach nodded, and hurriedly chased after the incensed first baseman.

*

Nice start, I'm liking this!

phillies999: Thanks! Hope you keep reading!

*

4. Mariner Monday on KJR

“Welcome back to the ‘DJ and the Rock’ radio program here on Seattle’s sports radio, KJR. And Rocky, we’ve got a great program lined up for you today.”

“We sure do, Deej. With the Mariners season kicking off tonight against the World Champion Oakland A’s, we’re introducing a new segment, designed to take you diehard Mariners fans from April to September and hopefully beyond: Mariner Monday here on KJR. We’ll be talking with Mariners GM Will Kane today in a few hours, but first, let’s talk Sonics basketball…”

*

I switched off the radio. ‘DJ and the Rock’ was the most popular afternoon talk show in the Pacific Northwest, and I was going to be on in a few hours.

From what I had gathered by listening to them over the past few days, this wasn’t going to be my toughest test. The interviews conducted were primarily light-hearted, with lots of joking around and a little bit on mudslinging on the side.

While I had a minute, I ought to check The Times to see yesterday’s scores:

- The Rangers outslugged the White Sox, 16-8, taking an early lead in the AL West. Rookie CF Juan Gonzalez went 6-6, with a double, 3 home runs, and 8 RBI in the victory.

- The Red Sox also got 3 home runs from Dwight Evans, and the bullpen hung on for a 12-11 victory over the Brewers.

- The Yankees and Tigers were involved in a much more relaxed affair, with the Yankees and Pascual Perez winning a pitcher’s duel, 3-2.

- Finally, the Giants needed 4 runs in the 9th inning to beat the Padres, 5-1.

Maybe I should look have my scouts look into that 6-6 performance by our rivals’ 20-year-old outfielder. Maybe Junior isn’t even the best centerfielder in our division…

*

...continued

I called in at 2pm. I was nervous, but confident. I just hope they don’t bring up my time in Kansas City.

“Will? You there Will?”

“Yep, right here.”

“Will! Hey, this is DJ. Thanks again for agreeing to do this.”

“No problem, just don’t make me regret it!”

“Hey Will, this is Rock. Alright, this is how it’s gonna go down. We’re going to alternate asking questions. We’ll only do 6 to 8, because we know you’ve got other stuff to handle. Anything that we should lay off of?”

“No, fire away.”

“Great, we’re in commercial now, but we’ll be back in 2 minutes, just sit tight.”

*

“Welcome back to DJ and the Rock here on Seattle’s sports radio KJR. This is DJ…”

“And this is the Rock.”

“And Rocky, we have a special guest joining us on the hotline right now.”

“I’m legitimately excited, DJ. This guy seems to have a grand plan for our beloved Mariners, hopefully he’ll be able to carry it out. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Mariners GM Will Kane!”

“Hello guys.” Off to a great start! “Thanks for having me on the program.”

As decided before the segment, DJ got the first question in. “It’s our pleasure, Will. Glad you could be joining us! Now I know you’ve got a lot of things to deal with, what with tonight being the home opener and all, so we’ll welcome you to Seattle with some softballs. You’re not a household name around these parts, why don’t you tell us a little about yourself?”

Not a tricky question, but one that I could manage to mess up somehow. “I was born and raised outside of Cleveland, went to the University of Missouri to study business law. I’ve always enjoyed baseball, despite having to cheer for some dreadful Indians teams…”

“Not a lot of change since then, huh?” Rocky with the zinger!

“True! But my appreciation for the game was great, and I jumped at the chance to work for the Royals out of college. So I joined up with Kansas City in 1983, and worked my way up to assistant General Manager. I left after 1988 to pursue other ventures, and now I’m back in baseball.”

Rocky got off the next question. “Will, what were your thoughts when you first saw the talent, or lack thereof, on this team, and can you tell us what the lineup for tonight’s game will be?”

“Yes I can, Rock. We’ll be going Reynolds, Briley, Leonard, Davis, Griffey, Martinez, Buhner, Bradley, and Vizquel against Bob Welch tonight. We’ll try and stick to this order for most of the year, with Dave Valle and Bradley platooning at catcher. And to be honest, I jumped at the chance. During my tenure in Kansas City, I was able to work closely with the director of minor league scouting, and I was able to pick up some signs on good prospects. I see a lot of talent here, especially with Junior in centerfield.”

“Will, we know that there are a large number of players’ contracts that are up for renewal at the end of this season. Can you shed some light on the negotiations so far?”

“To tell you the truth, I haven’t really thought too much about that. I’d like to see how those players perform before we commit money to them.”

*

The interview was going really well. I really felt at home with both DJ and the Rock. A little too much, in fact: I was on the phone for almost half an hour.

“Alright, Will, last question: gun to your head – how many wins do the Mariners get this year?”

“Guys, I think this will be it. I’m going to say 82 wins. That’ll get us 4th place in the AL West. I feel this team is good enough to contend through July, and we’ll reward the city of Seattle for its patience with a .500 season. Oh, can I make an announcement? Pending the commissioner’s approval, we’ve finalized a trade with the Boston Red Sox.”

“Wow! Did you manage to pry Roger Clemens away from them?”

“Not quite, though I do like the optimism! No, it’ll be a straight up 1-for-1 trade, Pete O’Brien heading east for lefty reliever Rob Murphy.”

“Sounds like a good deal. Thanks again to Mariners GM Will Kane for joining us today. Will, sorry for keeping you long, but it was worth every second. Time to pay the bills, you’re listening to DJ and the Rock on Mariner Monday, here on KJR”

5. Opening Day Roster 1990

POSITION PLAYERS (scouting is +/- 10)

CATCHERS

Scott Bradley [77] - C - #9
Age: 30 - 7th season
Acquired: Trade with White Sox - 6/26/1986
Contract: $271K through 1990 (Arb.)
*
1989: .274/.322/.367, 3 HR, 37 RBI
Career: .271/.311/.369, 17 HR, 144 RBI

Dave Valle [73] - C - #10
Age: 29 - 7th season
Acquired: Draft #2 - 6/6/1978
Contract: $520K through 1990 (Arb.)
*
1989: .237/.311/.354, 7 HR, 34 RBI
Career: .243/.299/.397, 35 HR, 160 RBI

PAST: Dave got into the most games last season, but both guys have plenty of experience as both a starter and a backup.

PRESENT: Bradley, who hits lefthanded, will start against righty pitchers. Valle, who is a righty, will start against lefties.

FUTURE: 18-year-old Chris Widger will begin his first professional season with the AZL Mariners in Rookie ball.

INFIELDERS

Alvin Davis [89] - 1B - #21
Age: 29 - 7th season
Acquired: Draft #6 - 6/7/1982
Contract: $2.4M through 1990
*
1989: .305/.424/.496, 21 HR, 95 RBI
Career: .290/.392/.474, 131 HR, 530 RBI

Harold Reynolds [75] - 2B - #4
Age: 29 - 8th season
Acquired: Spec. Draft #2 - 6/3/1980
Contract: $1.2M through 1990
*
1989: .300/.359/.369, 0 HR, 43 RBI, 25 SB
Career: .266/.323/.348, 6 HR, 150 RBI, 154 SB

Edgar Martinez [87] - 3B - #11
Age: 27 - 4th season
Acquired: Amateur Free Agent - 12/19/1982
Contract: $87K until Arbitration (1991)
*
1989: .240/.314/.304, 2 HR, 20 RBI
Career: .268/.336/.366, 2 HR, 30 RBI

Omar Vizquel [81] - SS - #13
Age: 22 - 2nd season
Acquired: Amateur Free Agent - 4/1/1984
Contract: $87K until Arbitration (1991)
*
1989: .220/.273/.261, 1 HR, 20 RBI
Career: .220/.273/.261, 1 HR, 20 RBI

Dave Cochrane [70] - IF - #43
Age: 27 - 3rd season
Acquired: Trade with Royals - 2/3/1988
Contract: $87K until Arbitration (1991)
*
1989: .235/.333/.382, 3 HR, 7 RBI
Career: .220/.304/.341, 4 HR, 9 RBI

Brian Giles [68] - 2B/SS - #29
Age: 29 - 6th season
Acquired: Free Agent - 11/2/1989
Contract: $87K through 1990 (Arb.)
*
1986: .273/.273/.273, 0 HR, 1 RBI
Career: .228/.291/.292, 6 HR, 39 RBI

PAST: “Mr. Mariner” Davis and Reynolds have manned their positions for the last 4 seasons, longer in Alvin’s case. 3B Jim Presley leaves for Atlanta via free agency, and Vizquel struggled through a tough rookie season offensively

PRESENT: Davis, Reynolds, and Vizquel return for their 2nd season as a double-play trio. Edgar Martinez will try and shoulder the responsibility of the hot corner.

FUTURE: 1B Tino Martinez should be ready by the end of the season, 1B Greg Pirkl is a longer wait, but should be just as talented. 2Bmen Bret Boone and Fernando Vina are set to tear up the middle levels. SS Andy Sheets could become a valuable utilityman.

OUTFIELDERS

Greg Briley [77] - LF - #8
Age: 24 - 3rd season
Acquired: Spec. Draft #1 - 6/2/1986
Contract: $87K until Arbitration (1991)
*
1989: .266/.366/.442, 13 HR, 52 RBI, 11 SB
Career: .265/.336/.437, 14 HR, 56 RBI, 11 SB

Ken Griffey, Jr. [87] - CF - #24
Age: 20 - 2nd season
Acquired: Draft #1 - 6/2/1987
Contract: $87K until Arbitration (1991)
*
1989: .264/.329/.420, 16 HR, 61 RBI, 16 SB
Career: .264/.329/.420, 16 HR, 61 RBI, 16 SB

Jay Buhner [86] - RF - #19
Age: 25 - 4th season
Acquired: Trade with Yankees - 7/21/1988
Contract: $130K until Arbitration (1990)
*
1989: .275/.341/.490, 9 HR, 33 RBI
Career: .240/.316/.446, 22 HR, 72 RBI

Jeffrey Leonard [74] - DH - #00
Age: 34 - 14th season
Acquired: Free Agent - 12/7/1988
Contract: $970K through 1990
*
1989: .254/.301/.420, 24 HR, 93 RBI
Career: .268/.313/.416, 134 HR, 648 RBI

Darnell Coles [70] - 3B/OF - #33
Age: 27 - 8th season
Acquired: Trade with Pirates - 7/22/1988
Contract: $1.0M through 1991
*
1989: .252/.294/.359, 10 HR, 59 RBI
Career: .247/.311/.390, 57 HR, 271 RBI

Henry Cotto [71] - OF - #28
Age: 29 - 7th season
Acquired: Trade with Yankees - 12/22/1987
Contract: $520K through 1990
*
1989: .264/.300/.407, 9 HR, 33 RBI, 10 SB
Career: .258/.297/.371, 24 HR, 106 RBI, 54 SB

PAST: Griffey and Briley were both thrown into the fire as rookies last season, but both performed ably. Rightfield duty was split between Coles and Buhner

PRESENT: Junior and Briley look to pick up where they left off their rookie campaigns, and Buhner gets his first crack at starting in rightfield. Coles will be the first man off the bench, and serve as a super-utilityman.

FUTURE: You’re looking at it, with all 3 starters at age 25 or younger. CF Manny Martinez is still a few years away from contributing.

*

PITCHING STAFF (scouting is +/- 10)

ROTATION

Scott Bankhead [78] - SP - #15
Age: 26 - 5th season
Acquired: Trade with Kansas City - 12/10/1986
Contract: $920K through 1990 (Arb.)
*
1989: 14-6, 3.34 ERA, 140 K, .235 BAA
Career: 38-32, 4.03 ERA, 431 K, .247 BAA

Erik Hanson [79] - SP - #39
Age: 24 - 3rd season
Acquired: Draft #2 - 6/22/1986
Contract: $97K until Arbitration (1991)
*
1989: 9-5, 3.18 ERA, 75 K, .241 BAA
Career: 11-8, 3.19 ERA, 111 K, .237 BAA

Randy Johnson [92] - SP - #51
Age: 26 - 3rd season
Acquired: Trade with Expos - 5/25/1989
Contract: $171K until Arbitration (1991)
*
1989: 7-13, 4.82 ERA, 130 K, .240 BAA
Career: 10-13, 4.48 ERA, 155 K, .238 BAA

Brian Holman [80] - SP - #36
Age: 25 - 3rd season
Acquired: Trade with Expos - 5/25/1989
Contract: $103K until Arbitration (1990)
*
1989: 9-12, 3.67 ERA, 105 K, .261 BAA
Career: 13-20, 3.52 ERA, 163 K, .260 BAA

Bill Swift [81] - SP - #18
Age: 28 - 5th season
Acquired: Draft #1 - 6/4/1984
Contract: $420K through 1990 (Arb.)
*
1989: 7-3, 4.43 ERA, 45 K, .274 BAA
Career: 23-34, 4.78 ERA, 202 K, .288 BAA

BULLPEN

Matt Young [77] - LR - #30
Age: 31 - 7th season
Acquired: Free Agent - 12/15/1989
Contract: $117K through 1990
*
1989: 1-4, 6.75 ERA, 27 K, .282 BAA
Career: 43-60, 4.48 ERA, 490 K, .270 BAA

Gene Harris [70] - MR - #49
Age: 25 - 2nd season
Acquired: Trade with Expos - 5/25/1989
Contract: $87K until Arbitration (1991)
*
1989: 2-5, 5.91 ERA, 25 K, .301 BAA
Career: 2-5, 5.91 ERA, 25 K, .301 BAA

Rob Murphy [71] - SR - #46
Age: 29 - 6th season
Acquired: Trade with Red Sox - 4/1/1990
Contract: $650K through 1990 (Arb.)
*
1989: 5-7, 2.74 ERA, 107 K, .245 BAA
Career: 19-18, 2.65 ERA, 317 K, .225 BAA

Jerry Reed [80] - SR - #31
Age: 34 - 9th season
Acquired: Free Agent - 4/11/1986
Contract: $800K through 1990
*
1989: 7-7, 3.19 ERA, 50 K, .229 BAA
Career: 18-17, 3.84 ERA, 229 K, .252 BAA

Mike Jackson [77] - SU - #38
Age: 25 - 5th season
Acquired: Trade with Phillies - 12/9/1987
Contract: $470K through 1990 (Arb.)
*
1989: 4-6, 3.17 ERA, 94 K, .218 BAA, 7 SV
Career: 13-21, 3.36 ERA, 266 K, .213 BAA, 12 SV

Mike Schooler [76] - CL - #40
Age: 27 - 3rd season
Acquired: Draft #2 - 6/3/1985
Contract: $87K until Arbitration (1990)
*
1989: 1-7, 2.81 ERA, 69 K, .263 BAA, 33 SV
Career: 6-15, 3.54 ERA, 123 K, .254 BAA, 15 SV

PAST: Mark Langston was traded last season, meaning the Mariners have to rebuild their pitching staff…again.

PRESENT: Only time will tell if the Langston trade paid off, and Johnson, Holman, and Harris will go a long way to deciding that. Bankhead, Hanson, and Swift are all coming off of winning seasons. The bullpen is strong, especially with Jackson bridging to Schooler. Reed and Murphy provide stability, while Young will get some starts if injuries occur.

FUTURE: The future is bright, but a few years away, as Dave Fleming, Dave Burba, and Kazuhiro Sasaki headline a group of young, talented arms.

40-MAN ROSTER

Matt Sinatro [79] - C - #17
Chris Howard [62] - C - #41
Tino Martinez [76] - 1B - #14
Fernando Vina [69] - 2B - #1
Mike Brumley [59] - SS - #7
Jeff Schaefer [60] - SS - #2
Rich Amaral [73] - OF - #26
Alonzo Powell [74] - OF - #22
Brian Turang [63] - OF - #20

Bryan Clark [66] - RP - #45
Rich DeLucia [71] - RP - #55
Mike Gardiner [74] - RP - #23
Scott Medvin [78] - RP - #53
Jose Melendez [71] - RP - #54
Dennis Powell [67] - RP - #48

COACHES & STAFF

Jim Lefebvre - MAN - #5
Julio Cruz - BENCH - #6
Gene Clines - HITTING - #16
Mike Paul - PITCHING - #35
Rusty Kuntz - 1B COACH - #47
Bill Plummer - 3B COACH - #3
Bob Didier - BULLPEN - #44
Rick Griffin - TRAINER
Henry Genzale - EQUIP. MAN.
Dr. Larry Pedegana - PHYSICIAN
Dr. Mitchel Storey – PHYSICIAN

6. First Pitch

I took my seat in the management skybox about an hour before the first pitch. The A’s were just finishing up batting practice, looking every bit as good as the World Championship team from last season. With Rickey Henderson, Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, and former Mariner great Dave Henderson, they certainly have an impressive lineup of sluggers.

The A’s are also one of the best pitching teams in the league, with Bob Welch, Dave Stewart, and former Mariner great Mike Moore anchoring the rotation, and Gene Nelson, former Mariner great (notice a pattern here?) Rick Honeycutt, and Dennis Eckersley in the bullpen. We certainly have a daunting task to start the season.

*

The final strains of the Star-Spangled Banner vanished into the deepest, darkest recesses of the Kingdome as the Mariners took the field, sporting the cleanest home whites that the season will ever see. The smell of hot dogs was too much, as I called over a vendor and indulged myself.

Scott Bankhead toed the rubber after his final warm-up pitch. I knew Scott from my days in Kansas City, where he spent his rookie season. He actually was traded for Danny Tartabull, in arguably one of the worst trades in the history of the Seattle franchise, but one of the best for the Royals. For the record, I had a lot to do with that trade.

continued...

1ST INNING: Bankhead was relaxed, and it showed. He retired the side in order, getting speedster Rickey Henderson to ground out, Carney Lansford to fly out, and striking out Jose Canseco on a nasty sinker.

Harold Reynolds stepped in, and lined a Bob Welch fastball back up the middle for a base hit. Harold may not be the fastest man in baseball, but he did rack up 60 steals in 1988, and had recorded 25 or more thefts in each of the last 4 seasons, so Welch had to pay attention to the runner dancing off first. Fortunately for the A’s, the Mariners couldn’t move Harold into scoring position, as Greg Briley and Jeffrey Leonard both flied out to left field. With Alvin Davis at the plate, Reynolds decided he couldn’t wait any longer. Catcher Terry Steinbach’s throw was true, and Reynolds was tagged out for the 3rd out.

2ND INNING: Bankhead returned to the mound, and coolly struck out Mark McGwire and Troy Neel, again with that nasty sinker of his. Steinbach managed the first Oakland hit, a double into the left-field corner, but former Mariner Dave Henderson popped out to end the frame.

Alvin Davis again stepped up to bat. “Mr. Mariner” is probably the greatest to ever don the royal blue and gold, and is the all-time leader in almost every offensive stat. And although he isn’t quite the gloveman the caliber of Don Mattingly or Keith Hernandez, he’s certainly no slough with the leather. Unfortunately (and unusually), Davis struck out on 3 pitches. Ken Griffey Jr. was up next, pinwheeling the bat in his usual fashion. Griffey watched 3 balls go by, setting up a 3-0 pitch. It was a fastball, low in the zone, and Junior took a hefty swing. However, the ball shot straight to shortstop, and Junior was retired. He knew he should’ve crushed that pitch, but just missed it. Edgar Martinez singled and Jay Buhner walked to start a 2-out rally, but Scott Bradley struck out to end the inning.

3RD INNING: Bankhead followed the same formula from the 2nd inning: get two outs, give up a double (this time to Rickey), then retire the side.

Omar Vizquel led off the bottom of the inning with a base hit, and was promptly sacrificed to 2nd base by Reynolds. After Briley flew out and Leonard walked, Alvin Davis grounded to second to strand the runners.

4TH INNING: With one swing of his mighty bat, Jose Canseco launched a towering home run to deep centerfield. A’s 1, Mariners 0. Mark McGwire followed suit, lining a home run just over the fence in right field. A’s 2, Mariners 0. The side was retired with only a single to Steinbach.

The Mariners tried to strike back with an answer. Junior was sitting dead red, but was way out in front of a 2-2 curveball. He was set on getting around on that fastball. Edgar followed with a walk, but Jay struck out for the 2nd out of the inning. Fortunately, back-to-back singles by Bradley and Omar brought in the 3rd baseman for the M’s first run of the season. A’s 2, Mariners 1.

5TH INNING: An important rule of pitching: never walk the #2 hitter with 2 outs. You’ll only leave yourself in the line of fire. Sure enough, a 2-out walk to Carney Lansford put the bat in the bulging biceps of Jose Canseco, who blasted a home run to right-centerfield. A’s 4, Mariners 1.

With two outs, Alvin Davis drew a walk. Another rule for pitchers: don’t walk the batter in front of Ken Griffey, Jr. Junior got his fastball in a 3-1 count, and drove it into the left-centerfield bleachers. A’s 4, Mariners 3. A walk and a single put runners on the corners, but Bradley could do nothing with them.

6TH INNING: Scott set down the A’s 1-2-3.

Bob Welch was done for the day. Tony LaRussa decided that Todd Burns would be the best option to start the bridge to Eckersley. With one out, Harold Reynolds looped a base hit down the left field line, and slid into 2nd base ahead of the throw. It’s generally bad practice to steal 3rd base with a lefty at bat, but Harold slid in safely when Steinbach couldn’t make a clean transfer. Not that it mattered, as Briley lined a gap shot double into right field, tying the game. Mariners 4, A’s 4. Burns lost his nerve, walking Leonard and Davis on 8 pitches, and loading the bases with 1 out for Junior. With the home crowd screaming, Junior couldn’t deliver this time, missing a fastball for strike 3. Edgar followed with a lineout, and the A’s escaped with the game tied.

7TH INNING: Jerry Reed was brought in to pitch, hoping to keep the A’s off the board. He did manage to get 2 quick outs, but that brought up Rickey Henderson. The speedster singled and stole second. Carney Lansford was walked intentionally (with 2 outs???), bringing up Jose Canseco. Jose didn’t disappoint, driving in Rickey with an RBI single. A’s 5, Mariners 4. Mark McGwire walked to load the bases, and Reed was gone, replaced by Rob Murphy. Troy Neel greeted him with a 2-run single. A’s 7. Mariners 4. Steinbach grounded out, but the A’s had regained the lead…

…but for how long? Turns out, not very. Burns gave up back-to-back singles to Buhner and Bradley before getting pulled in favor of Joe Klink. That didn’t stop the hit parade, as Vizquel singled to load the bases. Reynolds followed with another single, scoring 2 runs. A’s 7, Mariners 6. Briley followed with (guess) yet another single, scoring Vizquel. Mariners 7, A’s 7. Reynolds was thrown out trying to advance to 3rd, and Leonard grounded into a double play, but the Mariners had again answered the challenge.

8TH INNING: Mike Jackson entered the game, and quickly got 3 outs, proving himself as one of the best setup men in all of baseball.

Klink remained on the mound, but walked Davis and hit Junior with a pitch. LaRussa had seen enough, and brought in Gene Nelson to put out the fire. Nelson had spent 2 seasons with the Mariners, but was largely ineffective, which would be a good way to describe his performance today. After walking Edgar to load the bases, Nelson surrendered a single to Buhner, giving the Mariners their first lead of the game. Mariners 9, A’s 7. Bradley followed with an RBI single of his own. Mariners 10, A’s 7. Vizquel was hit by a pitch, reloading the bases. LaRussa, realizing the error of his ways, brought in another former Mariner, Rick Honeycutt. Honeycutt stopped the bleeding, but gave up a run on a groundout. Mariners 11, A’s 7.

9TH INNING: With Mike Schooler unavailable (family emergency), Jackson was left to try and close the game out for himself. He would face the daunting task of the top of the A’s order. A walk by Rickey and a single by Lansford brought up Jose Canseco, who hit his 3rd home run of the game. Mariners 11, A’s 10. Mark McGwire represented the tying run, but Jackson reared back and struck out the slugger. Troy Neel grounded feebly to short, and Terry Steinbach popped out to the 2nd baseman to end the game.

Mariners 11, A’s 10
W: Mike Jackson (1-0, 13.50)
L: Joe Klink (0-1, 27.00)

OAKLAND (0-1)
- 2B: Rickey Henderson (1), Terry Steinbach (1)
- HR: Jose Canseco 3 (3), Mark McGwire (1)
- SB: Rickey Henderson (1)
SEATTLE (1-0)
- 2B: Harold Reynolds (1), Greg Briley (1)
- HR: Ken Griffey Jr. (1)
- SB: Harold Reynolds (1)

Nice win. Scott Bankhead should not be the ace. It should be Randy Johnson.

Just my opinion.

soxfan93: Thank you!

As for my ace, I chose Bankhead because of his numbers from 1989. Although Randy Johnson is rated higher, my scouting is +/- 10. I just felt more comfortable with someone who was 14-6 with a 3.34 ERA starting the opener than a 7-13, 4.82 ERA pitcher.

Just my opinion. :D

*

7. My ‘Meeting’ with Jeff

“Mr. Kane? Jeff Smulyan on line 1.”

“Thank you, Sheila.” My secretary nodded and left the room.

I fiddled with the receiver before putting it up to my ear and pressing the blinking red light. “Jeff! Calling to congratulate me on a good win, I presume?”

“Whoa, you had a game tonight? Well, congratulations. It’s always good to get the season off on the right foot. But that’s not why I’m calling. What’s this I hear about a trade?”

“Jeff, last week [Pete] O’Brien physically assaulted me, saying that if he wasn’t going to start here, he would like to be traded. Not wanting to deal with him anymore, I obliged, and the Red Sox were willing takers.”

“I’ll say they were! Do you know his line from tonight? He went 2-5 with a home run! What did Murphy do?”

“He gave up a hit in 1/3 of an inning.”

“That means we’re already behind on the trade. I’m going to have to cut you off on any and all trades for the forseeable future. I thought you’d be a little gunshy after what happened to you in Kansas City…”

Quote:

---

“The Mets called yesterday, inquiring about a trade possibility…”

---

“Will? Will? You still there? Hello?”

“Yeah, I’m here. I’m sorry, I just got…distracted.”

“I’m not paying you to sit and daydream. You hear me? No trades unless you see me first. Even then, I probably won’t allow it. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes sir.” I replied meekly.

“Good. Let’s keep this winning streak going, though. You can never win enough games, especially in the early part of the season.”

Nice start. And FWIW, one of the guys you traded for might turn out to be a good pitching coach down the road! :)

EVEN11323: Thanks! I hope to get far enough to see that potentially happen! And I need a good pitching coach, as you'll soon see...

*

8. April, Part I

Oakland at Seattle

2 – See above. Mariners 11-10

3 – Mike Moore returns to Seattle, and goes 8 shutout innings. The Mariners can only muster 5 hits against Moore and Burns. Mark McGwire and Rickey Henderson hit home runs for the A’s. A’s 5-0

RP Gene Harris has a sore right arm, and will be unavailable for the next few days.

4 – Despite striking out 7 batters, Randy Johnson gets lit up for 7 runs in 4 innings of work. Dave Stewart shuts down a suddenly anemic Mariners offense. A’s 9-1

Seattle (1-2) at Minnesota (0-3)

We start our road schedule against the only team worse than us in the AL West. We also face our first lefty of the season in John Candelaria, meaning Dave Valle will get the start in the 1st game.

5 – Kirby Puckett’s 1st-inning home run sets the tone for the whole game, as Candelaria strikes out 9 over 8 innings. Twins 7-2

6 – Valle stays in the lineup with lefty Allan Anderson on the bump for the Twins.

Despite giving up 3 home runs, the Mariners are able to hang on for the slugfest victory. Mike Schooler gets his first save of the season. Mariners 9-7

7 – Bradley is back behind the dish with the team facing a righty.

Kirby Puckett goes 4-4, falling a triple shy of the cycle. The Twins score 5 runs in the last 2 innings, including a walk-off homer by Puckett. Twins 9-7

8 – DAY OFF

Gene Harris is feeling 100%, and is ready to return to the bullpen.

Seattle (2-4) at New York (5-2)

Our first trip to the East Coast brings us to the door of the AL East-leading Yankees, who have relied on great pitching to propel them to the top of the division, with Don Mattingly doing absolutely nothing (.089, 0 RBI). Hopefully we can get out of NYC with at least 1 win.

Edgar Martinez is hitting .474, and Jeffrey Leonard is only hitting .217. Therefore, it makes sense to move Edgar up to the #3 slot, while dropping Jeffrey to #6. Darnell Coles will get some playing time in right field as Jay Buhner (.182) tries to get back on track. We also will flip Junior (.360) and Alvin (.227).

9 – The lineup changes work! Edgar hits a solo shot to put us on the board, and Darnell’s 2-out single in the 9th inning sparked the eventual game-winning rally. Mariners 3-2

10 – Valle technically catching, but not much got to him, as Randy Johnson gets shelled for 10 hits and 7 runs in 3 innings. Mattingly hits his 1st home run of the season. Yankees 9-6

11 – Bradley catching. Our first extra-inning game of the young season, as Briley singles home Omar after his 3rd double of the game, making a winner out of Mike Schooler, who blew a 1-run lead an inning before. Mariners 4-3 (10)

Our hottest hitter thus far this season, Edgar Martinez, has certainly been a welcome addition to the starting lineup. Replacing Mariner mainstay Jim Presley was no easy task, but Edgar has done remarkably well, hitting .400, 3 HR, and 8 RBI. However, he’ll miss at least one game with a bruised cheekbone. Darnell Coles takes over both in the #3 batting slot and at 3rd, and Jay Buhner returns to right field.

Chicago (4-5) at Seattle (4-5)

What? Fly back from New York City to play an afternoon game against the White Sox? Why not? Stupid schedule makers. Fortunately, the White Sox are missing rookie slugger Frank Thomas due to injury, but have plenty of other ways to hurt the mediocre Mariners pitching staff.

12 – Ken Griffey, Jr. is the Mariners offense today, going 3-4, and recording his 3rd career multi-home run game with 2 solo bombs, bringing the Mariners back to .500. Mariners 4-2

Edgar Martinez only needed to miss one day, so he’ll return to the hot corner, and Coles returns to right field.

13 – The White Sox pound out 22 hits, scoring 15 times. CF Sammy Sosa’s 2 home runs help Melido Perez to his 3rd victory of the young season. White Sox 15-2

Rob Murphy will be day-to-day with a pulled muscle in his chest. Meanwhile, in Boston, Pete O’Brien is hitting .317 with 4 home runs. By contrast, Alvin Davis and Jeffrey Leonard are a combined .198 with 1 home run. Yikes.

14 – Valle catching. Erik Hanson takes it the distance, striking out 6 batters en route to the first shutout of his young career. Edgar Martinez’ RBI single is all both teams get in this pitcher’s duel. Mariners 1-0

MID-APRIL REPORT

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/7...ril1990lq9.jpg

NOTES
Raised “Stats vs. Scouting” to +50%

MILESTONES
4/2 – Padres 1B Jack Clark: 1000th RBI
4/10 – Brewers 3B Paul Molitor: 1000th Run

EXTENSIONS SIGNED
4/1 – SP Tom Candiotti (CLE), CF Dave Martinez (MON), SP David Cone (NYM), LF Mike Greenwell (BOS), SP Mark Gubicza (KC), 1B Will Clark (SF)
4/2 – 1B Mark McGwire (OAK), 1B Andres Galarraga (MON), CF Lenny Dykstra (PHI), RF Jose Canseco (OAK), SP Chuck Finley (CAL), SS Barry Larkin (CIN)
4/3 – SP Ron Darling (NYM), SP David Wells (TOR), 1B Fred McGriff (TOR)
4/4 – RP Duane Ward (TOR), CF Ellis Burks (BOS)
4/5 – LF Luis Polonia (NYY), 3B Wade Boggs (BOS)
4/7 – SP Mike Moore (OAK), SP Greg Maddux (CHC), 1B Rafael Palmeiro (TEX)
4/8 – SP Jamie Moyer (TEX), SP Jack Morris (DET)
4/9 – SP Jimmy Key (TOR)
4/11 – 3B Matt Williams (SF)

MAJOR INJURIES
Lower injury frequency to -50%, after having over 40 injuries in 14 days league-wide.

4/2 – Rangers 2B Julio Franco out 2-3 months (severe shoulder separation)
4/5 – Expos SP Dennis Martinez out 3 weeks (stress fracture in wrist)
4/6 – Twins 1B Kent Hrbek out 3-4 months (broken hip)
4/9 – Giants SS Dave Anderson out for season (broken wrist)
4/10 – White Sox 1B Frank Thomas out 2 weeks (stretched ankle ligament)
4/14 – Blue Jays SS Tony Fernandez out 2 weeks (separated shoulder)

TRADES
4/2 – Mariners trade 1B Pete O’Brien to Red Sox for RP Rob Murphy

Reversed 2 trades, then lowered trade frequency to -50% until June 1.

- Cubs trade 2B Ryne Sandberg to Royals for RP Steve Farr, C Bob Boone, 3B Kevin Seitzer, LF Bo Jackson, and CF Jim Eisenrich. (REVERSED)
- Orioles trade C Mickey Tettleton to Red Sox for 2B Tom Barrett, SS Jody Reed, and RF Dwight Evans. (REVERSED)

Both the Cubs and Orioles lose out on these deals. Although I dropped the ball by not seeing them immediately, all players were returned to their original team.

RETIREMENTS
4/1 - LF Butch Davis (31)
4/1 - 3B Skeeter Barnes (33)
4/6 – SP Jose DeJesus (25)
4/7 - SS Rafael Santana (32)

Nice job reversing those deals. I don't know if the Cubs and Orioles lose the deals, but one of the teams got ripped off.

Junior and Edgar look like they're playing well... Could we have expected anything less?