A Shot of Redemption: The Story of Will Kane

[PotatoOfCouch13]

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.

*

[PotatoOfCouch13]

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)

[PotatoOfCouch13]

Reserved

[PotatoOfCouch13]

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…

*

[twinsGM]

Awesome so far!

[rockiesfan4ever]

WHAT WAS THE MISTAKE!!!

I wanna know!

[RedsoxRockies]

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

[metsguy234]

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

No, he broke up Alice in Chains!

[RedsoxRockies]

No, he broke up Alice in Chains!

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

[OregonDuck1989]

Was the mistake naming his son Citizen?

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

Was the mistake naming his son Citizen?

Citizen Kane was before this though .

[PotatoOfCouch13]

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!

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...

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!

*

[PotatoOfCouch13]

...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.”

*

[OregonDuck1989]

I do love roundin up posses!

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

[PotatoOfCouch13]

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...