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Post by Doobs on Jan 8, 2007 7:34:39 GMT -5
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Post by theforty on Jan 8, 2007 11:20:00 GMT -5
You aren't kidding...He made it as far as A ball at 24? I thought pretty much all drafted players make it to A ball. Anyway, I'm thinking the Tigers won't have him on their 40 man roster, but that's just a guess.
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Post by Doobs on Jan 8, 2007 12:21:12 GMT -5
But it only took them 15 pitches to see he needed a chance!
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Post by theburns on Jan 8, 2007 12:25:25 GMT -5
I don't even know who the hell you ahhhh.
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Post by ndbooster on Jan 8, 2007 12:44:30 GMT -5
Admittedly I don't follow minor league ball to the extent you might, but I don't see this as a big deal. If Bergdall proves himself, then the Tigers will have found a pearl where no one was even looking; if he flops they surely couldn't have paid much to find out. (If I'm reading this right he'll be paid only if they place him with a team.) Worst that can happen is a waste of time - and that's Bergdall's waste more than the team's. Basically it's a thrill for Enidians (if that's a word) and for the man himself, but of no importance to anyone else.
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Post by Doobs on Jan 8, 2007 12:58:41 GMT -5
Yes it is a win win.
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Post by theforty on Jan 8, 2007 15:30:36 GMT -5
I think everyone would agree it is a no-risk option exercised by the Tigers that might yield a benefit. That written, the likelihood this guy even makes it to the high minors is slim to none.
2 stories along the same vein that I will foist on everyone:
Story 1
Manager Hughie Jennings once got a telegram from a guy who claimed he could strike Ty Cobb out on 3 pitches. All it would cost was a $2.10 train fare to bring the guy in. Hughie figured it was only $2.10, so he sent for him. The guy was a trim 6'3" and he warmed up quickly. Cobb was called to the plate, whereupon he hit a home run, double and triple in succession. Hughie walked up to the man and asked what he had to say for himself, since he wasn't able to strike out Cobb on 3 pitches. The pitcher looked at Cobb and said, "you know, I don't really think that is Cobb up there at the plate."
Story 2
I was reading a book on MLB scouting entitled "Dollar Sign on the Muscle". I good read,incidentally, but, it had a story I'd like to share.
This scout wanted to sign a prospect, but only could offer $40k, and heard the Yanks offered $50k. The US tax law at the time allowed for no tax on a signing bonus up to $25k, but taxed 50% on every dollar above $25k. Thus the Yankees offer would have netted the prospect $37,500.
So the scout limited to a $40k budget offered $25k for the prospect and $15k for his younger brother (sight unseen) - under the premise that the real prospect would collect the $15k from his brother under the table and pocket the full $40k. The family thought about this and agreed to the $40k offer (why they didn't ask the Yankees to split the $50k offer into 2-$25k offers isn't clear to me, but what the hey).
As it turns out, the prospect proved to be a bust, but the younger brother made the majors for a cup of coffee. I don't have the guy's name on me right now, but I thought it was worth sharing.
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Post by ndbooster on Jan 8, 2007 15:57:18 GMT -5
Definitely agree that the chances of success here are remote; if he couldn't get out of Class A in five years of ball, what are his chances now? Certainly think it's worth a try but there can't be too many (apart from Bergdall himself) who think much will come of this.
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Post by harlem on Jan 9, 2007 7:18:24 GMT -5
The Tigers told my uncle that he was too old at 23 to polish and make a player out of.
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