We Got Wood - 43.03 - What To Do About Dempsey

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Heading into the 2043 season, the Portland Lumberjacks are expected to finally start seeing some of the younger players emerge on the big league roster. This even includes some younger hitting guys like Matt Normore who spent all of last season in Triple-A as the team waited out one more season before paying the prospect. Though the club doesn't have a lot of hitting prospects, the organization does have some decent options in the outfield. Arthur Daniel is reported as having a shot to make the big league club as a CF, which would push this year's Diamond Glove winner, Miguel Cortez to right field while Jorge Lopez continues to platoon and patrol LF with an exceptional glove. Assuming that quartet of guys banks most of the playing time in the OF and at DH, what does that mean for the future and career of Steve Dempsey?

Dempsey, the 36 year old veteran, has a 1 year contract for 2043 that will pay him an even $1 million. There are split reports on how the Portland front office wants to handle Dempsey's 2043 season. Dempsey sits just 78 hits shy of the 3,000 hits plateau. Something that used to guarantee you a spot in the Hall of Fame. While there are some in the front office that want to see him reach the mark, there are others that are skeptical he can even get there in 2043.

Dempsey recorded just 59 hits in 2042 over 61 games. It can be fairly stated that Dempsey stole 220 at-bats away from someone far more worthy of those at-bats than he (Does the name Sadaharu Oh III ring a bell). Some reports late this season surfaced that General Manager Chris Wilson ordered manager Pedro Medina to play Dempsey "as much as possible" to help him reach the milestone. Dempsey got closer. But was it enough?

Steve Dempsey has recorded just 96 hits over the last two seasons. Seasons that saw him get 347 at bats in 92 games played. Total. Based on those numbers, and Demspey's detoriating ability, it can safely be stated that the veteran outfielder is a long shot to get the 78 hits needed to reach 3,000. Which then begs the question: Why use a roster space on him at all?

That's where the controversy within the front office kicks in. There are mixed reports that team owner David Wallace and team GM Chris Wilson have had heated discussions about Steve Dempsey over the last few seasons. Conversations that even take back to the famous "Master Plan" development of 2040 when Dempsey was supposedly "not a part of". The management debate now hinges on whether the club should eat the $1 million in salary and just release Dempsey, all but guaranteeing he won't reach 3,000 hits? Or let him take a roster spot, get some PH at-bats, and see what shakes out in 2043?

With the retirement of Jon Mick at the end of 2042 at the age of 37 (he fell 1 HR shy of 550), could we also see the end of Steve Dempsey's career soon here after?