The Past with Keijo Reini

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The Past with Keijo Reini

Post by 7teen » Sun Nov 27, 2022 8:44 am

I had this typed out as a Team News. But thought since I did a little extra digging into his Charlotte past and the history of the 2039 expansion draft I'd post it here to get more eyes on it. But admins, feel free to drop it into my TN if you feel it isn't worthy of a Spotlight.

The year was 2039. Two new expansion teams had just been added to the league, one in Charlotte and one here in Portland. Keijo Reini was a 21 year old prospect in the Edmonton Jackrabbits farm system. Some rated Reini as a high prospect. Others felt his lack of movement on his pitches meant he wasn't much more than a AAAA pitcher. He was rated as the #65 prospect that off-season and was biding his time for a hopeful debut soon in Edmonton.

By the grace of a virtual coin flip, the Portland Lumberjacks won the toss for the first pick in the expansion draft that season. Lumberjacks GM Chris Wilson already had some pre-draft deals made out and agreed to take C Hank Brewer with the Lumberjacks first pick. Brewer was almost instantly traded to the Boise Spuds for a package of players that included Faical Engeitado. That's when then Charlotte GM Brett Golden swooped in with Charlotte's first expansion pick and took Keijo Reini who was left unprotected by Edmonton.

"In all honesty, I had never thought about it" said Reini when asked at this year's spring training how he felt about pitching in Portland after the team had passed on him in the expansion draft back in 2039. "I guess that's why they pay you writers the big bucks. To dig up stories like that" Reini added with a laugh. "I don't have a chip on my shoulder or anything like that. Like I said, I didn't even think of it. At the time, I felt it was honor to have been taken so high in the expansion draft anyway and felt it might kick start my track to the big leagues. Expansion teams aren't supposed to be that good early on so it would provide me the chance to reach the pros sooner. I think it worked out in the end. As for the now, I'm just thankful Portland still sees enough in me to give the chance to keep pitching."

The rest with Reini as the say, is history.

Reini is the all-time WAR and strikeout leader in Charlotte Cougars franchise history. He's also pitched in more games than any other Cougar in the franchise's brief history. He had 3 seasons as a reliever in which he posted a WAR over 5 that led to numerous all-star appearances and a pair of Jason Egan relief pitcher of the year awards.

However since those years in Charlotte, it's been a rocky road. Reini had a pair of stints in Sacramento sandwiched around a year in the GBC in Athens. His years with the Mad Popes were solid, until the most recent that saw him post a negative WAR. 2051 and 2052 were both disasters that saw him bounce from Sacramento, to Boise, to Phoenix last season. The Talons tried to energize his career by moving him to the rotation where Reini failed miserably.

That's when Portland swooped back in this off-season to give the now 35 year old arm another shot. Reini signed a 1 year, $1 million deal to pitch out of the bullpen for the Lumberjacks. "We don't need him to start" said AGM Kate Fiscus. "We need innings and hopefully a lot of strikeouts. We think he's got it in him still."

"I hope to prove them right" concluded Reini. "I guess I should say I'm going to go out and prove to them they should have drafted me first back in 2039 all those years ago" Reini finished with a grin.
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Re: The Past with Keijo Reini

Post by RT60 » Sun Nov 27, 2022 8:51 am

Reini.png
Reini.png (252.66 KiB) Viewed 1360 times
In last year's media guide, Reini stated: "One thing is for sure is that I will never start another game. Print that to give to my agent."

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Re: The Past with Keijo Reini

Post by usnspecialist » Sun Nov 27, 2022 9:40 am

i remember trading him straight up to Edmonton for what turned out to be 2/3 of a record setting dusty Rhodes season. Never imagined he would become the weapon that he did.
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Re: The Past with Keijo Reini

Post by shoeless.db » Sun Nov 27, 2022 11:12 am

He was absolutely lights out for me in 2048. Gave up just 18 runs in 104 innings out of the bullpen, which included 13 homers against (that low movement). If you didn’t hit a bomb, you weren’t scoring.
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Re: The Past with Keijo Reini

Post by bschr682 » Sun Nov 27, 2022 5:44 pm

shoeless.db wrote:
Sun Nov 27, 2022 11:12 am
He was absolutely lights out for me in 2048. Gave up just 18 runs in 104 innings out of the bullpen, which included 13 homers against (that low movement). If you didn’t hit a bomb, you weren’t scoring.
I think hes the perfect example of why I loathe low movement. Its not that those guys can't work. Over the course of a season hes going to put up great numbers. But dear god when its the post season id be scared to stick him out there. Sure he might strike out the side but he also might give up a homer and your season ends... Watching him damn near gives you a heart attack.
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Re: The Past with Keijo Reini

Post by CTBrewCrew » Fri Jan 06, 2023 9:47 pm

As long as nobody’s on base im okay with a solo HR.
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Re: The Past with Keijo Reini

Post by GoldenOne » Sun Jan 08, 2023 2:33 pm

bschr682 wrote:
Sun Nov 27, 2022 5:44 pm
shoeless.db wrote:
Sun Nov 27, 2022 11:12 am
He was absolutely lights out for me in 2048. Gave up just 18 runs in 104 innings out of the bullpen, which included 13 homers against (that low movement). If you didn’t hit a bomb, you weren’t scoring.
I think hes the perfect example of why I loathe low movement. Its not that those guys can't work. Over the course of a season hes going to put up great numbers. But dear god when its the post season id be scared to stick him out there. Sure he might strike out the side but he also might give up a homer and your season ends... Watching him damn near gives you a heart attack.
Post season wasnt much of a worry for the Cougars back in those early days. But it was nice having one star on the team.
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Re: The Past with Keijo Reini

Post by GoldenOne » Sun Jan 08, 2023 2:34 pm

Reini still has a soft spot in my heart. He's welcome in Rocky Mountain any time.
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