DFA'd From the Ballot Box
(at least Juan big name missing)
Ever since an off season scandal rocked the Brooklyn Robins to the core, the team and it's fans have wondered if the league and rival teams would collude against them as retaliation. Well, let me present to you exhibit A. The ballots have been released for the annual mid summer classic and there is Juan very notible omission. Juan player who stands above the rest in pitching excellance. A player who ranks number Juan in the entire BBA in ERA and number tw.... umm... Juan-A in wins with 11. That player is none other then the legendary Juan Hernandez.
This is pure lunacy. While other teams are jockeying for their mediocre flash in the pan players to make the team, one of the greatest arms this generation has ever seen, and a true bargain of a contract I might add has been jettisoned off the ballot. Out of sight, out of mind.
But wait a second. This is the Brooklyn Robins and everyone knows they do some shady things. They are the true shysters of the BBA and probably found a loophole in the voting system. Like say, "for example" Juan Hernandez had a $3 million all star bonus. And if "by chance" DFA'ing Hernandez meant it would remove him from the ballot, lessening his chances of achieving said bonus.
Now that half of you just checked his player page to see if this is legit. Welcome back. I will say with 100% purity that it is not true. He doesn't have any all star bonus and he is on the roster as we speak. But it makes you think. And thinking is a great skill in this strategy filled game of baseball.
Speaking of strategy. Brooklyn is hoping that Hernandez in fact does get snubbed of the game. It has nothing to do with money at all. The strategy behind his success has been to skip his starts when facing power hitting, lefty heavy teams and small ballparks. Just a wild guess... there is prooobably going to be a power hitter or two in the Frick lineup. If this was a Robins game, he would be kept far away. Being put in a situation where he could get shelled would compromise the approach and Hernandez could essentially, lose his mojo that Brooklyn has spent the better part of a year building. If by chance Juan does make the team, Brooklyn manager Tomás Valdéz has already stated that he will send a request to the Johnson League manager to only use Hernandez against guys like Mons Raider, Xue-qin Man, and other non power threats.
Here is a look at some other Robins who may or may not make the team....
-Sean Smith is having a phenominal season batting .326/.377/.585. He will be in one heck of a competetion with Hank Bruer and Antonio Tobias for the starting role. Traditionally, only two catchers are picked so one of them may end up watching the game on the Brewster Broadcasting Network. Hopefully not Smith. If selected, Smith plans to enter the homerun derby. Using Corey Jackson's scandalous bat of course(CJ currently riding a 4 game hitting streak and a 2 game losing streak as a 2 way player in AAA prepping for his September call up).
-Cisco Guerrero could be a tough snub. His .359/.420/.590 line is beastly. He is currently on pace for his second best season of his career. Making his 4th all star game will be hard though. Yancy Cravat and Gervasio Riddler are both pounding the baseball. And how can you have an all star game without a guy hitting .400? Mike Eliis deserves some consideration too. Actually a lot of guys at first are good enough to be all stars. Guess that's why they call it an offensive position.
-Mario Balderas looks to be the odds on favorite in RF over Charm Cities Aubrey Anderson. Balderas is looking to make his first of many all star appearances in a Robin uniform as the former Sawyer Silk winner just inked a new deal that should see him finish his hall of fame career in Brooklyn.
-Ryosei Akiyama didn't even start the season in the BBA. It wasn't due to service time juggling either. Brooklyn didn't think he was ready. But when closer Alan Dominguez continued his struggles, the Robins figured what the heck. Thier hunch has paid off as Akiyama has lead a Brooklyn bullpen, thought to be a weakness, and turned it into a positive. Now ask yourself this. When was the last time a team traded absolutely nothing and got two potential all star seasons the very next year?
