Slug This...The Hopkins Era...2009 3.19 waiving and DFA'ing

[felipe]

"GM! GM! What is going on!?"Louisville Slugger owner, Bob Elliott, bursts into GM Hopkins office, overlooking the playing field at the ballpark at Locust Grove.

"Oh...hi Bob...what's up?"GM Hopkins barely looks up from his ipad.

"You've DFA'ed Cody Chamberland! That's what! What are you thinking?"

"Big deal...he's shit and washed up."

"GM! He's only three home-runs away from 100 for his career!"

"Look Bob, we only got three and a half months left this year, there's no guarantee he'd even get there in that time!"

"But GM! He's a veteran ballplayer! He's working hard, being a good example for the younger guys...he's priceless!"

"Look Bob...I got a rookie starting at catcher,a rookie at shortstop, a rookie in right-field, a rookie in left-field, a rookie (for all intents and purposes) at designated hitter...does it make any sense to keep an 'old' 35 year-old at second base, keeping a twenty-nine year-old in AAA who's ready to contribute?"

"Yeah...but...couldn't you at least get something for him?"

"Look Bob, he's been on the trade block for two months...I can't even get people to take him as a throw-in!"

"You don't mean, I'm gonna have to eat the last 1/2 of his $4 million contract?"

"You know what Bob...maybe...but what's $2 million between friends? Besides...we paid Dever $24 million not to play!"

"We? Look GM..."

"It's ok Bob, Chamberland still does lots right...I think he will be snapped up by a contender who may need a backup infielder or a power bat or something...he's still got his uses and his contract is up at the end of this season...he's the definition of low risk protection."

"Hmmm..."

"You're gonna like this one a lot less Bob, I DFA'ed another player...just sent in the paperwork."

"GM..."

"Remember that birthday party we held in the clubhouse, two Friday's ago? After our big win against Greenville?"

"Well...not really..."

"It WAS a great party, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, that Kevin Norman is one funny guy...glad to have him on the team...even though we had to give up Richard Wilcox to get him, back in '03."

"Yeah...that wasn't a very good deal...who the hell was running this place back then? You guys had to trade your future for that 'ace' reliever as the 'final' piece to load up for your, unforgettable...57-105 campaign?"

"Kind of like trading LaTrobe? GM?"

"Hey...Rodriguez has got five steals and five runs in only 6 games, already!"

"Yeah...that's worth a Steve Nebraska trophy or two."

"Anyways...remember when I told you last July...that we should wrap up Norman for a couple more years...to bridge the gap before our kids were ready for Louisville?"

"Yes..."

"Well...that gap got shorter in a hurry. I DFA'ed Norman about two minutes ago."

"You DFA'ed our closer?"

'Well...technically...Bandelow is our closer now."

"You DFA'ed an eight year, thirty-four year-old Slugger legacy, to keep a thirty-five year-old Canadian you signed off of the minor league free-agent scrap heap, two months ago? And you've made him our closer?! What part of his 6.15 ERA inspired you to do that!?"

"Hmm....you know, you may have a point there."

"Damn right I do, get him back."

"Okay, okay...I've done it...I've DFA'ed Bandelow instead...but there may be a cost involved."

"Cost? What cost?"

"Well...Bandelow is on a two year $850k per deal...he has a 6.15 ERA...he's thirty-five years old...I doubt anyone is going to sign him off waivers."

"Well...I guess...if we have to eat a little contract..."

"One more thing Bob?"

"What?"

"Would you mind meeting Norman in the clubhouse for me? I kind of had him fly home from Seattle to get his stuff cleared out of the clubhouse..."