62-7- Checking on the Bottom Rung- It's so international!

[chicoruiz]

The “International Complex”… Sounds pretty cool, doesn’t it? Like the United Nations or something; you can imagine the best and brightest from all over the world, meeting in some futuristic layout like the Jetsons.

The reality, however, is far from that. The Gamblers international complex consists of a cluster of prefab buildings mouldering in a clearing in the Pine Barrens area of New Jersey. I asked once why it was located there, and I was told it was a combination of cheap real estate and a desire to keep the young residents there far away from the temptations of the big city. To me it was kind of a depressing place, made even more so by the fact that there were seldom any real prospects there. But this season was different; there were a number of potentially legit guys currently in residence, so with the big league team on another autopilot to mediocrity, I thought I’d boost their morale by making a quick visit.

I inevitably got lost a couple of times on my way, but I arrived in time to catch most of the morning workout. I could see some talent there, although the language barriers led to an unusually high incidence of fielders running into each other while chasing pop-ups. Then it was time for lunch, about which the less said the better, and then I was invited to address the troops.

My first thought was how YOUNG these guys are. I mean, it’s 2062; how can we not have a cure for acne yet? And all that orthodontia gleaming back at me- it was blinding. I felt like I was back in Boy Scouts, leading the Beaver Patrol.

I gave them a quick pep talk, spoke of the unusually high number of them who would be moving up next year (which is true), and then let them get back to their regular schedule of drills, weight training and English lessons. I’m pretty sure that most of them didn’t speak the language well enough to even know who I was, but they were in good spirits nonetheless, helped by the knowledge that it was movie night in the barracks and there was rumored to be female nudity in tonight’s feature.

While I was there, I took the opportunity to go over the players with the staff. There really are an unusual number of guys who might have a major league future, beginning with the two middle infielders I signed in international free agency. There’s also a pitcher or two, and a center fielder named “Pepe”, although it’s hard to take a player named “Pepe” seriously.

The majority, of course, will simply be booted from the nest when they turn 19; I can only hope that the experience and the language skills they get here serve them well in the future. And of course all of them get something to dream on when they go to sleep at night- the chance that they might be summoned to spend 2063 in beautiful, glamorous Albany, New York.

[Trebro]

Who specifically are you grooming right now?