60.4- Diary of Michael Pedarzolli

[chicoruiz]

Atlantic City… I always thought of it as a place where people go who couldn’t quite make it in Las Vegas. Gamblers who couldn’t afford plane fare west… Chorus girls who have put on a few pounds… Jugglers who dropped a ball more than occasionally.

And now I’m one of them… A guy who comes to Atlantic City because he couldn’t quite cut it in Las Vegas. It feels weird, but there you go…

Not that I have any ill feelings about Las Vegas… Or for that matter, any of my other stops. Manama, Tokyo, Rocky Mountain, Charlotte, Des Moines, Seattle. It’s just that I felt like even this late in my career, I feel like I’ve never been given a real chance to show what I can do over a full season. With Las Vegas, I came about as close as I’ve ever come in the big leagues. Three hundred and twenty-six plate appearances last season… that’s still only a little more than half a season, but it’s more than I’ve usually had in my so-called career. And I understand it; Las Vegas has a bunch of good hitters, and there just weren’t enough plate appearances to go around. But I didn’t want to reach retirement age and still wonder what I could have done if I’d been given a full season’s worth of playing time.

Which brings us to Atlantic City. The GM here assures me that I’ll be the everyday designated hitter, batting fourth to separate two left handed bats: Okyay Nsanci and Tyler Ober, And He’s signed me to a pretty lucrative contract, which means even more than any verbal assurances he can give me.

Of course, at my age I’m not naive; I know if I don’t produce over the first couple of months I’ll be back on the bench. The Gamblers are already hedging their bets by bringing in a couple of other DH types: Bill Kuhn and Auina Helemano. They’re young and bright-eyed, and I know they can’t wait to take my job from me. I need to produce, starting in spring training, and going on from there.

But at least I’m going to get a chance here. I’m signed to a three-year contract, I’m healthy, and my attitude is good. I’m determined to prove to everyone that I can be more than just another guy who couldn’t make it in Las Vegas.

[Krathan]

I’m curious to see how he does for you. He’s an interesting guy to watch as we continue to learn about how our players age in V25.

[recte44]

I love this guy. Can't wait to see what he does- he deserves a shot.