Bandit Post, Vol 3.31, 1997

[aaronweiner]

News and Notes


Bedgood Re-Signs With Birmingham

Turns out, all Birmingham needed was another three fifths of a million over five years to secure the services of one of the best pitchers in baseball, Damian Bedgood. The team had offered Bedgood $44.4 million over five years; the righty wanted to make it an even $45 million. Birmingham shrugged - and Bedgood signed, happy to be back in a Birmingham uniform.

"I'm happy to be back in a Birmingham uniform until the next millenium," said Bedgood. "This team has done a good job of keeping the core together, and it'll be nice to come back and concentrate on winning a pennant."

Bedgood, the team's most popular player, was out for nine months after Tommy John surgery, but the stalwart starting pitcher has worked so hard to come back from the surgery that the team felt he deserved the biggest contract ever handed out by GM Aaron Weiner.

"Well, Sammy Bodeen's contract might eat up Bedgood's - we'll see what he wants next year," said Weiner. "But those two guys, they're the heart of this ballclub, and we're not going to let them go anywhere."


Birmingham All-Stars

Speaking of Bodeen, the righty was named an All-Star this week, garnering the second-most votes in the Frick League behind Michael Shellenbarger, a race that might reach a head during Steve Nebraska voting. Brett Favre was an overwhelming winner in right field. Bandits Jack Dark, who tied for the lead at shortstop, and Medric Wood, who got the fourth-most votes of any outfielder, will also almost certainly be making the trip to the Midsummer Classic as reserves.

"We're certainly proud of all our guys in the All-Star Game, and we're glad they're playing for us and not anyone else!" said manager Lou Brown. "It's a nice moment to see our guys recognized for their accomplishments."

Birmingham's Alex Khodorkovsky was a near miss, garnering only four votes.


Willie Greene Wins Player of the Week

From the outhouse to the penthouse, Willie Greene was named the Frick League Player of the Week on June 23 after going 10-20 with 3 HR, 5 RBI and 5 runs. Greene, who had been benched this season because of his poor production, took full advantage of his temporary starting job.

"I'm happy to be back in the lineup and performing at my best," said Greene. "I hope that I can continue to make contributions to the team."

The controversy surrounding Greene is likely to reach a fever pitch as Jimmy Dugan is set to return in two weeks, meaning the infield is likely to shift and Greene may again find himself on the bench.

"Whatever happens, I'll be ready to play, every day," said Greene. "Whatever they need from me, that's what I'll give them. My loyalty is here; they offered me a contract for next year and didn't make me sit through arbitration when I was hitting .220 earlier and so I'm gonna play my heart out for them."


Pat Larkin Tearing Up AAA

Pat Larkin will be in the majors, soon, and there might be some people who would push him to start next season ahead of Pluvius Avis-Albus. The switch-hitting 21-year old Larkin is second in AAA in batting average, posting a preposterous .431 average through July.

"Well, obviously, I want to be playing in the major leagues, but I know that Pluvius is the starter and he's my mentor and a guy I look up to a lot," said Larkin. "I'm not looking to take his job. He's a great defensive player. I just hope I can learn enough from him to become half the player he is."

Larkin will definitely be a September call-up, and there's a good chance that he'll at least take the job from current backup catcher Jim Ibar by next season. Ibar having his usual outstanding season as a backup catcher, hitting .292 this season, but he does have option years left and may start 1998 in AAA if Larkin is promoted.

"We might hold onto Jim because he's just such a valuable backup catcher," said a team anonymous source. "That said, he's making a million bucks. We can probably afford him, though. Pat Larkin has a chance to take Pluvius' job next year, so we'll see how that plays out."

According to the source, it's not likely that Larkin will grab the starting job from Avis-Albus, however, because Pluvius is still considered one of the league's best defensive catchers and is hitting .295 on the year.


Draft Pick Signings

Birmingham has now successfully signed all of their draft picks other than Carlos Gonzales, whose demands the team met immediately after he rejected their apparently lowball offer. Gonzales, a powerhitting prospect from Saint Paul, MN that was Birmingham's sixth-round pick, will almost certainly sign this week as the team has agreed to match his bonus request.

"We're happy to announce that all of our draft picks will be on the Rookie League roster," said Weiner. "We hope that they have happy and successful careers."