Off Topic
Veteran First Sacker Mired In Season-Long Slump
AGAIN
June 24, 2063 -- "I may not be so good with numbers, but I can do that math," said Mike McClure when asked about his future two days after extending his hitless streak to five games, albeit that several of those were comprised of only single at bats. That caveat doesn't matter. McClure has not hit in a starting role, a bench role, or a pinch-hitting role. It just hasn't mattered. He's striking out nearly 30% of his at bats, and has a grand total of one home run. A far cry from his heyday of even a year and a half ago.
Bell Could Be Atolling
for McClureYes, we, too, can do that math.
Keith Williams is ready, and the team needs his +1. In order to make that happen, someone else needs to draw the -1. Though one could argue Marty Barnett might be expendable, McClure is the obvious choice. Barnett, after all, is 5-4 (.357), with a homer since his recall. He can manage a few innings in right field against left-handed pitching. It's a hard sell to suggest that Barnett shouldn't stick, and the fact is that with rookies Juan Ramos and Felix Moreno able to handle the role defensively, and with Napoleon Mellott perhaps able to slide back to first base as Agatone Louganis slides back to his more natural second base, there are plenty of candidates to cover McClure's tracks. And that doesn't include Valencia castoff Vicente Romero who is down in AAA waiting for a chance to resuccetate his own career.
So, Is This The End?
You never say never in baseball, but it would appear that this could be the end of the road for McClure, at least when it comes to playing on the atoll. At 29 years old, and after breaking in at 23, the game seems to be catching up to him. Seeing he's hit the end of his cost controlled years, he's hit a bad time to throw a clinker, too.
"It's all about the strikeout for Mike," said Misty Morgan, the baseball anchor of Forever Land Sports Network. "He's led the league in strikeouts twice (2058 and 2062), and had horrible seasons each time. He's essentially striking out at that kind of pace again this year."
So, yes, you do the math.
Which is a shame. Baseball is, in the end, a harsh mistress. It doesn't care a lot for feelings so many times. McClure was a solid, dependable player much of his career, a leader and a clubhouse figure. He was among the cohort who came out of the draft and took the Bikini franchise by the straps and pulled it up to at least some degree of respectability. He deserved better than to fade into the woodwork at age 29, but life is what it is. He's a strikeout machine. His swing is said to be able to air-condition small countries.
We assume that even if he never sees the Bikini roster again, he'll likely play baseball someplace--either in the BBA, or abroad.
To that, we say (assuming rumors of his demotion are true) go thee well, Mr. McClure. It will be great if we see you again, but if we don't please take care that the door does not bruise your behind as you leave, and have happy travels.
AGAIN
June 24, 2063 -- "I may not be so good with numbers, but I can do that math," said Mike McClure when asked about his future two days after extending his hitless streak to five games, albeit that several of those were comprised of only single at bats. That caveat doesn't matter. McClure has not hit in a starting role, a bench role, or a pinch-hitting role. It just hasn't mattered. He's striking out nearly 30% of his at bats, and has a grand total of one home run. A far cry from his heyday of even a year and a half ago.
Bell Could Be Atolling
for McClure
Keith Williams is ready, and the team needs his +1. In order to make that happen, someone else needs to draw the -1. Though one could argue Marty Barnett might be expendable, McClure is the obvious choice. Barnett, after all, is 5-4 (.357), with a homer since his recall. He can manage a few innings in right field against left-handed pitching. It's a hard sell to suggest that Barnett shouldn't stick, and the fact is that with rookies Juan Ramos and Felix Moreno able to handle the role defensively, and with Napoleon Mellott perhaps able to slide back to first base as Agatone Louganis slides back to his more natural second base, there are plenty of candidates to cover McClure's tracks. And that doesn't include Valencia castoff Vicente Romero who is down in AAA waiting for a chance to resuccetate his own career.
So, Is This The End?
You never say never in baseball, but it would appear that this could be the end of the road for McClure, at least when it comes to playing on the atoll. At 29 years old, and after breaking in at 23, the game seems to be catching up to him. Seeing he's hit the end of his cost controlled years, he's hit a bad time to throw a clinker, too.
"It's all about the strikeout for Mike," said Misty Morgan, the baseball anchor of Forever Land Sports Network. "He's led the league in strikeouts twice (2058 and 2062), and had horrible seasons each time. He's essentially striking out at that kind of pace again this year."
So, yes, you do the math.
Which is a shame. Baseball is, in the end, a harsh mistress. It doesn't care a lot for feelings so many times. McClure was a solid, dependable player much of his career, a leader and a clubhouse figure. He was among the cohort who came out of the draft and took the Bikini franchise by the straps and pulled it up to at least some degree of respectability. He deserved better than to fade into the woodwork at age 29, but life is what it is. He's a strikeout machine. His swing is said to be able to air-condition small countries.
We assume that even if he never sees the Bikini roster again, he'll likely play baseball someplace--either in the BBA, or abroad.
To that, we say (assuming rumors of his demotion are true) go thee well, Mr. McClure. It will be great if we see you again, but if we don't please take care that the door does not bruise your behind as you leave, and have happy travels.