I wanted to write you personally before you heard it on the Viz. Because you have always believed in me. And encouraged me on the long road. I will come right out and say it: I've been waived and designated for assignment by the Black Sox and my great worry is that my contract will not be purchased. I shall be cast away in the sea of free agency.
I feel like I let you and my family down. Especially you. I feel embarrassed.
And on the mound I I feel lost. I'm throwing hard but I know I'm just throwing. I'm serving up 100 mph meatballs. Remember that time I spent at Assateague a decade ago? It's the same but worse since the pressure's on and I'm supposedly more mature. I just cannot keep the ball in the park! I refuse to believe that the hitters are magnitudes better than AAA. It's either that or me. After a few seasons, it's probably me. Same trend as last year. All that work in the off-season to nothing. In 11 innings I've given up 5 home runs this year. And it's not just at Vinny Vitale. It's everywhere.
You always said that when a door closes, another one opens. What is it in the French? "Quand un porte ferme un autre ouvre?" Well, what is the French for "If the door doesn't open, bust through it?" I have been looking at my outings. If you have the time, please take a look at the compilations and let me know if you see anything.
I'm enclosing this year's JoGi Throwback.
I know that you like that series. Could be my last good card in the BBA. My next one might be from the GBC! Yes, it's come to that. But I'd pitch in Mogadishu if they asked.
Well, now that you know the news, I'd love for you to beat the bushes, see if any of your contacts would appreciate a a hard-throwing righty. And I want to thank you for your financial advice from a decade ago. That $5.5 million signing bonus from Charm City is still "working for me." It bugs me that the pressure to live up to that signing bonus might be impacting my pitching.
I have passed some of that financial advice to my teammate and friend Tsu-bahr Hru, who was coincidentally DFA'd the same cycle as me. He was picked up by Montreal so maybe you'll see him play for the Blazers. Many players, including Stevie Bodine, have asked me for financial advice. The thought has crossed my mind to enter into finance working with professional athletes, should my pitching career fizzle out. What do you think?
Greeves
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Vanya Elliott made his debut in 2057 for the Black Sox. In 2059, he appeared in 34 games, starting 14 of them. In 114.2 innings last season, he gave up 21 home runs and finished with a record of 2-6. This year, Elliott appeared in 7 games out of the pen and lost 2 of them. In 11.1 innings, he gave up 5 home runs, walked 6 and struck out 5. He was continuing down the same, dangerous path of relying too much on his 100 mph fastball. A candidate for a reliever conversion, he's still looking to be claimed.
Sim 6 notes
The Black Sox are rectifying their horrendous 3-11 start by going 13-8 over sims 4, 5, and 6. Big free agent acquisition Adam Hines has gone 2-0 over 4 starts. 2058 first round pick Dhrtatman Seshadri got called up from AAA and, after getting shellacked by the Twin Cities River Monsters (1 inning, 5 ER, 'nuff said), he 1-hit Yellow Springs Nine over 6.1 innings. On the hitting side, Todd Tatlock is on a 17-game hitting streak to raise his average to .317. And 31 OF Ragheb Burhan is slashing .346 / .415 / .508 from the leadoff spot. Both guys are playing through ailments: Tatlock with a bruised shoulder and Burhan with a quadriceps strain.
