62.4- Mr. Ploid Steps In

[chicoruiz]

I have to be honest- Unem Ploid was not my first choice to fill the opening created when Tyler Ober ended his days in Atlantic City. I was looking for a power hitter, and no matter what Unem is, a power hitter he is most definitely not. And he's a huge injury risk; he was only able to play 88 games last season, and since I already have a guy like that in Okyay Nisanci, I had the distinct feeling that I might be rolling the dice once too often.

But I have to say, Unem kind of won me over on our first meeting. He's an easy guy to like; a grown-up in a business where all too often I'm dealing with immaturity.

"Well", I said when we met for the first time in my office, "I'm certainly glad you're here. I know that you had a player option to stay in Long Beach for a lot more money, and I hope there's no bad feeling about signing here for less".

"Oh no", he replied. "If money was the only thing, I'd have stayed with the Surfers. I just felt like we were both ready for a mutual parting of the ways. And hey- I was born in Bangladesh, so I've seen enough poverty to know better than to blow my nose on eight million bucks when someone offers it to me."

"Well, we hope you feel right at home in Atlantic City."

"Oh, I'm sure I will. It will be nice to get back together with Okyay; we're old buddies from our time in Sacramento, and I imagine we'll spend a lot of time remembering the old days and laughing... probably in the trainer's room as we try to get our old bodies ready for the next game." I smiled, but the thought of the two of them dealing with injuries at the same time wasn't pleasant.

"So, Unem... why don't you tell me a little about yourself. Like, you said you were born in Bangladesh... Is that where you started playing baseball?"

"No, it really happened later. After we moved back to the States, my father Dee was a career army guy and he was away a lot when I was young. So my mother Em worked full time to bring some extra money in, and I was kind of left on my own after school. I guess it's a good thing I found baseball instead of running with some street gang."

I kept my mouth shut, but I couldn't help but wonder if his parents couldn't have paid a little more attention to him when it was time to pick out a name... Oh well, it will be a beautiful name to me as long as our manager can write it on a lineup card 120 or so times this season...

[JRamirez]

Dee Ploid and Em Ploid!

[chicoruiz]

Dee Ploid and Em Ploid!

I was wondering when someone would pick up on that….

[recte44]

Off Topic

I had the distinct feeling that I might be rolling the dice once too often.

Well, you are the "Gamblers".

[Trebro]

I think it's a reasonable gamble for you. if he gets hurt it will be a losing proposition but ootp seems to give certain guys bounce back years. maybe this will be his.

De and Em waa a nice touch but I'd expect nothing less from you.

[trmmilwwi]

I'll be watching how this one plays out for sure. Nice "gamble".

[Trebro]

4 small injuries but also hitting .304 - and with 4 home runs, too! Not too shabby so far. Not Prime Ploid, but perhaps Sirloin Ploid?