OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

bcimmet · 01-06-2004, 04:16 PM

The Journal of Christopher Quinn (2b, Minnesota Twins)

JULY 14 2006

So it happened like this. I was in the locker room after we finished sweeping the series against Montreal (I was 4-14 with three doubles and four RBI in the series). I’m talking with Miller about a possible poker game that night. He makes a joke about some of the guys on our club should put their contracts in the poker pot as bets. He thinks there’s going to be a lot of movement on this roster in the next two weeks, what with the deadline on July 31. I ask him whether he thinks I’m safe – see, Miller’s been here for many years, and he knows the team. I only met the GM once at a party, and he probably doesn’t even know my first name. He knows my .270 average, my 17 stolen bases (team-high!), but nothing else. Miller thinks I’m safe. They like me. I’m playing well. I’m playing well AND I have potential, which is great.

Yeah, but then I get home, and turn on ESPN. The ticker at the bottom is scrolling by, and all I see drift off the left side of the screen is “...for 2b Christopher Quinn.” And then it shifts to news about hockey.

Nice. I’m sitting here in my hotel room, not knowing what the hell is up, getting ready for just another poker game, and I see my name on ESPN in what looks like the end of a statement about a trade. I try to find another channel, but nothing else is sports right now. I dial up my computer to get online and see if I can – this is ridiculous! I have to scout around to find out what’s happening with my career? Are you kidding me?

I’m staring at ESPN (I disconnected my computer thinking that they might call me), and just as the baseball scroll is coming back, my phone rings. It’s the GM’s third assistant from the left or something, and the word is I’m going to Minnesota. They play in Chicago tomorrow, so I’m flying there instead of with the Padres back to the west coast.

Now I have to say, Minnesota is currently on a five-game winning streak, and leading the AL Central by three games over Detroit and Kansas City (tied, and one game behind Oakland in the Wild Card). I’m going from worst to first. Well, not worst – the Dodgers were six games back of us in the NL West.

Here’s the detail of the trade: San Diego gets pitcher Lawrence Eggleston, an all-star in 2004 (17-3, 3.84) but 9-18 with a 5.95 since then; also prospect shortstop Vinnie Falcon, currently hitting .281 in A-ball. I take my rookie season to Minnesota, where I’m actually going to compete with Tod McNerney and my old teammate from Pittsburgh teammate Joe Bowden for a starting spot. I’ll also reunite with my old teammate from the Padres Chris Chancy, who was traded to Minnesota earlier this year.

McNerney is hitting .302 with six homers and 28 RBI as the regular starter. Bowden was a spot starter, and has only appeared in 10 games this season. Also on the active roster is Manny Ramirez, a second baseman a couple years older than I am. He’s not had much of a career yet, though... McNerney just got off the DL, and Bowden has been sent back to AAA since the trade. I’m penciled in as the leadoff man... I just have to show up, do my job. Read the pitches, hit the ball...

My numbers with San Diego up until the trade:

Code:

YEAR TEAM     GP    AB    H   2B  3B  HR  RBI    R   BB    K  SB  CS   AVG  OBP  SLG  OPS
2006 SD       84   345   93   15   1   7   30   63   39   58  16   5  .270 .344 .380 .724

JULY 15, 2006

Finished the first game 2-3 with a run scored. We won, too, which is the major thing. McNerney came on and replaced me in the seventh, and grounded into a double play. I’m slated to start again today... It’s exciting to think that I was brought to a division leader, and given the starting job.

JULY 19, 2006

I took a 12-game hitting streak into my birthday. So far with Minnesota, I’m 16-20. Unbelievable. Our lead in the AL Central is six games, and we’ve won 10 straight... Today is against Texas.

And for a birthday present, I sat on the bench. We scored six runs in the bottom of the 9th and still lost the game 9-6. McNerney played second and batted leadoff. He went 0-4 with two strikeouts.

12-game hitting streak. 16-20 with the club. And I rode the pine.

Happy Birthday, rookie.

JULY 21, 2006

I was honored with my first ever Player of the Week award. I went 18-23 for the week with seven runs scored. Just one RBI, and all the hits were singles. Still, I’ve been a big boost to Minnesota in their chase for the division title. My mother asked me today if a player who was with more than one team during his rookie season could still be considered for Rookie of the Year. I said probably not...

01-06-2004, 04:16 PM	#29 (permalink)
bcimmet Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New York City Posts: 65	The Journal of Christopher Quinn (2b, Minnesota Twins) JULY 14 2006 So it happened like this. I was in the locker room after we finished sweeping the series against Montreal (I was 4-14 with three doubles and four RBI in the series). I’m talking with Miller about a possible poker game that night. He makes a joke about some of the guys on our club should put their contracts in the poker pot as bets. He thinks there’s going to be a lot of movement on this roster in the next two weeks, what with the deadline on July 31. I ask him whether he thinks I’m safe – see, Miller’s been here for many years, and he knows the team. I only met the GM once at a party, and he probably doesn’t even know my first name. He knows my .270 average, my 17 stolen bases (team-high!), but nothing else. Miller thinks I’m safe. They like me. I’m playing well. I’m playing well AND I have potential, which is great. Yeah, but then I get home, and turn on ESPN. The ticker at the bottom is scrolling by, and all I see drift off the left side of the screen is “...for 2b Christopher Quinn.” And then it shifts to news about hockey. Nice. I’m sitting here in my hotel room, not knowing what the hell is up, getting ready for just another poker game, and I see my name on ESPN in what looks like the end of a statement about a trade. I try to find another channel, but nothing else is sports right now. I dial up my computer to get online and see if I can – this is ridiculous! I have to scout around to find out what’s happening with my career? Are you kidding me? I’m staring at ESPN (I disconnected my computer thinking that they might call me), and just as the baseball scroll is coming back, my phone rings. It’s the GM’s third assistant from the left or something, and the word is I’m going to Minnesota. They play in Chicago tomorrow, so I’m flying there instead of with the Padres back to the west coast. Now I have to say, Minnesota is currently on a five-game winning streak, and leading the AL Central by three games over Detroit and Kansas City (tied, and one game behind Oakland in the Wild Card). I’m going from worst to first. Well, not worst – the Dodgers were six games back of us in the NL West. Here’s the detail of the trade: San Diego gets pitcher Lawrence Eggleston, an all-star in 2004 (17-3, 3.84) but 9-18 with a 5.95 since then; also prospect shortstop Vinnie Falcon, currently hitting .281 in A-ball. I take my rookie season to Minnesota, where I’m actually going to compete with Tod McNerney and my old teammate from Pittsburgh teammate Joe Bowden for a starting spot. I’ll also reunite with my old teammate from the Padres Chris Chancy, who was traded to Minnesota earlier this year. McNerney is hitting .302 with six homers and 28 RBI as the regular starter. Bowden was a spot starter, and has only appeared in 10 games this season. Also on the active roster is Manny Ramirez, a second baseman a couple years older than I am. He’s not had much of a career yet, though... McNerney just got off the DL, and Bowden has been sent back to AAA since the trade. I’m penciled in as the leadoff man... I just have to show up, do my job. Read the pitches, hit the ball... My numbers with San Diego up until the trade: Code: YEAR TEAM GP AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB K SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS 2006 SD 84 345 93 15 1 7 30 63 39 58 16 5 .270 .344 .380 .724 JULY 15, 2006 Finished the first game 2-3 with a run scored. We won, too, which is the major thing. McNerney came on and replaced me in the seventh, and grounded into a double play. I’m slated to start again today... It’s exciting to think that I was brought to a division leader, and given the starting job. JULY 19, 2006 I took a 12-game hitting streak into my birthday. So far with Minnesota, I’m 16-20. Unbelievable. Our lead in the AL Central is six games, and we’ve won 10 straight... Today is against Texas. And for a birthday present, I sat on the bench. We scored six runs in the bottom of the 9th and still lost the game 9-6. McNerney played second and batted leadoff. He went 0-4 with two strikeouts. 12-game hitting streak. 16-20 with the club. And I rode the pine. Happy Birthday, rookie. JULY 21, 2006 I was honored with my first ever Player of the Week award. I went 18-23 for the week with seven runs scored. Just one RBI, and all the hits were singles. Still, I’ve been a big boost to Minnesota in their chase for the division title. My mother asked me today if a player who was with more than one team during his rookie season could still be considered for Rookie of the Year. I said probably not...