Mark Smith, SP

[shinger]

I have played several careers in a default fictional league but this one has been the most fun.

Mark Smith was drafted with the first overall pick by the St. Louis Cardinals. Yes, he was created in easy mode! After 3 very modest seasons in the minors he got the call due to injury and thus began his long and storied career.

Mark started 9 games for the Cardinals and posted a respectable 5-2 mark with a 4.39 ERA. The Cards were impressed and coming out of the following Sprong Mark was installed as the team's number 3 starter. The Cardinals were a very good team and Mark went right to work. His sophomore season did not include the dreaded sophomore slump. Mark went 18-6 with a 3.78 ERA while pitching in 240+ innings. A star was born. The next season would be Mark's first as a staff "ace" and would mark the 1st of 18 consecutive seasons of that honor. Mark's 3rd and 4th seasons in the league saw him garner the first of his eight (yes, eight) Outstanding Pitcher Awards. He finished those 2 seasons 21-6 and 20-6, respectively. Mark had blossomed into the league's premier hurler. His workouts had boosted his stuff and control ratings to 100. His velocity peaked at 80 and his poise reached 70.

After his sixth season in St. Louis Mark tested the free agent market. St. Louis had not been winning enough and he received an outstanding offer from the Twins. The Twins had an up and coming team with a highly rated minor league system - flush with young pitching talent. Mark signed a 4-year deal worth $12,288,00 annually. His first 2 years with the Twins were great for him individually. Mark finished his 1st year as a Twin at 25-6 with a 2.51 ERA. This earned him a third Outstanding Pitcher award. These 2 years were great, but they failed to get Mark the coveted Championship ring.

The void would be filled in Mark's 3rd and 4th seasons in Minnesota. Mark won 20+ games in each of those seasons and the Twins won back-to-back rings. The second championship season also yielded a 4th Outstanding Pitcher trophy. Mark would spend 2 more seasons in Minnesota, at a mere $9,504,000 per year. The free agent market stunk that year!! The Twins could not repeat their success but Mark won Outstanding Pitcher awards five and six.

After his 6th season in Minnesota, and with the Twins in decline, Mark signed back with his original team, the Cards. The deal was 4 years at a cool $13,058,100 per and the Cards seemed to be headed in the right direction. The next 3 seasons in St. Louis yielded one playoff failure after another and the team could not fulfill it's promise. Mark garnered his 3rd consecutive Outstanding Pitcher award during his first season back in St. Louis, but it meant very little. Even his eighth and final award 2 years later was no consolation. Mark did try to help the Cards. Prior to completing his 4 year deal, Mark signed a 2 year extension with the Cards at more than $13,600,000/year. Those 2 seasons passed without another ring.

Mark planned on retiring after 18 stellar seasons in the show. He had amassed 361 career wins and was a sure first ballot HOF'er. Much to Mark's surprise the offers came fast and furious as his 19th season approached. Mark decided to stick around and signed with his hometown Astros. The deal was modest, roughly $6.5 million/year. Mark's 18th season had yielded a mere 13-11 record and a 4.11 ERA, but he thought he could still help.

Mark spent 2 seasons in Houston and finished 14-9 and 11-9. His ERA numbers of 4.04 and 3.00 indicated that he wasn't finished yet. Mark mulled retirement but chose instead to pitch for the Cubs and signed a 2 year deal for around the same $6.5 million. The Cubs would give his his last shot at another ring. They were very good and he thought he might flourish as a 4th or 5th starter. The first season at Wrigley was unkind in the stat department. Mark made 31 starts and posted a respectable 4.56 ERA. The cubs however gave him only about 3.5 runs per game and he finished a disappointing 5-12. The team did make it to the series though! A heart-breaking game 7 loss seemed to mark the end. The 2nd year of the contract started with great promise. Mark went 7 innings and gave up 3 runs in a no decision (damn lack of run support!) The 2nd start was a flashback of sorts. Mark went 7 strong, 2-hit, no shutout innings and picked up a win. The next 2 starts brought Mark back to earth and he was hit hard. The Cubs wanted to send him down, but he let them know it was time to hang 'em up!

The career ended with a record of 392-165. A career ERA of 3.03 and over 3800 strikeouts. Eight Outstanding Pitcher awards and 2 rings. Throw in 20 career homeruns! (That's with 6 years in the AL) Quite a career it was and it of course ended with a first ballot trip to Cooperstown. Now it's on to the next Smith baseball hopeful! Big shoes to fill.