Ryan Carter..

[mauboy]

I am in the mood to pull out ITP again and start up a dynasty for it. I got tired of playing OOTP for a bit. I'll swing back and forth for now from my OOTP Tigers Dynasty and this one....

[mauboy]

I(Mike Mau) was a Junior in high school, and it was about that time of year again, baseball time. We had just got finished with our basketball season in which we went to the sectional semi finals and lost to a good basketball team. We went 18-2 during the season, so it was sad that it had to finish. But at the same time, I got to start playing the love of my life. Baseball.

The first day of practice came around and I noticed this shorter kid, with buzzed down hair, and nobody was talking to him. I decided to introduce myself, as the leader of the team. His name was Ryan Carter, and he just moved from Colorado. He was a freshman and he looked like a baseball player; his name even sounds like he's a baseball player. We played catch for practice that day, and I got to hang out with him a little more as he was a pretty cool guy.

Turns out he's a good baseball player too. He comes to our first outside practice all dressed up in sweet baseball gear, sportin' a sweet jacket, pants, and a nice pair of shoes to top it off. Being from Wisconsin, we were all just wearing sweatpants and sweatshirts basically. Today was the day the coach told us whether or not we'd be practicing with the Varsity squad or the JV/Freshman squad. I was waiting eagerly to hear Ryan's name to be called out. Coach Dostal never spoke his name. I gave Ryan a look like, don't worry about it, man, I'll talk to him. Ryan went with the JV team, and I went to the head coach. Our coach was a cool guy, who was basically 'one of us'. We hung out at his house 'n stuff, so I just casually went up to him and told him he just put our catcher on JV. He asked me, our catcher? But we have Jon Halverson. Halverson was a stud, so I understood that. I then told him, heck, move him to right, we don't have a rightfielder. He gave me a quick glance like, you're right, but said, "I'm just going to leave him in JV and see how he does." I left it at that.

Our first game came around, which we won in 40 degree weather. After about 6 games into the season, I find out that Ryan has been playing pretty well. I go up to the coach again, and ask how well Ryan has been doing exactly. He says, "Well enough to play right field for us.".

"What's he battin'?"

"1.000. He's 18 for 18, 17 singles."

And just like that, Ryan's career at Barron High school has started.

We went on to the playoffs with a record of 14-6. We weren't a bad team at all, but we weren't good enough to beat the Cumberland Beavers, as we lost 11-1. I scored the only run by hitting a homerun off the All-State Player of the Year. We had two hits, I hit them both, a double, and as I mentioned before, the homerun. I knew the guy pretty well, the pitcher, and he now plays for the Minnesota Gophers and is there #3 starter I believe.

Ryan Carter started the season batting in the 8 spot, and also finished the season batting in the 8 spot. He hit for a pretty good .340 as a freshman. He didn't hit any homers, hit plenty of doubles, and scored more than a few handful of times.

*I can't remember his stats for the life of me.....But I can remember mine, but that doesn't matter here..*

[mauboy]

In the offseason me and Ryan became pretty good friends. I hung out at his mansion(he lived with his uncle, who was a doctor and had an AWESOME house) all the time. We shot paintballs from his window, we hit on his really hot cousin(he wasn't, he was helping me hit on her.. I never got her to like me though). We had fun that summer.

The next school year came around and I noticed that Ryan wasn't there anymore. I was reallll curious as to why. I ask around and find out that he had gotten in trouble with the school last year and they had kicked him out for good. How I didn't know, I don't know. But I guess nobody knew. A few days into the school year I recieved an email from Ryan, who had gone back home in Colorado to live with his dad(whom he hated). It just had stated that he had a great time with me, and playin ball with me, and he wished me the best. I replied saying the same thing, and we never talked again.

[mauboy]

I had always known that Ryan had a crazy side to him, never did I know it was burning an Irish flag on school grounds. He wore army boots to school everyday, he was a pretty crazy kid basically! But nonetheless he was my friend, and this dynasty is for him.

This dynasty of Ryan Carter will be based on how good I think he would have been as a catcher drafted right out of high school.

I'm going to play on the hard mode to make it more enjoyable for myself, and maybe if I can come around okay, it'll be enjoyable for you guys as well.

Ryan doesn't have Kenny Lofton speed, but he's faster than Mike Piazza. He's got good quick hands, but no power. He hits to the gaps extrememly well, and has a knack for getting walks. His defense is pretty good as a whole, but there is definitely room for improvement. Ryan's Ratings:

Contact Rating: 5 points
Power: 0 points (I hope to gain a few points in a workout of some kind)
Eye: 7 points
Gap: 8 points
Defense: 6 points
Running Speed: 4 points
Stealing: 1 point

[mauboy]

After taking a walk, and enjoying probably the last few hours with my family, Ryan finally got the call he was waiting for, but it wasn't who he wanted. He wanted to go to Colorado, but got Houston instead. The 2.5 star catcher is offered $250,000 and gets put in Single A.

[mauboy]

Ryan starts the season at Single A and his ratings look like this.. out of a max of 100:

Contact: 5/50
Power: 3/10
Eye: 18/70
Gap: 19/80
Defense: 53

I will be doing this dynasty as a fan of Ryan. So, Ryan, I wish you the best of luck.

[mauboy]

Ryan wasn't getting the everyday nod for his team, but in his first start he went 2 for 4. I picked up a contact book for him as well. I tried the bar a few times, but his charisma isn't very high, so the people in the bar don't like him yet. Give him a few years!

[dougaiton]

Great concept! Good luck with it.

[mauboy]

Ryan eventually impressed his coach enough and earned his way to an everyday starter. Although Ryan started out pretty well in his first 40 at-bats, hitting a few points over .300, the month of May treated him horribly as his average dropped down to .250 in 116 at-bats. He has yet to hit a homer, but has hit 10 doubles.

Carter continued to get his at-bats as the season came to an end.

He finished the season with these stats:

.241, 15 Doubles, 2 HR's, 23 RBI's, 25 runs scored.

Nothing to be ashamed of as an 18-19 year old. He'll probably play in Single A again next year, with a slight chance of getting playing time in AA.

Ryan is showing plenty of signs of talent. He's got some potential to be a good hitter. He'll hit plenty of doubles year and and year out. He won't steal many bases. Maybe later on in his career he can win a gold glove, but that may be a little far-fetched.