SHORT HOP - My Career In Baseball by David Driscoll

[Autism Speaks]

That was a brilliant piece of writing.

[orangecounty]

What an absolutely amazing chapter. Seriously, wow. By far the best one yet. And that's saying something.

[Tib]

The SHORT HOP Character Index

As this story gets longer and longer, many characters will come and go. To help keep them all straight I am including here an index of some of the characters who have appeared or been given reference to so far. This is by no means a comprehensive list; there were far more references than I originally estimated. Instead, here are the more important people in Dave's world. Hope it helps.

Araoz, Jose – Young KC starter mentored by veteran Bob Saville
Ayala, Cristobal – Hinesville outfielder
Atcheson, Doug – Dave’s AA Topeka Stars manager

Barrows, Marcus – player with whom Dave has a fight during his career
Bennett, Alan – KC’s slick-fielding 3rd baseman in 2007
Bozek, Mike – “Bozy”. Veteran signed by Grier to mentor Scott Haslam
Breckenfield, Clayton – “The Richmond Rifle”. First black player in the ABF (1957)
Brewer, Tommy – “The Rocket”. BBA legend
Britt, Lance – fiery, in-your-face Knights pitcher, later traded for Mark Lieb

Caffey, Ollie – KC’s pitching coach in 2007 (lost to Dallas in playoffs)
Cardenas, Bobby – “B.C.” KC catcher acquired in trade while still injured. A Squire.
Carrera, Florentino – KC’s contact-hitting first baseman after Al Gills left.
Carreras, Hannibal – power hitting KC outfielder
Carver, Gwen – Dave’s wife
Caswell, Gary – “Doc”. Dave’s mentor on the Knights
Chupp, Moises – veteran shortstop acquired during KC’s 2007 division race
Clark, Bill – Dallas’ power hitting 3rd baseman
Clark, Joe – “Mountain Joe”. BBA legend
Copell, Charles – “Mooney”. Local drunk and fan of the Gents
Costello, Larry – Hinesville’s pitching coach

Dent, Wally – KC’s third base coach
Draper, Eugenia – Dave’s landlady in Hinesville, GA (A ball)
Draper, John (Sgt.) – Eugenia Draper’s brother. Hinesville police sergeant
Driscoll, Don – Dave’s dad
Driscoll, Doreen – Dave’s mom
Driscoll, Jan – Dave’s younger sister
DuPree, Rupert – owner of the Hinesville Gents

Faraday, Frank – Former CBA MVP catcher. GM of KC Knights
Fitzwalter, Hal – the Atlanta scout who signed Dave
Fountain, Dave – Atlanta’s starting shortstop when Dave was drafted
Frasier, Terry – KC Knights broadcaster
Frisina, Bobby – Dave’s friend and teammate in KC. One of the original Squires
Frisina, Sandy – Bobby’s wife
Fuentes, Carlito – KC’s 2007 closer

Gable, Bobby – Hinesville’s batting and fielding coach
Galindo, Rudy – All-star Boston pitcher acquired in trade for Theron Richards
Garner, Theo – Hinesville Gents manager, later Baltimore's Director of Scouting
Gills, Al – “Gilly”. Veteran first baseman. Dave’s teammate and union rep in KC
Grier, John – Dave’s manger in Santa Fe and later Kansas City
Guevara, Dave – Dave’s double play partner in Hinesville. Former crack addict

Harrison, Del – writer who coined Dave's nickname. Dave’s co-writer and friend
Hart, Keith – cocky Hinesville outfielder
Haslam, Scott – phenom IF/OF and Dave’s teammate in KC.
Hassell, Keith – fireballing Hinesville pitcher
Hoeffler, Ron – Dave’s high school baseball coach
Hollings, Marisa – Dave’s girlfriend in Hinesville
Homer the Hound – Little Rock’s mascot
Hoshi – Japanese liaison during Dave's All-Rookie Team tour of Japan

Jefferson, Al – “Alligator”. BBA legend
Jones, Von – “Sorceror”. 4th overall pick the year Dave was drafted. Original Squire.

Katz, Bill – machine-like and durable KC starter
Kearse, Mark – Hinesville’s first baseman
Kellinger, Marty – KC GM who always shuffled players up and down
King, Charlie – HOF Atlanta outfielder of the 60’s. Played during the Transition
Kline, Ken – Dave’s investment counselor during his early career
Kral, Joel – Dave’s friend and teammate in KC. One of the original Squires

Landeros, Jose – Hinesville’s quiet little second baseman
Letowski, Joe – CBA career wins leader with 359
Lopes, Ariel – pitcher who gave up Dave’s first CBA hit
Lopez, Lino – the “other shortstop” in Hinesville, Lopez got the starting job when Dave injured his elbow. His performance eventually convinced Atlanta to trade Dave to Kansas City.

Majkowski, Jackson – “Magic Man”. The premier agent in baseball. Dave’s agent
Martinelli, Eddie – long-time KC Knights broadcaster
Martinez, Thad – Hinesville’s third baseman
Mayberry, Reggie – Cliff’s BBA teammate
McCammon, Steve -- “Moose”. Dave’s teammate, roommate, and best friend in Hinesville
McKinnon, Clark – Dave’s first KC manager
Mercado, Romeo – KC’s excellent advance scout
Meticas, Salido – AA Topeka’s excellent pitching coach
Milo – Bahaman boy who helped Dave find his engagement ring
Monroe, Rutherford – first black man to play in a “white” league and ninth to play in the ABF
Munoz, Horatio – legendary KC shortstop and Dave’s childhood idol

Newman, Stan – CBA career hits leader with 3,833
Nicholls, Larry – Little Rock’s (A-ball) Player Relations Coordinator
Nohorski, Ken – Topeka’s hitting coach

Palmer, Lyle – Little Rock’s manager
Paneda, Julien – one of KC's advanced scouts
Parris, Steve – Veteran KC reliever and realist
Pena, Sebastian – KC’s passionate starter and team leader in 2007
Pirtle, Bill – hard luck KC reliever who suffered from depression and stress
Phillips, Rick – went to high school with Dave. KIA in Iraq
Pridgen, Mark – Hinesville first baseman. Traded with Dave to Little Rock

Quesinberry, (No first name) – pitcher who gave up Dave’s first professional hit

Rappaport, Dalton – The Dallas Marshals’ All-Star sparkplug outfielder
Ratcliffe, Cyril – Atlanta's Director of Player Personnel when Dave was drafted
Redrick, Walt – UL ROY in Dave’s first season (also a shortstop)
Rennie, Guy – Pitcher. One of Dave’s fiends in Hinesville
Richards, Theron – “Flash”. Dave’s friend and teammate in KC. Original Squire
Roberts, Doc – Hinesville’s team physician
Rodriguez, “Sweets” – BBA legend
Rowland, John – “J.R.” Hinesville outfielder. Dave’s roommate and friend
Ruiz, Guillermo – CBA career strikeout king with 3,991

Salt, Mike – KC Knights broadcaster
Saville, Bob – Veteran KC starter. Mentored young Jose Araoz.
Schafer, Clint – Dave’s CBA All-Rookie team manager during the Japan trip
Schernborg, Mark – KC hitting coach. Inventer of the Zone Theory of hitting
Schmidt, Wes – The Dallas Marshals’ All-Everything shortstop
Sing, Bradley – arrogant Hinesville outfielder with whom Dave gets in a fight
Sisk, Arthur – Knights’ team trainer/manager. Gave Dave his #4 jersey
Suttles, Dexter – “Dex”. Hinesville reliever and Dave’s friend

Takenao, Mo-ri – “The Korean Submarean”. Gave up Dave’s first CBA homerun
Tarwater, Shiela – Cliff’s niece and Dave’s first realtor in Hinesville
Tratt, Velman Oliver – last president of the BBA
Travacanti, Franco – CBA career home run champion with 577
Tucker, Mike – Hinesville’s team trainer
Tyler, Clifford Jericho – Dave’s friend, neighbor and mentor in Hinesville
Tyler, Dorothy – Cliff’s deceased wife

Ugarte, Steve – “Yoogie”. Hinesville pitcher. One of Dave’s best friends

Van Alten, Peter – GM of the Atlanta Generals who drafted Dave 29th overall in 2003

Walker, Dameron – Atlanta's HOF outfielder of the 70’s
Watts, Ross – First overall pick the year Dave was drafted
Wells, Clarence – “Rooster”. Cliff’s BBA teammate
Wilson, Ginger – KC Knights’ player liaison
Winters, Glendon – Cliff’s BBA teammate

Yamato, Torazo – Marshals’ first baseman


NOTE: screen shots and photo album #2 are coming

[Tib]

Chapter 37

Certain Economic Realities

I returned to the States a changed young man. I had a beautiful fiancée, a great career, and a loving family. I was excited about my future and in perfect peace. Gwen and I decided we would wed in November after the playoffs. That way all the Squires could attend. She was going to move in with me. We were going to look for a house in Kansas City or Independence. Life was not only good, it was very good.

Life was even better on February 1st. That was the day Wes Schmidt signed a free agent contract with the Chicago Chiefs. The Executioner was no longer in the United League. It was a big loss for Dallas, who bid aggressively for him until the very end. Everyone in Kansas City was quite happy to see him go.

Unfortunately, the offseason also included some significant losses for the Kansas City organization. It was bad enough that KC was facing what John Grier called “certain economic realities”, but what it forced Frank Faraday to do was worse. The Knights were not a rich team by any means. We were certainly not as wealthy as Los Angeles, Chicago or New York. We weren’t even in the same echelon as Cleveland, St. Louis or Baltimore.

The truth is we were struggling. Our recent playoff appearance aside, Kansas City had not enjoyed competitive or economic success for some years. As a result, the Knights were under a strict budget. I feel I can say now that many of us Knights felt KC’s budget was far too low. I’ve always believed you have to invest in success. The 2007 Knights might have been a fluke, but we also had six first round draft picks and several other affordable free agents on that team. That doesn’t happen by accident. What’s more, Thomas Moonves had the money to keep them.

Thomas Moonves had owned the Knights since 1990. The first years after he purchased the team he spent lavishly on veterans with the hope of early success. When that didn’t happen he scaled back considerably (some say too much) and forced his GMs to work with far less than teams in comparable markets. After the team’s 2007 success, Moonves refused to increase Faraday’s budget. The word among players was that he had been burned by large contracts and was simply too cautious to try one again.

This once-bitten twice-shy approach was why, on February 2nd, our ace Rudy Galindo signed with Phoenix for $7 million a year. That was quite a blow, even though we knew he was likely to go. We really counted on him and he came through for us. It would have been nice to at least offer him something reasonable. What’s more, he may have stayed. Rudy said many times how he liked our team and our city, but when Faraday didn’t offer him anything… How a can a player accept an offer if there’s no offer to accept? You can’t expect a pitcher of Rudy’s caliber to come begging to be paid. At least he didn’t go to a division rival. If he was going to be anywhere, let him be in the Mutual League.

KC wasn’t so lucky later that day, either, when Flash Richards signed a 4-year $16 million free agent contract with Cleveland. That’s all we needed; “Gilly” Gills and Theron Richards on the same team. It immediately made the Hammers the favorite in the UL Central.

As for the rest of the spring, there were few big moves. Mark Lieb signed with Atlanta. Kellinger Shuffle victim Jimmy Hollars signed with Detroit. Mike Bozek turned us down and took a significantly better offer from Indianapolis. I was happy for him. He did what he was supposed to do: get Scott Haslam’s head straight. He didn’t owe us anything.

Lance Britt signed with Baltimore. The Steamers also signed Defensive Ace shortstop Terry Ruddy to a 4-year deal, which told me Theo Garner was alive and well. But there was friction almost immediately between Ruddy and the Steamer front office. Baltimore unloaded Ruddy and his contract to the Montreal Blue Sox less than a month later. This told me Theo was alive and well and hadn’t changed one bit. There was a firestorm in Baltimore over it, but I couldn’t have been happier; another one of my chief rivals for the Defensive Ace award was gone to the Mutual League.

The breakup of the Knights continued. Steve Parris refused our offer and signed with the Vancouver Mounties. Bill Katz signed with the Tornados. Moises Chupp, who performed so well as my backup last season, signed with Montreal to backup Terry Ruddy. Even with these losses, the Knights still looked pretty good. Cardenas would catch. Our infield was Bennett, me, veteran Jorge Sanchez at first (Florentino Carrera started 2008 in Santa Fe) and veteran Dave Hammond at second. Doc Caswell would still be around and KC signed Federico Devries to be my backup.

Hannibal Carreras, Bobby Frisina, Von Jones, Scott Haslam and Joel Kral would be our outfielders. Baseball Insider called them the best outfield in the United League. Not too bad. Our rotation was Sebastian Pena, Jose Araoz, Bob Saville, veteran Bob Compton and Renshichiro Tadamichi. Quintana, Torres, Lloyd Lanza, Bill Pirtle and veteran Jeff Tews were in the pen with Carlito Fuentes cleaning up. Still not too bad. With this team we could contend.

Even as Opening Day rolled around things looked good. There were no serious injuries, no locker room squabbles. The Knights and the city were optimistic as we headed to Cleveland to open the season against the only team many believed stood in our way for the division title.

Then it all came crashing down.

In the second inning of our opening day game Sebastian Pena fell off the mound in agony after delivering a pitch. It was a herniated disk, an aggravation of an old injury. He was lost for at least eight weeks. We still split two in Cleveland and traveled to Detroit ready to start winning in earnest.

We lost 3 of 4 to the Monarchs, including an 11-2 drubbing on Sunday. But that was not the worst thing about that Sunday. After the game, Grier addressed the team.
“I have some good news and some bad news,” he said solemnly. “The good news is we still have one of the best outfields in baseball.”
What’s going on? I thought. What happened?
I looked around the room, counting off outfielders as I went. I had just started to look for Joel Kral when Grier said, “The bad news is Joel Kral has been traded to the New York Admirals.”

Then I saw him. He stood quietly near the locker room door with his bags already slung over one massive shoulder. He looked everywhere but at us.

“While we’re all sorry to see him go,” continued Grier in the professional voice he used for such occasions, “I know he will burn things up in the Eastern Division and I’m sure we all wish him the best of luck. Joel has a plane to catch, so he’ll be leaving right away. On behalf of the team, Joel, we wish you well in New York.”

First Flash, now Joel Kral. Flash had only a year until free agency when he was traded. Joel was up for arbitration at the end of the season. Maybe Kansas City and Thomas Moonves were engaging in some pre-emptive economic strikes. It made me wonder who was next.

I was the last to give Joel a big hug and wish him well. “You’ll do good there,” I said.
“At least I’ll be playing every day,” he offered weakly.
Borrowing a line from Moose McCammon, I said, “Make KC regret it.”
He gave a small regretful smile. “Good luck, Professor,” he said.
With a final quick wave to the rest of the team, the big man turned silently and walked out.

Seven days later, after hitting 4 homers and driving in 10 runs in his first 5 games as an Admiral, Joel Kral was named Player of the Week. That same day his replacement, Darwin Storey, became the first player in the 117-year history of professional baseball to hit 3 home runs in his big league debut. We beat the Sentinels 14-4.

It looked for a while like we might pull out of the slow slide that resulted in a disappointing 4-12 to start the year, but it was not to be. Depleted by these recent moves, we were firmly in the grip of certain “fiscal mandates” and “budgetary constraints”. After flying so high only seven months earlier, our success remained grounded by certain “economic realities”.

Next up, Chapter 38: More Than We Can Afford

[cubuff38]

I was happy and shocked to find this chapter sitting here for me at this time, and was also more saddened to hear of how your team is struggling to repeat last years success.

Great writing still, but how is good ole' Dave Driscoll himself doing through the first 16 games?

[TwinsFan86]

Chapter 36 was phenomenal. Another one right up ther for best chapter and it's definitely my favorite. Chapter 37 had an ominous feel through it the entire way. Still it was a good chapter.

[jaxmagicman]

I am not too worried about this team, I know that they pulled it off last year after starting slow.

[The Funk]

True. They could probably use a good starting pitcher though.

[AdmiralACF]

Thank you very much for the character index, Tib. Extremely helpful! I hope we get to see the league setup soon.

Another couple great chapters in the book, pardon the pun. I hate to criticize your work, which you obviously put a lot of effort into, but I want to give you honest feedback, whatever it might be worth. That said, while I liked chapter 36 and found it well-written and entertaining, it kind of felt a bit over the top for me. It seemed like the illusion of reality that your book has created in my mind was shattered to some extent by the craziness of the whole day.

I'm not suggesting that I would throw out the whole chapter, but I think that I would cut it down a bit to make it seem less outrageous. For instance, you could do without the scene at the golf course where Dave bartered for the cart, and especially without the whole assault of the taxi driver. This part not only shattered the illusion of reality for me, it also seemed out of character for Davey. Dave seems like the kind of person who, no matter how bad his day had been up until that point, would not assault someone. At the very least, I would not include the machete in the encounter. The cab driver could be just as intimidated by Dave even without the weapon.

This is just my opinion, and I'm sure others feel differently about the chapter, but I thought I would just put that out there.

Oh, and whatever happened to the boy who helped Dave out? I would have liked to have known how they parted ways, since the boy seemed to be an important character in the chapter.

As usual, here are a few editorial nitpicks I found.

Ch. 36, the conclusion, post 2

"Five minutes ago I spotted the cabbie who stole my clubs... threatened to cut his head off with a machete!"

Ch. 37

Thomas Moonves had owned the Knights since 1990.... and forced his GMs to work with far less than teams in comparative (comparable?) markets.

Lance Britt signed with Baltimore.... Baltimore unloaded Ruddy and his contract to the Montreal Blue Sox less than a month later.

[Tib]

Originally Posted by cubuff38

Great writing still, but how is good ole' Dave Driscoll himself doing through the first 16 games?

Thanks for the compliment and thanks for asking about ol' Dave.

DD started out red hot in 2008. Through the team's first 16 games he cooled down to .307 after starting out around the .360 mark. He's stolen 4 bases without getting caught and his OBP is around .415. He also recorded his first back-to-back homer games at home against the LA Colts. The Knights lost both games, however, because their pitching has been atrocious.

There will be more pitching stats in future chapters, but the KC team ERA after 16 games is 6.55. Ouch. Araoz and Tadamichi alone are 0-7 with a combined ERA of 9.74. Double ouch.

Von Jones, Bobby Frisina and Hannibal Carreras are doing well, though. Scott Haslam is having a breakout year so far.

[Tib]

Originally Posted by AdmiralACF

I hope we get to see the league setup soon.

First, thanks for the comments, AdmiralACF. I don't mind the criticism at all, but let me explain where all that came from (see below).

The league screens are coming. I'm trying to work through the next (and pivotal) chapter right now. With Easter here and birthdays to celebrate (not to mention the start of another rip-roarin' EHSL season) I don't know when I'll be able to post it.

Originally Posted by AdmiralACF

It seemed like the illusion of reality that your book has created in my mind was shattered to some extent by the craziness of the whole day. I'm not suggesting that I would throw out the whole chapter, but I think that I would cut it down a bit to make it seem less outrageous.

Yes, it was a crazy day. My original idea for Dave's marriage proposal was more "in tune" with the tone of his narrative so far, but when I started writing it I quickly got bored. I just thought it was run-of-the-mill stuff, and not too romantic at that. Rather than do something predictable or I thought I'd try something really out there just to give the story a change of pace and to "take readers on an adventure" with Dave. I think you're right that it's not exactly in line with the tone of the story so far, but what I went through the day I proposed to my wife was also not exactly in line with the tone of my life so far, either. The idea of a completely nutty, farcical adventure appealed to me as a fun thing to write.

Originally Posted by AdmiralACF

Oh, and whatever happened to the boy who helped Dave out? I would have liked to have known how they parted ways, since the boy seemed to be an important character in the chapter.

Not really sure on that one. I suppose like everyone else in the pawn shop he just watched Dave walk away. ("Crazy American.") Milo returns later in the story, though.

NOTE: typos and syntax errors fixed. Re: the machete quote: it was a spoken line and the diction was intential. I was trying to get it to sound like a real person would say it. I try to juxtapose clear correct narrative writing with true spoken diction. I think it adds realism and a clear distinction is made between them. Then the two become more conspicuous and therefore more effective.

[jaxmagicman]

I actually think that chapter fit. It wasn't baseball, I can see Dave being calm in whatever baseball throws at him. That was romance. That was asking for marriage, something that Dave is not familiar with, and someone isn't familiar with something they can do crazy things.

[Tib]

Originally Posted by jaxmagicman

I actually think that chapter fit. It wasn't baseball, I can see Dave being calm in whatever baseball throws at him. That was romance. That was asking for marriage, something that Dave is not familiar with, and someone isn't familiar with something they can do crazy things.

Thanks, jax. Those four lines were better than my entire explanation.

[WWBL Commissioner]

OK Tib you did it again!!!!! I log onto the board, see you posted here and coming flying in for the Davey fix of the week, then boom no story I think you should make another handle to post the other stuff and only post in here as Tib when you post a chapter as always I'm just kidding and want you to know how much i enjoy your work. I would like to add that I enjoyed the whole crazy proposal day. I do think I agree that the knife was a bit much but me thinks most proposal days are crazy like that and You have to go with your vision fo rthe story so thanks and keep up hte great work

[AdmiralACF]

I can see where you are coming from, Tib, and agree that the chapter is a nice diversion. I still suggest toning it down just a little, like leaving out the machete.

[Mike D]

Happy Birthday TIB. Probably means we won't have an update today, huh?

[Tib]

Thanks. Nope, no update today, but if all goes well I'll be having an "up" date tonight with my wife.

[jaxmagicman]

Originally Posted by Tib

Thanks. Nope, no update today, but if all goes well I'll be having an "up" date tonight with my wife.

Sweet. I love having "up" dates with your wife. Uhhh, don't get me banned for saying that, it was just a joke.

[The Funk]

Dayam, I need to have more birthdays.

[Fedex]

Tib,

I only recently stumbled upon this thread and I have to say that the writing is excellent. The story is very engrossing. Thanks for sharing this with us! I do have a question about Gwen's hometown. Having grown up in Rochester Hills, Michigan myself (same high school as Madonna), how did you go about selecting it?