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Damn bot, I thought this had been updated.

Oh, it's not dead. Not yet, anyways.

Week of June 24th, 2012

On Monday the 25th, I started in left field and struggled along with the rest of the offense, going 0 for 3 with a strikeout and a walk in the 1-0 loss. Wednesday's game was shaping up to be a similar story, as through five innings, I was 0 for 2 and we were down 2-1; however, with runners on first and second the count at 1-1 in my third at-bat, I took a fastball to right field and immediately knew it was gone. I rounded the bases, high fiving the base coaches as I went and Gino Marino and Austin Kearns, who scored on the play, after I crossed the plate. I was given a warm welcome by the rest of the team and Dave Barias in the dugout, and we went on to win by a score of 5-2. I was awarded player of the game honors.

With the score at 4-0 and us down on Friday night, I was called upon to pinch hit with a pair of runners on and two outs. Just as it had been when I homered on Wednesday, Gino Marino and Austin Kearns were the baserunners. Perhaps that's why I was called upon, despite there being a left hander on the mound. On the second pitch I saw, I lined a fastball to left field. It probably would have been nothing more than an RBI single, but it was misplayed and I was able to pull into third with my fourth triple of the season. I picked up my fourth and fifth RBI's of the week in the process, but we ultimately lost 4-2. On Saturday, we lost again, and I didn't play.

Week's Stats
2-7, .286, 1 HR, 0 2B, 1 3B, 5 RBI, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K, .444 OBP, 1.000 SLG

Season Stats
21-88, .239, 4 HR, 1 2B, 4 3B, 15 RBI, 11 R, 14 BB, 23 K, .343 OBP, .477 SLG

Standings
1. Nashville Sounds - 45-32
2(t). Iowa Cubs - 33-44
2(t). Omaha Storm Chasers - 33-44
4. Memphis Redbirds - 31-46

:clap:

Welcome back, Colin

You just gotta get back into the groove of playing.

Week of July 1st, 2012

I started in center field on Sunday and managed to go 2 for 5 in our 6-5 win. While that was a good enough start to the week, I didn't see the field again until Friday, when I was penciled in at left.

In my first at-bat, the count fell to 2-2 and I nearly struck out, but I picked up on a changeup and yanked it over the first baseman's head into right field. It ended up rolling quite a way, and I was able to pull into second base as Gino Marino scored all the way from first. Welington Castillo then singled me home, giving us a 2-0 lead in the second inning.

I grounded out with the bases empty in the fourth and singled with a man on first in the sixth. The score was still 2-0 when I stepped up to the plate in the 8th inning with two men on, but it didn't stay that way for long. The first pitch I saw was a hanging curveball that I hit high and deep to right field. It cleared the wall fairly handily, and we took a 5-0 lead that held for the rest of the game. Just as I had when I homered last week, I was voted player of the game. I later found out that I had taken the team lead for OPS, but I didn't really qualify due to my lack of playing time. Regardless, I felt pretty great after that game.

Week's Stats
5-10, .500, 1 HR, 1 2B, 0 3B, 4 RBI, 2 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Season Stats
26-98, .265, 5 HR, 2 2B, 4 3B, 19 RBI, 13 R, 14 BB, 24 K, .357 OBP, .520 SLG

Standings
1. Nashville Sounds - 48-35
2(t). Iowa Cubs - 37-46
2(t). Omaha Storm Chasers - 37-46
4. Memphis Redbirds - 34-49

Week of July 8th, 2012

It was Monday night, and I had just returned home from our 3-2 loss against the Omaha Storm Chasers. It hadn't played at all, but I was tired nonetheless, so I immediately headed into the bathroom to get ready for bed. As I was brushing my teeth, however, my cell phone began to ring. I looked at it, and saw that it was Tom Cahill, my agent. I answered.

"Hello?"
"Hello, Colin! How are you doing?"
"Uh, fine, I guess."
"I saw your performance last Friday night. Spectacular game!"
"Oh, thanks Tom."
"Yes, splendid. Now tell me, Colin. Are you happy with your playing time?"
I was a bit surprised by the question. "Well, I mean, of course I'd love to start, but I'm getting my fair share of at-bats."
"Colin, you should be starting for sure."
"I don't know..."
"Trust me. I want you to waltz into your manager's office and tell him you want more time tomorrow before the game!"
"I really don't think that's-"
"Colin, if you don't do it, I'll do it for you!"
I sighed. "Fine, I'll ask him."
"Great! Good luck!"
"Yeah, bye Tom."
*click*

I went to bed and thought about it. Barias seemed to like me well enough, but enough to start over Jae-Kuk Seo? He's batting nearly .300, and I like the guy too. I don't want to ruin his career...

The next day, I headed to the field early. Not many guys were there yet. I quickly found Dave and asked to talk.

"Sure, Colin, what's on your mind?"
I took a deep breath. "Well, I thought maybe, given my recent performance..."
"You want to start?"
I gulped. "Well, I was thinking-"
"Listen, son. You're a good ballplayer, and I'd have no problem putting you out on the field every day, but Seo is doing a fine job right now. Just hang in there and we'll get you some playing time soon."
"Oh..."
Dave smiled. "You're only 21, Colin. No need to rush things." I nodded and started to turn, but he stopped me. "Tell you what, I'll start you in left tonight, alright?"
"Thank you, sir," I said, extending my hand to shake.
"Not a problem, Colin. That was quite a show you put on last Friday, by the way."
I smiled. "Thank you, sir."
"Call me Dave," he instructed.
"Yes, sir."

I struggled that night and went 0 for 3 with a strikeout. I suppose I felt pressured to perform after what had happened before the game. On Thursday, I struck out in a pinch hit appearance, but I managed a hit when I started in left for our 8-3 loss against the New Orleans Zephyrs.

Week's Stats
1-8, .125, 0 HR, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 RBI, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Season Stats
27-106, .255, 5 HR, 2 2B, 4 3B, 19 RBI, 13 R, 14 BB, 26 K, .342 OBP, .491 SLG

Standings
1. Nashville Sounds - 52-38
2. Omaha Storm Chasers - 42-48
3. Iowa Cubs - 40-50
4. Memphis Redbirds - 38-52

Week of July 15th, 2012

It was Sunday morning.

Well, hardly. To be specific, it was two in the morning on Sunday, July 15th when I received the call.

"H-Hello?"
"Colin!"
I sighed. "Tom? What is it?"
"I've got great news!"
"What?"
"Aren't you excited?"
"It's two in the morning, Tom. Forgive me."
"Fine, fine. Anyway, I wanted to let you know that you've been selected to represent the USA in the 2012 Futures Game!"
"What?"
"You've been selected-"
"No, I heard you fine. I was just... why?"
Tom was silent for a moment. "Colin... why are you like this?"
"Like what?"
"You don't think you deserve anything. You're always so down."
"It's just that I'm not that good yet... I mean I'm only in AAA."
"Colin, it's the futures game, not the presents game. You have a future. That's the point."
"I don't-"
"You need to get back to sleep. Your flight leaves for Kansas City at 1:00."
"Wait, it's tonight?!"
*click*
"Hello? Tom?"

I sighed and set the phone down, rolling over and returning to sleep.

That afternoon I arrived in Kansas City, soon after arriving at Kauffman Stadium. It was one of the most beautiful stadiums I'd ever seen; the back drop was incredible, and I stood an awe of it for a moment upon getting there.

I batted that night in a 3-3 ballgame. It was the seventh inning, and a runner was on first with nobody out. After a ball and two strikes to start the at-bat, I chased a changeup low and struck out. I thought that would be the was the end of things, but I stayed in the game and batted again in the ninth, this time with two runners on. Anxious to redeem myself, I swung at the first pitch I saw and lined it out into left-center field, over the shortstop. It rolled all the way to the wall and I pulled into second with a double as both runners came around to score. We went on to win 6-3.

The rest of the week included two pinch-hit appearances and a start, and as a team we went just 1-3 in the short week.

Week's Stats
1-6, .167, 0 HR, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 RBI, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Season Stats
28-112, .250, 5 HR, 2 2B, 4 3B, 19 RBI, 14 R, 14 BB, 28 K, .333 OBP, .473 SLG

Standings
1. Nashville Sounds - 55-39
2. Omaha Storm Chasers - 42-52
3. Iowa Cubs - 41-53
4. Memphis Redbirds - 39-55

Nice job in the Futures game!

Thanks Nolte, and welcome to the forums.

As you may have noticed, updates are rather sporadic, but I plan on keeping this going for a while.

Er... this post was deleted. Whoops.

What difficulty are you on?

I'm not sure... I think All-Star.

I guess a monthly update plan would actually work better, but we'll see.

Also, Skittle, I checked, and it is indeed at All-Star.

----------------------------------------------------

The Months of August and September

My first few appearances of the month (excluding August 1st), two starts and a pinch hit appearance, weren't particularly noteworthy. Between the three games, I went 2 for 9 with a double.

I got somewhat of a break on the 11th, when Jae-Kuk Seo strained his arm making a throw. This lead to me making four consecutive starts, from the 11th to the 14th. Over those four games, I was 4 for 17 with a pair of walks and a whopping 6 strikeouts. Seo returned after that, and I was back on the bench, where I would stay until August 18th.

The 18th was not a good game, as I made the walk of shame all four times I batted. Yes, I struck in all my at-bats.

On the 19th, I was subbed in in the 9th inning and flew out to right field. The next day, I was inserted into the starting lineup and doubled in my first plate appearance but did not score. I came up again in the fourth inning and singled to center. The next two batters singled as well, and I was waved home on the latter. I peeked into the outfield as I ran, and knew the play was going to be close. We were down two, so we needed this run; therefore, I made the decision to run directly into the opposing catcher.

When I did so, the aforementioned catcher came down on my leg as the ball rolled away.

It hurt.

A lot.

As I lay, grimacing in the dirt near home plate, I forced myself to resist the urge to scream out in pain. The team trainer raced out along with Dave Barias, and I pointed to my shin. The trainer took a quick looked, and the two of them helped me off the field. I was then transported to a hospital for x-rays, which revealed my shin to be broken. I was put in a cast and placed on the 60-day disabled list.

And thus, my 2012 season came to an abrupt end. I watched as my team struggled for the remainder of the season, ultimately finishing 61-83. I then watched as the majors league squad played equally as poorly, finishing with a record of 72-90.

Now comes the worst part of the year, also known as the offseason. I don't know what will become of me, and I can only hope the front office decides to offer make a contract offer. Meanwhile, I'll be spending my time in the immediate future rehabilitating my leg. The cast comes off in early October, and rehab shouldn't take more than a few weeks due to the type of injury it is.

Overall, 2012 wasn't the best year of my life, but I'm trying to stay positive as I look ahead towards the upcoming season.

Month's Stats (Includes the August 1st game, which was part of the last update)
11-38, .289, 0 HR, 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB, 16 K

Final Season Stats
40-158, .253, 5 HR, 5 2B, 5 3B, 21 RBI, 17 R, 17 BB, 46 K, .328 OBP, .443 SLG

Final Standings
1. X-Nashville Sounds - 88-56
2. Omaha Storm Chasers - 65-79
3. Memphis Redbirds - 63-81
4. Iowa Cubs - 61-83