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Back when I was drafted by the Padres, Coach Cummings had done the homework when it came to hiring a sports agent.
We held it off as long as we could to keep me eligible to play high school then finally Coach Cummings arranged for my parents and I to meet Nicholas Blevins.
Blevins had arranged for the $600,000 signing bonus and had pretty much helped keep some of my financial matters in check. Dad was still my main man with the credit union but Blevins had stayed in touch with my parents throughout my minor league service.
The morning after the opener in San Francisco, Blevins called my hotel room.
"Congratulations, James," he said. "You have just secured yourself the league minimum for 1987."
Huh?
"Your minor league contract states that if you throw one pitch in a MLB game at any point in the season, they owe you the league minimum for that season. Those two innings you pitched last night just guaranteed you $79,2000 for the year."
"Really?"
Wow, that was a lot of money. It's not the $950,000 Nolan Ryan would make this year but it's almost $80,000 for a year for a 20 year old.
I have classmates in the Army just to try to afford college and I am making $80,000 a year.
"We need to discuss some of your options...."
"Thanks, Nick, but you need to call my parents on that. I am not ready to making those kind of financial decisions yet."
I hung up the phone, yet in another daze. What did this really mean? That they would now keep me with the parent club even when Lance McCullers and Roger Mason and Michael Costello came back from the DL? Would there be enough roster spots? Would other moves be made to open roster spots?
I turned on the television and watched highlights of Opening Day. The main focus of our win was again Dravecky. They didn't even show me at all.
The next night it happened again. We were cruising to another 7-0 lead with Chris Bosio doing the honors. Then, in the bottom of the seventh, I was sent out to the mound again.
Santiago called for four straight fastballs and Bob Brenly popped up a 2-1 pitch for the first out.
The ball had gotten away and I thought it was going to hit him in the head.
What the hell was he swinging at?
After going up 1-2 on Albert Hall, Santiago called for a curve and it was grounded to first.
Their third baseman doubled but, for some reason, they did not pinch hit and their relief pitcher struck out.
"James, your leading off."
Oh, come on.
I fell behind 0-2 but I did foul one off. But, then, it was full count and Willie McGee was in the on deck circle.
"Get on base, James! I'll bring you home!"
You mean I'd have to run the bases? I only do that when Coach Jackson is mad at me!
I waited and here it comes and I swung....
Wow.
That ball was way outside.
At least I don't have to run now.
Brady Anderson led off the top of the eighth and I struck him out on five fastballs.
The Giants ended the shutout in that inning with a run on three hits.
But that would be all they would get as we won again 7-1.
Ken Oberkfell went three for four with a pair of doubles, three ribbies and scored twice.
In three innings, I allowed one run on five hits and struck out three while not walking anybody.
As we left Candlestick and I looked out at some of the Giants fans leaving the game, I had to feel just a bit for them.
We weren't this strong of a pitching staff.
They were just bad offensively.
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