A baseball career: My journal

[antidan444]

June 7, 2013

I still can't quite believe what happened today.

"With the first pick in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft, the Houston Astros select Dan Kauffman, a pitcher out of North Hagerstown High School in Hagerstown, Maryland."

I dreamed of this day, but doubted what happened could ever occur.

I'm only 5-foot-8. Sub-6-foot pitchers don't go first.

I only throw 92 mph tops. Guys who go first overall throw harder ... usually, a LOT harder.

Still, scouts I talked to said this was possible. They say my natural sinking movement and variety of other plus pitches (curve, slider, change) are unusual for a kid my age.

The movement? That's a gift from God. The arsenal? That's something I worked long and hard at, since I was 7 years old, wanting to be just like my idol growing up: Greg Maddux.

I remember coming across a Braves game on TBS back then and enjoying the game. I had no idea who Maddux was at first ... some veteran who supposedly was really, really good in his prime. I just knew there was a Braves game on TBS nearly every night from April through September, and I became a huge Braves fan.

But I knew who Maddux was soon enough. He never looked all that impressive, kind of like me. Never threw all that hard, kind of like me. But boy, could he pitch! Inside, outside, up, down, a little harder, a little slower, a little slower still, almost always one step ahead of the hitter. I loved the chess master outmaneuvering the opponent.

And I wanted to be just like him.

I hope to take those first professional steps soon. My agent says I could get a $7 million signing bonus. That's nice, but I just want to get the contract done and get on a mound somewhere so I can get started.

------

For those who are curious:

Dan Kauffman
Birthday: 2/13/95 (18 years old)
Throws: Right

(Ratings on a 20-80 scale, with overall listed first, then potential)

Stuff: 40/80 (I did not expect an 80 potential, that got bumped up on the first scout evaluation after I created the player)
Movement: 55/70
Control: 55/80
Stamina: 75
Sinker 45/65
Curve 35/65
Slider 35/65
Circle Change 40/80

[antidan444]

July 1, 2013

Signing day! Very happy to get the contract done. My agent negotiated for a $7.7 million signing bonus and got it without too much hassle. I told him, "One way or another, I'm signing, so just get the best deal you can and I'll sign it." Didn't think he'd get that good a deal! The only thing I'm going to buy as a life-long dream purchase is a red Ford Mustang. The rest is going in the bank for a future house to enjoy with my future family (whenever I meet the unlucky lady, haha!)

I'm heading to Greeneville, Tennessee, to make my first professional start in two days with the Astros' rookie league team. A little nervous already, but excited to get started.

[antidan444]

July 3, 2013 (Greeneville Astros vs. Kingsport Mets, Rookie League)

You're not in high school anymore, kid!

That became apparent in the first inning of my first professional start. I got two outs on my first two pitches, and I was thinking, "This can't be THAT easy." I was right. A double and three singles later, I was trailing 2-0 and wondering what the heck happened!

The second inning didn't start much better. The first two guys hit line drives for singles. The first time through the lineup, I'd given up six hits. But I struck out the next two guys and got a popup to end the second, and started feeling a lot better.

Over my final 19 hitters faced, I only gave up one hit, one walk and one hit batter (my final pitch of the game). Overall, I allowed two runs on seven hits over 6 2/3 innings, striking out four. After the way I started, I'll take it! My sinker was easily my best pitch today. My curve stunk and I need to work on it in the bullpen before my next start. My change was OK and I threw it for a lot of strikes early in counts. Didn't throw too many sliders and that's probably going to be a pitch I throw very rarely until I can work on it some more this winter.

We lost 6-5 in 15 innings. It was an exciting final two hours, but I'm whipped and need sleep.

[antidan444]

July 8, 2013 (Greeneville Astros at Kingsport Mets, Rookie League)

The good news: We won 12-4 thanks to a 7-run sixth inning.

The bad news: I sucked.

I couldn't throw a first-pitch strike to save my life today. In high school, I could get away with 1-0 counts (and usually 2-0 and 3-1 counts). In the pros, it's not going to work.

I needed 30 pitches just to get out of the first inning, and somehow didn't allow a run after a one-out single and double. I pulled another Houdini act in the third after the first two hitters (the top of the order) singled, as the next guy popped out to first, the cleanup batter chased two balls well out of the zone and whiffed (thank you!), and the next guy also popped up to first.

Three innings, three zeroes, and yet I knew I was more lucky than good.

Then, the fourth. Leadoff single. Deep flyout to center (I held my breath). Lined single to center. Then I threw maybe the worst sinker ever, a 2-2 pitch right down the middle to the No. 9 hitter and he absolutely crushed it down the left-field line for a game-tying two-run triple. I hit the next hitter with a 1-2 pitch (I suck!), then gave up the go-ahead run on a groundout to second (no shot at a double play). A single and a four-pitch walk (I suck some more!) loaded the bases, but a groundout to second ended the inning. I was fuming in the dugout.

Final numbers: 4 2/3 innings, 8 hits, 3 earned runs (could easily have been 6-8), 2 walks, 3 Ks, 2 HBP. U-G-L-Y, you ain't got no alibi, you ugly! We didn't win because of me today.

[antidan444]

July 9, 2013

I got called into the manager's hotel room early this morning. I figured he was going to give me some pointers for next time. Instead, I got promoted. Promoted? After last night's stinker?! But I am on my way to Class-A Lancaster Jethawks of the California League.

I also was told that, if I feel OK, I will be making my first start on 3 days' rest because of injuries. I've never done this, but I've never had any arm troubles and I will skip my bullpen between starts. I'll admit I'm a bit nervous about the situation, but they're in a tough spot, so we'll see.

GREENEVILLE STATS (ROOKIE LEAGUE): 0-0, 3.97 ERA, 11 1/3 innings, 15 hits, 5 earned runs, 3 walks, 7 Ks, 3 HBP.

[antidan444]

July 12, 2013 (Lancaster Jethawks vs. Inland Empire 76ers)

Not too many people have ever been able to write what I can in the next line:

One start, one win, 10.13 ERA.

It's weird. In my opinion, I pitched significantly better this time than my previous start, but the results (other than getting the win thanks to a 9-run inning from the offense) were much worse.

The positive: I threw 73 of 105 pitches for strikes on 3 days' rest (not shabby), and even struck out the side in the second inning. I only threw first strikes to 17 of 30 hitters, but that's a lot better than four days ago.

The negative: I continue to get hit hard. I gave up 11 hits in this one, including a home run on an 0-2 sinker right down the pipe. Terrible pitch. I tired in the sixth and gave up a single, double to right (our right fielder is slower than a walrus) and a two-run triple to left (no one was catching that one). Thankfully, a reliever came in and got two outs to strand two runners, or my line could have been even worse.

It was bad enough: 5 1/3 innings, 11 hits, 6 earned runs, 1 walk, 3 Ks, WP, HBP ... and my first pro win. That's not quite the way I envisioned it.

I don't think I believed the road to the majors would be this difficult. 22 hits allowed over 16 2/3 innings.

[antidan444]

July 16, 2013

I don't want to make too many waves (especially as the No. 1 overall pick, when people already have this preconceived notion that I'm a spoiled brat without ever having met me), but I had to put my foot down today for my future's sake. The Lancaster brass wanted to pitch me again on three days' rest today. They have a starter who's on four days' rest but apparently isn't recovering as fast. I just don't think it's in my best interest to throw twice in a row on three days' rest in Single A. I can be a team player and I'll do whatever it takes to help the team whenever I can, but I wasn't happy with this plan and I let them know it.

Thankfully, the higher-ups in the Astros' organization agreed with me, so I'll be starting tomorrow instead. In fact, I think the Lancaster people got a stern talking to.

[baseballonly]

Doesn't this guy's ratings seem a little too developed for a 18 year old?

[antidan444]

Possibly. When creating/editing the player I put most of the initial ratings between 75 and 100 (on a 1-250 scale), thinking that would be a low enough starting point. Some of his ratings got bumped up after the initial creation, with the first scouting updates a month later (and right before the draft). I went with it because I figured they were still low enough that there was still some chance of a bust ... plus, when Houston assigned him to Rookie ball to start, I figured I couldn't have been too far off the mark. Anyway, it is what it is, and overall, I agree that the initial ratings were probably a little too strong.

[antidan444]

July 17, 2013 (Lancaster Jethawks at Inland Empire 66ers)

I got another crack at the 66ers today, and while I'm not 100 percent happy with how I did, it still was my best outing so far: Seven innings, four runs allowed and another win, this one a victory I can at least take some credit for.

My main objective these last two starts has been to throw first-pitch strikes. I did well in that department today: 21 of 30 batters.

I made one piss-poor pitch today, a sinker I left up that got hammered for an RBI double. The other two big hits were not mistakes: A 430-foot homer on a sinker that, though thigh-high, was at least 6 inches outside (I mean, that's freaking ridiculous), and an RBI double to the corner in right on a changeup I put right on the outside corner. Sometimes, all you can do is tip your cap.

My last five hitters faced went like this: F8, 4-6-3 DP, P6, F8, 5-3. I was very happy that I finished strong through pitches 90-102.

Aside from that one terrible sinker, the only other aspect of today that I was disappointed in was my curveball. Every single one I threw was low, many of them in the dirt. I need to find my release point.

Final line: 7 innings, 9 hits, 4 earned runs, 1 walk, 3 Ks, win (2-0). Hey, my Single-A ERA is almost under 7 now! Woohoo!

[antidan444]

July 23, 2013 (Lancaster Jethawks at Bakersfield Blaze)

I suffered my first professional loss today (I had it coming weeks ago). That tends to happen when the other team throws a shutout. My effort was a tale of two halves: The first three innings, and the last 2 1/3 innings.

I had some control issues in the first three innings, but they didn't hit anything hard and I needed only 38 pitches to get to the fourth, surrendering only two walks. Three of my four pitches were good enough ... still need to work on my curve, but my slider came around a little.

Then, the fourth. The leadoff hitter went the other way for a double down the line on a slider down and away. Pretty good piece of hitting.I had the next guy down 0-2, missed just low with three straight pitches (a sinker, a slider and a change), then he teed off on a 3-2 sinker I left up, launching it 435 feet for a 2-0 lead. Oops. Then with two outs, I gave up a single, hit the next guy on a 1-2 pitch (a changeup that got away), and then the shortstop booted a pretty easy one to make it 3-0.

38 pitches for 3 innings. 32 in the 4th alone. Yuck.

I got out of a two-on, one-out jam in the fifth with a strikeout and a groundout to second. I used all four pitches in getting the strikeout, and that was probably my best sequence of pitches to any batter all summer.

In the sixth, I hung a 1-0 slider that got crushed for a leadoff double. I got the next guy on a comebacker before the manager pulled me after 104 pitches. The reliever promptly gave up an RBI double, so that got added to my final line: 5 1/3 innings, 6 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 2 walks, 4 Ks, HBP.

I threw first-pitch strikes to just 13 of 25 hitters. Not good enough. My overall percentage (61 for 104) wasn't very good, either. I feel like I had better stuff today and just didn't harness it as well as I should have.

[antidan444]

July 25, 2013

I got called into the manager's office this morning. I've been here once before, when I got promoted from rookie league. I was prepared to get sent down there, and I wouldn't have blamed them one bit.

Instead, they promoted me to Double-A ... with some interesting news.

They apparently want me to close.

I've never dreamed of being a closer. Never even contemplated it. And I'm not sure how I feel about it. But a promotion is a promotion, and if they want me to try it, then try it, I will.

So I'm off to Corpus Christi to play for the Hooks in the Texas League.

SINGLE-A LANCASTER STATS: 2-1, 6.62 ERA (yuck), 17 2/3 innings, 26 hits, 13 earned runs (3 HRs allowed), 4 walks, 10 Ks.

COMBINED MINOR LEAGUE STATS: 2-1, 5.59 ERA, 29 innings, 41 hits, 18 earned runs, 7 BB, 17 Ks.

[gbwitheyes]

This is a nice read. I look forward to see how things progress.

[antidan444]

July 26, 2013 (Corpus Christi at Midland)

I didn't think I'd see any action today after we took an 8-0 lead in the fourth. But by the end of the sixth, it was 8-6. It stayed that way through the eighth, and suddenly I was warming up thinking, "Here we go, time to see what being a closer is like."

But it didn't go down that way. We scored three in the top of the ninth for a little breathing room, taking the pressure off me.

I retired the first two hitters in the ninth on a groundout to short and a foul popup to first. Then I hung a 2-1 slider and it got crushed 415 feet for a home run. Good thing I wasn't trying to save a one-run game! I got a 4-3 groundout on the next pitch to wrap up a 12-pitch inning.

[antidan444]

July 27, 2013 (Corpus Christi at Midland)

I wasn't feeling very good today (a little arm fatigue), but with the game tied at 8 in the bottom of the ninth, they called my number. Two walks and a double later, I took the loss, and am not all that happy they stuck me in there to begin with.

-------

This wouldn't get written in a personal journal, but Dan was at 36 percent today. Also, I'm a little peeved at the game, it did not show Corpus Christi as having a game today in the league scores/schedule section, so I simmed the day, and what do you know, they had a game. Hence, the lack of details (I'm not saving boxscores and game logs to save CPU space).

I have a few other comments, but I'll save them for the appropriate time in the story.

[MMastro92]

Very cool story and I've enjoyed reading it. Are you letting the AI handle pretty much all aspects of the game, in terms of line ups, roster moves, etc...? Definitely enjoying it!

[antidan444]

I'm letting the AI handle everything (except I vetoed a second straight start on 3 day's rest, because I felt quite certain that's what the character and his agent would have done) ... through clenched teeth ... and let's just say you may get a raving, ranting journal entry sometime in the near future about the Astros' incompetence.

[antidan444]

July 31, 2013 (Corpus Christi at San Antonio)

I got a much needed three days to rest and recharge (I could have pitched yesterday, but we got blown out), and felt much better when my number got called with a 9-8 lead in the bottom of the ninth. I had to face the bottom of the order.

Cody Decker (3-for-4 entering at-bat): Lined out to center on the first pitch. Pretty fortunate that was hit right at someone.

Adam Buschini (0-for-4): Groundout to first on the first pitch.

Leonardo Heras (pinch-hit lefty): Struck him out on 1-2 sinker I elevated intentionally.

Six pitches, one save. I can't say I'm real thrilled at closing games (I would rather be starting, if not in Double-A, at least somewhere), but it's nice to finish off a one-run game by pitching well.

Speaking of not starting, I had a conversation with the Astros brass yesterday about it, just because it was nagging at me. They said they were concerned about the number of innings (about 110 since March, including my senior year of high school) accumulating on my arm, and wanted to limit the innings the rest of the season. They needed a reliever in Corpus Christi and thought, "What the heck, let's give the kid a try." I guess I can live with that, but I did say that if I wasn't starting somewhere next season, I'd be pretty unhappy.

[antidan444]

August 1, 2013 (Midland at Corpus Christi)

I got my second save in as many days, as I entered in the top of the ninth with a 7-5 lead. There's a pretty big difference having two runs to work with as opposed to one, and I was pretty relaxed going out there. My stuff also had a lot of life, both in the bullpen and once in the game.

I was facing Midland's 2-3-4 hitters:

Conner Crumbliss (1-for-3 with a homer, lefty) -- Retired on a squibber in front of the plate, 2-3, after I got ahead 0-2.

Michael Choice (1-for-4) -- I threw him a really good 2-1 sinker and he grounded to short.

Dusty Coleman (replaced DH in previous inning, first at-bat) -- Another groundout to short ended things.

A 1-2-3 inning on 14 pitches is a good day. Also, my ERA is now under 5 for the first time in about three weeks. Granted, that's over all of 3 2/3 innings in Double A, but baby steps!

[antidan444]

August 4, 2013 (Midland at Corpus Christi)

I love insurance runs. I want to marry them. There's nothing better than warming up to try to save a one-run game, and your offense gives you a couple more runs for breathing room. Suddenly, a 4-3 nailbiter is a 6-3 game. Thank you, offense!

I faced the top of the order this time:

Michael Taylor (2-for-4, HR) -- I threw a pretty good 3-1 sinker at the knees and got a flyout to center.

Darwin Perez (1-for-4, lefty) -- I fell behind 2-0, fought back to 3-2, then threw a terrible sinker two feet too high ... and he swung through it for strike three. Your Christmas gift is in the mail.

Michael Choice (1-for-4) -- He hit a soft liner that looked like it would drop, but the center fielder made a nice running basket catch.

That's three saves in the last three chances, all of them 1-2-3 innings. I don't feel like I accomplished all that much today (saving three-run games is cake), but I am pitching a little better.