Life in the Minors
Although this season's 4-6 start for the Dubois County Dragons is not exactly what I envisioned, it is better than last season's stumble out of the gates in which we opened by dropping our first four games. Making cuts is a tough task
But this season's struggles have been different.
When we opened last year with four consecutive losses, every phase of our game was terrible. So we just stayed patient. We knew we were better than that.
This year, however, the frustration has taken a new shape for the coaching staff. With a team batting average well over .300, offense is the least of our concerns. In fact our run production has been downright impressive.
Our starting rotation is considered one of the best in the league.
And while offense and starting pitching have been our potion for success this year, relief pitching in particular has been our poison.
With a bullpen that has struggled with its consistency and has seen three late-inning leads dissipate into deficits, the pitching coach has been enduring sleepless nights trying to figure out what parallel universe he has been living in for the past week and a half.
Could this really be happening? With four relievers returning from a six-man corps that established itself as perhaps the top late-inning unit in the Frontier League, how could we be so bad now?
Could it be that these same four arms that helped our bullpen post a unit ERA of under 3.00 ERA are now 50-50 chances to get an out?
What this implies for our team, and the pitching coach and manager in particular, is that changes need to be made. While minor-league affiliates of major-league teams are handed players, for better or worse, things are different for us.
In independent professional baseball, teams are responsible for finding players to fill the 24 roster spots. Most players are recommended by scouts with major-league organizations or college coaches.
So basically, when we call a player into the coaches' office and give him the old, "The organization has decided to make a change" speech upon giving him his release, what we're really saying is "We don't think you're getting the job done anymore."
Well, with all of the struggles in the bullpen early this season, our organization is looking to make some changes. For the past 10 games we have been holding our breath and keeping our fingers crossed every time we have handed the ball to our relievers, hoping to see our guys return to their glory of last year, when they helped us bring home the West Division pennant.
With 74 more of these nights awaiting, I don't think I can take many more late-inning blunders. So the search has commenced.
While off-season player hunting is actually one of the very fun aspects of the independent minor leagues, doing it during the season is no parade. The impending moves to remedy our current situation will be painful.
While a few members of our relief corps have done an admirable job thus far, a couple have just not been getting the job done. Being probably more sentimental than the next guy, it's been a tough run for this pitching coach knowing that a pitcher I have worked with for over a season may be on the way out.
Each time we march him out to the mound, I find myself cheering inside for him. Exhilarated with every strikeout, agonized by every hit and run he allows. Unfortunately, this season has elicited more of the latter.
A congenial guy with unquestionable heart and work ethic -- not to mention considerable talent -- he has become a fan favorite, a clubhouse favorite and, of course, a favorite of the pitching coach.
Unfortunately the time has come for the organization to make a change. ...