STARING PITCHERS

1.Carlos Zambrano

2.Jake Peavy (San Diego Padres)

3. Ted Lilly

4. Rich Harden

5. Jon Garland (Los Angles Angels)

Catchers

1. Geovany Soto

2. Castillo Weiington or Jake Fox

or

Go Free Angent

Sal Fasano ( Cleveland) or Javier VALENTIN ( CINCINNATI)

Relief Pitchers

Freddy Garcia (Detroit)

LH Arthur Rhodes (Florida)

LH Eddie Guardado ( Minnesota)

Kevin Hart

Carmen Pignatiello

Jeff Samandzija-Set-up

Carlos Marmol the closer

1b Mark Teixeria( Los Angeles Angels)

1b Micah Hoffpouir

2b Mark Loretta (Houston Astros)

2b Mike Fontenot

ss Adam Everett (Minnesota Twin)

ss Ryan Theriot

3b Aramis Ramirez

3b Casey Mc gehee

utility Mark Derosa

Bench Players

Chris Gomez Jason Michaels Pittsburgh

CF Scott Podsednik Colorado Rockiers

RF Eric Hinske Tampa BAY

LF Raul Ibanez Seatle Mariners

I never pitched or batted against anyone famous, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn.......

Most famous that I pitched against would actually be a coach....Davey Johnson, who was with Rollins College at the time as a special advisor/assistant or some crap like that. He shook my hand at the end of the game, and said, "mighty nice curveball young man...mighty nice", but that was it.

Zobrist, at this point is the biggest name...most people might not even remember Davey Johnson. There was some All American shortstop on that team that I struck out to end the game, but I can't, for the life of me remember who it was. I remember buzz because there were a ton of scouts in the stands to watch him, but I'm pretty sure if he made it, I would recognize his name.

In high school, I played against Justin Hedrick, who now pitches for the Angels in like AAA. He was a stud then that didn't get a lot of press, and I guess he is now too. I played with guys in college that flamed out in the minors. One of my teammates was featured on HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel as they interviewed him and all the other guys training with Mike Marshall who has been teaching a new way of throwing as a pitcher that supposedly will reduce arm injuries almost entirely (and, I've tried it, and I am a believer---Marshall just doesn't have many friends in the majors, because he went about everything all wrong, and pissed people off).

Aaron:

Who was the best/most famous player that you pitched against?

Hartnett and Hack both talked to about 15 of us in a group setting at the tryout camp in Gary. They did shake hands with us at the start, and we told them our name and hometown.

I recall Hack being slender and Hartnett looking more like a lineman. Both were friendly and poked good natured fun at each other and at us. Stan Hack was manager of the Cubs at the time.

A couple of other staffers ran us through fielding and throwing drills. Two staff pitchers gave each of us about 15 or 20 pitches to hit. We had two sprint races of about 50 yards. Hack and Hartnett commented once in awhile, but they mostly observed.

I remember telling my dad that they were both really fun to be around when the tryouts were over. (I also told him that I wished I had made more contact with the curve balls.)

At the end of the event, we were told that we would be contacted within a week if there was further interest. Seven days later, I decided to really concentrate on my studies. I wonder why I don't remember for sure, but I think it was Gabby Hartnett who said, "Thank you for coming" to me as my dad and I left the field.

JimK,

I've been meaning to ask you....What was Gabby like? Was he a nice guy, or did they really not talk to you?

Aaron...Glad you enjoyed the story. Nothing sarcastic intended--just using an imaginary story line for a little offseason entertainment. But it's also worth suggesting that there are some players who just might perform really well (like Hoffpauir and Zobrist) if they could ever get in the right place at the right time. Getting well prepared is step one in most things in life. Getting a decent opportunity is step two.

There is a step three too--which is making the most of the opportunity. I've mentioned a truly lucky tryout chance I got with the Cubs while in high school. Kind of like your situation, Aaron, I got a couple of hits against a highly scouted pitching phenom. That led to the tryout where my real skills were found to be lacking. I did get to be in the presence of Gabby Hartnett and Stan Hack. (And I do get to keep talking about it.)

I actually played against Ben in college...I struck him out in a completely meaningless 7th inning as Olivet crushed us (he went to Olivet before he transferred to Dallas Baptist). If I recall correctly, he hit two bombs that game. I love their field too...they had brick, and kind of made me think of Wrigley. I still have no idea why he transferred, because Olivet was really good, but anyhow...that was a cool game for me, because my coach was telling me he'd be big time someday and I just struck out a future major leaguer, and he was right.

Good for Ben...I'd totally forgot about that moment until the other night when my wife and I were watching the game, and she was like, "hey, you played against him, I remember" (which I don't think is a good thing that she remembered him....hmmmmmmm)...ah, memories.

I'm happy for him though, he was a really nice guy. I had a buddy on his team that used to tell me all the time that he was going to be something special too, and bet me an XBOX (hey, it was big at the time) that I couldn't strike him out if we faced him. Well, I did, but he said since it was a dropped third, it really didn't count (though my catcher still threw him out). Needless to say, I got screwed, but like a year later the tables turned, and he needed gas money, so he sold the XBOX to me with like 10 games for 90 bucks. LOL

JimK, I love your idea, and if we get him, we'll absolutely get a stand up guy, and selfishly, perhaps I can get tickets from my buddy if he still speaks with Ben. He's fairly tall, I can remember that...I was like, "dude's tall for a middle infielder", but hey, AROD and Ripken were as tall as he is, and a few others too, so I think he'd fit well. If I recall correctly, he's a switch hitter, so that's even better. I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that trade

I know you were being sarcastic about your post at the beginning, but I really wish someone could get through to guys like Hendry and Lou. I honestly think that sometimes these guys sit around a round table and discuss players the'd like to see. Some guys like Zobrist might fall through the cracks, but you CANNOT deny his potential. I mean, his minor league averages are OUTSTANDING... .318 avg, .428 OBP

Anyway, sorry to bore you all with the personal stuff, but I think it'd be a neat idea to get the guy

Jimk,

I hope Lou will be happy with your choice and will follow your recommendation. I also wish that the Rays would think favorable about your choice of prospects.

Optimism, Discoveries and Dreams. Neil is helping us re-discover that our big people did not have big years in 2008. So in the interest of optimism, some (actually) not surprising big years from Z, Aram, Sori and Lee could carry us to the big show in 2009.

Are discovries in dreams omens for team success? Seeing Lou in a Tampa bar, I mentioned my Cubs allegiances and history. Lou said, If you will buy a round for me and my dog, Seymour Wins, you can join us. I whipped out my customary role of bills with the $100 bill on the outside and sat down.

Making small talk and noticing Seymour contentedly licking his privates, I commented that I wished that I could do that. Lou looked a little taken aback, and said, "I don't know if Seymour will go for that, but if you want to try, friend, I'll hold his head." We both laughed heartily.

I told Lou that I was about to use my ESP to find an unheralded player who could be a big plus for the Cubs in 2009. I asked what that player might be able to do. Lou, said, "We could use a SS who hits with power. Maybe he would be versatile enough to play a couple of positions."

I asked Lou what he would say, if my journey to find the player was successful. Lou said, I'd shout Eureka and Shazzam!! Finishing my Miller Lite, I said my goodbys and entered a time of meditation.

In that mode and thinking Eureka was a clue, I drove toward Peoria, IL. I found the Ronald Regan highway to Eureka. "Shazzam!", I said--remembering that Regan used to do Cubs games on the radio early in his career. Entering the town of 4900 people, I saw another omen. The Eureka College sign said Regan graduated from there in 1932. Shazzam!, I said again. That was a year the Cubs played in the World Series.

Knowing that my ESP was onto something important, I asked the diner waitress who might be knowledgable about the town's production of baseball players. She said that I should talk to a legendary old lady in town who in the 1930's had changed her last name to Peach--because she had known the Georgia Peach. She had chosen Peach because she didn't like Cobb.

The ladies name was Everetta Peach, and I found her on the porch of a rustic restaurant with (another) happy dog named Blue. Shazzam!, I thought upon hearing the name. And then....the big question was asked. Would there be a baseball player from here who is capable of playing shortstop for the Cubs and who can hit some home runs?

Everetta Peach gave me a knowing smile. And said, there is, and he is Ernie and Scooter's little boy, Ben. He's playing a backup role right now in the big leagues, but he deserves to play every day. Eureka! And Shazzam?, I shouted for the find and the omens of Ernie and Scooter.

I sensed that I was awakening, What's his last name, I asked in a sweat. "Zobrist", was the last word I heard from Everetta Peach.

And there he is--on the roster of the Rays, 27 year-old, switch hitting Ben Zobrist--from Eureka, IL. In only 198 AB's, he hit .253 with 12 HR's and 30 RBI's. He had 25 W's and only 37 SO's. He did make 7 errors in 136 chances at SS, but he only made 1 in 20 games at AAA, Durham. He was a Texas League all star in 2006 for the Astros and made the All Prospect Team in the AFL that year too.

Ben also played 2nd, 3rd and the OF for the Rays. His 12 HR's and 30 RBI's in 198 AB's for the Rays project to 30 HR's and 75 RBI's in 500 AB's. Playing close to full time, he probably hits .290.

Our prospects, Barney (SS) and Colvin probably get us Ben. I've emailed the info on to Lou and JH. I hope they understand the "Subject'. It's Eureka and Shazzam--I found Ben!!!!