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C'mon, Colin, get it going!

Darn. Not a good week...

Week of April 22th, 2012

I got my first start of the week on Monday and kicked things off with a nice line drive single to center field. The Nashville Sounds had a lefty on the mound, but he didn't throw very hard, about 85, and I had no problem picking the ball up out of his hand. I had an RBI single that gave us a 1-0 lead in my second at-bat, and I drew a 5 pitch walk in my third appearance. I grounded out in the top of the 9th, and we ended up going into extras with the score knotted at one. I struck out in the 11th, and before I could get a chance to redeem myself, we lost on a walk-off single in the 13th.

Austin Kearns lost his starting spot after the game, but his replacement turned out to be Antoan Richardson, a 28 year old who's had all of 3 at-bats in the majors. His average stood at .333 at the time of the switch and he's a whole lot faster than I am, so I guess he deserves it.

We headed out to Oklahoma City, where I sat the opener. In game 2 on Wednesday, I pinch hit in the top of the 15th and a runner on first with no outs, but I flew out to center on the first pitch. We won 7-5.

I started in center field and batted 6th Friday against another lefty. After walking my first time up, I absolutely destroyed a fly ball to right-center knocking in two and allowing me to pull in with my second triple of the season. After a popout in AB #3, I struck out after a long 10-pitch at-bat, and we lost 6 to 3.

After being benched for our 5-2 win on Saturday, I got a call from my father. I thought he might be calling to finally congratulate me on my new contract (I'd told him about it when I first got paid on Sunday) or to apologize for not supporting me at all, but we ended up just making small talk and discussing the Giants. Eventually, I just awkwardly made up an excuse to hang up.

Next week kicks off with the final three games of our series against the Sounds, followed by an off day and the first three games of a four-game set against the New Orleans Zephyrs.

Week's Stats
3-8, .375, 0 HR, 0 2B, 1 3B, 3 RBI, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K

Season Stats
5-20, .250, 0 HR, 0 2B, 2 3B, 4 RBI, 2 R, 5 BB, 4 K, .400 OBP, .450 SLG

Standings
1. Memphis Redbirds - 10-7
2(t). Iowa Cubs - 8-9
2(t). Omaha Storm Chasers - 8-9
4. Nashville Sounds - 7-10

Okay, not too shabby. Keep up the good play!

Week of April 29th, 2012

I've come to accept the fact that I'm nothing more than a bench player.

I got one start this week, and grounded out in every single at-bat. I pinch hit three times, striking out and and lining out in the first two before finally getting my first and only hit of the week on Saturday night. With the count at 0-2, their pitcher made a mistake and threw a slider right down the middle. I crushed it to right-center, and I thought for a moment it was out, but it bounced off the wall. I made it all the way around to third without a slide for my third triple of the year. Strangely, I'm now leading the league in triples with just 27 at-bats in 23 games.

So I finished the week with just 7 at-bats, and only one hit. I guess there just isn't room for 5 outfielders on this team...

Week's Stats
1-7, .143, 0 HR, 0 2B, 1 3B, 0 RBI, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Season Stats
6-27, .222, 0 HR, 0 2B, 3 3B, 4 RBI, 2 R, 5 BB, 5 K, .344 OBP, .444 SLG

Standings
1. Memphis Redbirds - 12-11
2(t). Iowa Cubs - 10-13
2(t). Omaha Storm Chasers - 10-13
2(t). Nashville Sounds - 10-13

Mr. Harper, I'm Skittle of the MLBPPWORLD press. I have a question for you. Would you rather be a bench player in AAA or a starter in AA?

Don't worry Colin, you won't be a bench player for long!

May 6th, 2012

Today I received a strange e-mail. It came from a man who identified himself as "Skittle" and claimed to be a reporter from a newspaper called the "MLBPPWorld Press". I'd never heard of it, and a quick Google search turned up nothing. I was a little weirded out overall. Here's what it said:



Like I said, pretty weird. I decided shooting him a quick response back wouldn't do any harm, though, so I quickly wrote:



I created a new e-mail account after sending that.

There is so much win in that post

I would have created a new e-mail too, if a man named Skittle from the MLBPPWorld Press e-mailed me.

Nice update.

I think once those other OF's are out of your way, you will get consistent at bats, and become a more consistent hitter.

Week of May 6th, 2012

Sunday's game against the Zephyrs was a great one. I was hitless my first 3 times up, and my fourth at-bat came in the bottom of the 10th, down 4-2. I lined a single to center field and kicked off a rally that allowed us to win 5-4 and avoid getting swept.

I didn't play at all our next two games, but I got the start in right field on Wednesday. I struck out my first time up, singled to left my second at-bat, struck out again in my third plate appearance, and finished the game with a walk. We won 4 to 1.

On Friday, I came in to pinch hit in the top of the 8th in a 5-5 game. I went up looking for a fastball, and after taking one inside, I laced a line drive down the left field line for a double. I came around to scored what would prove to be the winning run, and manager Dave Barias congratulated me on a job well done. It had been the best contact I'd made all season, and it felt amazing coming off the bat.

I was rewarded for my pinch hitting efforts with a start on Saturday. My batting average was back over .250 and I was ready to have a great game, but things didn't go as well as I'd hoped. I went hitless with a strikeout and a walk, and we lost 4 to 3.

The season is over a month over now, and I think it's officially safe to say that things aren't going as well as I'd hoped. I have one of the lowest batting averages on the team, and I haven't hit a single home run in 38 at-bats; however, my walk rate is through the roof (15.6%) and my OPS is a solid .777, which is 3rd on the team. So I guess even though my batting average is struggling and I'm striking out too much (20%), I'm not doing so bad that my job is in danger.

Week's Stats
3-11, .273, 0 HR, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB, 4 K

Season Stats
9-38, .237, 0 HR, 1 2B, 3 3B, 4 RBI, 5 R, 7 BB, 9 K, .356 OBP, .421 SLG

Standings
1(t). Iowa Cubs - 14-16
1(t). Nashville Sounds - 14-16
3(t). Omaha Storm Chasers - 13-17
3(t). Memphis Redbirds - 13-17

Tied leading the division.

With a sub-.500 record.

Week of May 13th, 2012

We lost the last two games of our series against the Isotopes, and I didn't play at all. During the flight (we got to fly because Albuquerque to Des Moines is 18 hours by bus...) back to Iowa Monday night I sheepishly turned around to face Dave Barias a row behind me and on my right. I still didn't have much of a feel for his personality yet, and I had avoided talking to him too much so far this year.

"Hey, Skip?" I said quietly. He turned to look at me, but didn't greet me at all, so I continued, "I was wondering if you could let me know when I might play next? I was planning on flying my parents out for a game, and I want to make sure I'm actually in..."

He just kept staring.

"I'm sorry, the lineup's none of my business, just forget I-"

"It's not a problem at all, Harper! I'm glad to hear you'll do that for them! My son never flew me out for one of his games..." he started to tell me about his son, who'd played eight years in the minor leagues.

"So, when should I buy the tickets for?" I interrupted.

"Oh, right! Hmm, let's see here... I plan on pencilling you into left field on Wednesday." He looked up at me. "How's that sound?"

"Great! Thanks a bunch!" I headed back to my seat, next to Danny Nicholson, who was now my teammate for the second straight year and quickly becoming one of my best friends.

"Flying the folks out for a game, eh?" he asked. I nodded. "Where do they live?"

"Near San Francisco," I answered.

"Ah, that's a long flight," he pointed out. I nodded again. "I suppose I'm lucky, my parents live within 30 minutes of Memphis, so whenever I get a start there they come out, along with my two older sisters." I just kept nodding; I'm not much of a conversationalist, but that works pretty well with Danny, since he loves to talk. He continued to tell stories, entertaining me and the players around us until he finally gave out around 1:00 AM. I went to sleep too, after that, since I was pretty tired and Danny had been pretty much the only thing keeping me awake.

After the five hour flight, we finally arrived back in Iowa. It was just 5 AM, and everyone quickly shuffled into cabs to head home until the game that night. when I got home, after sleeping for a few hours, I went online to buy tickets for Tuesday night. I picked out an 8:20 flight and bought three tickets (I wasn't sure if my parents would let Jeremy skip school). I figured I could just have them stay at my apartment, them in my room and Jeremy on the couch, but if they wanted to they could get a hotel room.

I waited until just after noon, when I called them. My mom answered and was thrilled when I told her. I gave her the code to get the tickets and she said she couldn't wait. She thanked me, and I told her I was happy to do it.

Wednesday came, and my mother called me from the airport. I gave her my address so they could direct the cab there, and soon they arrived. It was about 2:00 AM, but I headed outside to greet them anway.

"Hey Mom!" I exclaimed, giving her a hug. I spotted Jeremy getting out of the cab, "Hey kiddo! Ready for school to be over?"

"Yeah," he said, "but I get to skip tomorrow!" I laughed.

I looked around; my father was nowhere to be seen. My mom, who had always been adept at reading me, could tell why I was suddenly upset. "I'm sorry, Colin, he has a lot of work-"

"Save it," I told her. "It's my fault for expecting him to come." I picked up her suitcase and carried it inside to show here where she'd sleep. By 2:30, everyone was in bed.

I left for the field the next day feeling mixed emotions. I was happy my mother and Jeremy would get to see me play, but I was still upset at my father. By the time the game was over, we had lost 7-1 and I was 0 for 2 with a walk, not an impressive day. After the game, I drove them to the airport and bid them farewell. I could tell Jeremy was unimpressed, and I hated myself for disappointing him. I stayed with them until their flight left just after midnight, and I headed home. I would get five more at-bats in the week, and I picked up my first home run of the season, but I couldn't bring myself to be happy about it. I'm tired of being unappreciated, and I'm tired of my father.

Week's Stats
2-7, .286, 1 HR, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K

Season Stats
11-45, .244, 1 HR, 1 2B, 3 3B, 5 RBI, 6 R, 8 BB, 11 K, .358 OBP, .467 SLG

Standings
1. Nashville Sounds - 20-17
2. Memphis Redbirds - 17-20
3. Omaha Storm Chasers - 16-21
4. Iowa Cubs - 15-22