The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 09)

[Cheese2121]

Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 09)

Finally Hessman does something useful....I was about to say this thread should be renamed "Hessman, you bum"

[bhurst99]

Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 09)

[bhurst99]

Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 14)

Toledo (AAA) --- May 27, 2014

[Cheese2121]

Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 09)

Are we sure Hessman isn't secretly a spy for the other team? Nice couple of hits though in that one for you.

[bhurst99]

Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 09)

Are we sure Hessman isn't secretly a spy for the other team? Nice couple of hits though in that one for you.

I can't believe he's hitting clean up.

[bhurst99]

Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 14)

[bhurst99]

Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 14)

Toledo (AAA) -- May 28, 2014

[Cheese2121]

Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 09)

Three things I take away from this video...firstly great day hitting for you....second you may look like santa clause before they put you in the field....third my original theory on Hessman might be off, the way he tried to kill you with the bat, we might have to consider that he is an international spy....surely he is not a baseball player....

[bhurst99]

Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 09)

Three things I take away from this video...firstly great day hitting for you....second you may look like santa clause before they put you in the field....third my original theory on Hessman might be off, the way he tried to kill you with the bat, we might have to consider that he is an international spy....surely he is not a baseball player....

It`s a little suspicious that I have been insulting Hessman and suddenly his bat breaks with the sharp end almost hitting me between first and second base.

[bhurst99]

Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 14)

[bhurst99]

Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 14)

Toledo (AAA) -- May 29, 2014

[Cheese2121]

Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 09)

Nice job extending the hitting streak. And look at Hessman finally doing work!

[bhurst99]

Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 14)

[bhurst99]

Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 14)

May 29, 2014

"We have ourselves a troublemaker. We need to act and we need to do it fast."

Toledo manager Larry Parrish didn't feel like he could wait another second before the situation spiraled out of control. He wanted to act but he knew he needed to phone Detroit Tigers assistant general manager Al Avila first.

Avila was the Tigers point man for dealing with problems in the Tigers organization. Most of them usually involved alcohol, drugs or women. Too many of them dealt with all three.

"What's the problem, Larry?" asked Avila. He opened a screen on his laptop in his Detroit office ready to take notes.

"It's Bryan Hurst. He came to me the other day and said he's tired of being the designated hitter. He said he's not going to shave until he plays the field," said Parrish

How is this a problem, wondered Avila.

"Hurst? Isn't he the kid from Canada who is always getting hurt. Didn't he start the season in Double A? Not much of a prospect if I call recall, correctly," said Avila.

"He's up here in Triple A now challenging my authority," said Parrish.

"By growing a beard?" asked Avila.

Parrish thought Avila sounded annoyed.

"I don't care about the beard. It's the idea behind the beard. He doesn't like his role with the team and he feels he can do this silent protest. Today it's a beard. Tomorrow he'll miss curfew. Next thing you know he''ll be drinking on the team bus. If other players see him getting away with it, they'll be more likely to do the same thing. We need to have zero tolerance. Again he's challenging my authority and by extension the authority of the entire Tigers organization," said Parrish.

Avila thought minor league managers must have too much time on their hands. He could barely see his desk because he was up to his elbows in scouting reports for the upcoming amateur draft in June. There were so many things to keep track of every day and now he had to deal with this crisis: The player who wouldn't shave.

"It's pretty odd he would be upset at being DH. How often does he play DH?" said Avila.

"Well, he's not that good in the field so I've played him there every day since May 4." said Parrish.

"You've played a 22-year old every day at DH for nearly an entire month. Have I got that right?" said Avila.

Parrish thought Avila sounded really annoyed now. How could Avila not understand the problem?

"Listen, Larry, as a minor league manager it's your job to make sure these guys are ready for the majors. It's not about winning games. It's about preparation. It's about getting these guys ready for the next level. How can anyone be ready to take the next step if he's playing DH every day?" asked Avila.

"Listen, Al," said Parish, mimicking Avila's condescending tone. "There's no better way to teach guys how to play right then by putting them in a winning environment and teaching them respect for the game and that includes the coaching staff. We are winning because he's playing DH. Wins breed happiness. Happiness is good for player development."

Avila was now worried about what was going on in Toledo. Development has to be the focus not winning. Was Parrish leaving pitchers in too long, possibly burning out arms in a quest to create this winning environment? He knew one thing: Hurst wasn't a prospect worth arguing about.

"What is you want me to do?" asked Avila.

"Well, I don't care if Hurst is hitting .353 we may need to sit--" said Parrish.

"353!" interrupted Avila. "Are you kidding me?"

Parrish suddenly thought this phone call was a very bad idea.

Avila wondered if had he been so absorbed by the upcoming draft he hadn't been paying attention to players already in the organization. The first of each month he had a conference call to get updates about all the team's players in Triple A, Double A, Single A and college but that was still a couple days away. He valued scouts opinions much more than statistics. But how did he fail to notice that Hurst was hitting .353?

Avila opened a web page and clicked on the MILB page.

"He's leading the league in batting by 20 points. 20 points!" said Avila.

"Yeah, he's hitting pretty well" said Parrish meekily. "But that's not the-"

Avila had heard enough. He knew what he needed to do.

"Forget about worrying about troublemakers. I'm driving to Toledo tomorrow to get a first hand look at what's going on," said Avila.

Parrish didn't care what Avila was going to do. Hurst was going to remain the DH because it was the best decision for the organization.

[bhurst99]

Re: The Career of Bryan Hurst (MLB 14)

Toledo (AAA) -- May 30, 2014