Dog Days of Summer
July 30, 2008
I guess you could say we are into what is often called the “dog days” of the baseball season. Those are the days when the summer heat seems to wear both players and fans down a little and the players often find themselves fighting through the mid-season lull that seems to come after the all-star game. Soon, though, they get their “second wind” and head down the “stretch run” for the playoffs!
It looks like that is happening with the Cats.  We had our lull and now the team is gearing up for the post season. As most of you know, the Cats won the first half championship. So… that guarantees our appearance in the playoffs again in 2008.
Now, the league rules for playoff rosters are on the top of the mind of every field manager and player personnel person whose team is in contention for the 2008 American Association post season. Playoff rosters are frozen on August 13, ten days before the end of the regular season.  So it is important for all contending teams to decide if they are ready to go into the post season with the team “as is” or if they feel they can shore up a weak spot with a late season pickup from a non-contender or a free agent.
The injury situation is also a factor.  It could be that someone is recovering from an injury and may be ready to play in the post season, in which case you may have him on the disabled list. However, if you plan to re-instate him and you are at the full active limit, you will have to decide who is going to be released.
Trades and acquisitions are not allowed during the last ten days of the season or during the post season.  Our league President Dan Moushon monitors the rosters very closely to be sure that teams do not break this rule and also that we do not sign players who do not fit into our roster rules for experience, salary cap, etc.
I think I’ve explained before that there is a strict formula for the number of experienced players and various levels of experience that each team must adhere to. In a nutshell, we can only have four veterans (that is players with 5 or more years of professional experience) and only four LS-4 (four years) and we MUST have four rookies. The remaining players may be from one to three years of experience, however one of them must have just ONE year. It is a little more complex than this, but I won’t bore you with the details….such as the salary cap that has to fit into this and the fact that we can sign an extra five year guy if we only have three four year guys, but that guy can’t have MORE than five years…. and some other stuff about rookies who have only played in our league, etc. etc. …… that’s it in a nutshell.
Therefore, when considering roster moves, Chad Tredaway cannot simply “go out and find another pitcher”… for example.  He may have a slot open for a pitcher with one to three years experience so that is exactly what he has to find.
These rules are set forth to maintain competitive balance in the league and to keep teams from loading up on older players.  One of the ideas behind a league like ours is to provide young players with opportunities to showcase their skills. If the league were filled with 30-35 year old guys who are often, frankly, on the downside of their career, it would truthfully deteriorate into a product on the field which some fans might describe as a bunch of “has beens”.Â
As it is, we have a very good product. Our teams are generally made up of youthful and enthusiastic young men who are enjoying the experience of minor league baseball and trying their best to win for the hometown fans.  One of the most gratifying parts of this business of independent baseball is to be a part of the competitive atmosphere and watch how the players handle the pressure while at the same time enjoying the experience of playing the game they love on a professional level.
I want to share a letter with you. It was written to Carl Bell from Mr. John C. Molyneux. Mr. Molyneux is the father of John Molyneux who was just such an addition to our roster late last season. Young John joined the team for the “stretch run” and the playoffs and was instrumental in helping us to our 2008 league championship. I am typing the letter word-for-word exactly as Mr. Molyneux penned it. After you’ve read this letter, you will understand what really motivates someone like Carl Bell… and you will know that it is NOT and has NEVER BEEN about money.
 Dear Mr. Bell,My son, John Molyneux, got his 2007 championship ring about two weeks ago right befor our family bar-b-que. He was excited to show everyone in the family how beautiful the ring is he received for winning the championship.
I want to thank you and your organization for giving John the opportunity to play professional baseball. This is a rare accomplishment for a kid from Philadelphia. We briefly met you and your wife before a game against the Blacksnakes. Those games my wife and I got to see our son play professional baseball in a beautiful stadium that you should be proud of. To see him play to a sold out stadium the night of the fireworks was very special to us. Your staff was friendly to us and the burgers in left field were worth the money. I even enjoyed just standing in left field because the view was so good.
I want to tell you as a parent, I enjoyed my visit to Fort Worth and the memories will stay with us for the rest of our lives. John graduated over the winter from West Chester University. His goal is to be a youth parole officer in Philadelphia, he is waiting to take the test. Presently he is working at Jeff Manto’s batting academy as a professional batting instructor. His ring is proof of his time in professional baseball and with the Fort Worth Cats.
Again thank you for how you treated our son and may God bless you in all you do.
John C. Molyneux
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Now that letter says it all… doesn’t it?Â
We can count on some exciting playoff action again this year at LaGrave Field. We will host the first two games of the Southern Division playoffs on Monday and Tuesday, August 25 and 26.  If we are successful in the first round, we would then host the first two games of the Championship Series against the Northern Division Champion on Monday and Tuesday, September 1 and 2. (Monday, September 1 is Labor Day this year.)
For now, keep an eye on the roster as Chad sets the team for the post season…. I think we’re pretty close but we are one under the limit right now, so you could see an addition if the right guy becomes available. And….. let’s root the Cats through these “dog days” and into the playoffs!
Tickets are on sale now!
More soon.
JPD
