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York Revolution Invite 3'2" player to be ultimate on-base machine

DrungoHazewood

By DrungoHazewood
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DrungoHazewood Hangout Grand Counsel

DrungoHazewood

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The York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League have invited 3'2" Dave Flood to spring training. He'll be tried in the Eddie Gaedel role, as a pinch hitter almost impossible to throw a strike to. If the league allows this, he could be a guy who pinch hits in the late innings of every close game, and with an OBP near 1.000.

I love it. I always thought Will Harridge overstepped his authority by invalidating Gaedel's contract. I'd be willing to bet that today he'd have been the subject of an Americans with Disabilities Act lawsuit.

This isn't a mockery, it's a darned good strategy. Although I will admit that fielding a team completely comprised of little people might get tedious, as the first inning could last for months as their opponent tried in vain to throw strikes.

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Flip217 Major Leaguer

Flip217

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From the article:

"Nate Silver of Baseball Prospectus took it a step further. His team worked up the numbers and concluded that a player with the ability to ensure getting on base once via walk, once per game, would be more valuable to a major league team than Albert Pujols."

:eek:

Wow. But I'm just not sure how I feel about this. I guess if it's within the boundaries of the rules it's okay, but it just seems...cheap.

And actually I'm worried about the guy. Can he take getting hit by a fastball? Can he get out of the way quick enough? Not to sound cruel, and hopefully I don't sound ignorant, but aren't little people more susceptible to all sorts of medical complications and injuries?

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TyCobb Perennial All-Star

TyCobb

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This is no different than a hockey team using a 1000-lb guy as a goalie. Oh wait, I guess that only happened in my mind... :o

The goal is a lot bigger than a lot of non hockey fans think. No human is big enough to cover the entire net. Some of the best goalies are fairly small.

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Flip217 Major Leaguer

Flip217

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If I was the pitcher then after I failed to throw a strike 3 times the next pitch will be at his back. Good luck running the bases then.

Well, I don't think they mean for him to run the bases at all, just to get a walk and then be taken out for a pinch runner.

But I think he'd get plunked once or twice and perhaps decide to find another line of work. I guess we'll see...

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lint06 Major Leaguer Cup of Coffee

lint06

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I think a guy like Chad Bradford could pitch to a dude that small. And you know what, political correctness be damned, I'd have my pitcher get on his knees and soft-toss that ball over (if you aren't allowed to pitch that way, I'd still have my pitcher soft-toss like crazy). I'd give that dude a meatball everytime. He's not gonna do much with it.

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Boy Howdy All-Star

Boy Howdy

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From the article:

"Nate Silver of Baseball Prospectus took it a step further. His team worked up the numbers and concluded that a player with the ability to ensure getting on base once via walk, once per game, would be more valuable to a major league team than Albert Pujols."

:eek:

Wow. But I'm just not sure how I feel about this. I guess if it's within the boundaries of the rules it's okay, but it just seems...cheap.

And actually I'm worried about the guy. Can he take getting hit by a fastball? Can he get out of the way quick enough? Not to sound cruel, and hopefully I don't sound ignorant, but aren't little people more susceptible to all sorts of medical complications and injuries?

It's the next great market inefficiency to exploit.

Bird dog scouts from 11 franchises were lined up outside my daughter's pre-school this morning.

We only asked the Orioles for $500,000 to sign, but they said they couldn't go that high because their projections tell them she'll clear 4'0" before she's eligible for free agency.

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Mark Carver All-Star

Mark Carver

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Well, I don't think they mean for him to run the bases at all, just to get a walk and then be taken out for a pinch runner.

But I think he'd get plunked once or twice and perhaps decide to find another line of work. I guess we'll see...

Hey, he could always put on a Little League catchers chest protector, backwards!

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bobmc Hangout Grand Counsel

bobmc

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The York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League have invited 3'2" Dave Flood to spring training. He'll be tried in the Eddie Gaedel role, as a pinch hitter almost impossible to throw a strike to. If the league allows this, he could be a guy who pinch hits in the late innings of every close game, and with an OBP near 1.000.

I love it. I always thought Will Harridge overstepped his authority by invalidating Gaedel's contract. I'd be willing to bet that today he'd have been the subject of an Americans with Disabilities Act lawsuit.

This isn't a mockery, it's a darned good strategy. Although I will admit that fielding a team completely comprised of little people might get tedious, as the first inning could last for months as their opponent tried in vain to throw strikes.

Is the York Revolution still managed by Chris Hoiles with Tippy and Sammy Snider as coaches? :scratchchinhmm: It looks like it.

Flood isn't shown on the roster yet.

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BaltimoreTerp Hangout Grand Counsel

BaltimoreTerp

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As much as I've enjoyed hearing about the creativeness of the Veeck family over the years, I've always thought that the Gaedel thing was definitely a cheap loophole in the rules. The player isn't meant to even attempt a swing.

If I'm an opposing manager, and I see this happening against other teams, when the guy comes up I'm absolutely throwing at him. It really is making a mockery of the game.

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bobmc Hangout Grand Counsel

bobmc

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As much as I've enjoyed hearing about the creativeness of the Veeck family over the years, I've always thought that the Gaedel thing was definitely a cheap loophole in the rules. The player isn't meant to even attempt a swing.

If I'm an opposing manager, and I see this happening against other teams, when the guy comes up I'm absolutely throwing at him. It really is making a mockery of the game.

Good for the OBP! :laughlol:

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