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(Batavia) - The Muckdogs ended the season on October 24th as they fell to Death Valley 2-3 and lost in the LCS 4 games to 2. For a team that lost 34 one run games during the regular season this was the most painful. It was also a changing of the guard. As the plane flew back to Batavia the GM walked around the cabin, shook hands and had some small talk with most of the players who weren't lost in their music staring out the window...wondering what could have been.
The under 25 club of Ervin Ventura, TJ Elkind, Zack Fowler, Dave Bauer, and Milt Stoll (who wasn't active for the series) was his first stop. For many of them this was their first playoff run and they were down, down but excited. Excited about the future, excited about getting back here again, excited about winning it all someday, excited as only a young ballplayer can be. They all know that if they have a a little luck from the baseball gods they will get to play this game another decade and have more chances to be back here again.
As he moved farther back he sat down by Jamie Combs, who is coming off arguable his best season ever at 33 years old (17-6, 2.08 ERA, .80 WHIP). Combs was a 3rd round pick in 2001 and has blossomed into Batavia's greatest starting pitcher of all time. He was also a rookie in 2008 which means he missed both championship runs in '05 and '07. This weighs heavily on him. Combs will turn 34 before the start of next season and he knows it. On the books for at least three more years at $20m a season he doesn't have the excitement the "kids" have. He has the questions a guy in his mid-30s without a ring starts to get. Will I ever win it all? Can I stay healthy? Finally, and most importantly, where is this team going? The last question is brought up with the GM. They confer for a short period as the GM tries to reassure him. A "young and talented" farm system is overheard, "over $40m for free agency" is whispered. Finally "we're going to do everything we can to get you a ring Jamie" as they shake hands and the GM walks on. You can still see the doubt in his eyes though. The nervousness that comes with age.
As he enters the last circle of teammates the talking slows then stops. Hector Gutierrez has already been told Batavia is not picking up his 2017 option. Free agent short term pickups Tom Gibson, David Gamboa, and JR Lowe are all soon to be gone. Jarrod Goldberg, #2 in Batavia all-time saves, was benched as closer during the DVS series and will not be back. Diego Martinez, the 1.1 of the 2003 draft and most winning pitcher in Muckdogs history (and most losing) is heading off to FA as well. If you labeled this group it would be "dead man walking."
There are no hard feelings here though, just sadness. At 39, and the oldest player on the team, Gamboa knows the business by now. He thanked the GM for the chance to play ball again when he was signed in June and has thanked him almost every week since. Over the course of his career he's played for six BLB teams and is a potential HofF candidate. Ironically in 2007 his Pittsburgh Millers were up 3 games to 2 in the Brewmasters against Batavia before losing two straight. It was the closest he has ever and probably will ever come to a ring. You can see it in his expression as he shakes hands and gives one last thanks.
What's next for the Muckdogs no one knows. With a major roster overhaul can they compete again next year? Will there be several big FA signings or a blockbuster trade in the future? Only time will tell. As the GM passed each group on the way back up the aisle to his seat he was torn. Someday he will look back on this team with pride and will relish the ups and downs. For now though, like the rest, he wonders what more could have been done as the emotions of excitement, doubt, and sadness creep in around him.
The under 25 club of Ervin Ventura, TJ Elkind, Zack Fowler, Dave Bauer, and Milt Stoll (who wasn't active for the series) was his first stop. For many of them this was their first playoff run and they were down, down but excited. Excited about the future, excited about getting back here again, excited about winning it all someday, excited as only a young ballplayer can be. They all know that if they have a a little luck from the baseball gods they will get to play this game another decade and have more chances to be back here again.
As he moved farther back he sat down by Jamie Combs, who is coming off arguable his best season ever at 33 years old (17-6, 2.08 ERA, .80 WHIP). Combs was a 3rd round pick in 2001 and has blossomed into Batavia's greatest starting pitcher of all time. He was also a rookie in 2008 which means he missed both championship runs in '05 and '07. This weighs heavily on him. Combs will turn 34 before the start of next season and he knows it. On the books for at least three more years at $20m a season he doesn't have the excitement the "kids" have. He has the questions a guy in his mid-30s without a ring starts to get. Will I ever win it all? Can I stay healthy? Finally, and most importantly, where is this team going? The last question is brought up with the GM. They confer for a short period as the GM tries to reassure him. A "young and talented" farm system is overheard, "over $40m for free agency" is whispered. Finally "we're going to do everything we can to get you a ring Jamie" as they shake hands and the GM walks on. You can still see the doubt in his eyes though. The nervousness that comes with age.
As he enters the last circle of teammates the talking slows then stops. Hector Gutierrez has already been told Batavia is not picking up his 2017 option. Free agent short term pickups Tom Gibson, David Gamboa, and JR Lowe are all soon to be gone. Jarrod Goldberg, #2 in Batavia all-time saves, was benched as closer during the DVS series and will not be back. Diego Martinez, the 1.1 of the 2003 draft and most winning pitcher in Muckdogs history (and most losing) is heading off to FA as well. If you labeled this group it would be "dead man walking."
There are no hard feelings here though, just sadness. At 39, and the oldest player on the team, Gamboa knows the business by now. He thanked the GM for the chance to play ball again when he was signed in June and has thanked him almost every week since. Over the course of his career he's played for six BLB teams and is a potential HofF candidate. Ironically in 2007 his Pittsburgh Millers were up 3 games to 2 in the Brewmasters against Batavia before losing two straight. It was the closest he has ever and probably will ever come to a ring. You can see it in his expression as he shakes hands and gives one last thanks.
What's next for the Muckdogs no one knows. With a major roster overhaul can they compete again next year? Will there be several big FA signings or a blockbuster trade in the future? Only time will tell. As the GM passed each group on the way back up the aisle to his seat he was torn. Someday he will look back on this team with pride and will relish the ups and downs. For now though, like the rest, he wonders what more could have been done as the emotions of excitement, doubt, and sadness creep in around him.
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