Taylor Green Video Link

Just adding this, will hopefully blog later.


http://mfile.akamai.com/14668/wmv/milb.download.akamai.com/14668/2008/atm/video/061408_fslasg_green_400.wmv

If You're Going To Be Crazy, You Have To Get Paid For It Or Else You're Going To Be Locked Up.

In another random hotel in another not so random city. Im in orlando today and actually got half a day to go to Universal Studios with the bossman. See I am human after all. On the phone most of the day as per usual especially with the draft deadline approaching. The eastcoast professional showcase was this weekend but for 1000.00 dollars to enter........ well you get the point. I would like to finish up my 2008 guys before I worry about 2009. One foot in front of the other. Also got another massive autograph deal for Lorenzo Cain this week. So awesome for him and his family. I'm happy to have helped.

Met up with Taylor Green's parents who were in from BC last night in Brevard county. What an awesome family to be around. Had dinner with Stephen Chapman, Casey Mulligan and Brian Cartie over at the local Chilli's. Brent Brewer was exhausted and of course Taylor was with family so it wasnt a big post game crowd. It was your run of the mill night in the florida state league. No amusing stories, no hilarious situations. Well, Chapman put me in a chokehold as usual but I mean come on, really? I'm 5'8 on a good day, like I ever stood a chance..... Chapman is awesome, I love that guy.

http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080801&content_id=3235546&vkey=news_mil&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil

Thats the link to the Green story.....

An awesome article was posted on mlb.com I believe on Taylor Green. It's dead on and just a terrific story. Thats it for today.

Mahalo

J

Grandma Take Me Home

Back from San Jose then seven hours later hit the road and now Im in Vierra Florida. Im going to see the Brevard guys again for about the 700th time this season. They're semi-local so at least it makes sense. The trade deadline came and went for me quietly which is a nice relief (I dont have to travel anywhere thank god). The manny trade was good for a couple of my players. Josh Bell has one less roadblock to the show while Sean Danielson has one less OF to worry about now that Brandon Moss is gone. Hopefully both guys make the most of their opportunity (I know they will)

Spent three quality days with Darren in SF. I enjoyed helping him get setup out there. It's one of those things that doesnt come with the job description but it's important to adapt with what the job brings you. We went to the local mall where someone in the Giants team store recognized him. He signed a ball for the guy and that was that. It's an interesting experience watching someone grow up and become "known" right in front of your eyes. Darren is a long way away from celebrity but this is one of those awkward first steps. Enjoy anonymity while it lasts, once it's gone it's gone for good.

Tired as hell which is to be expected. Im a walking zombie. Ill update again when I can with hopefully a better story or five. Anything worth doing is worth doing right.


Mahalo

J

All Of Life Is A Foreign Country.

Took me seven hours to get to San Jose yesterday. I have nothing against seeing America. I have nothing against traveling, but I swear, as much as I absolutely loathe airports, Atlanta's will always have a special place in my heart. I hate the underground terminal bus, I hate then 5 terminals, I hate the pay for play wi-fi, I hate the restaurants, and I especially hate the international terminal and the thirteen mile security checkpoint. It can't be this hard in this day in age to screen people. My god....

Spent all of today catching up with some paper work. I accidentally booked my flight a day before SJ came back home so I was locked in my hotel doing work, making calls, watching Dark Knight clips and listening to Nirvana. Once again I finalized another baseball card deal and my father got one of our guys a job playing winter ball in puerto rico. It's a long process landing guys winter ball jobs, but my father nailed he. He got said player a free apt, free car, and a massive salary. Well done.

Still doing 08 draft work for the two holdouts we're advising. At least we'll know one way or the other aug. 15th. I am also going to the east coast pro showcase next week. The best of the best are usually there so hopefully all goes well and I find somebody worthwhile for the 09 draft. We never try to land too many guys in the draft each year just because of how time consuming that process is. The real money is in the big leagues, so any agent trying to make a fortune out of the draft wont be an agent real long.

Thats about it today. Seeing Darren Ford tomorrow and tuesday then back home wed. At least Ill miss Atlanta on the way back.


Mahalo

J

And As I Climb Into An Empty Bed Oh Well Enough Said

Just got home at 2:38 in the morning from a game in Jupiter today. Watched Brevard play for the first time since Lorenzo Cain was promoted and Darren Ford was traded. I had dinner with Stephen Chapman and Taylor Green, Brent Brewer couldnt go because his mother was in town. I also go to see stephen Chapmans' parents which is always nice.

Working hard right now on some interesting draft stuff. If it works, it will reshape the way things are. If it doesnt.... well it's worthless and things stay the same.

Got a call at 3 am from a phillies prospect who we represent last night. We just recently signed him and he wanted to see for himself if I really would answer on the first ring. Well I did and I guess I still have my job. Awesome.


One client was involved in that massive brawl tonight, still waiting to hear from him and what his role was there. Sean Danielson hit a bomb today which is always awesome. Nick Francis got promoted and is playing great this year. I am so proud of him especially after all he has overcome in his life. He is one to root for, thats for sure.

Also finished off a couple more autograph deals. Im on fire this year off the field.

Thats it. Off to san jose saturday, orlando friday, brevard sunday, then home monday. I need a vacation.






Mahalo

J

So I Wait For Confirmation That You're Never Gonna Use Your Starting Gun

I finally just got home at 4:15 in the morning. Had dinner with clients that were in town, me a couple of parents, and kept the phone on call as per usual the whole night. Dealing with international UFA related business and again as usual following up with the regular work stuff. Finished another autograph deal today, thats like 30 on the year which shatters my old record and I still have several months to go. In talks with an autograph company in hopes of having them sell off all of our players game used equipment and lastly booking my flgiht to go see Darren Ford out in California.

Darren is with a host family out in SJ which should be good for him since it will likely help him get adjusted out there. I know his teammates he left behind in Brevard (and all over the MIL org) miss him very much but at least he knows that the group of guys he grew to accept as family werent just fair weather friends. That has to be rewarding for him.

There is a reason I go to bed at 4 am each day and it isnt for anything howard hughesish...... I always want my guys to know, no matter where they are, especially the west coast guys, that they can call me when their games are over just to talk. I never want them to feel like it's a huge imposition on my life style and I never want them to feel like they're bothering me either. I just try to do my job the way I think my job should be to the very best of my abilities each and everyday. Off to some more games tomorrow followed by a flood of phone calls, a dash of emails, a slow crawl into bed and if my brain permits another rant.

Mahalo

J

My Interest Is In the Future Because I Am Going To Spend The Rest Of My Life There

Today was another busy day on the trail. Once again another one of my prospects was involved in a major league trade. Ray Durham was traded to the brewers today for a pitching prospect and my client Darren Ford. I know Darren is going to a situation that is potentially better for his career but it doesnt make it any less jarring for him. The relationships he has built with his teammates over the last few years are priceless and hopefully last a lifetime. Not to mention that the Brewers are the team that gave Darren his first opportunity to play professional baseball. I know he will always be thankful that the Brewers gave him his chance.

I remember when I was first scouting Darren at Chipola JC while he was under control of the Brewers. They were playing TCC who had a raw leadoff hitter/centerfielder named Lorenzo Cain. At the time, the two had very similar games, however Darrens speed game couldnt be matched by anyone (and still cant in my opinion) The two were bitter rivals in college but after signing the two became the very best of friends in pro ball. It is going to be very strange not having that pair together anymore, and I know it is going to be hard at first for both of them. Thankfully Darren will still have ST in Arizona and of course there is the offseason. Their friendship has transcended baseball and I know both will be close for a very long time. When a player is traded for the first time it really reaffirms that this game is in fact a business and very far away from the sandlot games of childhood. Darren is excited about this opportunity and I know he will do everything in his power to take full advantage of it. I cant wait.


Mahalo

J