04/26/24
September 06, 2012
One At Bat: "Of the almost 17,500 people to play in Major League baseball, Adam Greenberg is the only player to have his career end on the very first pitch. In fact, according to Major League rules, Adam’s debut only counts as a plate appearance, not an official at bat.
Our goal…to get Adam Greenberg the official at bat he deserves."
To make a team's 40-man roster, Greenberg would have to get someone else removed, perhaps spoiling that player's big league dreams.
This is the kicker for why I'm not supporting this idea. With his torn labrum, he's not really even able to fake contributing in an at-bat. He's only a step above Eddie Gaedel because he was major league player before this stunt.
posted by grum@work at 09:02 PM on September 06, 2012
It's unfortunate, but with 40-man rosters, I don't see how it can be done in a fashion that doesn't subject another player to an equally unfair situation.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 10:18 PM on September 06, 2012
What is amazing are the comments that follow the article. Seems like there are a lot of Cubs' fans (a few commented, but presumably many more) who are blind to the roster reality.
posted by jjzucal at 10:24 PM on September 06, 2012
With his torn labrum, he's not really even able to fake contributing in an at-bat.
Position players can recover from torn labrums, and Greenberg's was five years ago. He wouldn't have been invited to play in the next World Baseball Classic if he was incapable of playing at all today.
It doesn't look like Greenberg wants an end-of-season ceremonial at-bat. He wants a real shot to play somewhere, which would require a spring training invite. That should be the goal of One At Bat.
posted by rcade at 09:40 AM on September 07, 2012
Greenberg was released before the season and last played with Bridgeport of the Independent League that year, suffering a labrum tear that eventually ended his career.
I assumed that "ended his career" meant what they said. I also assumed that even with a torn labrum, he'd still have a chance of being one of the better players for Team Israel...
posted by grum@work at 11:06 AM on September 07, 2012
On Tuesday, the Cubs said no.