Larry Barkin and the Contract Year
-
- Ex-GM
- Posts: 129
- Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2023 8:38 am
- Has thanked: 30 times
- Been thanked: 61 times
Larry Barkin and the Contract Year
SS Larry Barkin
Let's take a trip back to 2055...
It's Spring Training and when their team isn't playing, all the fans of the BBA are reading the 2055 Media Guide with hopes of a championship. If you turn the guide to page 72, you will find the Des Moines Preview. The experts had the season prediction at 83-79 (more on this later) but there was a particular line when referencing the Kernel infield...
"They added middle infielder Elvan Masuki who can provide excellent defense... If he starts to hit, the team might get serious about trading 2B Larry Barkin to cut a bit of salary."
And that point, Barkin and the Kernel's were at a bit of a crossroad. With a looming player option of $3.4M a big year could end the three-year spent in Des Moines. Let's go back a little further...
Barkin was originally drafted in 2041 with the 11th overall pick by San Antonio. He showed promise as a fielder at one of the most important positions and the promise of not being a liability at the plate - In 121 games he posted a .307/.901 with a 4.0 WAR. The solid hitting high school shortstop was not able to reach an agreement with the Outlaws and ended up in the Collegiate League playing for the Gillette Razors. His game improved against stiffer competition, hitting .352/1.031 with a 12.6 WAR in 146 games. He even had a season where he hit .397! He also took home a bunch of awards:
-Batter of the month x2
-Platinum Stick Award x2
-Bo Jordan Award x2
-Pascal Verhoeve Award
-Paul Bunyan Trophy
He would somehow fall further in the draft in 2045 all the way to 29th. The Chicago Black Sox gave him $6,000,000 to sign and he quickly got to work. His minor league stint was about as short as can be. He skipped the lower levels and played 49 games in Double-A, then skipped Triple-A, making his BBA debut in 2046.
While his BBA career didn't go as well as Chicago had hoped, he was a four-year starter for the team before signing with Jacksonville as a free-agent: 5-year, $17,000,000. While playing for the Hurricanes he performed better and even took home a Glove Wizard award. After two years after a trade in Des Moines, we reach 2055. While playing for the Kernels, Barkin moved over to 2B. During the 2055 season, with new infield competition, Barkin had a career year. Near mid-season, he was even flirting with a .400 average:
In just 138 games, Barkin set career highs in hits, homeruns, RBI, runs, AVG, OBP, SLG and WAR, while making the All-Star team. The team itself set a franchise record in wins at 108. As you could imagine, he declined his $3.4M player option and tested Free-Agency. The Seattle Storm made an offer he couldn't refuse: 6-years, $78M! If you add up his draft bonus and his previous 12 year BBA career he made just over $21M. He's making $13M alone this year.
The Storm paid him the big bucks with the intention of moving him back to shortstop. Unfortunately, this is where our story takes a downturn.
Through 90 games, Barkin has the worst WAR in the entire league at -1.6. He's 4th in the league in most errors at short stop, combined with his worst season at the plate in his entire career. His 38 OPS+ is the worst in the league amongst players with 300 or more plate appearances. And it appears to be getting worse. His numbers by month:
ST - .262/.603
April - .259/.637
May - .222/.571
June - .176/.400
July - .182/.432
He's angry about team record (33-57), 2nd worst in the Frick League. He's very unhappy about his own performance. But hey, he's very good with his role on the team and feels the team chemistry is still good.
His contract is only guaranteed for three more years, as the final two are vesting options. Maybe a return to 2B will help. Maybe a better team around him well allow him to see better pitches. Or maybe it was the curse of the contract year.
It's Spring Training and when their team isn't playing, all the fans of the BBA are reading the 2055 Media Guide with hopes of a championship. If you turn the guide to page 72, you will find the Des Moines Preview. The experts had the season prediction at 83-79 (more on this later) but there was a particular line when referencing the Kernel infield...
"They added middle infielder Elvan Masuki who can provide excellent defense... If he starts to hit, the team might get serious about trading 2B Larry Barkin to cut a bit of salary."
And that point, Barkin and the Kernel's were at a bit of a crossroad. With a looming player option of $3.4M a big year could end the three-year spent in Des Moines. Let's go back a little further...
Barkin was originally drafted in 2041 with the 11th overall pick by San Antonio. He showed promise as a fielder at one of the most important positions and the promise of not being a liability at the plate - In 121 games he posted a .307/.901 with a 4.0 WAR. The solid hitting high school shortstop was not able to reach an agreement with the Outlaws and ended up in the Collegiate League playing for the Gillette Razors. His game improved against stiffer competition, hitting .352/1.031 with a 12.6 WAR in 146 games. He even had a season where he hit .397! He also took home a bunch of awards:
-Batter of the month x2
-Platinum Stick Award x2
-Bo Jordan Award x2
-Pascal Verhoeve Award
-Paul Bunyan Trophy
He would somehow fall further in the draft in 2045 all the way to 29th. The Chicago Black Sox gave him $6,000,000 to sign and he quickly got to work. His minor league stint was about as short as can be. He skipped the lower levels and played 49 games in Double-A, then skipped Triple-A, making his BBA debut in 2046.
While his BBA career didn't go as well as Chicago had hoped, he was a four-year starter for the team before signing with Jacksonville as a free-agent: 5-year, $17,000,000. While playing for the Hurricanes he performed better and even took home a Glove Wizard award. After two years after a trade in Des Moines, we reach 2055. While playing for the Kernels, Barkin moved over to 2B. During the 2055 season, with new infield competition, Barkin had a career year. Near mid-season, he was even flirting with a .400 average:
In just 138 games, Barkin set career highs in hits, homeruns, RBI, runs, AVG, OBP, SLG and WAR, while making the All-Star team. The team itself set a franchise record in wins at 108. As you could imagine, he declined his $3.4M player option and tested Free-Agency. The Seattle Storm made an offer he couldn't refuse: 6-years, $78M! If you add up his draft bonus and his previous 12 year BBA career he made just over $21M. He's making $13M alone this year.
The Storm paid him the big bucks with the intention of moving him back to shortstop. Unfortunately, this is where our story takes a downturn.
Through 90 games, Barkin has the worst WAR in the entire league at -1.6. He's 4th in the league in most errors at short stop, combined with his worst season at the plate in his entire career. His 38 OPS+ is the worst in the league amongst players with 300 or more plate appearances. And it appears to be getting worse. His numbers by month:
ST - .262/.603
April - .259/.637
May - .222/.571
June - .176/.400
July - .182/.432
He's angry about team record (33-57), 2nd worst in the Frick League. He's very unhappy about his own performance. But hey, he's very good with his role on the team and feels the team chemistry is still good.
His contract is only guaranteed for three more years, as the final two are vesting options. Maybe a return to 2B will help. Maybe a better team around him well allow him to see better pitches. Or maybe it was the curse of the contract year.
Des Moines Kernels … since July ‘54
Heartland Division Champions: 2055
Frick League Champions: 2056
General Manager of the year: 2055
Frick League Manager of the Year: 2055, 2056
Heartland Division Champions: 2055
Frick League Champions: 2056
General Manager of the year: 2055
Frick League Manager of the Year: 2055, 2056
- recte44
- GB: Commissioner
- Posts: 43402
- Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2010 12:14 pm
- Location: Oconomowoc, WI
- Has thanked: 151 times
- Been thanked: 1696 times
- Contact:
Re: Larry Barkin and the Contract Year
Holy nuts. He has completely cratered. Seattle is cursed, I swear.
Matt Rectenwald
BBA Commissioner, GM, Las Vegas Hustlers
Milwaukee Choppers (AAA) | Reno Aces (AA) | Pahrump Ranchers (A) | Kingston Legends (SA) | Roswell Aliens (R)
BBA Commissioner, GM, Las Vegas Hustlers
Milwaukee Choppers (AAA) | Reno Aces (AA) | Pahrump Ranchers (A) | Kingston Legends (SA) | Roswell Aliens (R)
- Dington
- GB: Recruiting & Development Director
- Posts: 5044
- Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2020 12:06 am
- Has thanked: 2150 times
- Been thanked: 1195 times
- Contact:
Re: Larry Barkin and the Contract Year
Cursed with signing mediocre vets to bad contracts.
I always kinda liked Barkin, but never put up the numbers I thought he would, except his contract year lol. Grun is having his best season for me and will likely opt out at the end of the year. Some of these players really do seem to play better on contract years.
Nashville Bluebirds GM
HOW I BUILD A WINNING TEAM <---Click
Kuwait City GM 2042-43
2043 UMEBA United Cup Champion*
- BaseClogger
- BBA GM
- Posts: 1481
- Joined: Sun May 08, 2022 8:55 am
- Has thanked: 1253 times
- Been thanked: 350 times
Re: Larry Barkin and the Contract Year
Those ratings should make him an excellent fielder but for some reason he isn't. I can't figure out defensive ratings.
San Fernando Bears GM since 2051
- Jwalk100
- GB: FL Pacific Division Director
- Posts: 3194
- Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2020 9:42 pm
- Has thanked: 1877 times
- Been thanked: 818 times
Re: Larry Barkin and the Contract Year
I was going to take him with my first pick. Chicago took him and I took Logan Niles. That turned to shit.
-
- Ex-GM
- Posts: 167
- Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2022 12:06 pm
- Has thanked: 18 times
- Been thanked: 62 times
Re: Larry Barkin and the Contract Year
Probably tough to shift back to SS at age 33 after playing 2B for the past 3 years too. Shame to see such a drastically bad year.
- Trebro
- BBA GM
- Posts: 1291
- Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2022 12:47 pm
- Has thanked: 1142 times
- Been thanked: 293 times
Re: Larry Barkin and the Contract Year
Yeah same here. I'm missing something but I don't know what. Players who should have better defense stats based on the rating compared to peers with lower ratings drive me nuts.BaseClogger wrote: ↑Thu Sep 28, 2023 3:34 pmThose ratings should make him an excellent fielder but for some reason he isn't. I can't figure out defensive ratings.
Rob McMonigal
Yellow Springs Nine Sep 2052 - ????
London Monarchs Aug 2052 - Sep 2052
Yellow Springs Nine Sep 2052 - ????
London Monarchs Aug 2052 - Sep 2052
-
- Ex-GM
- Posts: 167
- Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2022 12:06 pm
- Has thanked: 18 times
- Been thanked: 62 times
Re: Larry Barkin and the Contract Year
Wouldn't surprise me if there is also regression happening that the OSA hasn't accounted for yet.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests