So its Oct 9, Game 1 of the NLCS. I've been gradually becoming a casual Dodgers fan over the past 2 1/2 years (why that amount of time?...it's always some dude, isn't it?), and it's my first time, to my knowledge, ever watching the Phillies play.<<<--- This man made me sad. He's friggin good. Then, aforementioned "some dude" tells me Victorino was a Dodger, till he got stolen..... what? Rule 5 Draft? What's that? Upon hearing it was too complex for texting, which seems, dishearteningly, to be my primary means of communication with most people these days, I set out to find the answer for myself. And now, in terms other casual fans and those us of rocking estrogen won't mind hearing (shit, I know.. my Berkeley degree just got revoked again... it happens often... bad feminist....) here's a little rundown of
ye ole' rule 5:
1.Boy plays baseball
2.Boy is good, but young, gets recruited to minors
3. Boy shows promise, but not good enough for 40-man roster (Major league team, plus backups that can be "called up" from where they play meanwhile in the minors), he still plays minors
4. To prevent hoarding talent in the farms (where attractive young ball players are fed and watered), after a certain number of years (depending how old he was when he caught that special scout's eye), another team can take roster-less boy as their own.
5. Stealing team doesn't actually steal boy... they have to pay $50,000 for him. (Or they can do the same thing for lower-levels of their own farm, at cheaper rates). They also have to have an open space for him.
6. Boy has to be part of the major league "stealing" team (with only 24 of his partners in crime) for the whole season, or else they have to give him back, if they don't want him anymore.
Victorino, it turns out is a fascinating case.
1.Dodgers grew him, pouring water and fertilizer on the little Shane seed.
2. 3 years later, Padres rule 5 drafted him. F@ck you again, Aaron Kiefer.
3. Padres changed their minds... fickle, fickle team. Gave him back.
4. 2 years later, Phillies rule 5'ed him.
5. Our little Dodger Shane seed has grown up to kick ass for the Phillies.
This could be our grass-skirt wearing Bobblehead, LA --->
Actually, nevermind. That wouldn't be cool at all.
But I do think it's cool to make sure kids get a chance to get out there, even if it might kind of suck for the team that's cultivated them.
Meanwhile, much to Danny's chagrin, I think I'm taking a big step in my personal fan-dom.
I'm about to start following my second team, casually. The Phillies impressed me. I know I'm not allowed to say that in LA, but *Cartman voice*
Yes, folks, I'm making the transition... from being a half-assed Dodger fan, to being a half-assed baseball fan. Hats off to me!
