w00t!! Pointed to Progressive Boink’s very funny Dugout, which envisions ballplayers instant messaging. A sample:
WinBenSteinsBrenner: Now, before we begin, I have a very important and personal question to ask you.
WinBenSteinsBrenner: WHO’S YOUR DADDY clap clap clapclapclap WHO’S YOUR DADDY clap clap clapclapclap.
Vote4Pedro: I was born in the Dominican Republic to a man named Paulino Martinez.
WinBenSteinsBrenner: I see. Well, that clears THAT up! (Link)
And as for Mientkiewicz going to the Mets for Bladergroen (he of the .992 OPS in Class-A), I can see just the circumstances:
Theo, to himself, at keyboard: Let’s see… i before e especially before cz… Mientkiewicz… damnit, it takes forever to type in that guy’s name properly.
Minaya, to himself, at keyboard: Bladdergone? Bladergroin? What the? He’s only in Single-A and I have to spend all that time trying to get his name right?
Some phone calls later, a trade gets made.