The SweatSox had high, long-term hopes for the rookies we brought in before the 2018 season. Needing some depth at the catcher position, we recruited 3 out-of-town studs to help lessen the load and keep Marc Lett healthy all year: Justin Pidhirny, Cypress Hernandez, and Harry Jee.
The 3 ultimately did what was asked, Pidhirny helped control some of our higher maintenance pitchers throughout the season, giving Lett a much-needed mental break. Hernandez took control of the bullpen, allowing Lett to rest between innings; and Jee put the gear on during preseason practices, allowing Lett to stay fresh so he could catch over 50% of the regular season, and 100% of the playoff innings.
We expected a similar kind of catching rotation in 2019, but the baseball gods had a different plan in mind. We were devastated to learn in late January that Harry Jee had passed. Jee was a central part of the 2018 Après Baseball Hyjinx, a force to be reckoned with whenever he showed up, and one of the funniest guys behind the scenes in the SweatChat. He will be greatly missed. RIP Harry Jee.
We suspect that after passing on an opportunity to play a second season with the SweatSox, Harry will be looking for a starting spot on a Tier 1 powerhouse. Can’t blame him really.
Other offseason SweatSox roster news besides the passing of Dillon Lowry’s favourite third baseman includes: the questionable retirement of Justin Pidhirny (CTE), and the unexpected re-relocation (or is it de-location?) of Cypress Hernandez. We will never forget Pidhirny’s young, hairless body, as well as Hernandez’ very hairy dog: Sir Charles Barkley.
So all three of our rookies, the supposed future of the SweatSox, are now gone. Dead to us. History will most certainly look back at the SweatSox Rookie Class of 2018 as one of, if not the most, disappointing ever. Thanks a lot guys.
If you’d like to play for the SweatSox, and don’t suck, figure out how to slide into our DM’s.
Yours,
I, Shaun Robert Keay IV
2nd All-Time in NCBL Strikeouts