Springfield (AP) - It is a sad day in Springfield. Yesterday, the Seattle Pilots selected Lance Berkman in the NASBL supplemental draft, officially ending Berkman's career with the Isotopes. Since being drafted #7 overall in the 2001 NASBL draft, Berkman has earned the nickname "Mr. Isotope" with his stellar play on the field of play and his stellar work in the Springfield community.
In ten seasons with the Istopes, Berkman hit .303 with a .406 on base percentage and a .570 slugging percentage. Berkman's yearly averages with the Topes are as follows: 138 games, 477 at bats, 93 runs scored, 145 hits, 32 doubles, 2 triples, 30 home runs, 102 runs batted in, and 79 walks. He owns virtually every Topes offensive record of significance and won an MVP award. These are hall of fame numbers and it is hopeful that when Lance's career is over and he is enshrined in the NASBL hall of fame, he will be wearing an Isotope hat.
Although, he put up worse than typical numbers for the Topes last season, Lance still hit 25 home runs and drive in 81 runs. Lance deserved to leave Springfield on his terms, not by being unceremoniously cut by Doug Sherlag like any other player.
I have a question for Doug Sherlag. Who is the Topes player that was too valuable to cut to make room for Mr. Isotope? Jamie Moyer....Ryan Raburn....Tyler Clippard....Joe Thatcher? None of these guys are good enough to force a legend out the door. I know many Topes fans felt the same way when the Topes cut ties with Eric Chavez. In hindsight, that appeared to be the right move by Doug Sherlag, but this one feels different.
Nobody has meant as much to the Topes organization as Lance Berkman. He gave respectibility to a fledgling expansion team and this seems to be a knee-jerk reaction to missing the playoffs last year. Much of me feels pride that the Topes organization considers a 93 win season as a failure. World Series or bust.
However, this move by Doug Sherlag is indefensible and shows a lack of class as an organization. Doug Sherlag can learn something from Mark Hildebrandt. Mr. Hildebrandt knows that Omar Vizquel is not just any other player. Shame on Mr. Sherlag for not feeling the same way about Lance Berkman.
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