Marlon Ford's Road To The Show (MLB 07)

[Just Blaze]

I tried Road to the Show mode on MLB 07 and really enjoyed the whole idea so I am going to start a forums dynasty. Hope you all enjoy it. Banner made by ryan!

[Just Blaze]

Silver Springs, MD: It is June 6th, 2006 and I have sat on my ass all day waiting for a phone call. Today is draft day for Major League Baseball- an event that is under the radar because it is not televised and there are over fifty rounds in a two day span. My mom has thrown a big party for my special occasion but as of now, we are all waiting anxiously as we follow the draft online at MLB.com.

Right now, it is 2:30 PM and I am starving. As everyone eats, I am watching Spongebob Squarepants in order to smile. While Spongebob acts like a complete dufus, I can only think about a phone call. When will it come? Will I be drafted tomorrow? I have heard the rounds I'd likely be picked but all I can do know is wait in anticipation.

It is 3:30 PM and the phone rings. The house grows quiet as I pick it up. "Hello?" "Hello, is this Marlon Ford, the second baseman out of UMBC?"

"Yes sir, it is," I respond. "My name is Jim Bowden and I am the new general manager of the Washington Nationals. Let me be the first person to say welcome to our team."

"Thank you sir, I can't wait to get on the field and play for you guys," I respond.

After our brief conversation, I would hang up the phone as my family stood around me. "Well, it looks like I'm going to be playing ball in DC! I'm a Washington National!"

[Just Blaze]

Player Bio

Name: Marlon Ford
Hometown: Silver Spring, MD
Age: 23
Height:6'3
Weight: 210 lbs
Position: Second Baseman
College: University of Maryland- Baltimore County
Team: Washington Nationals
Round Drafted: 7th Round

Career Stats
-To go here

Achievements
-None yet

[Just Blaze]

Spring Training 2006. Game 1: Nationals(0-0) vs LA Dodgers(0-0)

Vero Beach, FL.: After being drafted by the Nats, I found out that I would be flying on an airplane to Vero Beach, Florida for Spring Training. This was my chance to show that I deserve to get a contract and work my way to the bigs.

The last time I went to Florida was with some of my roommates at UMBC. We went down to South Beach and partied until we couldn't party anymore. When I first heard that the Nationals would be training in Florida, I was really excited but at the same time I knew this trip would not be about partying.

I arrived at the Vero Beach Municipal airport at 10 PM and chilled with my new teammates at a Holiday Inn hotel. Most of the veterans on the team paid no attention to me as we prepared for our opening game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Three days later was game day. The ballpark we were playing at was relatively small- only 5,400 fans in attendance. Most of the fans were Dodgers fans so I felt like my team was the underdog. Sure enough, the Dodgers showed us why they were one of the best teams in the league.

We lost 11-7 but didn't go down without a fight. After trailing by nearly ten runs, we scored four in the eight inning to cut the gap. It was too late though but our manager, Manny Acta, praised us for our hustle and will to not give up.

As for me, I played a great game! I went 3-4 with an RBI and a run. I had one of the hottest bats on the team and some of the veterans noticed. Despite a loss, our outfielder Ryan Church said I was impressive. Austin Kearns, another outfielder, claimed I could make the team if I perform like this night in and night out as Spring Training progresses.

While I enjoyed being complimented, I knew I could not hog the entire spotlight. We have another game tomorrow and the day after that. I had to get my rest.

[Just Blaze]

End of Spring Training- April 29th, 2007

Miami, FL.: Wow, what a month. I definitely proved I belong on this team by batting .436 with over 10 RBIs and 5 runs. Our manager, Manny Acta, told me my chances of getting signed was great and that I would be sent to the Minors first and try to work my way up to the bigs.

Before the team flew back to Washington DC, a few rookies and I drove down to Miami to celebrate. I knew the area well so they demanded that I drive and hit up all the hot spots before we fly out in two days. It took over two hours to get to the M.I.A. but when we got there, we turned into party animals.

We ate a fancy Cuban restaurant while letting our eyes glance at all the 'chicas' of South Beach. After eating, we went to the club and danced for over 2 hours. We tried to avoid getting drunk because we did not want to return to Vero Beach shitfaced.

It was 11 PM when I met this girl named Amber Davidson- a senior college student attending Florida International University. We danced for the longest time and talked about where we were at in life and where we wanted to go. I never told her I was a baseball player because I knew baseball was not big in Miami. We both admired each other from then on and by 1 AM, I was the luckiest man in Florida

The rookies and I returned to our Vero Beach hotel and instantly fell asleep. We needed as much rest as we could get as the team continues to prepare for the regular season.

Boy, am I glad the Nats drafted me.

[Leak2Troupe03]

Nice start to this, and its nice to see somebody doing a team close to home. I actually worked at a job in Silver Spring for a few months.

[Just Blaze]

Contract Signing- April 1st, 2007

WASHINGTON, DC.: After making it back to Baltimore International Airport, my agent called my cell phone and let him know that the Nationals were about to offer me a contract. He told me to wait for his car so that we can drive to DC to negotiate with GM Jim Bowden. Finally, after a month of spring training, I was about to get paid.

After an hour of negotiations, the signing was complete. I was an official Washington National. Bowden, upon my arrival to the team's headquarters, had a one year deal for me planned out. He said that I could easily resign with the organization depending on how I do in the minors and maybe even the bigs. My agent, Gary Letters, told me I could get a longer deal due to my performance in the spring and my lengthy list of accomplishments at UMBC. When I agreed to go after a longer deal, Jim Bowden knew he would have to open that tightly closed wallet of his.

When we left headquarters, I was a made man. My two-year deal was worth over $80,000 with a club option. I wish I got the cash right then and there so I could party at Club H20 in DC but my agent said the money would have to wait. Instead, he took me out to eat a restaurant located near the Verizon Center in the downtown area.

I ordered some fancy French dish and got sick instantly. I went to the bathroom to get rid of the food that was destroying my stomach and my mouth but at 8 PM I got even sicker.

*Big things poppin, little things stoppin, big things poppin little things stop...* "Hang on Gary, my cell phone is going off." "Ok, take your time."

As I stand up, the restaurant’s occupants looked at me with a curious look. "Hmmm, I guess they don't like rap music," I murmured as I flipped open my cell phone.

"Yo, this is Marlon."

"Marlon, it's Amber."

My draw dropepd in amazement as thoughts of the Miami girl came rushing back into my head. I walk outside and sat on a bench- putting the phone back to my ear.

"How have you been?"

"I have bad news."

"What is it?"

"I'm....I’m. Pregnant"

[Just Blaze]

Sent to the Minors After Signing- April 2nd, 2007

COLOMBUS, OH.: I haven't spoken to Amber since she broke the news to me at the French restaurant. I just prepared to fly to Columbus, Ohio where I'll be playing ball with the Nationals triple A affiliate- the Columbus Clippers. As I made the trip, all I could think about was the baby and what I should do. With my first minor league game in three days, I knew I had to focus on baseball and not let my promising career go to waste.

After I arrived in Ohio, I had to rent a car to go to drive to a local hotel. Once I got to the hotel, my cell phone rang.

*Big things poppin, little things stoppin, big things....* "Damn, I need to change that ring tone," I said as I flipped open the phone. It was Amber who was calling me.

We didn't talk long. I couldn't even keep focus as she tried to help me sort out this mess. She didn't even know where I live and what my job was. Yet, she has my baby in her stomach while she was going to college. The thought of her walking around, while pregnant, FIU's campus in the Miami heat made me sick as I tried to talk to her.

After finishing the conversation my cell phone rang again but this time, the Columbus Clippers were calling.

"Hello, is this Marlon Ford? It's your new manager Dave Miley. It is nice to finally hear from you."

"Yes sir, this is Marlon. I am ready to go out to the diamond and help this team win sir. I can't wait to start playing."

"We all can't wait. It's an exciting time of year. Nothing like Spring baseball. Well kid, the first practice is tomorrow at 8AM down at Cooper Stadium. Wake up bright and early and get ready for a good workout all right? You'll have to provide your own transportation so don't be late."

[darjarbinx]

You horny bastard impregnating ladies all around the world.

[Jay [FSU]]

He's just like JJ Blitz!!!!!

[Just Blaze]

1st Game of the Season vs the Indianapolis Indians(0-0)- April 5th, 2007

COLOMBUS, OH.: Finally it is game day. Although I am not in the Bigs, i still felt butterflies as I warmed up in front of 9,000 fans. Today is the day where I work my way up to the Nationals. Today is the day where I make an impact.

My team would be playing the Indianapolis Indians, the minor league affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Their starting pitcher was Jonah Bayliss and ours was Matt Chico. I would be batting in the bottom half of the lineup and on my first at bat, I made my presence felt- well kind of.

With my team down by a run, I would hit my first single at the top of the second inning. With Chico batting next, he would manage to bunt the ball but I would get tagged out at second.

In the fifth inning, still down one to nothing and with two men out, I would get another single while outfielder Michael Restovich was on base. Chico would strike out yet again and the inning was over like that.

Bayliss would pitch seven shutout innings for the Indians, as we would lose the game four to nothing. I was satisfied with my two hits on three at bats but I really wanted the win so the fans could leave with something to cheer about.

After the game, Dave Milley came up to me and said "good wood today. You really gave the pitcher a hard time today."

I smiled but knew I would have to work hard this season if I want to get more compliments like that.