Well, you kind of saw it coming, I guess, but it still sucks when it’s official. Mike Klug, the team MVP and underdog fan favorite, has been let go by the Oakland Athletics.
This is kind of an end-of-year dirty deed that the team simply has no choice but to engage in if they’re to make room for next year’s draftees, so it’s probably good it happens sooner rather than later, but we love The Keg here at NFTN, as he not only took on any team role that was going, from bullpen catcher to emergency outfielder to first base coach, but he also left a piece of himself on the field whenever he got a chance to go out and take a swing.
According to the Road Kill Sports Blog:
2006 Vancouver Canadian Utility man Mike Klug has been released by the Oakland Athletics. Klug was more of a inspirational leader to the club by August, as the middle infield was stacked and there was no room for his then .182 average. Klug won team MVP, edging out Larry Cobb, Alex Valdez and Matt Sulentic.
Here’s hoping the kid takes another crack at pro ball - who knows, maybe he’ll catch on at an indie club, like Kevin Millar and Rey Ordonez did, and find his way to The Show after all.
Either way, thanks for giving it your all, Kegger. Don’t be a stranger.
2 users commented in " Mike ‘The Keg’ Klug is released by Oakland "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI grew up with Mike Klug and played baseball with him through high school. I’ve never set foot on the field with a better ball player, and I can only hope that another team is smart enough to make use of his talents at some point or another. He’s got the good ol’ North Dakota work ethic going for him, and if he ever gets the chance to be an every-day player, I know he’ll kick in some numbers, not to mention get the team jacked up, that will improve any team. He’s the good kind of cancer, where his hard work will infect the rest of the team. I hope for the best for him, in my small mind nobody deserves it more than him.
Every season sees one or two draftees cut ruthlessly - guys who’ll play their hearts out and remind you of Rudy every time they step out on the field, but just can’t push through the crowd to retain their spot.
It’s a shame Klug was one of those guys, but even if he never swings again, he can rest assured that people who saw him know that he didn’t leave anything on the shelf during his Oakland career.
Viva Keg.
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