When he played in Vancouver in 2004, I had a lot of time for Tommy Everidge. 

T-Mobile took a little time to warm up to the presence of a tape recorder under his nose, but once Benny Winslow started dishing the inside scoop on nicknames (Super Mario!), the big first baseman from Santa Rosa started talking freely - and funnily.

And what’s more, when the ‘04 Canadians got smoked in the NWL playoffs, he took it harder than most.

Dude wanted it bad. And that earns respect in Van City.

But it hasn’t been all rose petals and palm fronds for Everidge as he works his way towards the bigs. First there was Don Sutton III, who had been drafted right out of high school, and for several years was considered ‘a better prospect’ at first base, despite his injuries and penchant for taking failure badly.

Sutton never caught on, but even though Everidge climbed levels of minor league ball as expected, he was being surrounded by other first basemen. Haas ‘The Burning Map’ Pratt, Steve ‘Squeaky’ Kleen, Prowling Greg Dowling, Amblin’ Danny Hamblin, Sean ‘Doc’ Doolittle…

The A’s suggested Everidge should try his hand in the outfield, where he might have more options going forward - then pretty quickly shifted him back to where he’s comfortable when it became clear that Super Mario may be able to jump on mushrooms and bounce off platforms, but catching long outfield flies is a whole other video game.

Meanwhile, the competitors kept coming: Chris ‘The Truth is Out There’ Carter was recently added to the list, and Frank Thomas, Daric Barton and Mike Sweeney form a 1B traffic jam at the Major League level that may take years to clear.

So what’s a guy to do when all around him folks are looking to end his minor league career so they can prolong their own?

This. 

Midland top 4th:

• Tommy Everidge homers (10) on a fly ball to center field. Joe Gaetti scores. Jon Zeringue scores

Midland top 5th:

• Tommy Everidge singles on a line drive to center fielder Dexter Fowler. Joe Gaetti to 3rd. Jon Zeringue to 2nd.

Midland top 6th:

• Tommy Everidge hits a grand slam (11) to left center field. Jesus Guzman scores. Joe Gaetti scores. Jon Zeringue scores.

Midland top 7th:

• Tommy Everidge homers (12) on a fly ball to center field. Jesus Guzman scores. Joe Gaetti scores.

If you’re counting at home, that’s 10 RBIs! His three dingers bring him to 12 on the season thus far, which leads the team.

The Rockhounds rode Everidge’s form to a 17-6 victory that puts them at around .500 on the season to date, but the big question for ‘04 C’s fans is, will Two Ton Tommy get a shot at moving up the system to Triple-A ball?

It’s possible. Probable? I dunno. Everlast is 25 years old now, and that’s about the age you really want to be knocking on the door of the 40-man roster, but there’s just very little space for another first baseman in Oakland’s thinking.

Ten ribbys, though… that’ll open some eyes at other organizations.

Either way, guys like Everidge and Blazing Nick Blasi (who is also stuck in Double-A ball despite last season’s MVP turn in Triple-A Sacramento) and Danny ‘The Grape’ Putnam (who held things down in the majors for Oakland while half the team was injured, only to find himself back in the bus leagues weeks later) are worth watching out for.

When guys like those actually make it to the big time, it’s not because they were born to do it. It’s because they never gave up, caught lightning in a bottle a few times, and made it happen.

Vancouver’s proud, Tommy. Keep cranking.