The Horse’s Mouth: Bill Unleashes His Thoughts
Rusty Nobbs, Bluegrass Roundup

7/31/2009: LEXINGTON, KY – António Cruz is a class act from Cuba, where Scouting Director Jesús Santos discovered him in 2007.  After being escorted to Churchill 1, Cruz agreed to a minor league contract and was immediately assigned to Hi-A Roanoke.  Cruz’s minor league progression was unspectacular yet steady enough to warrant consideration for the ML this season as he was scheduled to make his debut after the AAA season ended.  In 2007 he made 6 starts for Roanoke and 3 starts for AA Parma.  2008 was 29 starts and 181 innings with only 18 bases on balls and 115 strikeouts.  2009 – with a promotion to AAA Jefferson County – he had 17 starts, 119 innings, only 13 bases on balls and 93 strikeouts.  So far in 4 ML starts with Connecticut he has 24 innings, 5 bases on balls with 21 strikeouts.

Cruz was destined to become a household name here in Kentucky – that is until GM Rudis made the deal which sent António to Connecticut.  Why in the world would Rudis allow this promising stud-to-be get out of Kentucky’s pasture?  Kentucky has nothing going as far as ML pitching is concerned … aging Dan Hankins, who somehow continues to be the so called “ace” of the staff, is still unaccepted by the baseball community.  Soft-tossing Minoru Hashimoto has been consistent and keeps Kentucky in the game for at least 4 innings.  Juan Castro’s promise of great things is waning.  Xu-quin Yuan has returned this year and appears relegated to bullpen work as his star potential has been reduced to throwing batting practice if the coaching staff calls in sick.  Jerry Armstrong is as much an unknown today as he was when he joined the team in 2007 and now his season is over.  Steve Vance should be known as an overachiever simply because he does not belong in the ML.

I also had the chance to discuss this trade with Bill … it was a little difficult to get him to understand who António Cruz is.  As I was first explaining to Bill that António came over from Cuba back in 2007, Bill said, “Cruz … Cruz …. O yeah … I … remember, pass me that … bucket … of ice …. will you?  Cruz is that [expletive deleted] cabana boy on the whatshisnames cruise line! (Bill is referring to Drew Streets, owner of the Florida Featherheads and Royal Atlantic Cruise Line)  Yeah, he tried to steal my shoes while I was showering!  That [expletive deleted] better stay hidden, ‘cuz if I find him I’m gonna shove this bottle of Johnny Walker Blue right up his [expletive deleted]!!!!!!  I got those shoes in 1983. My white patent leather shoes, just like Chevy Chase wore the night he picked up Christie Brinkley … now that’s my kind of night out … the things I would like to do with her, mmmmmmmmmm……….”  I had to stop him before we ran out of time since I knew he was meeting up with Cooper Scott at The Bluegrass Tavern.

Cooper is another one who is in a pickle of a spot.  Brought in during the season to alleviate the losses of both Murdock and Molina to extended injuries – and with hopes of signing him for a few more years – he finds himself down with injury and has basically contributed nothing.  Also, José Trujillo, who joined Cooper by accident – you see, Bill made offers to Cooper and Trujillo but forgot to include deadlines or contingencies.  After Cooper signed, Trujillo attempted to also sign but was denied, so he brought the team in front of the Executive Committee and won his case … without the deadline or contingency it was considered an open offer.  So in essence, Trujillo is getting free money since the team really had no need for him.  Not only is GM Rudis frazzled by Bill’s actions, now he has to deal with the contracts of two expensive (for Kentucky) players who truly have no future with this team.

But I digress.  Bill has had his moments, but he is definitely not helping the team this season, and as you can see he lacks knowledge of farming.  Again I attempted to explain that António Cruz was the hidden gem who has been moving steadily up the system.  That he was set to impact the ML and attempt to establish himself as the true ace of the Thoroughbreds.  Bill would have nothing of it as he continued his rant about Royal Atlantic Cruise Line hiring thieves and murderers.

Yet still we do not have the answer as to why António Cruz was traded.  "Mr. Rudis," I said, "please answer us.  We the fans have a right to know … need to know … can't sleep without knowing the truth behind this move."  The bewildered GM responded quietly and nervously, "Bill made me do it.  He said my job depended on it"  DOH!!!!!  Here we go again.

When I arrived at the Bluegrass Tavern to again attempt to get some answers from Bill, I was surprised to find not only Bill and Cooper Scott but also rock legend Ozzy Osbourne all huddled together around a corner of the bar.  Bill greeted me graciously as if he expected my arrival.  Cooper nodded his head in acknowledgement.  Ozzy reached out a hand and tried to say something, which I can only refer to as gibberish, as Bill introduced us.  Then Bill called over the bartender and ordered 4 shots of something called Kentucky Gentleman.  I could see where this is going before it even started, but what else could I expect when hunting down Bill in a bar?

Four shots and a vodka-tonic later, Bill opened up.  Little did I know the barrage of adjectives I was about to bear witness to.  Bill spewed forth, “Cruz, that no good P.O.S., lowlife S.O.B., murderin' cabana boy.  Don’t even try to tell me he isn’t!!!  I was there; I met the dirt bag when he was after my shoes.  I didn’t know Jesús and Rudis snuck his grubby, stealing, deceiving [expletive deleted] into the farm until I was reading a newspaper story on my Jefferson County team being in first place and, lo and behold! his happy a$$ is right there grinning back at me.  Screw him and the horse he rode in on.  He had to go.  I only wished that Rudis would have shipped that two-faced, money-grubbing lint licker to a foreign league far, far away – maybe Antarctica or Siberia.”

I didn't notice that Ozzy had disappeared.  Only Cooper and I were left, and Cooper was quietly chewing on peanuts provided by the bartender.  I was speechless.  Shocked!  Utterly bewildered.  Was this true?  Was António Cruz a cabana boy in his spare time?  I had to find out, so I called Jesús Santos on his mobile phone.  Jesús finally came clean.  He admitted that he scouted Cruz in Cuba and then learned of his job working for Royal Atlantic and that he has been arrested several times for suspicion of theft.  Jesús also said he didn't care because the kid could pitch and if we didn't take him Florida surely would have.  He then explained that he contacted Rudis and over the course of a month or so they had the plan and Cruz's travel papers in place.  All that was left was to get Bill to agree to sponsor him.  Cruz grew a full beard and mustache and arrived in Kentucky for the meeting.

O, the deception.  No wonder Bill is so upset.  "Bill!" I shouted.  "Let’s have another round!  This time on me."  Yes, Thoroughbreds fans of all ages were deceived.  Our savior, António Cruz, was a thief in a pitcher's body.  The shame and humility Bill must be feeling.  Now we are to wonder how long Rudis will be allowed to oversee the operations of this franchise.

I need a Vacation!!!