December 17^th, 2012, 12:05 PM
Jacksonville HQ, Jacksonville, Florida
featuring Serenity Summers
 

Serenity Summers: Hey, welcome to live streaming of the Featherheads’s press conference on FloridaFeatherheads.com.  This is Serenity Summers reporting in at Jacksonville Headquarters.  All the press is here as we await the introduction of the Tribe’s newest acquisitions – acquired yesterday at the Winter Meetings.  I will be giving you fans at home an inside look on Florida’s newest faces with the special “Serenity Cam”.  The room is certainly buzzing and filled with electricity.

It’s just about to start.  You can already see Florida officials smiling in full elation.  I’m going to sit back for a moment and let everyone at home enjoy the audio-visual of the introduction.

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All eyes are set at the front of the room.  A “Let’s Go Tribe” backdrop serves as decoration behind the press conference table.  At the table, five microphones are set up along with three freshly ironed Florida Featherheads jerseys.  The pending arrival of Florida’s biggest off-season acquisitions sends the entire room into a vacuum of silence.  Then suddenly, light chatter and murmurs reverberate across the room from the appearance of Drew Streets, Kevin Lewis and Florida’s acquisitions.

Sitting on the left-most side of the table is Florida’s brash owner.  Mr. Streets is looking snappy as usual, sporting a classic black suit and trademark shades.  Former Coal Sox George Riley and Dominic Bélanger are seated beside him, with ex-Hitman Brock Brett on the far end.  General manager Lewis is seated at the end of the desk.  All three players are in formal suits – although it must be said that Brett’s suit appears to be the one catching the most attention.

Serenity Summers: Will, you just look at that Florida light blue suit on Brett?!

With everyone now situated, Streets joyfully announces Florida’s newest acquisitions.  “Jacksonville, Florida,” Streets pauses for emphasis before continuing, “welcome to your brand-spankin’-new Tribe members!

“I am happy to welcome these three fine men into our family!” he continues.  Emphatically pointing to his three newest players, Streets declares, “The road back to the Cup starts here!”

Serenity Summers: You can definitely tell that Streets is pumped up.  Just look at his facial expression!

Streets’s expression quickly transforms from one of joy to bitter sweetness as he recollects his team’s successful but abrupt ending to the season.  He shakes his head vigorously at the mere thought of being swept out of the playoffs at the hands of the Arlington Bureaucrats.

“It’s hard to call a 101-win season a disappointment, but it was to me,” Streets humbly admits in a somber tone.  “It was disappointing because I felt like I let down our fans.  We have the best fans in the world and they deserve more.  I hate coming up short and falling off the bike.”  Streets once again shakes his head to himself in disappointment.

“When I fall, it just makes me get up and try harder,” the proud owner declares with growing conviction.  With each passing word, his voice grows stronger with grit and determination.  “So this off-season, I called Kevin into my office.  I looked him straight into the eye and told him to get me some new shiny bikes – because I want to get up and ride again!”

Streets’ flair and choice of words sends a sense of uneasiness to his new players.  Either that or Brett’s bowtie is squeezing his neck like an unrelenting boa constrictor.

Serenity Summers: I wonder what is going through the minds of Riley, Bélanger and Brett?  I imagine it will take some time for them to get used to working and playing for a man like Streets.

Lewis interjects, “Haha, yeah, that’s basically what he said.  He told me to make it happen.  Failure was not an option.”

“I know you’re patiently waiting, so I’m not gonna make you wait anymore.”  Streets pauses to wait for the audience’s chuckles.  “You’re all here to ask questions, so let’s open up the floor for a little Q and A.”

Serenity Summers: Ohhh, it looks like it’s time for me to ask some questions.  Remember to text in your questions.  I’ll be sure to ask them!

Chris Hendrix, a columnist of Fox Sports Florida, inquires, “Kevin, could you chronicle the history of the trade with West Virginia?  There were certainly some leaks that alluded to the players being acquired.  What’s the real scoop behind the trade?”

Lewis leans into the microphone and explains the situation.  “We had been in discussion with West Virginia for several weeks, trying to iron out the deal.  We coveted a player like Riley since the day we were eliminated from the post-season.  Streets told me we needed to get another impact player, so I spent the early part of the off-season making phone calls around the league.”

Serenity Summers: Sources have indicated that Lewis contacted a multitude of teams since the season ended.  Rumors include Lewis inquiring about a particular London outfielder or a certain pitching ace.

Lewis continues, “We pretty much were open to anything.  We initially had some failed attempts at getting a bona fide starter.  Riley was far from being in the picture.  It was not until I heard news about West Virginia promoting Jane Pomfret that the ball got rolling.  Throughout her press conference, she mentioned wanting to be bold.  So being the bold person that she is, she and I outlined a trade that sent Riley and Bélanger our way.”

From the back of the room, A.K. of WFLA radio asks, “Last season, you went out and got the speed demon Ben McGinnity as your shortstop.  That was one delicious move, baby!  You already have the sweet-swingin’ All-Star Kevin McNeill!  Riley plays the middle infield as well, baby!  Where the hickory-dickory will they all play?!”

“Ha, is that you A.K.?” Lewis wonders while attempting to spot the man from sea of media.  “It must be you.”  Lewis smirks.  “To be honest, we don’t know how it will all work.  I’ll let Jaime Sánchez determine who plays where.  When you have a talent of Riley’s caliber, you’ll find a way to get him in the lineup, but if I were to project, it wouldn’t be surprising to see one of the three move to the hot corner.  I spoke to Riley earlier and he mentioned to me that he has some experience playing third base during his days at Melbourne High School.  McNeill’s been pretty adept at moving around the infield, as well.”

Serenity Summers: It certainly will be interesting to see how it all plays out.  I wouldn’t discount third base prospect Corbin Hickman getting a shot at the gig, either.  My turn to speak.  “I have some questions from one our viewers back home.  This question is for Mr. George Riley.  Our viewers wanted to know: How did you feel when you learned that you would be putting on a different uniform for the first time in your professional career?”

“It will be different,” Riley tersely responds.

Serenity Summers: “Uh, different?  In what way?”

Riley appears to be uneasy from the clarification request.  His mind momentarily zones off into the distance.  “Well um, just different,” Riley tries to explain.  “You know, umm… different locker room, different post-game meals, umm, different local radio stations – it will be different.”

“Do you have anything to say about your time in Charleston?” I question.

“Charleston is a great place to play.  They have the best hot dogs,” Riley replies happily.  The mere thought of West Virginia jumbo hot dogs sends Riley to a place of comfort.

Carla Guzman of TV Azteca questions, “What about the fans?  How about Mr. Babcock?  It’s been widely publicized Mr. Babcock’s fondness of having you in his organization.  How was the flight out of Charleston?”

“Well, the fans are definitely great,” the star infielder elaborates with ease.

Serenity Summers: Mr. George Riley sure does like to keep it straight to the point.

“I will miss them and miss being a part of the community,” Riley confesses with a twinkle in his eye.  “Mr. Babcock is a good man.  He gave me lots of complementary tickets.  It was great.  The only thing I will not miss is the U2 music.”

“With you leaving Charleston, how does it feel to come back home to Florida?” Stan Carino of WSVN Channel 7 News asks.  “You were born and raised in Melbourne, Florida.  As a kid growing up, you were the local baseball hero.  You played high school ball in Melbourne and attended college at USF.  How does it feel to come home to the place you grew up?”

“It’s different but I suppose it will be great,” Riley replies punctually.

Serenity Summers: It looks they’re gonna let Bélanger field some questions now.  I’ll see if I can get some more questions from our loyal Tribe viewers.

“Dominic, you are going to a Florida bullpen that features the likes of Carlos Ávila, Michael Smallbridge and Chris York,” Nelly of WFLA radio pointed out.  “How do you think you will fit in and what will your role be?”

Serenity Summers: Wow, I am surprised Nelly asked an appropriate question!

“My job is just to get outs,” Bélanger responds.  “I’m here to give’er, eh.”

“Fair enough,” Nelly responds.  “Alright, that was a get-me-over question.  Let me ask you a curveball of a question now.”

Serenity Summers: Oh dear, here we go…

“By all accounts, the baseball world seems to think highly of you.  You are considered one of the better relievers in the game.  You’ve got a wicked fastball and a nasty slider.  With that kind of ability, I would expect you to be beastin’ out there on the mound, but so far, your career has been a tick above average.  Why’s that?  You should be dominating like a gunslinger out there!  You should be getting 50 saves a season!  Going to All-Star Games!  Is this Canadian soft or what?”

Serenity Summers: That’s Nelly being Nelly for ya…

Bélanger smirks at Nelly’s accusations.  Rather than showing agitation, Bélanger welcomes the challenge.  “Eh, I know what you’re trying to do,” the hard-throwing righty points out.  “Some of the guys warned me about you.  I will just let my game speak for myself.”

Serenity Summers: It looks like Brock Brett is up.  I wonder where he got that cheap suit.  It looks like it came out of the 70s.  Anyway, send me some questions!  I’ll ask them!

Jon Bueller, a beat writer from News4Jax.com, asks, “Brock, you were caught hanging out with Florida’s McNeill earlier in the off-season.  Was that foreshadowing of yesterday’s trade?”

Brett stares at his suit for a moment before replying, “For the record, this is not my suit.”

Serenity Summers: Geez, I wouldn’t claim that suit as my own either.  It is hideous.

“My luggage got lost and McNeill let me borrow this,” Brett explains.  “Honestly, I had no idea I was heading to Florida.  Just last week, I was playing catch with Du and helping him get back into baseball shape.  I was only in Florida to soak in the Florida beaches.  McNeill just happened to contact me and offered to show me around.  This is really a surprise.  I was not expecting this at all.  Apparently, it was a surprise for Coach Evans, too.”

Serenity Summers: “Having faced Florida pitching as a batter, what is your impression of handling the pitching staff?”

“They are a talented group,” Brett replies enthusiastically.  “They like to pound the strike zone and make a hitter earn his base.  Their defense is also one of the better ones around the league.  I look forward to catching this group.”

Serenity Summers: For all you stat junkies out there, Florida was third in the IL in both walks allowed and strikeouts.

Once again from the back, A.K. directs his question to Brett.  “In your young career, you have played for San Antonio and New Jersey.  Both teams are considered rebuilding teams to say the least, baby!  You’ve been playing in the shallow pool!  How do you feel jumping into the deep end and playing for a perennial playoff contending team?  It must be a shot in the arm, baby!  It must be like waking up one day and finding out you woke up next to a hot supermodel instead of your nagging wife!”

“Heh, that’s one way to put it,” Brett chuckles.  “I always take pride in playing the game the right way regardless of the standings, but I’m definitely excited to be in a pennant race.  The chance to play meaningful games in September in front of a packed house definitely gets your blood running.  I look forward to getting that opportunity.”

“Florida has an eclectic group of pitchers, including a handful of pitchers who primarily speak Japanese,” a beat reporter states.  “Will that be a problem for you?”

“I don’t think it will be,” Brett confidently asserts.  With a slight smile on his face, Brett happily mentions, “I’ve been told that the finger is the universal language.  So as long as they can see my fingers, I think I will be fine.”

A local news reporter states, “Now, you have been traded three times in your career.  You’re considered one of the premiere catchers in the game.  You were an All-Star last season.  Do you ever wonder why you have been traded so many times?”

Serenity Summers: Here’s a fun factoid.  It was rumored that Florida was interested in acquiring Brett the same season he was dealt to New Jersey by San Antonio.  So it looks like the Tribe finally got their man.

The All-Star catcher responds, “No, not at all.  Baseball is a business.  If I am traded, it just means another team wants me playing for their team.  I will only worry once no team wants to trade for me.  I am thankful to New Jersey for giving me an opportunity to play in their organization.”

Serenity Summers: Aside from the awful suit, it sounds like Brett is an articulate man.

Brett continues, “I really thought we… um, they have some wonderful young pieces to build around.  I was looking forward to being a part of that, but I now look forward to wearing the Florida red and blue – just not this blue suit.”

Kevin Lewis stands up from his seat and announces that the Q & A portion is over.  All three players stand up and hoist their new Featherhead jerseys in the air for photos.  Flashbulbs light the conference room; Drew Streets’s smile shines brighter.

Serenity Summers: Riley and Brett will be wearing their old numbers – #3 and #43, respectively.  Bélanger’s old number in West Virginia, #20, is currently taken by Dan Jamison.  He will be wearing #21 instead.

Streets and Lewis stand there triumphantly with their three newest acquisitions.  Florida hopes history will repeat itself.  Florida acquired three significant players several years ago in an arguably franchise-defining moment.  Perhaps these trades at the Winter Meetings will etch another momentous piece of history into the Streets era.  Success or failure, one thing is certain: The Tribe will continue to get up and ride again.