While we doubt that Chuck James will be appearing in high school locker rooms to tell this cautionary tale, we will. Coaches, gather the boys around the computer terminal for the most costly swan dive in history.
Chuck James was going as a very high round pick, with the multi-million dollar signing bonuses usually associated with same when he injured both arms trying to jump off a roof into a swimming pool.
While we're not sure that it made the Guinness World Book of Records, we think that the Vonage people may take interest if anyone has video footage.
The stunt sunk him down to the 20th round, 605th OA and a fractional signing bonus.
Once he got to the pros, though, he has been making the most of it. The MVP of the South Atlantic League in 2004, James is working up another cannon ball, this time into the deep waters of the Major Leagues.
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Player: Charles H. James (Chuck)
Position: Pitcher
(P)(LHP)
Height: 6-0
Weight: 170
Birthdate: 11.09.81
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia
College: Chattahoochee
Valley Community College
Bats: L
Throws: L
Organization: Atlanta
Braves
Acquired: Braves, 20th Round, 605th OA
Signed By: Al Goetz
Last Ballclub: Richmond
Braves
2004 FAB50 Ranking: NR
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He smoked through the Appy league in 2003, hurling at a 1.25 ERA clip for the Danville Braves. In 2004 he set Rome afire going 10-5 as a starter, with a 2.24 ERA on 133 innings of work.
This year he's been on a tear through the farm system, starting with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans hurling 41.2 for a 1.08 ERA and a 3-3 record, notching 59 strikeouts on his belt.
He moved up to the Mississippi Braves on May 13th, where he struck out 104 in 86 innings of work with a 2.04 ERA. On August 8th, he graduated to Richmond in the Triple-A International League, where he's been dominating, his ERA sinking to a freezing 0.71 on a baker's dozen (12.2) of innings pitched to date.
James is a smart, tough pitcher that has to make a few Braves' instructors smile. He's got huevos grandes , as they say South of Atlanta, using sheer will at times to keep hitters off-balance throwing low heat and a nice changeup. He sees the box well and can paint the plate with very good control.
While he's been a starter for the various clubs named Braves, the club in Atlanta is a tough nut to crack, where changing the starting rotation is almost akin to changing Apostles.
Our scouts and touts tell us that he doesn't have the stamina to go the distance as a Big-A Braves starter. They see him as a long to middle reliever in Atlanta's bullpen. Where the starting rotation is petrified wood that holds up more likely starting candidates like Kyle Davies, the bullpen is a bit more fluid, like slowly setting concrete.
The very limited number of possible openings on the team depresses the rankings of all Braves players a bit this year. We think James has the best shot of finding a job in the bullpen of any of the many, many talented Braves pitching prospects. He's a contender to get a taste of the bullpen when the roster expands. If he doesn't make the club in 2006, we expect to see him in relief, at the very least, in 2007.
