A (Cover) Letter to the Rockies

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To: Bill Schmidt, Colorado Rockies Senior VP and GM

Re: Seasonal 2B position for 2025

Mr. Schmidt,

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to apply for the second base position with the Colorado Rockies and explain why I am a strong candidate for this opening. I understand that this will be a temp-to-hire position on a four-month contract and I am eager to prove my talents on the field. I am also available to relocate to Denver in less than 48 hours (I have a few friends with spare couches in the area). I see that you have some instability at the position (7 players have made a start there in 62 games), and I do have a solid attendance track record.

You might ask about my last assignment. Well, I’ve been moved to the bench on my AZ Men’s Senior League Baseball 18+ team. My status as the oldest player on the team, at 38 years old, has relegated me to pinch hit duties and spot starts at 1B. (The exact words were: “I can’t have you in the lineup when the game’s tight”). I have begun searching the job market and wish to help another organization succeed. I am 1-for-6 on the season with 1 RBI and also reached on a catcher’s interference. While I am listed as a first baseman this season, I have showcased my utility fielder capabilities with time at 2B, LF and RF. I even caught some bullpen sessions, and keep score regularly.

Why me? On the intangibles side, I have been an adult hockey league captain for the past 11 years and an adult baseball manager for 3 seasons. While I would be the oldest player on your 40-man roster, my wealth of experience as a mentor figure to my teammates and players would prove to be an invaluable resource to a rebuilding franchise. Plus, I still wouldn’t be the oldest player in the league! I’m only a couple months older than Andrew McCutchen, and there are 9 players older than him.

On the field, I’ll admit my bat may not be the weapon it was when I was younger and winning cul-de-sac home run derbies with ease. But I did make contact off of former 2018 All-Star Jeremy Jeffress this season. It went 20 feet down the third base line and I was thrown out by a few steps, but it’s all about balls in play in today’s strikeout-saturated market. Rockies second basemen are hitting .175 and slugging .265 with 2 home runs and a 22.5% strikeout rate so far. Can I add to that home run total? Yes. I promise I will take Kiké Hernandez deep. I also have gap-to-gap power (as in, from the gaps between shortstop and third base to the gap between first and second).

My glove is still elite, so long as the ball is within 3 steps. After that, it’s up to my hamstrings if they want to reach it or not. And I can promise I will get dirty to keep a ball in the infield. After all this time of diving on scratchy dirt and patchy outfield city field grass, a lush Major League field would feel like diving onto a cozy mattress. I can still reach first on any throw from the second base position, but I’d act quickly because I don’t know if I’ll be able to say that in a year.

Is this a great idea? No. But you can justify it by pointing to my Mantle DNA (he’s on the family tree somewhere, trust me). Mickey and Graig Mantle have combined for 536 Major League home runs, which is one of the biggest family home run totals of all time. I can also be a two-way player. No, I can’t pitch. But I can help your accounting team out with audits or payroll processing if you have need there. It will really ease the burden of that prorated MLB minimum salary that I will humbly accept, no need to bring agents into this.

So if you’d like to acquire the April 21, 2000 Senior Little League player of the game, I am available and eager to succeed. I do have other offers available, but I’m giving your organization priority as my family loves the area.

I look forward to talking with you soon about (insert company name) and to schedule an interview. Please contact me anytime by e-mail at stateofbaseball@gmail.com.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Graig Mantle #22