Rick Wilkins
Sometimes when I mess around with the Showdown Bot, I'll come across something peculiar and end up down a rabbit hole. Take Rick Wilkins for example, a man who started off anonymously enough and ultimately ended up on a merry-go-round of teams to end his career.
1991, starting off behind the plate in Chicago. Nothing special, maybe a lack of power but as far as catchers go the defense holds up...
1992. Ok, the power seems to be even more lacking, but he maintains that defense and even improves on his on-base. Even cuts down on the strikeouts and even reaches base a bit more.
1993. Holy crap. From ho-hum to amazing. 30 home runs in real life and his card is pretty nice as a result. Defense blasts off from +7 to +11 and the on-base is fantastic for any position, let alone the defensive minded catchers spot. Can he maintain this?
In a word...no. True, 1994 was shortened, but most people figured that insane '93 season was a blip on the radar for Wilkins. Everything regressed to the mean for Rick...
1995 began the world tour for Rick Wilkins. He starts the year in Chicago, but finds himself traded before long. Houston would benefit from his +8 arm, and while his on-base of 7 is pretty pedestrian, the 3+ reaching base of a chart is nice, if walks are a thing you don't mind settling for.
1996 featured another deadline move for Wilkins. This time to San Francisco. Pretty much the same here except he gains some 1B coverage.
1997 was yet another new location for Rick. This time released and signed later by the Mariners. Seattle's card gives us a high risk (5 on-base) high reward (15+ homer) card with the added benefit of an appealing +9 catchers arm. At least his chart isn't mostly walks this time.
1998 saw Wilkins get traded yet again, this time to the Mets. His worst defensive card yet at +6 arm and his risk-reward algorithm seems to have downgraded his reward to include triples while maintaining that sad 5 on-base.
1999 saw barely any action for Wilkins and included zero hits. So I don't know what that charts all about.
Wilkins saw so little action in 2000 that I couldn't even find a picture of him with the Cardinals. He got hits that year though, so this card is more valid than the Dodgers one that actually features his face. One day I may find a St. Louis pic of Wilkins, until then please enjoy the Bot's placeholder image.
Rick would ultimately get released by the Padres and never play again in the majors. His 2001 season features a return to slightly more respectable on-base and charts, as well as a return to playing the field. I'm sure the Padres, as well as the Dodgers, Cardinals, Mets, Giants, Astros and Mariners were hoping that a little bit of the '93 Wilkins would resurface, but like the Cubs before them, each would eventually realize reality and give up on poor Rick.
