Regionally Famous MLB Pitcher Jason Grilli Needs Your Help

"Jimmy," you whisper ever so softly, "what do you mean by regionally famous?"

I pull the covers up to my chin and take a deep breath.  "Please don't whisper.  My left ear can't hear above .035 decibals.  I don't have dog ears you know!"

You get up and walk to the bathroom, this time calling me a few choice expletives under your breath.

"I heard that," I say to the door that just slammed shut.  Ahh, it's nice to be alone.

My meaning for the fun term "Regionally Famous" is this: Derek Jeter is nationally famous.  He's probably internationally famous.  Go to South Korea and you'll probably see some kid wearing a Yankees shirt that says JETER on the back (even though Yankees uniforms don't have names on them).  Alex Rodriguez - more famous than Jeter.  Go to the International Space Station and some Russian cosmonaut probably has the word A-ROD stitched onto the sleeve of his jumpsuit.  Jason Grilli is regionally famous.  Nobody in Russia  or deep space knows who Jason Grilli is.  The South Koreans probably think it's a chain of snack huts and have the "when can we get one of those here" attitudes.  But in America, there are only parts of the country know who Jason Grilli is. 

In Colorado:

Man on street: "Yeah, I know who he is.  He pitches for the Rockies.  He's pretty good.  Too bad we can't win any games."

In Detroit:

Fan in the stands: "I followed him on the Tigers.  Hated him.  Then the bank took my house.  I have other things to worry about now."

In Florida:

Old man on beach wearing big shorts and waving a metal detector at the sand: "Didn't we get him for Livan Hernandez?  And then didn't we trade him away before he got good?"

In San Francisco:

Barry Bonds: "I hit .almost 500 in the 2002 World Series, which we would've won if Livan Hernandez hadn't pitched like my mother."

Do you  understand now?  With MLB players, some are known all over the place.  These are the superstars of the game, generally.  Albert Pujols, Ken Griffey Jr.  You know what I'm saying.  But every city needs to fill a 25-man roster.  Let's say you're in Ohio and a Reds fan.  People in the Cincinnati area know who Homer Bailey is.  They know Jay Bruce and Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips.  Go to Anaheim or Arlington or Nashua, New Hampshire.  Ask a man (or woman, preferably one witha nice smile) who Joey Votto is, and you'll likely hear this:

"Didn't he fix my transmission?"

See?  That's regional fame.

There are a few stages of fame.  There's household fame.  "Hi, Dad."  There's local fame.  "Look, isn't that Clara Wilson who just cheated on her husband?"  There's regional fame.  "Crazy Eddie!  Our prices are INSANE!"  There's national fame.  "Look!  It's Jon & Kate plus all 8!"  Therre's international fame.  "O.J. Simpson was sentenced today..."

Jason Grilli, right at this moment, has regional fame, only in multiple regions of the country.  I think the law is you are nationally famous when your name has recall in 79% of the United States.  (One of you is saying, "Is this true, Jimmy?")  Jason did pitch for the 2006 American League Champion Detroit Tigers.  Millions of television sets were turned on when he came in to pitch on "national" TV.  Ask somebody in Tucson who watched the World Series if they remember who Jason Grilli is and you'll probably hear this:

"Does he own a snack hut?  I think I saw one last time I was in South Korea on business."

Jason should be nationally famous if only because he and I conducted a very famous interview in the off season, which you can and may listen to HERE when you have the time.  Nice guy.  Wears a goatee.  Very stylish.  Jason also has his own company, Perfect Pitch Marketing, which you'll be able to learn more about very soon when his new website is launched.  You'd think this worldwide web stuff would make Jason a fixture on the Nightly News with Katie Couric.  Not yet.

None of this is to knock Jason Grilli.  He's a very good pitcher.  He's having a very good year.  He'll be a free agent after this season and I am telling you now, he will be in the New York Yankees bullpen in 2010, working on a 3-year, $15.4 million contract.  That's after the mid-season trade this July to Atlanta.*  Lots of guys from that 2006 Detroit Tigers team are not nationally famous.  Kenny Rogers was probably the most well known, and that's because he doubled as the owner of a chicken-based restaurant chain (Ha!  You thought I was going to make a joke about THAT Kenny Rogers.  I tricked you.  It's virtually Halloween at Jimmy Scott's High & Tight!)

Right now, Jason Grilli is reading this saying, "What the hay?" Only he's using a different word instead of "hay."  All right, I'll get to it. 

Jason sent me an email the other day.  He's doing a charity event for the Rocky Mountain Deaf School next Saturday, May 30.  Here's why:

"The Rocky Mountain Deaf School has moved 5 times in the past 11 years. During our last move several of the children had a really hard time with the transition. Many of the children have made all of the moves with the school. The school offers a environment rich in learning but also gives the children the ability to play with children who are just like them. We all share in a dream to have our very own building someday and grass for the children to play on."

Can you help?  Don't start crying, "Oh, Jason's a big league pitcher.  They're all loaded.  Make him spend his money on the place."  First of all, Jason isn't "all loaded."  Yeah, he makes a nice living.  But he can't afford to pay for this place all by himself.  He's got a family of his own to buy stuff for, stuff that includes diapers, Babies 'R' Us gift certificates, and nail clippers.  Second of all, why should Jason carry the entire load?  You know, behind the scenes, he's going to give some money to the cause.  And he's going to promote the cause.  And he's goint to appear at the cause.  You can argue that he doesn't need to give the most money in order to do the most for the cause.  I don't know who'd you'd argue with because I'd agree with you, but there's probably somebody out there.

The goal for the school is to raise $10,000 by October 22nd.  I don't know what happens on October 23rd if they don't.  Maybe they figure Jason will be pitching for Atlanta in Game 4 of the 2009 World Series on October 22nd and won't have his "national voice" by the 23rd.**

So what Jason, and me, Jimmy, are asking is for you to carefully think about this institution and, if you have $5 or $10, don't download those American Idol songs off of iTunes.  Instead, download the original versions for free off of Limewire or something and use the money to help The Rocky Mountain Deaf School.  And, as you see on the flyer, Jason is going to be at a May 30th event in Golden, Colorado signing autographs and utilizing his regional Rockies fame to help this great cause.  If you live in Colorado, or feel like flying out, go and meet Jason on the 30th.  He's a very good guy.  He might even say hello in return.  Just don't ask him about his chain of snack huts.  They're still in the planning stages.

* This is merely my prediction.  He didn't tell me any of this.  I just know it because I'm Jimmy Scott.

** If the Braves play in the World Series this year, who will they play against?  Whoever guesses right gets an authentic Jason Grilli autograph.***

*** Jason, you don't mind, do you?