Sammy works out for the Rangers

by SonnyJ9 on Jan 15, 2007 8:54 PM CST

Probably not worth starting a new diary but hey, it's a slow news day and who doesn't enjoy talkin' some Sammy Sosa?

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070115&content_id=1779599&vkey=hotstove 2006&fext=.jsp

Get your tickets now, March 21st vs the Cubs in Mesa. Too bad the Cubs travel to Texas this year instead of them coming to Wrigley. That would be very interesting to see the reaction from the Wrigley crowd.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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he

wont make the team.

by tbizzle83 on Jan 15, 2007 9:37 PM CST reply actions

The Rangers?

Ah...the circle is complete.

PINIELLA!

by theprognosticator on Jan 15, 2007 10:42 PM CST reply actions

Sosa...

... hit his first ML HR for the Rangers.

In Fenway Park, off Roger Clemens.

by Al Yellon on Jan 16, 2007 4:04 AM CST up reply actions

Not a crazy idea

If, and if the English-speaking Chicago media is to be believed, it's a big if, Sosa is incapable of being a role player, there's no reason for any team to sign him.

But if he's willing to accept a supporting role, he's worth an incentive-laden flyer. Even in 2005, when he was hurt, his OPS against righties was consistent with where it was in 2004, when he had a pretty good season.

Sosa is older and hasn't played for a while, but the guy made a career out of proving himself to people who bad-mouthed him. From the critics of "Sam-Me" from his days with the Sox to the the people who thought signing Sosa to his first big extension with the Cubs was stupid, Sosa proved his ability to grow up as a person and a player throughout his career.

If I were the Rangers, I'd sign him. If he has as bad an attitude as the Chicago media told us it was, the Rangers can cut him. If not, they've got a formerly incredible player with a chip on his shoulder. That's not a bad player to have.

by 275 on Jan 16, 2007 12:17 AM CST reply actions

Okay, I'll take the bait...

I am curious, what does the NON-English speaking media in Chicago have to say about Sosa? Was that the same NON-English speaking media that was speaking for Sosa before Congress?

Whatever happened to BlueMike/Mike63? I miss that guy, seriously, I appreciated his ability to stir it up...

by DudeVf11 on Jan 16, 2007 10:00 AM CST up reply actions

There's no bait

But I am amused that this is not the first time I've been compared to Mike (who I promise you I don't know).

As far as I know, none of the beat writers speak Spanish, let alone conduct interviews in Spanish.

Does Sammy speak English? Of course he does. Is he able to communicate remotely as effectively in English as he is in Spanish? Of course he does not - he didn't speak a word of English until late in his teen years.

Are writers views of players and coaches affected by their personal relationships with those players? Absolutely - that's just common sense. Was there a lingual disconnect between Sosa and the local media that affected their view of him? You'd have to be a fool to assume not.

Now, just to anticipate the silly straw man argument that may come - "Did the media's bias make up Sammy playing his radio too loudly or walking out on the team?" Of course not. That's not my point.

Fans don't know anything about the personalities of these guys, but they think they do. And all of their information comes from the selected quotes that beat writers put in the paper and the clips that are shown on television. And based on a couple of sentences out of a 10-20 minute interview, many formulate incredibly strong opinions about players and vocalize them. And yes, I think that can affect players and did affect Sosa.

Not saying he's blameless, only that he's not so far removed from being a contributing major leaguer. Rumor has it the Rangers front office agrees with me.

by 275 on Jan 16, 2007 8:38 PM CST up reply actions

I am a fool.

There was no lingual disconnect between the media and Sammy, if there was any it was marginal, i.e., the guy was a king and the vast majority of the media treated him that way for many years. So I am a fool because I do not understand what ytou are referring to.

Sammy was a jackass, an incredibly selfish player. I do know something about Sammy's personality and you are quite foolish to think otherwise, because Sammy reveals it when he speaks for himself in interviews. I think he has done that a time or two? Ah yes, all of those select clips were edited, he's really a wonderful man. Talk about searching for fool's gold, you can keep panning for the rest of thsoe clips in your attempts to re-write Sammy's history...

Finally, Sammy is a terrible ballplayer. He was a terrible player his last season and a half in Chicago and he is one right now. I don't mind people here saying they hope that he does well, but he's a lousy ballplayer right now with everything to prove and Texas did nothing but extend him a minor league deal.

I am a fool alright, but I am not about to jump on the bandwagon kissing the Gladiator's ass again, unless of course there are some needles sticking out, then I'm down with those blasts.

by DudeVf11 on Jan 16, 2007 11:48 PM CST up reply actions

You said it, not me

I am a fool.

It might make your life easy to see the world in black and white, but I would suggest you are doing yourself and anyone who you may influence a disservice by doing so.

You saw a couple interviews where virtually nothing substantive was said (as is the case with pretty much every professional athlete) and from that you are so confident you know a person.

Here's a straightforward question for you: What is a "selfish ballplayer"? Or better yet, which major league superstar isn't a "selfish ballplayer"?

If you're going to attempt to use facts to justify your opinion, it would be nice if you could get them right. You claim Sosa was terrible his last season and a half in Chicago. Take a look at his splits from 2003 and you'll see he had a bad September, but his July and August were actually quite good (.295 BA, 50 RBI and 21 home runs in a 2 months span). In 2004, his average dropped, but do you really think that 35 home runs in 478 at bats is a "terrible" player?

Let me guess, you think Mark Grace was a real team player, a good player, and an all-around good guy.

by 275 on Jan 17, 2007 12:28 AM CST up reply actions

You are hilarious!

I was debating whether to reply but this is hilarious. I would say a selfish player is defined as Sammy Sosa! Keep living in delusion land, it's entertaining for me. I'll stay right here with the rest of the fools.

by DudeVf11 on Jan 20, 2007 9:09 AM CST up reply actions

I'll be at that March 21 game.

Yes, it could be VERY interesting if Sosa does sign with them and he hasn't been cut by then.

by Al Yellon on Jan 16, 2007 4:05 AM CST reply actions

last

time i went to a game to see sosa he had staph infection on his feet. the time before that he left the game early...im done with sammy

by tbizzle83 on Jan 16, 2007 10:23 AM CST up reply actions

Why

does he always seem to have something infected? He seems pretty gross to me.

HENDRY!

by cubbiejulie on Jan 16, 2007 10:39 AM CST up reply actions

I could see this happening

I've long thought that Sammy's best shot at getting back in the majors is getting signed as a DH. I figured he'd have to settle for a smaller market team than the Rangers, but I think this quote says it all:

Sosa also met with general manager Jon Daniels over dinner on Monday night to discuss a one-year, non-roster contract with an invitation to Spring Training.

"Sammy has relationships with several people in the organization dating back to the '80s, including [hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo] and some of our scouts in the Dominican, which have allowed us a little insight into what he's been up to," Daniels said.

Despite everything that's happened, Sammy's still got connections, he's still got some pull. If he shows up looking healthy and behaving in a relatively grounded manner, I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Rangers took a chance on him.

He's going to draw fans to the park and, if Hell does indeed freeze over and he starts producing runs, the Rangers will be laughing last. (I, for one, don't expect that to happen, though.)

I also agree that it's a shame the Rangers aren't coming to Wrigley this summer. Sammy's return would be among the biggest sports stories of the year.

I didn't have the ball, bitch!

by daver on Jan 16, 2007 10:36 AM CST reply actions

I don't know...

Sammy got booed badly when he was last out here in DFW while with the Orioles.

I also am getting tired of the Rangers picking up all of the Cubs' trash. Just when I think that either of my teams has gotten rid of a few problems, I find out they have just swapped with each other.

by Otter23 on Jan 16, 2007 11:20 AM CST up reply actions

re: I don't know...

Waitaminute, I thought the Orioles were the Cubs' garbage collectors? Are they subcontracting out to the Rangers now?

Or maybe it's the Colorado Rockies, as they just picked up do-nothing bench player John Mabry.

Maybe I was just taking out my frustrations on him, but I absolutely loathed Mabry last year. It seems like he struck out in almost every clutch situation he was in, and the only time he hit well was on those rare occasions when everyone else on the team was already hitting.

Enjoy Coors Field, John, assuming you make it out of the Rockies' minor system. I must admit, that .398 average is somewhat impressive.

I didn't have the ball, bitch!

by daver on Jan 16, 2007 11:40 AM CST up reply actions

The Cubs have many outlets apparently

I do recall a Phil Nevin/Jerry Hairston trade as well as the Rangers somehow getting Kronka and Leister. I think there was another, too, but I must have blocked it out in frustration.

by Otter23 on Jan 16, 2007 11:49 AM CST up reply actions

Koronka...

... went to the Rangers in a 3-way deal that brought the Cubs Freddie Bynum; maybe that one's best forgotten.

Jon Leicester was dealt for a PTBNL who turned out to be minor leaguer Clint Brannon (who?).

by Al Yellon on Jan 16, 2007 1:31 PM CST up reply actions

Bynum...yuck.

DeRosa, is the other one I was thinking of. He was with the Rangers at the end of last season, but he came as a free agent, so I don't know if that one counts.

by Otter23 on Jan 16, 2007 3:29 PM CST up reply actions