04/19/24
May 11, 2004
Raul takes his ball and goes home.: Pittsburgh will be without the services of outfielder Raul Mondesi for the remainder of the year. The well-traveled slugger is involved in some sort of civil suit involving former major-leaguer Mario Guerrero and was having his pay withheld by the Pirates. Despite general manager Dave Littlefield's apparent acceptance, is this a legitimate reason to walk away from your team in the middle of the year? Who's going to want Mondesi next season if he returns?
I wouldn't want him, simply because he supposedly went to a guy with a .285 lifetime OBP for help. There had to be better guys out there for batting tips.
posted by bcb2k2 at 10:28 AM on May 11, 2004
Raul can go away any time he wants.
posted by rocketman at 10:33 AM on May 11, 2004
I don't understand this move. At first I thought Mondesi quit because the Pirates were withholding his paycheck. But according to the ESPN article, his money had been released following a court ruling... So what the hell? Mondesi couldn't be that worried about a $640K lawsuit. I mean, he's been playing for 12 years, and he would have made $1.15 million this year. You do the math. And he could probably settle with Guerrero for $450K or something. I mean, even if he had to pay the full amount, plus the legal fees he's racked-up, he still shouldn't be sweating to the extent that he ups and quits. And in fact, isn't that the exact opposite of what he should do? He should stick it out and earn his $1.15 million which he could use to pay-off his debts (stupid though those debts may be).
posted by molafson at 11:36 AM on May 11, 2004
he's been playing for 12 years, and he would have made $1.15 million this year. You do the math. Gold teeth aren't as cheap as they used to be, apparently.
posted by jerseygirl at 11:58 AM on May 11, 2004
You do the math. Well, first we need to know what to subtract, after taxes, in terms of purchases. Anyone remeber Jack Clark's race car(s)? Gold teeth aren't as cheap as they used to be, apparently. Here's hoping you didn't mean that the way I read it.
posted by yerfatma at 12:04 PM on May 11, 2004
After doing some math, it appears that Mondesi has made over $75 million dollars (pre-tax) playing Major League Baseball. Now, I know he has his own league in the Dominican Republic for kids, but how much of his income could possibly go to that? $640K should be nothing to him, which is probably why Guerrero sued him in the first place. I'd be willing to bet that there's something else going on here. I can't imagine how he could be living paycheck-to-paycheck.
posted by Jugwine at 12:18 PM on May 11, 2004
i meant it as he sports the bling.
posted by jerseygirl at 12:39 PM on May 11, 2004
I'd be willing to bet that there's something else going on here. I can't imagine how he could be living paycheck-to-paycheck. Maybe he's represented by Don King, Master P, and that guy who works for Terrell Owens.
posted by molafson at 01:37 PM on May 11, 2004
This might be a stretch, but it almost makes me wonder if threats were made against his family. And I also wonder who the other major leaguers are that owe Guerrero money.
posted by usfbull at 03:21 PM on May 11, 2004
Mondesi is the poster child for 'Million dollar talent, five-cent head'.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 10:43 AM on May 12, 2004
if he's walking away because of his family, then i'd say yeah, that's a legitimate reason. heard somewhere last night (may have been BBTN) that apparantly the repo man may come a-knocking at the mondesi home soon. i'd think he'd want to be there for that.