04/19/24
October 07, 2004
Sosa bolts from clubhouse ... and most likely the Cubs.: Slammin' Sammy bailed out of the season finale early on Sunday, then was kind enough to drop a couple bombs on Dusty Baker on his way out the door. Is there any chance of him returning to Wrigley? Who might be interested (this guy says Kansas City or Texas)? And who should the Cubs pick up in his absence?
His value is much less outside of Wrigley (and the faithful fans). I can't see anyone trading for him unless the Cubs eat A LOT of his salary (50% of it).
posted by grum@work at 10:08 AM on October 07, 2004
Sammy won't get traded, but I'd love to see them send him somewhere - Tampa Bay? KC? - he won't have a chance to contend for the rest of his career. Personally, I think he's an ass, and he deserves whatever he gets. Unfortunately, the fine is probably the extent of it.
posted by rocketman at 11:26 AM on October 07, 2004
I've thought all along that he was just an actor and undeserving of fan favorite status. Some people with inside info confirmed that for me a while ago. Now, it seems like he's not so loved anymore. I am going to enjoy every minute of his demise.
posted by Bernreuther at 12:02 PM on October 07, 2004
While Sosa's bat didn't help much he has a bit of a point. Dusty took probably the best 1-5 rotation I have ever seen and got squat with it. In fact, in his usual fashion, he ruined the best rotation in baseball with his kill-em-all-let-god-sort-em-out philosophy of staff management. Couple that with the fact this team was defensively unsound (to put it mildly, it was like they got 27 out and the opponent got 35 some days), and there is plenty of blame to dump on the manager's head. Sammy may or may not need to go, but Dusty needs to be gone with the quickness. Sammy is an ass but valuable (even if a bit overrated), but Dusty was flat out incompetent this year.
posted by pivo at 01:01 PM on October 07, 2004
So maybe Dusty needs to go? After all, he never really delivered with the Giants either so he could just be overrated as a manager.
posted by billsaysthis at 01:44 PM on October 07, 2004
Dusty's definitely overrated. Sosa and $10M to the Mets for Cliff Floyd.
posted by djacobs at 02:16 PM on October 07, 2004
Now Sammy and his agent say his $87,400 fine is too excessive for not showing up on the last game of the season. Hey, if I miss a day's work, I get docked a day's pay...and mine isn't even close to $84,700 per day. To the cubs, I say let him keep his damn money and buy a first class ticket out of Chicago!
posted by scooter at 09:49 AM on October 08, 2004
once a corker, always a corker.
posted by garfield at 12:23 PM on October 08, 2004
NOw we have a new voice in the fray -- Mark Prior's, who says Sosa owes his teammates an explanation. According to security cameras, Sosa left 15 minutes after the start of the game and never even pout on his uniform.
posted by wfrazerjr at 01:19 PM on October 08, 2004
Way to go on Mark Prior. That guy's got some class. Hopefully Dusty will get fired before blowing out the kid's arm.
posted by rocketman at 02:38 PM on October 08, 2004
Aw the truth is the Cubs were a great staff that was always hurt and a terrible team. Bad defense, tons of strikeouts and poor depth. I'd give Sosa a little benefit of the doubt before I chopped him down.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:26 PM on October 11, 2004
Well, he's gonna cost $17M next year, and I think I read somewhere that his $18M option for 2006 would automatically be picked up if he were traded. Who can afford $35M for a decline-phase slugger?