Twins outfielder Torii Hunter has received criticism from national media outlets such as Deadspin.com for publicly expressing his opposition to gay marriage, most recently while endorsing Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.) in his successful re-election bid last month.However, neither Hunter nor his wife Katrina believe that impacted a free-agent process that saw the five-time all-star settle for a one-year deal at a 19-percent decrease over his previous average annual contract value."You've got some people that are just messy, so no," Hunter said at Wednesday's news conference at Target Field. "It's something I don't like to talk about, but Republican party, Democratic party -- separated, divided, we fall. Simple as that."You just go with the best person that's good for the situation, and I'm from Arkansas and I know what's there. That's all. This has nothing to do with Republican or Democrat. Just make sure you make the right decision, that's it."In a follow-up question, Hunter, who has made $161 million in his career and will be paid $10.5 million next season, was asked if he would be more reticent about sharing his religious or political views."No, there's nothing to talk about," he said. "You already know. So why keep talking about it? I said it. It is what it is. So no, I'm not going to talk about it if you bring it up. It's not even baseball-related. You can do that later, when I retire."
However, neither Hunter nor his wife Katrina believe that impacted a free-agent process that saw the five-time all-star settle for a one-year deal at a 19-percent decrease over his previous average annual contract value.
"You've got some people that are just messy, so no," Hunter said at Wednesday's news conference at Target Field. "It's something I don't like to talk about, but Republican party, Democratic party -- separated, divided, we fall. Simple as that.
"You just go with the best person that's good for the situation, and I'm from Arkansas and I know what's there. That's all. This has nothing to do with Republican or Democrat. Just make sure you make the right decision, that's it."
In a follow-up question, Hunter, who has made $161 million in his career and will be paid $10.5 million next season, was asked if he would be more reticent about sharing his religious or political views.
"No, there's nothing to talk about," he said. "You already know. So why keep talking about it? I said it. It is what it is. So no, I'm not going to talk about it if you bring it up. It's not even baseball-related. You can do that later, when I retire."
http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_27062911/torii-hunter-gay-marriage-views-not-factor-free
― Andy K, Tuesday, 27 October 2015 01:44 (eight years ago) link
"I was laughing because when [Torii Hunter] said, "They go there and sign for potato chips,' I said, "Well, we've got Chapman. They gave him $12 million. (Cincinnati actually agreed to a $30.25 million, six-year contract with pitcher Aroldis Chapman.) We've got (prospect Dayan) Viciedo. They gave him $10 million. I remember in my time, one scout goes (to Venezuela and) 30 players show up. Now, 30 scouts go there and one player shows up. In our country, we play baseball. That's no choice. Here you can play basketball, you can be another athlete, you can do so many things when you have the opportunity. And that's why there's not many (African-American) players out there."
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/2010-03-10-3784419025_x.htm
― Andy K, Tuesday, 27 October 2015 01:50 (eight years ago) link
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/11/aramis-ramirez-retires.html
― AKA Thermo Thinwall (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 5 November 2015 19:13 (eight years ago) link
aramis is no hall of famer but damn he put together a really nice career. also he was the 3B who finally made cubs fans and local media stop whining about ron santo's shoes never being filled.
― nomar, Thursday, 5 November 2015 19:35 (eight years ago) link
I thot it was p cool he got to end up back in Pittsburgh where it all began
― panettone for the painfully alone (mayor jingleberries), Thursday, 5 November 2015 23:41 (eight years ago) link
there should be a separate hall for dudes like that. Helluva ball player.
― brimstead, Thursday, 5 November 2015 23:54 (eight years ago) link
His career stats (hits, HR, RBIs) are way better than I thought.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Friday, 6 November 2015 00:37 (eight years ago) link
Mike Hessman, the home run champ
http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/mike-hessman-minors-home-run-leader-retires/
― polyphonic, Saturday, 28 November 2015 20:00 (eight years ago) link
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CWCiFxiUkAA7dfL.jpg
― johnny crunch, Saturday, 12 December 2015 17:08 (eight years ago) link
Andruw Jones
― if thou gaz long into the coombs, the coombs will also gaz into thee (WilliamC), Sunday, 31 January 2016 02:52 (eight years ago) link
from... coaching?
― qualx, Sunday, 31 January 2016 02:55 (eight years ago) link
from looking for work, I guess -http://www.foxsports.com/south/story/former-braves-star-andruw-jones-planning-to-retire-013016
― if thou gaz long into the coombs, the coombs will also gaz into thee (WilliamC), Sunday, 31 January 2016 02:57 (eight years ago) link
NICK PUNTO has officially retired
― mookieproof, Thursday, 18 February 2016 18:56 (eight years ago) link
http://www.twinkietown.com/2013/1/4/3833034/an-oral-history-of-nick-punto-sliding-headfirst-into-first-base
― mookieproof, Thursday, 18 February 2016 19:14 (eight years ago) link
ILB search results for "Punto" very much recommended.
― Andy K, Thursday, 18 February 2016 19:28 (eight years ago) link
http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/229/files/2014/07/puntohelmetslam.gif
― mookieproof, Thursday, 18 February 2016 20:13 (eight years ago) link
that looks like a totally choreographed routine by all four of those dudes
― nomar, Thursday, 18 February 2016 20:19 (eight years ago) link
i'm gonna be kind of a yard dog about creating new year-specific threads btw
― we can be heroes just for about 3.6 seconds (Dr Morbius), Friday, 19 February 2016 03:41 (eight years ago) link
i can see having annual threads for teams or for transactions, but this thread only has 38 posts in it. retirees/steroids/stats/kickass/dumbass are timeless imo
― mookieproof, Friday, 19 February 2016 04:08 (eight years ago) link
it has 38 posts on it bcz i was ornery about the outdated thread last May
― we can be heroes just for about 3.6 seconds (Dr Morbius), Friday, 19 February 2016 04:11 (eight years ago) link
maicer izturis
we are running out of expos
― mookieproof, Friday, 4 March 2016 15:24 (eight years ago) link
who's left? bartolo?
is scott downs still a baseball player?
― Worth Taking from Little Kid (Will M.), Friday, 4 March 2016 20:49 (eight years ago) link
https://twitter.com/jonahkeri/status/705776972312412160
― we can be heroes just for about 3.6 seconds (Dr Morbius), Friday, 4 March 2016 20:50 (eight years ago) link
adam laroche, supposedly
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 15 March 2016 18:29 (eight years ago) link
@Ken_RosenthalSources: LaRoche chose to retire after #WhiteSox prez Ken Williams told him that he no longer could bring 14-year-old son into clubhouse.
Ken Rosenthal2 minsJust talked to #White Sox president Ken Williams. Here is what he told me about LaRoche:"There has been no policy change with regards to allowance of kids in the clubhouse, on the field, the back fields during spring training. This young man that we're talking about, Drake, everyone loves this young man. In no way do I want this to be about him."I asked Adam, said, 'Listen, our focus, our interest, our desire this year is to make sure we give ourselves every opportunity to focus on a daily basis on getting better. All I'm asking you to do with regard to bringing your kid to the ballpark is dial it back.'"I don't think he should be here 100 percent of the time - and he has been here 100 percent, every day, in the clubhouse. I said that I don't even think he should be here 50 percent of the time. Figure it out, somewhere in between."We all think his kid is a great young man. I just felt it should not be every day, that's all. You tell me, where in this country can you bring your child to work every day?"
Just talked to #White Sox president Ken Williams. Here is what he told me about LaRoche:
"There has been no policy change with regards to allowance of kids in the clubhouse, on the field, the back fields during spring training. This young man that we're talking about, Drake, everyone loves this young man. In no way do I want this to be about him.
"I asked Adam, said, 'Listen, our focus, our interest, our desire this year is to make sure we give ourselves every opportunity to focus on a daily basis on getting better. All I'm asking you to do with regard to bringing your kid to the ballpark is dial it back.'
"I don't think he should be here 100 percent of the time - and he has been here 100 percent, every day, in the clubhouse. I said that I don't even think he should be here 50 percent of the time. Figure it out, somewhere in between.
"We all think his kid is a great young man. I just felt it should not be every day, that's all. You tell me, where in this country can you bring your child to work every day?"
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 16 March 2016 19:28 (eight years ago) link
@Bharper3407Good for you Roche! Nothing like father and son in the clubhouse..It's a FAMILY game #FamilyFirst
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 16 March 2016 19:35 (eight years ago) link
Ken Williams otm
― defibrillate after opening (WilliamC), Wednesday, 16 March 2016 19:46 (eight years ago) link
if that's an accurate report of the situation
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdsdBvRUUAAN49w.jpg
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 16 March 2016 19:59 (eight years ago) link
Andy is probably trying to overcompensate for not being allowed to hang around the clubhouse with his dad. I'm sure club house with the Yanks in the early 80s would have been a great daily education for children.
― earlnash, Thursday, 17 March 2016 01:55 (eight years ago) link
adam laroche posted -1.4 fWAR at age 35 last year. if he wants to give up $13m because his kid doesn't have adequate clubhouse access, i'm sure the white sox are more than happy to oblige
― mookieproof, Thursday, 17 March 2016 02:15 (eight years ago) link
maybe that was the white sox's plan
― Van Horn Street, Thursday, 17 March 2016 03:26 (eight years ago) link
https://twitter.com/PabloOzuna38/status/710196112502689792
― Immediate Follower (NA), Thursday, 17 March 2016 14:18 (eight years ago) link
This sure has turned into a colossal, stupid mess.
― Andy K, Thursday, 17 March 2016 18:11 (eight years ago) link
@Ken_RosenthalSale told Williams, unequivocally, to get out of the clubhouse and stay out, per a source. Williams acknowledges meeting was passionate. 2/2
― Andy K, Thursday, 17 March 2016 18:14 (eight years ago) link
now rumored that kid access was part of laroche's contract?
― mookieproof, Thursday, 17 March 2016 18:15 (eight years ago) link
that would make sense given that they didn't tell him he couldn't bring him, but instead asked him if maybe they could "dial it back"
― yellow despackling power (Will M.), Thursday, 17 March 2016 18:42 (eight years ago) link
accommodating the player or players who complained, taking the fall, and lucking into the gift of $13MM of dead weight walking away, I'd say Williams should be an early candidate for GM of the Year.
― pandit pran nathalie (sanskrit), Thursday, 17 March 2016 18:58 (eight years ago) link
@craigcalcaterra.@OzzieGuillen -- they need you in Chicago to restore order, my friend.
@RBRNet12No they don't. Bitter Racists, Supremacists & Black Sellouts married to Non-Blacks couldn't' break Obama. @craigcalcaterra @OzzieGuillen ~RB
@RBRNet12Racists couldn't get Obama bankrupted #Detroit poisoned water in #Flint attacking PBO surrogate leadership in Chicago...@craigcalcaterra ~RB
#Twitter
― Andy K, Thursday, 17 March 2016 20:51 (eight years ago) link
http://www.si.com/mlb/2016/03/17/adam-laroche-chicago-white-sox-son-controversy
never really liked laroche but if spanky's on his side then ok
― mookieproof, Friday, 18 March 2016 01:37 (eight years ago) link
@BillShaikinDrake LaRoche's uniform hanging by Chris Sale's locker.
― Andy K, Friday, 18 March 2016 15:42 (eight years ago) link
so Sox done for this year
― we can be heroes just for about 3.6 seconds (Dr Morbius), Friday, 18 March 2016 15:53 (eight years ago) link
Yes, how will they recover from the loss of Adam LaRoche
― Immediate Follower (NA), Friday, 18 March 2016 16:11 (eight years ago) link
what a weird puberty this kid is having so far
― qualx, Friday, 18 March 2016 18:49 (eight years ago) link
rafael soriano
― mookieproof, Sunday, 20 March 2016 19:12 (eight years ago) link
Figgins
― Andy K, Monday, 21 March 2016 02:08 (eight years ago) link
jamey wright
― mookieproof, Monday, 28 March 2016 21:25 (eight years ago) link
philip humber
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 29 March 2016 16:59 (eight years ago) link
i mixed up jamey wright and jamey carroll and i was like oh noooo another expooooo (and one of the spookiest faces in all of baseball history)
― yellow despackling power (Will M.), Tuesday, 29 March 2016 17:13 (eight years ago) link
david murphy
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 26 April 2016 15:31 (eight years ago) link
22yo david denson, the first affiliated baseball player to come out
probably makes sense; .229/.338/.368 in four minor league seasons is nowhere near good enough for a 1B/DH
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 21 March 2017 16:36 (seven years ago) link
https://twitter.com/David_DeJesus3/status/844585179410677760
― na (NA), Thursday, 23 March 2017 01:39 (seven years ago) link
weird all these guys retired in 2015 and we're just now hearing about it
― qualx, Thursday, 23 March 2017 01:49 (seven years ago) link
cory luebke, who maybe deserved a few more chances than he got (if not with the pirates)
― mookieproof, Monday, 8 May 2017 19:10 (six years ago) link
https://www.fanragsports.com/news/jeff-francoeur-retire-join-braves-broadcast-team/frenchy
― na (NA), Friday, 12 May 2017 21:05 (six years ago) link
https://www.fanragsports.com/news/pitcher-jeremy-guthrie-announces-retirement-baseball/
― na (NA), Monday, 31 July 2017 15:47 (six years ago) link
jered weaver ;_;
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 16 August 2017 17:06 (six years ago) link
Don't worry padre fans I have a solution..we are going to have the outfielders in the stands next start to catch all those homers!— Jered Weaver (@Weave1036) May 2, 2017
― Andy K, Wednesday, 16 August 2017 17:14 (six years ago) link
pic.twitter.com/BOOBsUNMBp— Jered Weaver (@Weave1036) August 16, 2017
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 16 August 2017 17:29 (six years ago) link
Both Weaver brothers are retired, but we'll always have the tacos we shared together.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Wednesday, 16 August 2017 17:52 (six years ago) link
Joe Nathan To Formally Announce Retirement
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 29 August 2017 18:52 (six years ago) link
matt cain will make his final MLB appearance saturday
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 27 September 2017 19:15 (six years ago) link
only 32. cain was so steady for so long, and then just dropped off the table.
bronson arroyo retired, too.
https://i.imgur.com/YGR8n5K.jpg
― Karl Malone, Wednesday, 27 September 2017 20:22 (six years ago) link
On September 23, the Reds honored Arroyo with "Kickin' it With Bronson" night. Prior to the game, a ceremony was held with video tributes from manager Bryan Price and singer Eddie Vedder.[20] After the game, Arroyo held a concert on the field, performing Pearl Jam covers with his band.
― nomar, Wednesday, 27 September 2017 20:25 (six years ago) link
i see on FB that Cain has been worth 2.4 bWAR during his current 6 year, 127.5 MM contract
sub-Zito
― ice cream social justice (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 27 September 2017 20:33 (six years ago) link
speculating, but is this the end of the road for carlos beltran? he's 40, a free agent to be, and second worst in baseball by fWAR (-1.2, behind only pujols at -1.7)
― Karl Malone, Thursday, 28 September 2017 17:00 (six years ago) link
i would imagine he's done, yeah. or should be!
― nomar, Thursday, 28 September 2017 17:02 (six years ago) link
every once in a while i think about his 2004 playoffs and sigh
― mookieproof, Thursday, 28 September 2017 17:29 (six years ago) link
Beltran for sure. Wouldn't be shocked if this was it for Bautista too, tho he could still be a serviceable bench RF/3B/DH – he might not go for that.
― Mad Piratical (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 28 September 2017 18:23 (six years ago) link
goodbye ras trent
https://deadspin.com/john-jaso-likely-to-retire-live-on-sailboat-1819051415
― na (NA), Monday, 2 October 2017 14:22 (six years ago) link
joba
http://nypost.com/2017/10/04/joba-chamberlain-sounds-content-as-he-quietly-quits-baseball
― mookieproof, Thursday, 5 October 2017 15:51 (six years ago) link
sam fuld has officially retired (and taken a job as the phillies' 'major league player information coordinator')
― mookieproof, Friday, 3 November 2017 21:42 (six years ago) link
hey fuld, what # is tommy joseph again?fuld: i don't know, but i know who does. hold on.fuld: 19thanks fuld!
― Karl Malone, Friday, 3 November 2017 21:43 (six years ago) link
fuld just sets up the weekly conference call with key information people and lets them address any outstanding issues and introduce new ones. he'll maintain good working relationships and make sure that any unresolvable issues are raised to upper management on a timely basis.
― Karl Malone, Friday, 3 November 2017 21:45 (six years ago) link
fp
― mookieproof, Friday, 3 November 2017 21:45 (six years ago) link
fuld popped
― Karl Malone, Friday, 3 November 2017 21:47 (six years ago) link
carlos belTRAN
― mookieproof, Monday, 13 November 2017 16:36 (six years ago) link
i'll miss watching him play, he always seemed like a good guy.
― Karl Malone, Monday, 13 November 2017 16:39 (six years ago) link
andre is fading into the ethier
― mookieproof, Sunday, 26 November 2017 20:35 (six years ago) link
Not that they all don't make a lot o fmoney, but Ethier made a ton of dough for an ok player.
― earlnash, Sunday, 26 November 2017 22:33 (six years ago) link