Sosa & Nats looking at 1yr deal?/Possible Retirement?

[Burtonbell]

http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/story?id=397710

 

What the heck is going on there? Why?

Edited February 13, 2006 by Burtonbell

[UK1679666180]

At this stage of his career, he will have many deep fly to LF if he signed with the Nats.

[Ram1380]

At this stage of his career, he will have many deep fly to LF if he signed with the Nats.

 

 

 

Are you saying there may be quite a few "pops" followed by pre-mature "hops" in his future if he signs on in DC?

 

 

:)

[Ding Dong Johnson]

At this stage of his career, he will have many deep fly to LF if he makes contact.

 

Fixed. I had mad love for Sammy in the day (I have yet to retire my Sosa jersey), but I think it's time to hang 'em up.

[SouthSideRyan]

Washington might be the worst park for Sammy to play in. If I were him, I'd probably go to Colorado and see if they'd give me anything, just to try and artificially preserve my legacy somewhat.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Too bad we couldn't have sent him to Washington last season for Wilkerson. :cry:

[Butterscup1679666578]

I just wanna see Sammy hit 600, then call it a career.

[BigbadB]

I just wanna see Sammy hit 600, then call it a career.

 

He really should go to Colorado with the ole blank check routine like Andre did. Then Colorado can play him in home games only, or when the lid is open in Arizona. Absolutely no starts in the California parks.

[B]

At this stage of his career, he will have many deep fly to LF if he signed with the Nats.

 

He'll have to actually make contact first.

[TheDude]

I just wanna see Sammy hit 600, then call it a career.

 

He really should go to Colorado with the ole blank check routine like Andre did. Then Colorado can play him in home games only, or when the lid is open in Arizona. Absolutely no starts in the California parks.

 

That's a pretty severe stance to take (and offbase). Sammy has the power to hit the ball out of any park. The size of the park isn't the issue and has no relevence to his homerun capability.

 

The size of the park won't change his ability to make contact between the bat and the ball.

[The Voice of Reason]

[quote="BigbadB"]

I just wanna see Sammy hit 600, then call it a career.

 

He really should go to Colorado with the ole blank check routine like Andre did. Then Colorado can play him in home games only, or when the lid is open in Arizona. Absolutely no starts in the California parks.

 

That's a pretty severe stance to take (and offbase). Sammy has the power to hit the ball out of any park. The size of the park isn't the issue and has no relevence to his homerun capability.

 

The size of the park won't change his ability to make contact between the bat and the ball.[/quote]

 

But getting older does.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I think he'd fit in well in Texas. They have plenty of offense to hide him deep in the order as a part-time player. I'm sure he can still play the field most of the time, but he probably needs to concentrate on being a DH from here on out.

[Careless]

I just wanna see Sammy hit 600, then call it a career.

 

He really should go to Colorado with the ole blank check routine like Andre did. Then Colorado can play him in home games only, or when the lid is open in Arizona. Absolutely no starts in the California parks.

 

That's a pretty severe stance to take (and offbase). Sammy has the power to hit the ball out of any park. The size of the park isn't the issue and has no relevence to his homerun capability.

 

The size of the park won't change his ability to make contact between the bat and the ball.

Playing at high altitude, on the other hand, does change your ability to make contact

[UMFan83]

I just wanna see Sammy hit 600, then call it a career.

 

He really should go to Colorado with the ole blank check routine like Andre did. Then Colorado can play him in home games only, or when the lid is open in Arizona. Absolutely no starts in the California parks.

 

Gee if that happened, I don't think there would be any way to argue that Sosa wasn't a selfish player.

[biittner77]

Playing at high altitude, on the other hand, does change your ability to make contact

 

Don't breaking balls break less sharply at high altitudes? I thought that was one of the reasons they wanted Wellemeyer in Col. becuase he was a fastball/ change up guy.

 

*If* that's the case then it would have an effect on making contact. On the other hand, it seems like Sosa's problem is catching up to the inside fastball.

[BigbadB]

I just wanna see Sammy hit 600, then call it a career.

 

He really should go to Colorado with the ole blank check routine like Andre did. Then Colorado can play him in home games only, or when the lid is open in Arizona. Absolutely no starts in the California parks.

 

Gee if that happened, I don't think there would be any way to argue that Sosa wasn't a selfish player.

 

I didn't say Sammy would make that decision, but rather Colorado.

[BigbadB]

I just wanna see Sammy hit 600, then call it a career.

 

He really should go to Colorado with the ole blank check routine like Andre did. Then Colorado can play him in home games only, or when the lid is open in Arizona. Absolutely no starts in the California parks.

 

That's a pretty severe stance to take (and offbase). Sammy has the power to hit the ball out of any park. The size of the park isn't the issue and has no relevence to his homerun capability.

 

The size of the park won't change his ability to make contact between the bat and the ball.

Playing at high altitude, on the other hand, does change your ability to make contact

 

Thank you for expanding on my point, Careless. Sammy isn't making as much contact as he used to. Breaking balls don't break as well in Colorado. Fastballs don't break much at all.

[Careless]

Playing at high altitude, on the other hand, does change your ability to make contact

 

Don't breaking balls break less sharply at high altitudes? I thought that was one of the reasons they wanted Wellemeyer in Col. becuase he was a fastball/ change up guy.

 

*If* that's the case then it would have an effect on making contact. On the other hand, it seems like Sosa's problem is catching up to the inside fastball.

breaking is caused by air resistance, which is directly related to the air density. Higher altitude=lower pressure=lower density=less friction=less break on pitches.

Now a slow bat? Well, you'd think tampa bay would be the thing (the city is tampa, tampa bay is a body of water...)

[BigbadB]

I just wanna see Sammy hit 600, then call it a career.

 

He really should go to Colorado with the ole blank check routine like Andre did. Then Colorado can play him in home games only, or when the lid is open in Arizona. Absolutely no starts in the California parks.

 

That's a pretty severe stance to take (and offbase). Sammy has the power to hit the ball out of any park. The size of the park isn't the issue and has no relevence to his homerun capability.

 

The size of the park won't change his ability to make contact between the bat and the ball.

 

Whatever the reason, Sammy is pretty much done at this point in his career. His home run numbers have dropped every year since 2001. His AVG has dropped every year since 2001. Colorado is the one park that would probably allow him to put up respectable numbers for another year or two. But, only at home. Colorado is good hitters park, but not necessarily a great home run park because of the deep dimensions. Balls will fly out of there, but it takes a pretty good shot to clear the fences.

 

So, I really don't believe I'm offbase at all. Maybe you are reading more into what I said than what I actually meant. I just believe Sammy would be able to extend his career for another year or two with Colorado without another drop in production.

[The Voice of Reason]

Looks like a spring training invitation and not a one year deal.

 

Per mlb.com

 

Bowden was not available for comment, but according to the source, the Nationals are willing to give Sosa, 37, a chance provided that he accepts an invitation to Spring Training, not the one-year deal that has been reported. Sosa's last good season was in 2003, when he hit 279 with 40 home runs and 103 RBIs and guided the Cubs to the National League Championship Series against the Marlins.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Looks like a spring training invitation and not a one year deal.

 

Per mlb.com

 

Bowden was not available for comment, but according to the source, the Nationals are willing to give Sosa, 37, a chance provided that he accepts an invitation to Spring Training, not the one-year deal that has been reported. Sosa's last good season was in 2003, when he hit 279 with 40 home runs and 103 RBIs and guided the Cubs to the National League Championship Series against the Marlins.

 

Hang 'em up, buddy. I'd hate to see this turn into McGriff part 2 in some quest to get to 600.

[rork73]

Hang 'em up, buddy. I'd hate to see this turn into McGriff part 2 in some quest to get to 600.

 

Didn't he already pass that point in his career in his last season here in Chicago ? He should have stopped right after we lost against the Marlins - he had some huge homers and good games. But I guess this really shows he was only playing for himself afterall.....

[Butterscup1679666578]

Hang 'em up, buddy. I'd hate to see this turn into McGriff part 2 in some quest to get to 600.

 

Didn't he already pass that point in his career in his last season here in Chicago ? He should have stopped right after we lost against the Marlins - he had some huge homers and good games. But I guess this really shows he was only playing for himself afterall.....

 

Come on, after the shots he was hitting in the 03 playoffs, you didn't honestly think he was going to decline as much as he did in 04.

[BigbadB]

Hang 'em up, buddy. I'd hate to see this turn into McGriff part 2 in some quest to get to 600.

 

Didn't he already pass that point in his career in his last season here in Chicago ? He should have stopped right after we lost against the Marlins - he had some huge homers and good games. But I guess this really shows he was only playing for himself afterall.....

 

Come on, after the shots he was hitting in the 03 playoffs, you didn't honestly think he was going to decline as much as he did in 04.

 

Actually, I still held out hope that he could improve on those numbers. I wonder how much that beaning had to do with his decline? I always felt like he moved away from the plate from that point forward and could no longer drive that outside pitch, or even hit it for that matter. In fact, opposing pitchers exploited the fact he coudn't reach the outside pitch. He never made the adjustment and his offense has been in decline ever since.

 

Maybe that isn't it at all. I brought up this topic once before, and one of our members went back and watched video from pre-decline and said it didn't appear as though he did move back, and that he always stood that far back. Maybe the combination of a slowing bat speed and pitchers finding that out pitch by throwing outside required an adjustment, one Sammy refused to make.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

Hang 'em up, buddy. I'd hate to see this turn into McGriff part 2 in some quest to get to 600.

 

Didn't he already pass that point in his career in his last season here in Chicago ? He should have stopped right after we lost against the Marlins - he had some huge homers and good games. But I guess this really shows he was only playing for himself afterall.....

 

Come on, after the shots he was hitting in the 03 playoffs, you didn't honestly think he was going to decline as much as he did in 04.

 

Actually, I still held out hope that he could improve on those numbers. I wonder how much that beaning had to do with his decline? I always felt like he moved away from the plate from that point forward and could no longer drive that outside pitch. In fact, opposing pitchers exploited the fact he coudn't reach the outside pitch. He never made the adjustment and his offense has been in decline ever since.

 

Maybe that isn't it at all. I brought up this topic once before, and one of our members went back and watched video from pre-decline and said it didn't appear as though he did move back, and that he always stood that far back. Maybe the combination of a slowing bat speed and pitchers finding that out pitch by throwing outside required an adjustment, one Sammy refused to make.

 

Maybe it was steroids. Has there ever in the history of baseball been a player that went back to back to back 60+ seasons, then literally fall of the face of the earth the next 2+ years?