Sammy works out for Rangers

[Wheelimus]

I think that most casual fans seem to give Sosa more of a pass than Bonds or McGwire, and it's probably because Sammy never owned history, to to speak.

 

He never had the single season record, or the all time record, and those are the things that make people sick in regards to steroids. Plus, Sammy was never caught red handed nor did he ever have a PR debacle like McGwire had in front of Congress.

 

Do I think Sammy cheated? Probably. Does it matter much in regards to the history of the game? Probably not. And that's why he'll get a pass.

 

In fact, returning now, IF he has anything left in the tank, would be brilliance. #1, it delays his Hall Of Fame window until long after McGwire has been on the ballot, so Mark will probably either be creeping toward induction or kicked off the ballot. #2, if he can come back and be at least a bit of his former self, that might give enough people reason to vote for him since, like I said, you can't prove it.

[tkenm356]

I think Sammy's corked bat incident is looming more over his head than the steroid issue. I still have friends who call him Corky. I have never met anyone who calls him Roidy. But I do know people who call Bonds "Barroid Bonds".

 

He'll be under suspicion for steroids, yeah. But I think the corked bat thing has more scrutiny against him than the roids because the corked bat thing actually happened and was proven (even though I'm a sucker and believe his story about it)

[Post Count Padder]

Rotoworld update:

 

 

Sammy Sosa-OF- Orioles Jan. 16 - 1:32 pm et

 

 

A source told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the Rangers will offer Sammy Sosa an incentive-laden minor league deal.

 

If Sosa is signed and makes the team, he'd likely start against lefties initially, platooning with Frank Catalanotto at DH. That'd likely bump Jason Botts off the roster, unless Botts could beat out Nelson Cruz for the starting job in right field.

Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram

[Chris]

<--------------hopes to see Sammy back in the big leagues

[treebird]

GO SAMMY GO

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Please come back for one last hurrah, Sammy.

[AI]

They'd be morons to sign him and bump Jason Botts. JB is ready to produce and Sammy is well, an overly sensitive, ego maniacal senior citizen with no good baseball left in him.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Apparently Rudy Jaramillo thinks he can get him to make a few adjustments and become a pretty good hitter again.

[Bruno7481]

Apparently Rudy Jaramillo thinks he can get him to make a few adjustments and become a pretty good hitter again.

 

Dosage adjustment?

[sweetpeteman]

Looks like Sammy will at least get a shot:

 

ESPN

[Chris]

awesome

[questionmarkgrace]

My oppinion, is that sammy wasn't the same since the head shot he took. He never was that great at covering the outside of the plate but after that his swing barely reached the middle of the plate and he seemed to keep moving back in the batters box. Sliders just killed him.

[Illini Iceman]

Rosenthal is on the story now.

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6377642?FSO1&ATT=HMA

 

The Rangers probably would expect him to be better than he was in his final season with the Orioles (.295 on-base percentage, .376 slugging percentage) but perhaps not as good as he was in 2004, his his final season with the Cubs (.332 OBP, .517 SLG).

 

I would say "perhaps" not as good as 2004 would be wishful thinking.

[Coach C]

I wish him well.

[Wheelimus]

You know, and I say this 100% seriously, if right now we're being expected to swallow Murton in left (no prob), Soriano in right (no prob), and an Erstad/Finley type in center (BIG BLEEPING PROBLEM), we'd be better off with Murton in left, Soriano in center, and Sammy in right.

 

That's sad...

[Mizzou]

One of my long-term goals is to visit every stadium in baseball. If Sammy signs with the Rangers, I just might make my way to Arlington this year.

[SouthSideRyan]

I hope he comes back and makes a lot of people look stupid.

[Mizzou]

Interestingly enough, the Cubs play the Rangers this season (in Texas).

[Andy]

One of my long-term goals is to visit every stadium in baseball. If Sammy signs with the Rangers, I just might make my way to Arlington this year.

I want to do it in one summer, but I know I'll be much too old to enjoy it thoroughly enough by the time I can afford such a trip.

[Bruno7481]

I just don't see this turning out well. He was pretty bad in 2005, and he sat out all of last season. I guess there is no harm in bringing him in for a Spring Training invite, but what can you honeslty expect from a 38 year old (maybe even older) who hasn't played a game in over a year?

 

Declining bat speed was evident in 2004 and 2005, I doubt that has improved with rest.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I just don't see this turning out well. He was pretty bad in 2005, and he sat out all of last season. I guess there is no harm in bringing him in for a Spring Training invite, but what can you honeslty expect from a 38 year old (maybe even older) who hasn't played a game in over a year?

 

Declining bat speed was evident in 2004 and 2005, I doubt that has improved with rest.

 

Sosa hit LHP very well in '05, to the tune of .288/.370/.471/.841

[Bruno7481]

I just don't see this turning out well. He was pretty bad in 2005, and he sat out all of last season. I guess there is no harm in bringing him in for a Spring Training invite, but what can you honeslty expect from a 38 year old (maybe even older) who hasn't played a game in over a year?

 

Declining bat speed was evident in 2004 and 2005, I doubt that has improved with rest.

 

Sosa hit LHP very well in '05, to the tune of .288/.370/.471/.841

 

OK,

 

And he was .196/.266/.341/.607 against RHP. That is Neifi-like.

 

It was still 2 years ago. I wish him well, I just don't think it is going to be a successful return

[Abe Frohman]

Looks like Sammy will at least get a shot:

 

ESPN

 

Was that pun intended or not?

[Abe Frohman]

I just realized that Kenny Lofton is probably excited to have Sosa as a potential teammate again.

[J.R.]

I hope Sammy makes the Cubs regret not giving him a shot.