Todd Walker Retires...for now

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Link.

 

"I'm retired as of today, but that can change," Walker said. "I'm not making an effort to jump back in, but, if someone were to call, I'd do it."

 

Walker and his agent, Brian Carlin, do have a contingency plan when it comes to Walker's possible return to Major League Baseball.

 

"The idea is to sit back and, if something comes to us, we'll take a look at it on a day-to-day basis," Carlin said. "He can still play."

 

After being designated for assignment by the A's, Walker's mind-set shifted to a different focus — family.

 

"I've got two kids who are 6 and 4," Walker said. "I've missed out on a lot of their childhood and, if I miss much more of it, I'll have missed it totally."

 

Walker was the Class 4A Louisiana Player of the Year his senior year at Airline High School and went on to a storied college career at LSU.

 

He was named the 1993 College World Series Most Outstanding Player and earned a spot on the all-time College World Series team as the second baseman

 

"The transition is a difficult thing," Walker said. "I still don't know what I think about it. I just was tired of the lifestyle, of being away from home. Your priorities change when you have kids. The only thing I'll miss is being around the guys."

 

In the past week, Walker has had enough downtime to reflect on what he accomplished on the diamond — all the way from high school through the majors.

 

"It's very easy to look back and see the results and wish you had done some things differently," Walker said. "But I have a lot of good memories and not just in the big leagues, but the minors and in college. Again, I'm very content where I'm at.

 

"I spent 10 years in the big leagues. Not many people get to do that. For me, if this is it, I'm perfectly happy with the way my career played out."

 

 

 

 

Happy Retirement, Todd!

[BCVM22]

In memory of Todd Walker:

 

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r71/bcvm22/Superwalker.jpg

[Lockes Eye Scar]

I love Todd Walker.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

In memory of Todd Walker:

 

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r71/bcvm22/Superwalker.jpg

 

That was one of my favorite Walker moments!

[killthegoat06]

In memory of Todd Walker:

 

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r71/bcvm22/Superwalker.jpg

 

That was one of my favorite Walker moments!

 

for sure

[Abe Frohman]

I saw Todd Saturday and think he must have been giving that interview over his phone as he was saying the exact same things. He was a good Cub and I wish him the best. Someone will pick him up, I hope.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

I love todd walker..

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I saw Todd Saturday and think he must have been giving that interview over his phone as he was saying the exact same things. He was a good Cub and I wish him the best. Someone will pick him up, I hope.

 

Next time you see Todd, wish him well for me.

[Amazing_Grace]

I still wouldn't mind seeing the Cubs pick up Walker. He can play 2b, 1b, and LF in a pinch. If Theriot takes over as the full-time SS, then Walker would be a better bench option than Izturis, and we could still call up Cedeno if Theriot did get injured. He usually posts a decent OBP/SLG as a part-time player.

[Mephistopheles]

dont we already have enough guys who can play lf, rf, 2b and 1b?

[rocket]

good luck hottie toddy

[Pushfrog98]

In memory of Todd Walker:

 

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r71/bcvm22/Superwalker.jpg

 

That was one of my favorite Walker moments!

ditto... and if I recall correctly, that game was on my birthday.

 

edit:

 

happy 25th birthday to me...

Edited May 21, 2007 by Pushfrog98

[Amazing_Grace]

dont we already have enough guys who can play lf, rf, 2b and 1b?

 

I'm hoping Izturis will be traded at some point, making Theriot the SS with DeRosa as backup SS. It's not like he's going to get many starts, and he's better defensively at 1b than either Floyd or Ward.

[TruffleShuffle]

dont we already have enough guys who can play lf, rf, 2b and 1b?

 

I'm hoping Izturis will be traded at some point, making Theriot the SS with DeRosa as backup SS. It's not like he's going to get many starts, and he's better defensively at 1b than either Floyd or Ward.

 

most GMs aren't as dumb as jim hendry... if izturis isn't starting over a player like ryan theriot, who's really going to want him? let alone pay $4M for him.

[A New Era]

I love ol toddy boy, but what sense does it make to say "I'm retiring! But if someone calls I'll probably come back."

 

Sounds Clemens like. You either say you're not in a hurry to come back and would like to come back. Or you are retiring and nobody bother to call me please! Just a pet peeve on the use of the word "retired" in major league baseball. .

[TruffleShuffle]

I love ol toddy boy, but what sense does it make to say "I'm retiring! But if someone calls I'll probably come back."

 

Sounds Clemens like. You either say you're not in a hurry to come back and would like to come back. Or you are retiring and nobody bother to call me please! Just a pet peeve on the use of the word "retired" in major league baseball. .

 

no, clemens could play for any team in baseball.... todd walker is retiring because nobody would give him a job.

[A New Era]

I love ol toddy boy, but what sense does it make to say "I'm retiring! But if someone calls I'll probably come back."

 

Sounds Clemens like. You either say you're not in a hurry to come back and would like to come back. Or you are retiring and nobody bother to call me please! Just a pet peeve on the use of the word "retired" in major league baseball. .

 

no, clemens could play for any team in baseball.... todd walker is retiring because nobody would give him a job.

 

Yesss. I understand that. My point was either say you are not in a hurry to come back or your are retiring. Retire = To withdraw from one's occupation, business, or office; stop working. Not, I'm retiring, BUT I might think about it if someone calls. It's my peeve on the usage of the word "retire". I was not saying Walker is as good as Clemens. Only that he sounded like Clemens.

[jersey cubs fan]

I love ol toddy boy, but what sense does it make to say "I'm retiring! But if someone calls I'll probably come back."

 

Sounds Clemens like. You either say you're not in a hurry to come back and would like to come back. Or you are retiring and nobody bother to call me please! Just a pet peeve on the use of the word "retired" in major league baseball. .

 

no, clemens could play for any team in baseball.... todd walker is retiring because nobody would give him a job.

 

Yesss. I understand that. My point was either say you are not in a hurry to come back or your are retiring. Retire = To withdraw from one's occupation, business, or office; stop working. Not, I'm retiring, BUT I might think about it if someone calls. It's my peeve on the usage of the word "retire". I was not saying Walker is as good as Clemens. Only that he sounded like Clemens.

 

There's no law that says retirement has to be permanent. People who retire go back to work in some fashion all the time, many in the same line of work and many doing many of the same duties. To me he's saying right now he's retired, but if something changes in the future maybe he'll come back. I don't get why people have a problem with this. I don't get why people have a problem with athletes struggling with the retirement issue in general.

[cubscausestress]

i would love to retire at 33, almost 34 after playing a game for a living. this linux stuff isn't nearly as lucrative.

[IWU_CUBS_FAN]

In memory of Todd Walker:

 

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r71/bcvm22/Superwalker.jpg

 

That was one of my favorite Walker moments!

 

for sure

 

best todd walker moment...ever

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

In memory of Todd Walker:

 

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r71/bcvm22/Superwalker.jpg

 

That was one of my favorite Walker moments!

 

for sure

 

best todd walker moment...ever

 

Todd may beg to differ..........

 

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j163/Niner74/ToddWalkerJenniferAniston.jpg

[Lockes Eye Scar]

is that Mark Prior in the background? lol

[Roast]

I SEE SAMMY!

[BCVM22]

is that Mark Prior in the background? lol

 

Hey, you make 57 starts over a three-season period, you don't get your photo taken with Aniston. It's in the rules. :)

[Lockes Eye Scar]

is that Mark Prior in the background? lol

 

Hey, you make 57 starts over a three-season period, you don't get your photo taken with Aniston. It's in the rules. :)

 

yeah, he looks pretty depressed back there.