"Burger" King wants out of St. Louis

[mjohnson71]

My first guess when seeing the headline was that Ray King couldn't find enough dining options and wanted to go to a city with better restaurants. But actually he just wants out because he wasn't used in the post season:

 

King says Cards should trade him

BY DERRICK GOOLD

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Thursday, Oct. 20 2005

 

Not called on for even an out of the postseason, Cardinals lefthanded reliever

Ray King said that if he cannot pitch in the playoffs for the Cardinals, then

they should trade him.

 

"If I can't pitch in the postseason, then send me somewhere else for me to

pitch," King said shortly after the Cardinals' season-ending loss in Game 6 of

the National League Championship Series. "There are 29 other teams I can pitch

for. There were positions, there were chances where I could have pitched, and I

didn't.

 

"That bothers me. That bothers me a whole lot."

 

King, having ended his second season with the Cardinals, appeared in 77 games

this season, 163 over the past two seasons. He had a 3.38 earned-run average

this year and was 4-4.

 

The lefthander did not make an appearance in the division series. That decision

was partially because his father died a few days before the series began. He

did travel with the team to San Diego.

 

In Houston last weekend, King said he approached manager Tony La Russa about

not being used in the postseason. Acknowledging that Houston was not a team

that would demand many appearances from a lefty specialist, King still wanted

to know why he had not warmed up or thrown once.

 

He said he told the manager that if he wasn't able to pitch, wasn't emotionally

there for the team, he would have remained and grieved with his family.

 

"If I didn't want to pitch (after the death of my father), I would have stayed

at home," King said in the clubhouse after Game 6.

 

"There were situations where I could have gotten the call. It's something my

agent will have to address in the offseason."

[UK1679666180]

He can battle it out w/Marquis for most selfish on the team.

 

He has other issues to worry about rather than post-season innings, he should be looking for reasons into his declining numbers. Pretty obvious where to start.

[K-Town]

He can battle it out w/Marquis for most selfish on the team.

 

He has other issues to worry about rather than post-season innings, he should be looking for reasons into his declining numbers. Pretty obvious where to start.

 

I agree (on both issues!).

[indifferent]

Is there anything worse than arguably your most disappointing player clamoring for a trade and whining the day after your team loses the playoffs? Seriously, why is it always the underachievers whining at inappropriate times?

[somechick]

I understand his being upset at not being able to fully grieve his father's death with his family and feeling like his time was wasted there since he didn't pitch, BUT, there really was no way of predicting whether or not he would be needed. Had the Cards been able to actually score a few runs, his presence might have been far more necessary. But whining about it isn't really gonna do him any favors either. Too bad he didn't go all Steve Kline on LaRussa, then maybe that series would have been remotely entertaining (outside of game 5).

[vaball]

I love Ray, but maybe if he'd been able to retire left handers this season he could have pitched in the playoffs.

[wolf stansson]

Ray wants out of St. Louis? That's maybe the first time I've agreed with him in a long time. I want him out too.

[snoodmonger]

Ray King was mean to me once.

 

I work at a gym, and they were hosting a blood drive. Cards players stopped by to say thanks to the donors. When Ray King walked in, I walked past him and said, "Don't get too comfy in 1st place. The Cubbies are gonna get you." At this point in the season, the Cubs were about 412 games out of first. The Asian Bird Flu was the only thing we had any realistic chance of catching. Yet Ray turned to me and glared. Glared. Not too jolly for a fat guy.

 

True story.

[indifferent]

Latest in the developing King saga:

 

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/4DB31BC6FC87A65C862570A1001FEDD8?OpenDocument

 

Not only does LaRussa completely call King out, King takes a swipe at Morris on his way out the door. If he was a free agent, I could understand, but he's under contract and if no one else will pick up his relatively hefty (no pun intended) contract, it will pretty uncomfortable for Ray next year.

 

It does make one question if other pitchers feel the same way about LaRussa's loyalty to Morris though, namely Jason Marquis.

[TruffleShuffle]

Ray King was mean to me once.

I work at a gym, and they were hosting a blood drive. Cards players stopped by to say thanks to the donors. When Ray King walked in, I walked past him and said, "Don't get too comfy in 1st place. The Cubbies are gonna get you." At this point in the season, the Cubs were about 412 games out of first. The Asian Bird Flu was the only thing we had any realistic chance of catching. Yet Ray turned to me and glared. Glared. Not too jolly for a fat guy.

 

True story.

 

 

I think he was just in a foul mood because he isn't a big fan of going to the gym.

[indifferent]

Ray King was mean to me once.

I work at a gym, and they were hosting a blood drive. Cards players stopped by to say thanks to the donors. When Ray King walked in, I walked past him and said, "Don't get too comfy in 1st place. The Cubbies are gonna get you." At this point in the season, the Cubs were about 412 games out of first. The Asian Bird Flu was the only thing we had any realistic chance of catching. Yet Ray turned to me and glared. Glared. Not too jolly for a fat guy.

 

True story.

 

 

I think he was just in a foul mood because he isn't a big fan of going to the gym.

 

Agreed, now if you were at an "All You Can Eat" buffet, I'm sure Ray would have said "Pass the mashed potatoes" and he would have offered to break bread with you.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Ray King was mean to me once.

I work at a gym, and they were hosting a blood drive. Cards players stopped by to say thanks to the donors. When Ray King walked in, I walked past him and said, "Don't get too comfy in 1st place. The Cubbies are gonna get you." At this point in the season, the Cubs were about 412 games out of first. The Asian Bird Flu was the only thing we had any realistic chance of catching. Yet Ray turned to me and glared. Glared. Not too jolly for a fat guy.

 

True story.

 

 

I think he was just in a foul mood because he isn't a big fan of going to the gym.

 

Agreed, now if you were at an "All You Can Eat" buffet, I'm sure Ray would have said "Pass the mashed potatoes" and he would have offered to break bread with you.

 

You sure he'd break bread and not wind?

[KatJ]

My first guess when seeing the headline was that Ray King couldn't find enough dining options and wanted to go to a city with better restaurants.

 

Give him to the Mutts - I don't want RK back in Chicago again.

[AAApittsburgh]

I'd like to see King pitch for the Cubs again. He's a pretty good loogy. Just as long as he limits his trips to Fuddruckers to once per day.

[UK1679666180]

I'd like to see King pitch for the Cubs again. He's a pretty good loogy. Just as long as he limits his trips to Fuddruckers to once per day.

 

I wouldn't...

 

He'd have to be traded for, he's gaining too much weight, wasn't productive last year, and he's a rectum.

 

A player that demands a trade after a playoff series to the press as well as well taking a cheap shot at one of his teammates (although, he was right about Morris), would have to be very good for me to consider acq'g him. He isn't worth it.

[abuck1220]

i thought everyone wanted to play for the cardinals. :-k

[K-Town]

i thought everyone wanted to play for the cardinals. :-k

 

They do. King is angry because he DIDN'T get to play.

[CuseCubFan69]

Is King the guy that was a starting pitcher for the Cubs when they went to Tokyo and played the Mets?

[wolf stansson]

"Hopefully, I am back in St. Louis," King said Tuesday. "I talked to my agent, I talked to Walt and it's just like this - I plan to get ready, drop a few lbs. (pounds) and on Feb. 14 or Feb. 15 hopefully I'll be heading to Jupiter. I never went to Walt and said I wanted to be out of there. Walt understands. He told my agent they weren't looking to trade me.

 

"They said they want me back."

Whatever Ray.

[SouthSideRyan]

i thought everyone wanted to play for the cardinals. :-k

 

They do. King is angry because he DIDN'T get to play.

 

Surely sitting on the greatest bullpen bench in the world surrounded by the greatest fans in the world sitting in the most historic ballpark in the world would be better than playing for someone else.

[K-Town]

i thought everyone wanted to play for the cardinals. :-k

 

They do. King is angry because he DIDN'T get to play.

 

Surely sitting on the greatest bullpen bench in the world surrounded by the greatest fans in the world sitting in the most historic ballpark in the world would be better than playing for someone else.

 

 

Apparently so:

 

"Hopefully, I am back in St. Louis," King said Tuesday.

[wolf stansson]

Surely sitting on the greatest bullpen bench in the world surrounded by the greatest fans in the world sitting in the most historic ballpark in the world would be better than playing for someone else.

I disagree with K-Town on some of those issues, but come on...that's a little unnecessary.

[SouthSideRyan]

Surely sitting on the greatest bullpen bench in the world surrounded by the greatest fans in the world sitting in the most historic ballpark in the world would be better than playing for someone else.

I disagree with K-Town on some of those issues, but come on...that's a little unnecessary.

 

Come on, follow the progression, he took a joke by abuck and either continued along in his fantasy or his sarcasm was too strong for me to pick up on. Either way, I think my response can be seen in the same regard as his.

[UK1679666180]

There aren't too many good restaurants in STL though, that should be more important than fans. Especially when you have more width than height. I'm trying to figure out what made him decide to drop a few pounds now rather than before? He was overweight when he pitched for the Cubs.

[wolf stansson]

There aren't too many good restaurants in STL though, that should be more important than fans.

You can find a McDonalds anywhere. That's all Ray needs.