Sad News...

Bagpipes5 · 02-15-2002, 11:24 AM

Padres outfielder Mike Darr was killed in a car accident along with one other other person. A third passenger, a AA prospect in the Padres organization was treated and released at the scene. My thoughts go out to their families.

<a href="http://www2.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news_story.jsp?article_id=mlb_20020215_padresr elease_news&team_id=mlb" target="_blank">http://www2.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news_story.jsp?article_id=mlb_20020215_padresr elease_news&team_id=mlb</a>

In other news today, another player was found to be older than he really is. Yup, Rafael Furcal is really 23, not 21.

<a href="http://www2.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news_story.jsp?article_id=mlb_20020215_furcal_ news&team_id=mlb" target="_blank">http://www2.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news_story.jsp?article_id=mlb_20020215_furcal_ news&team_id=mlb</a>

Josh · 02-15-2002, 11:25 AM

Wasn't Atlanta being investigated for signing Furcal before he was the proper age?

Josh

sporr · 02-15-2002, 11:34 AM

I saw an HBO sports program about young players in baseball. This was over a year ago and showed evidence that Furcal was older than he claimed. Something else funny in that show was a prospect from the Dominican Republic who came up with the Astros pitched well for a while, but then couldn't cut it. The Astros cut him. What does he do? He borrows his cousins birth certificate (who was 2 years younger than him). Suddenly, he is a really hot prospect that all of the scouts have interest in - and it was the same guy who nobody wanted earlier! It would be interesting to see just how many major leaguers are actually a different age than we all think.

hellfrozeover · 02-15-2002, 02:25 PM

Yeah that would be interesting I'll bet there's more guys than we think. I wonder how old Julio Franco or Orlando Hernandez are. I doubt that the ages that are reported are correct for either one.

Also, in the same vein: The Cubs Juan Cruz is 23 not 21.

Regan · 02-15-2002, 02:55 PM

According to the police department involved (spokesman a Mr Valenzuela [not fernando I am guessing]) Mike Darr was drunk. It is a rotten situation but at least if they were drunk they didn't kill a sober person as happens quite often. Get in a car drunk and you take your life in your own hands. If he was not drunk then I am well in the wrong but the current wisdom according to the police was that he was drunk driving

Aussie Mark · 02-15-2002, 04:54 PM

Darr and the other guy in the front seat weren't wearing seatbelts and are dead. The guy in the back was wearing a seatbelt and is alive. In this day and age I can't believe that people are still willing to risk their lives by driving without wearing seat belts.

hellfrozeover · 02-15-2002, 07:23 PM

Well, that's why you don't drive drunk....a lot of people tend to forget little details like seatbelts and condoms when wasted. I do believe Darr was drunk at the time. I don't know if they other guy that died was or not.

Lee · 02-16-2002, 05:58 AM

I live in Phoenix and I passed the scene on the way to work at 5am. It was indeed due to alcohol, they apparently drifted, over corrected and lost control actually rolling off the freeway onto the frontage road. It is terribly sad for his two young children as well as the family of the other man killed. It is also terribly sad to think that adults in their prime, particularly athletes, sometimes think they are invulnerable and they can handle driving after a few too many drinks, without a seat belt no less. Maybe someday the national publicity that accompanies a famous figure dying in a situation like this, will impact people at a greater level. Perhaps, reducing the number of innocent people lost in these types of accidents, whose deaths are not mourned in a national forum like ESPN. Though, to those who lose them, the devastation is just as great. My prayers go out to the families of these men.

Lee

02-15-2002, 11:24 AM	#1
Bagpipes5 All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: TX Posts: 519	Sad News... Padres outfielder Mike Darr was killed in a car accident along with one other other person. A third passenger, a AA prospect in the Padres organization was treated and released at the scene. My thoughts go out to their families. <a href="http://www2.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news_story.jsp?article_id=mlb_20020215_padresr elease_news&team_id=mlb" target="_blank">http://www2.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news_story.jsp?article_id=mlb_20020215_padresr elease_news&team_id=mlb</a> In other news today, another player was found to be older than he really is. Yup, Rafael Furcal is really 23, not 21. <a href="http://www2.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news_story.jsp?article_id=mlb_20020215_furcal_ news&team_id=mlb" target="_blank">http://www2.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news_story.jsp?article_id=mlb_20020215_furcal_ news&team_id=mlb</a>

02-15-2002, 02:25 PM	#4
hellfrozeover All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,130	Yeah that would be interesting I'll bet there's more guys than we think. I wonder how old Julio Franco or Orlando Hernandez are. I doubt that the ages that are reported are correct for either one. Also, in the same vein: The Cubs Juan Cruz is 23 not 21. __________________ FBA Chicago Syndicate Former Owner: WBL Minnesota Twins 2004 - 2007 AL Central Division Champs OOL Chicago Whales 2006, 2009 UL East Champs; 2006, 2009 United League Champs IBA Lehigh Valley Diamonds 2006 Governor's Cup Champions VSLB New York Yankees 2001, 2002 AL East Division Champs ILBL Commissioner/Chicago Cubs 2002 NL Central Division Champs; 2002 National League Champs ASBL New York Yankees 2006 AL East Division Champs

02-15-2002, 04:54 PM	#6
Aussie Mark Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Downunder Posts: 489	Darr and the other guy in the front seat weren't wearing seatbelts and are dead. The guy in the back was wearing a seatbelt and is alive. In this day and age I can't believe that people are still willing to risk their lives by driving without wearing seat belts. __________________ Cheers Mark

02-15-2002, 07:23 PM	#7
hellfrozeover All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,130	Well, that's why you don't drive drunk....a lot of people tend to forget little details like seatbelts and condoms when wasted. I do believe Darr was drunk at the time. I don't know if they other guy that died was or not. __________________ FBA Chicago Syndicate Former Owner: WBL Minnesota Twins 2004 - 2007 AL Central Division Champs OOL Chicago Whales 2006, 2009 UL East Champs; 2006, 2009 United League Champs IBA Lehigh Valley Diamonds 2006 Governor's Cup Champions VSLB New York Yankees 2001, 2002 AL East Division Champs ILBL Commissioner/Chicago Cubs 2002 NL Central Division Champs; 2002 National League Champs ASBL New York Yankees 2006 AL East Division Champs

02-15-2002, 11:25 AM	#2
Josh Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 125	Wasn't Atlanta being investigated for signing Furcal before he was the proper age? Josh

02-15-2002, 11:34 AM	#3
sporr Global Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Muscatine, IA Posts: 8,277	I saw an HBO sports program about young players in baseball. This was over a year ago and showed evidence that Furcal was older than he claimed. Something else funny in that show was a prospect from the Dominican Republic who came up with the Astros pitched well for a while, but then couldn't cut it. The Astros cut him. What does he do? He borrows his cousins birth certificate (who was 2 years younger than him). Suddenly, he is a really hot prospect that all of the scouts have interest in - and it was the same guy who nobody wanted earlier! It would be interesting to see just how many major leaguers are actually a different age than we all think.

02-15-2002, 02:55 PM	#5
Regan Bat Boy Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 5	According to the police department involved (spokesman a Mr Valenzuela [not fernando I am guessing]) Mike Darr was drunk. It is a rotten situation but at least if they were drunk they didn't kill a sober person as happens quite often. Get in a car drunk and you take your life in your own hands. If he was not drunk then I am well in the wrong but the current wisdom according to the police was that he was drunk driving

02-16-2002, 05:58 AM	#8
Lee Global Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The Scorched Desert Posts: 4,653	I live in Phoenix and I passed the scene on the way to work at 5am. It was indeed due to alcohol, they apparently drifted, over corrected and lost control actually rolling off the freeway onto the frontage road. It is terribly sad for his two young children as well as the family of the other man killed. It is also terribly sad to think that adults in their prime, particularly athletes, sometimes think they are invulnerable and they can handle driving after a few too many drinks, without a seat belt no less. Maybe someday the national publicity that accompanies a famous figure dying in a situation like this, will impact people at a greater level. Perhaps, reducing the number of innocent people lost in these types of accidents, whose deaths are not mourned in a national forum like ESPN. Though, to those who lose them, the devastation is just as great. My prayers go out to the families of these men. Lee