Shea Hillenbrand DFA'ed...

[QuestGAV]

He's a tool.

[canadiancreed]

Originally Posted by QuestGAV

He's a tool.

and not a useful one

[canadiancreed]

Originally Posted by GoCubsAndJays

Here's another article.

If Hillenbrand actually did rip the Canadian flag crest off... that shows how classless he is. When you're playing for a Canadian organization, at least respect the country.

The only way h'ed respect it is if the leaf was replaced with his portrait

[kq76]

I've bolded what I felt were the juicy parts.

Shea comes out swinging
July 20, 2006


Sportsnet.ca -- Shea Hillenbrand is going down swinging. A day after the former Jays DH was designated for assignment, Hillenbrand claimed that manager John Gibbons challenged him to a fist fight in the locker room. Hillenbrand added that a Jays' player who called him a cancer on the team should be ashamed of himself.

Speaking on Toronto all-sport radio station Fan 590, Hillenbrand also denied published reports that he wrote a negative message on the team chalkboard and ripped the Canadian flag from a helmet.

"It's an unfortunate thing that happened, but that's business, and it's the nature of our business. I just want to thank the organization for giving me the opportunity to play up here because it is a great place to play," said Hillenbrand in the interview.

The whole debacle started when a pre-game team meeting resulted in the dismissal of the player from the clubhouse, something Hillenbrand said was the result of a personal attack on him by manager Gibbons.

"It was a team meeting, and he singled me out and was cursing at me in front of the team. He challenged me to a fight, and wanted me to get up and punch him in the face. I am a grown man, and I am trying to set an example to my teammates so I just sat there and listened to what he had to say, along with the 25-30 other guys that were in the clubhouse."

The Toronto newspapers were ripe with conflicting opinions and interpretations of what happened between Hillenbrand and the Jays' organization. Hillenbrand, who has been traded two times prior in his major league career, was left out of the starting lineup for the second straight game versus Texas; adding credence to the belief that Jays' manager John Gibbons was not pleased with the DH's five-day absence to be with his wife in California.

The newspapers also indicated an anonymous teammate in the Jays' clubhouse referred to Hillenbrand as a "cancer" and his mood varied with his playing time.

"There is probably a good reason why that player did not state his name because he is hiding, and I have a very good suspicion of who that player is, and he should be ashamed to say something like that about his teammates because he is a self-proclaimed team leader."

Hillenbrand was named the Blue Jays MVP in 2005, a season where he hit .291, with 18 home runs and 82 RBI.

"This is the best place I have played. We always went out on the road, we had fun. But you know it is a new thing for Toronto, they went out and spent money last year and there is a lot of pressure to win, there is pressure on JP to win. So any incident is going to be heightened ... and unfortunately I think this case has been an example of that."

Hillenbrand's departure from the team could not come at a worse time as the Jays, who currently sit 5.5 games out of first-place in the tough AL East, welcome the Yankees to the Rogers Centre for the first of four on Thursday night.

Despite the "cancer" reference, Hillenbrand was rumoured to have ripped a Canadian flag off the side of his cap and wrote the words "sinking ship" on the clubhouse whiteboard. When asked about the allegations, Hillenbrand was quick to deny.

"The team is going to say what they have to say, I am just trying to state facts. The team said they designated me for assignment because I did refuse show up in the clubhouse, that is not true, during the tirade the manager told me to get out and leave and as long as he was there I'd never see the field again."

The Jays have 10 days to move Hillenbrand, as the league deadline is set for July 31. Earlier in the season he was rumoured to be on his way to Los Angeles for Angels second baseman Adam Kennedy.

As for any attempt at reconciliation, Hillenbrand told the FAN590 he is uncertain about his current position, but has not ruled out any options.

"I wanna play for the Toronto Blue Jays, I love the Blue Jays and I love being here."

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/art...20_135211_5176

Lots of stuff in there. I imagine the "self-proclaimed leader" he was referring to is Glaus. I can't imagine he'll ever be back, but it's at least nice to hear that he loved playing for the Jays.

[canadiancreed]

Originally Posted by kq76

I've bolded what I felt were the juicy parts.



http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/art...20_135211_5176

Lots of stuff in there. I imagine the "self-proclaimed leader" he was referring to is Glaus. I can't imagine he'll ever be back, but it's at least nice to hear that he loved playing for the Jays.

whether any of that is true is still up for debate.

[ill16ca]

He's just blowing smoke, IMO. He's trying to save his own image. He denies all allegations, and says positive things about the organization... yet he was DFA'ed a day earlier? Something doesn't make sense here.

[GoCubsAndJays]

Originally Posted by kq76

I've bolded what I felt were the juicy parts.



http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/art...20_135211_5176

Lots of stuff in there. I imagine the "self-proclaimed leader" he was referring to is Glaus. I can't imagine he'll ever be back, but it's at least nice to hear that he loved playing for the Jays.

I doubt it was Glaus. I'm thinking it might have been Zauny.

[ill16ca]

I'd say it was Glaus as well. He was taking away from Hillenbrand's playing time, so chances are they didn't get along very well.

Of course, we'll never know for sure.

[ihatenames]

Originally Posted by canadiancreed

whether any of that is true is still up for debate.

According to SI.com atleast the manager did challenge him to a fight.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html

[canadiancreed]

Originally Posted by ill16ca

He's just blowing smoke, IMO. He's trying to save his own image. He denies all allegations, and says positive things about the organization... yet he was DFA'ed a day earlier? Something doesn't make sense here.

that and his history work against his sudden positive PR campaign.

[ihatenames]

I'd say this was handled very poorly by all parties from the looks of things.

[canadiancreed]

Originally Posted by ihatenames

I'd say this was handled very poorly by all parties from the looks of things.

It's not your father's BlueJays that's for sure.

[abailey3313]

ESPN just reported Shea is San Francisco bound.

[rem]

Originally Posted by abailey3313

ESPN just reported Shea is San Francisco bound.

I know they moved a team from New York to San Francisco, but a whole stadium?

[canadiancreed]

Originally Posted by fox sports

Shea goodbye to my little friend

When Troy Glaus, Lyle Overbay and Eric Hinske drove in all seven runs in Friday night's 7-3 win over the Yankees, it underscored the superfluousness of the bitter Shea Hillenbrand. When he metastasized his way out of Toronto — outdoing his classless exit from Boston — Hillenbrand was hitting .301 with 12 home runs and thought he should be playing every day. But despite his solid productivity, Hillenbrand simply wasn't good enough to start every day on the Jays. His OBP was .342 and his slugging percentage .480. Cornermen Troy Glaus (25 HRs, .530 slugging percentage) and Lyle Overbay (.365 OBP, .518 slugging) are both better OPS guys. Eric Hinske, meanwhile, is hitting .291 with a .556 slugging percentage against righties. Most nights Hillenbrand was John Gibbons' fourth-best option in a three-man rotation.

Also on teh Giants intrest: -> http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/...s/15090112.htm

and the Brewers -> http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/a...=.jsp&c_id=mlb

and more on Shea little soap opera -> http://www.cbc.ca/story/sports/natio...rand-feud.html

[Joe Canadian]

The Toronto Blue Jays have traded infielder Shea Hillenbrand and relief pitcher Vinnie Chulk to the San Francisco Giants for relief pitcher Jeremy Accardo. Details to follow...

[bababui]

Originally Posted by remangiii

I know they moved a team from New York to San Francisco, but a whole stadium?

Its a crap stadium and it was built in a swamp in Flushing meadow..good ridance.

[darkenigma510]

Terrible Trade!

[Erik W.]

Originally Posted by darkenigma510

Terrible Trade!

No it isn't. They dumped $5 million worth of clubhouse cancer and an unreliable reliever and got a solid young reliever in exchange.

No one was going to give more than that for Hillenbrand given his history of being a gigantic asshole, being a liability in the field, and not hitting after May 31, all wrapped up with an inflated salary.

I call it a win.

[kq76]

At first I thought it was a terrible trade too, but given San Francisco's history of trading away young players who end up being very good, I'll wait and see.