Sosa would rather retire than "beg for a spot"

Hotblack Desiato · 02-13-2006, 07:23 PM

Am I missing the thread where this was discussed? It's been news all day but a search for "Sosa" turned up nothing. Apologies if it's buried in one of those team offseason threads that nobody but fans of those teams ever look in. At any rate....

Sosa, the proud owner of a .295 OBP and .376 SLG last year, is apparently too proud to accept a non-guaranteed contract with the Nationals.

Quote:

Sosa has not made a decision regarding the contract offer from Washington, which is a non-guaranteed, one-year pact for $500,000.

"Sammy doesn't think of himself as someone who has to beg for a spot on a big league roster," said the source.

It's not called "begging," it's called "earning." You sucked last year, plain and simple. Now, if you want to retire because you suck, that's your prerogative. But considering you're a 37-year-old rightfielder coming off a .671 OPS, you oughta feel fortunate that there's actually a team willing to possibly pay you real money if you can play better than the 24-year-olds and the non-roster invitees at camp. Just because you were good before they started testing for steroids doesn't mean anything for your value in 2006, especially considering you've effectively destroyed any lovey cutesy image you had developed as the second banana to Big Whitey in '99.

I hope this is the result of a "source" not accurately portraying his sentiment, because if this has to do with anything but his horrible performance last season and tarnished public image, then Sammy needs a serious ego check.

ihatenames · 02-13-2006, 07:33 PM

I imagine these are the words of his agent. Even a guarenteed contract might be worth it at a 1 mill rather than 500,000. Its a low risk-high reward situation. If sammy shows he's no longer injured and can still play, good things for the nats. If sammy sucks, all you lose is one million dollars. And on top of that, i assume sammy will pay for himself in merchandise.

Jonzard · 02-13-2006, 07:34 PM

I hope he does retire.

Bluenoser · 02-13-2006, 07:40 PM

They're not asking you to Beg for a spot Sammy, they're asking you to Earn one. Instead of resting on your laurals, go to spring training and prove you can still play.

Maybe his agent will figure out to ask for an incentive laden contract. Like if Sammy performs, he gets gauranteed $$$, if he flops, he gets to play in New Orleans.

abailey3313 · 02-13-2006, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonzard

I hope he does retire.

"

[/O's fan]

Rasmuth · 02-13-2006, 08:18 PM

Its pretty strange looking back...the great homer race with Sosa and Big Mac...

now just a short time later and neither is real reputable nor very well liked...

rem · 02-13-2006, 08:28 PM

Hey! He always said he wanted to retire an Oriole.

KurtBevacqua · 02-13-2006, 08:33 PM

I think it's just a cheap ploy to get a better deal. Sammy's a whore, he'll be playing somewhere this season.

Nirvana91 · 02-13-2006, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonzard

I hope he does retire.

I'd kind of like to see him run around and ruin his already soiled image even more.

[/ChiSox fan]

[Chisox fan]

Frank Thomas too

[/Chisox fan]

darkhorse · 02-13-2006, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KurtBevacqua

Sammy's a whore, he'll be playing somewhere this season.

Sammy's spent all but two years of his career in Chicago and was a Cub for 13 seasons.

Pfft.

darkhorse · 02-13-2006, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nirvana91

Frank Thomas too

Rooting for the Big Hurt to fail makes you a White Sox fan?

Nah.

Nirvana91 · 02-13-2006, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkhorse

Rooting for the Big Hurt to fail makes you a White Sox fan?

Nah.

Nah, but living on the south side of chicago For my whole life does.

And don't get me wrong, Frank was great in his day, probably hall of fame caliber. But I was so sick and tired of his moaning every year, weren't you? Even after the championship he said he never would have participated in the championship run (throwing out a WS first pitch, etc) had he known he wouldn't be offered a contract. That's just petty. Sox management treated him with the respect he deserved, and he came right back and bashed the organization. It was a theme during his playing days too. After the playoffs I read 2 stories a day in the papers about him ripping the team, Reinsdorf, Ozzie, the fans, Paul Konerko, Jim Thome, EVERYBODY, except himself.

So, I do NOT wish him well. Is there anything wrong with that?

darkhorse · 02-13-2006, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nirvana91

Frank was great in his day, probably hall of fame caliber.

But I was so sick and tired of his moaning every year, weren't you?

Probably? LOL

No.

Nirvana91 · 02-13-2006, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkhorse

Probably? LOL

No.

Have you lived in Chicago at all over the past 5 years?

Sublimity · 02-13-2006, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nirvana91

Have you lived in Chicago at all over the past 5 years?

He's saying he was definitely HOF caliber in his day. I think.

reo · 02-13-2006, 09:53 PM

I don't think he's met Rickey Henderson?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotblack Desiato

Am I missing the thread where this was discussed? It's been news all day but a search for "Sosa" turned up nothing. Apologies if it's buried in one of those team offseason threads that nobody but fans of those teams ever look in. At any rate....

Sosa, the proud owner of a .295 OBP and .376 SLG last year, is apparently too proud to accept a non-guaranteed contract with the Nationals.

It's not called "begging," it's called "earning." You sucked last year, plain and simple. Now, if you want to retire because you suck, that's your prerogative. But considering you're a 37-year-old rightfielder coming off a .671 OPS, you oughta feel fortunate that there's actually a team willing to possibly pay you real money if you can play better than the 24-year-olds and the non-roster invitees at camp. Just because you were good before they started testing for steroids doesn't mean anything for your value in 2006, especially considering you've effectively destroyed any lovey cutesy image you had developed as the second banana to Big Whitey in '99.

I hope this is the result of a "source" not accurately portraying his sentiment, because if this has to do with anything but his horrible performance last season and tarnished public image, then Sammy needs a serious ego check.

Aordolin · 02-13-2006, 11:51 PM

Sammys got expenses. how can you people expect him to survive on non guarenteed money, only 1/2 a million! how is he going to pay his translator on that kind of money since he forgot how to speak english.

Jason Moyer · 02-13-2006, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nirvana91

And don't get me wrong, Frank was great in his day, probably hall of fame caliber.

The second greatest hitter of the last 40 years is "probably" hall of fame caliber?

TotalEnd98 · 02-14-2006, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Moyer

The second greatest hitter of the last 40 years is "probably" hall of fame caliber?

Yeah. He pointed out that Thomas moaned, didn't you see it?

Jason Moyer · 02-14-2006, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TotalEnd98

Yeah. He pointed out that Thomas moaned, didn't you see it?

There was more to his post after that line?

02-13-2006, 07:33 PM	#2
ihatenames Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rockford Posts: 2,534	I imagine these are the words of his agent. Even a guarenteed contract might be worth it at a 1 mill rather than 500,000. Its a low risk-high reward situation. If sammy shows he's no longer injured and can still play, good things for the nats. If sammy sucks, all you lose is one million dollars. And on top of that, i assume sammy will pay for himself in merchandise. __________________ New Album coming soon! Last edited by ihatenames; 02-13-2006 at 07:38 PM.

02-13-2006, 07:34 PM	#3
Jonzard Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,647	I hope he does retire. __________________ For a scientist must indeed be freely imaginative and yet skeptical, creative and yet a critic. There is a sense in which he must be free, but another in which his thought must be very precisely regimented; there is poetry in science, but also a lot of bookkeeping. — Sir Peter B. Medawar FTB

02-13-2006, 08:18 PM	#6
Rasmuth All Star Starter Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Upstate Western NY Posts: 1,760	Its pretty strange looking back...the great homer race with Sosa and Big Mac... now just a short time later and neither is real reputable nor very well liked... __________________ http://www.soundclick.com/bands/defa...?bandID=250426

02-13-2006, 08:28 PM	#7
rem Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: College Park, Md. Posts: 5,024	Hey! He always said he wanted to retire an Oriole. __________________ OTBA: Washington Filibusters CLBR: Minnesota Twins 2005 Winner of LL's Pick the Loser Contest! - 15-0

02-13-2006, 08:33 PM	#8
KurtBevacqua Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,968	I think it's just a cheap ploy to get a better deal. Sammy's a whore, he'll be playing somewhere this season. __________________ "The type and formula of most schemes of philanthropy or humanitarianism is this: A and B put their heads together to decide what C shall be made to do for D. The radical vice of all these schemes, from a sociological point of view, is that C is not allowed a voice in the matter, and his position, character, and interests, as well as the ultimate effects on society through C's interests, are entirely overlooked. I call C the Forgotten Man" - William Graham Sumner

02-13-2006, 07:40 PM	#4
Bluenoser Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In The Moment Posts: 14,540	They're not asking you to Beg for a spot Sammy, they're asking you to Earn one. Instead of resting on your laurals, go to spring training and prove you can still play. Maybe his agent will figure out to ask for an incentive laden contract. Like if Sammy performs, he gets gauranteed $$$, if he flops, he gets to play in New Orleans.

02-13-2006, 11:51 PM	#17
Aordolin All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 586	Sammys got expenses. how can you people expect him to survive on non guarenteed money, only 1/2 a million! how is he going to pay his translator on that kind of money since he forgot how to speak english.