Retiring Types 2019

[G-Fafif]

Spring Training 2019 will launch many a major league career (give or take a couple of Super Two weeks), but it also marks the definitive end of others. Catcher A.J. Ellis and pitcher Doug Fister have each made it official in recent days that their baseball-playing journeys are at an end.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

I read where CC Sabathia has indicated this will be his last year

[G-Fafif]

This will also be the last season at the helm of the Giants for three-time world champion manager (and 1982 Mets catcher) Bruce Bochy, who has announced he will retire at the end of 2019.

[G-Fafif]

Peter Moylan, 40 (got a late start), has performed his last bris. Or thrown his last inning of relief. The longtime Brave and such has announced he's done with majors and will turn his attention toward making the Australian Olympic team.

[G-Fafif]

Rob Whalen, whose name may ring a bell from being one of the minor leaguers the Mets sent to Atlanta for Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson in 2015, has announced he's retired at 25. Pitched a little for Braves and Mariners. Acknowledged his battle with depression last year.

[G-Fafif]

Ichiro hanging 'em up when the Mariners' opening set vs the A's in Tomyo is complete. Tune into ESPN ASAP if you want to see him (or hurl invective at him) as an active player.

[Frayed Knot]

I was thinking that this two-game series was going to be his swan song.

Would have been nice if he could have snagged himself a hit (0-5 w/1 BB across the 2 games) but the other 4,500 or so will have to suffice.







Wonder what becomes of him from here?

For all the attention he garnered he's really been something of a cypher during his time here.

He can speak English though doesn't when near any microphones. It's weird in this age where a player can be on the stage for the better part of two decades and we haven't the slightest idea what his voice even sounds like.

Gotta go back a while to find a sports star like that (although Vlad, kinda too). The first, and maybe only, time we'll ever hear him is via his HoF induction.

Does he consider himself an American now? Did he live in Japan during the off-seasons? Will he go back? He's estranged from his father but I don't know what other family he has.

Does he become a coach on either continent or get one of those 'special assistant' jobs?

Or does he just slip his skinny frame through the cracks somewhere and simply disappear?

[Edgy MD]

I think he's already under contract with the Mariners as some sort of advisor.



When I think of sports big shots who you never heard speak, I think of Steve Carlton.