Sammy Sosa Retires

[seawolf17]

According to his agent, it's all but official. 588 career homers (fifth all time), 1575 RBI (32nd all time), one MVP, 2194 Ks (second all time), b-r.com similarity/HOF scores like these:

Black Ink: Batting - 28 (62) (Average HOFer ~ 27)
Gray Ink: Batting - 138 (110) (Average HOFer ~ 144)
HOF Standards: Batting - 47.9 (86) (Average HOFer ~ 50)
HOF Monitor: Batting - 191.0 (41) (Likely HOFer > 100)

Similar Batters
Ken Griffey (888)
Mike Schmidt (868) *
Harmon Killebrew (854) *
Willie Stargell (844) *
Eddie Mathews (839) *
Willie McCovey (838) *
Mickey Mantle (835) *
Gary Sheffield (828)
Fred McGriff (805)
Reggie Jackson (803) *
(* indicates Hall of Famer)

The big question... does anyone care?

[Centerfield]

I thought he retired last year.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I don't know that there's an All-Dodged-Bullet Met team, for players the Mets almost dealt for but wisely didn't, but he's definitely the cleanup hitter.

[metirish]

]The big question... does anyone care?

I don't care, Sosa lost me a few years ago with the corked bat, then his last season as a Cubbie he really turned me off, kinda amazing to see how far he fell in the space of a few years.

[Guest sharpie]

In his prime Sammy seemed to having more fun than anyone else. I liked the big smile, the little hop, the anti-McGwire thing. Sad to see what happened.

[Centerfield]

For what it's worth, Chicago beat-writers have said for years that the smiley persona was all an act and that Sosa was one of the biggest frauds out there. (Grain of salt recommended).

What I will most remember about Sosa is that he and McGwire gave us one of the most awkward and random sports hugs in history. You'll recall that after McGwire broke Maris's record, Sosa came running in from the outfield, and hugged McGwire awkwardly, and then each of them ran their HR rituals. It was one of the stranger events I can remember. These guys hadn't won anything, it was the middle of the game, and they were, in fact, seeking to set the same record.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Two Chicago beat writers also went for Sosa on an MVP vote where Bonds was glaringly obviously statistically superior (adverb OD), based on the premise that you had to see what Sammy meant to this team day in and day out to fully appreciate his value.

[Elster88]

Edgy DC wrote: I don't know that there's an All-Dodged-Bullet Met team, for players the Mets almost dealt for but wisely didn't, but he's definitely the cleanup hitter.

Was it a matter of being wise or that Omar just couldn't deliver what Chicago wanted?

[Guest Edgy DC]

If the alleged deal was Floyd/Sosa I'll call it wisdom. Collective wisdom, if not Omar's alone.

[Frayed Knot]

I also remember that there were more than a few Met fans who were so down on Floyd at this point last year -- ["ya just KNOW he's gonna get hurt"] -- that they were urging that trade to be made, if for no other reason than Sammy would only be with us for 1 year and it would get us "out from under" Floyd's deal for 2006.

[Guest mlbaseballtalk]

Edgy DC wrote: Two Chicago beat writers also went for Sosa on an MVP vote where Bonds was glaringly obviously statistically superior (adverb OD), based on the premise that you had to see what Sammy meant to this team day in and day out to fully appreciate his value.

How much to do want to bet that, along with popping out off of Bobby F'N Jones to end the 2000 DS help lead to Bonds' increase steroid useage

I think Russo on WFAN also made comments to that fact as well

That series really was the last time anyone "pitched" consistantly to Bonds

[Guest mlbaseballtalk]

Centerfield wrote: For what it's worth, Chicago beat-writers have said for years that the smiley persona was all an act and that Sosa was one of the biggest frauds out there. (Grain of salt recommended).

Wasn't there something long ago controversy with Sosa and New York that soured even the Dominican fans in NY against Sosa? To the point where despite cheers everywherelse Sosa was constantly booed at Shea?

Something to do with his foundation or some other thing? I know I heard about it somewhere, may have been on a MOFO post answering a Met broadcaster's wondering about Sosa's treatment by the fans at Shea that was so visceral for such a "beloved" baseball figure with no history against the Mets (see Jones, Larry as well as Rodriguez, Alex and Jeter, Derek)

[Guest silverdsl]

At one point the Yankees were rumored to have been interested in trading for Sosa as well and I'm very glad that didn't happen because they'd probably have signed him to an extension and still be paying him a gazillion dollars for little to no production.

I also soured on Sosa after the corked bat incident. I know that there are likely other players that have resorted to those kind of things but it was really disappointing that Sosa was busted for it.

Sosa didn't have to retire - he had an offer from the Nationals - but he felt that offer was beneath him to take.

[Willets Point]

Onion coverage>