Cameron's Curse

[Guest Edgy DC]

Not really, but I was thinking about the glourious baseball number that is 44, and it seems that every Met since Cameron who has donned those digits has seen his career take a turn toward oblivion.

Lastings Milledge, 2006-2007
Floundering in trying to establish himself with last place teams and minor league assignments.

Brady Clark, 2008
Over and out.

Tony Armas, Jr., 2008
One more year in the minors and done.

Eddie Kunz, 2008
Trying to reinvent himself as a starter in AA.

Brandon Knight, 2008
Crashed and burned last year in Buffalo.

Tim Redding, 2009
Yankee minor leaguer at 32.

Jason Bay, 2010
Power-sapped and concussed this year. His return remains an open queston.

It's of course wrong to blame Cameron. Many of these guys' careers were skidding toward the cliff when they first pulled Mets-44 over their heads, and he was only boldly trying to redeem the number from the disastrous stain that Jay Bell left on it, but holy heck. Don't choose this number, kids.

[TransMonk]

Jay Payton wore it well for a few years prior to Cameron.

Jay Bell not so much.

[Frayed Knot]

And now Cameron himself is out *AGAIN* with season-ending abdominal surgery.

[seawolf17]

The Curse isn't Cameron. It's Lastings. He was anointed as a savior, took the big important uniform number, high-fived the ballpark, and collapsed.

[Guest sharpie]

Hank Aaron, Willie McCovey, Reggie Jackson.

Just like 42 is retired, 44 should be retired except for slugging African-Americans. No pitchers, no 10-homer-a-year guys, no white guys.

[MFS62]

Today's my 44th wedding anniversary.
Hmmmmm.

Later

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

My, um, age too. Guh.

[Valadius]

My singular memory of Blastings: his "first drink":

[G-Fafif]

sharpie wrote: Hank Aaron, Willie McCovey, Reggie Jackson. Just like 42 is retired, 44 should be retired except for slugging African-Americans. No pitchers, no 10-homer-a-year guys, no white guys.

Too late. In my mind, 44 is Bob Myrick...then Jason Isringhausen.

Then Payton, then Milledge. Then maybe Hank Aaron.

[batmagadanleadoff]

And what about 42? Is 42 Ron Hodges and Butch Huskey and Mo Vaughn? And then, maybe, Jackie Robinson?

[seawolf17]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: And what about 42? Is 42 Ron Hodges and Butch Huskey and Mo Vaughn? And then, maybe, Jackie Robinson?

Is it wrong to say yes? Because to me, yes.

[MFS62]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: My, um, age too. Guh.

That's good, because this is only my 43rd.
Error of enthusiasm - can't get enough of my marriage.
Later

[nymr83]

MFS62 wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: My, um, age too. Guh. That's good, because this is only my 43rd. Error of enthusiasm - can't get enough of my marriage. Later

nice save.