Long story short: Frank claims he doesn't know if the Soriano issue is actually an issue; he hasn't talked to him yet. Bowden continues to talk about his reluctant outfielder as if he's talking about a Little Leaguer.
"It's only an issue because you all make it an issue. I don't know if it's an issue or not. I'll let you all know after I talk to him when he gets here...I want to listen to him...hear what he has to say." (Frank Robinson via Washington Times, 2/19/2006)
"I don't think enough people are understanding what he has gone through...This is a player who was happy in Texas, and who was traded. And as soon as he's traded, he learns that the team that gets him wants him to play a different position. And then the player ends up going to [salary] arbitration and losing in arbitration...This is a special player, and he has a lot of pride, and he's a sensitive guy. He's been through an awful lot this offseason." (Jim Bowden, via Washington Post, 2/19/2006)
Oh, boo hoo, cry me a #@!&ing river. Memo to Jim: if case you've forgotten, YOU'RE the one who traded for him and YOU'RE the one who made him 'suffer' through arbitration. 'He's been through an awful lot this offseason?' He got a #@!&ing $2.5 MILLION DOLLAR RAISE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!
To be a fly on the wall in Old Frank's office that first day Soriano arrives at camp and gets called in for The Talk with his new manager. We think it will go something like this:
Frank: "You're an outfielder now."
Soriano: "Okay."
Frank: "Now get out of my sight."
Soriano: "Okay."
And that will be the end of the discussion. (And you know what? Wherever he plays this year, whether at 2nd base, center field, in Washington, or somewhere else, we think Soriano is going to have a monster year - he's playing for a contract.)
(AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
Gee, Trader Jim's hair is looking awfully limp and lifeless. Maybe he's trying to use his mango body wash as conditioner "for the good of the team."
Posted by: Nate | February 20, 2006 at 01:42 PM
Thank you for not making any "Brokeback Mountain" jokes.
You could make them though, after that "guy" Nate commented on Jimmy B's lifeless hair. Now I have pictures of Jim in an Herbal Essence commercial dancing in my head. It'd go something like this:
Tony Tavares: "Jim, should we trade Livan Hernandez to Tampa for Frankie Nunez?"
Bowden (washing hair in locker room): "YES! YES! YESSSSS!!!!!"
(cut to Bud Selig at a diner) "I'll have what he's having."
Posted by: SomeGuy | February 20, 2006 at 04:51 PM
Nate, SomeGuy: good work by both of you.
I'm not sure what the deal is with Bowden's hair in that picture, and I haven't seen any other recent photos of him - but damn it really like the offseason has taken it's toll...he looks defeated.
Posted by: ck | February 20, 2006 at 05:27 PM