Category: Retirement

Brad’s gone too

Speaking of retirements, Brad Ausmus is hanging up his tools of ignorance for the last time today.

Never a big stick (he hit .251 for his career), Ausmus will be more known for slick glove behind the plate.  He won three Gold Gloves in his career.  More amazing to me though is the fact that Ausmus caught 1,938 games in his 18 year career.  That ranks 10th among all catchers all time.  Look through his stat board and you’ll see that he often led his league in many defensive categories like catcher putouts and catcher assists.

Ausmus participated in six postseasons and one World Series (in 2005 with the Astros).   

Saturday night tidbits

Big Unit saying goodbye after 22 years

Randy Johnson has retired and we’ve lost one of this era’s best pitchers.  Given his age, probably last era’s, too. 

You’ve heard the big numbers on the Unit… five Cy Young awards, 303 wins, etc.  Here are a few lesser known ones:

…he was tops among active pitchers (well when he WAS active) in complete games.  And you know what?  It’s not even close.  His 100 is almost double of second place Tom Glavine’s 56.

…Led the majors in Strikeouts per 9 IP an amazing eleven times.

…Was baseball’s second oldest player at the time of his retirement at 46.  Most of us know that greybeard Jamie Moyer is the oldest (he’s 47).  And some of us might even make a guess at John Smoltz as the third oldest at age 42.  But who’s the fourth oldest?  Answer later.

…Back to Randy Johnson… he was the active leader in shutouts with 37. 

…All told he led the majors in 56 various (positive) stat categories throughout his career (not counting the times he led in walks or HBPs because he did that too).  Pretty impressive.

I had a friend (you know who are) who once felt the Big Unit wasn’t Hall of Fame-worthy.  Granted, this was five or so years ago but we had a discussion about it.  I’m wondering if he’s changed his mind by now.

Five years from now, I hope we’re not quibbling about whether Randy Johnson should be inducted into the Hall.  He had the rare combination of longevity and intensity.  The kind of pitcher that played for years but yet, was the kind that you wanted to pitch in the big game. 

Like him or not, he gets in.  For my money, if you could pit him against the current class, he gets in before any of them.

Consistent Percival near retirement

"I don’t think you’re retired until the paperwork’s in. But it’s safe to say as of right now, I don’t see that I’m going to be able to throw a whole lot"

By the time you read this, Troy Percival will probably have announced his retirement.  He’s already met with the Rays’ management and rumors are flying that he has submitted his resignation.  And with the above quote, the writing seems to be on the wall.

Looking back over Percival’s career, there’s no question he had Grade A stuff.  But look closer and see how consistent he was.  It really is quite amazing. 

For starters, in nine years (1996-2004) he dropped below 30 saves just once and accumulated 313 for that period. 

He was solid over the course of the baseball season throughout the years, too.  Both his opponents batting average and ERA were pretty consistent from April to September.  Career ERA high of 3.51 in May and amazingly BA high of .204 in May as well. 

If their was one knock on Percival, it’s that his batting average with runners in scoring position (.273) was slightly high, especially with the bases loaded (.380). 

Interestingly, he had a career 0.00 ERA against the Angels who he played for his first ten years of his career

Assuming he does retire, Percival’s 358 saves puts him #8 on the all-time list behind Jeff Reardon.  He and Billy Wagner are the only two on the top ten list who have never led the league in that category (off topic:  Billy never led the league… does that surprise you??).

Juicer Jeff Hangs ’em Up – HOFer?

Kent Retires Baseball I have no hard evidence Jeff Kent is/was a juicer, just my observation, quick to scuffle, square head, solid muscle, and a little too eager to deny rumors. His numbers are as rock solid as his abs. From 1997-2005 he drove in more than 90 runs per season, unprecedented, 128 in 1998 was his career best, finished his career with 1,518 ribbies, this while playing traditionally not an offensive position, secondbase. In 2002 Jeff hit more homers than during any other year of his career, 37. Kent was never flashy with the leather, but made the routine plays. He’d never win a congeniality award. He was the best offensive secondbaseman of his era, ending his career with 351 home runs while playing secondbase, 74 more than Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg. Kent hit a total of 377 home runs, 560 doubles, scored 1,320 runs, while batting .290 over his 17 year career. Jeff Kent was a five time All Star, four times he won Silver Sluggers, and was the National League MVP in 2000.