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Quitting while you're ahead


So, you're a major league catcher. You've been one for 17 years.

You're 40 years old and strictly a backup these days. You start maybe once a week. And that's enough. Because you're 40.

You've seen a lot since you came up with the Padres in 1993. But you're not all that well-known. Mostly, people know you for being smart. You're so smart that you're constantly mentioned as a future manager. But you've never been known for the numbers you put up.

Except for one pretty impressive factoid: you've never been on the disabled list. That's right. In 17 years, you've never hit the DL. That's pretty damn good for the modern player. And really damn good for a catcher. I mean it's a minefield back there. That's an achievement. That's something to tell your grandchildren.

So, 2010 comes along, the DL streak is intact, and retirement is always an option this late in your career. But you come back for a second season with the Dodgers as the backup again.

Then, a week into the season, you go on the disabled list.

Seventeen years of work. Down the drain.

Sometimes you've got to think about your legacy, Brad.

Now what?

Well, besides spending your 41st birthday on the disabled list, I mean.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I say let him play as long as he wants. Hear me out here. It may be cliche, but baseball is a business. A team will not sign a player if they have no value to that team. His knowledge of the game must hold enough value for the Dodgers to keep him. This holds especially true for catchers. Look at Henry Blanco, Jason Kendall, and Mike Redmond for examples. Keep up the good blog, I love reading it!