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02/24/2005: "The Sosa Continues..."

I heard the world's tiniest violin playing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" yesterday. At least that's what I thought I was hearing in the background during soundbites of Sammy's mini-press conference yesterday. He looks strange wearing orange instead of blue. He also looked strange being the same Sammy Sosa he was for the last 13 years as a Cub. This time I am more able to be an objective observer, rather than my judgement being clouded by Cubby blue.

I never criticized Sammy until the 2003 season when his bat was corked. I believe I went through denial for a few hours before I finally proclaimed that Sammy should be traded to the White Sox for Magglio Ordonez. I remember being on the phone with a friend saying this, and also saying that we should get rid of this guy if we have to dump him and pay his salary. I was clouded again by playoff fanfare at the end of 2003 and somehow I loved Sammy again. Like many others I defended him on the cork incident. I convinced myself to believe his story about "accidentally" using the corked bat. After all, this is good old Sammy we're talking about. The guy who came up out of poverty in the Dominican Republic and became one of the most prolific hitter in history. More on that later...

Most people would skip ahead to the end of the 2004 season, also known as "Sammy's next mistake". I see him making a few mistakes on the way. I defended Sosa during the slump of 2004, saying he'll eventually pull out of it. He didn't, and we all blamed Dusty Baker for not moving him out of the 3-hole and moving him down in the order to the 6-spot. After all, everyone in the middle of the order was doing better than he was, even the injured newcomer Nomar Garciaparra. Aramis Ramirez, Derek Lee, and Moises Alou all deserved to hit ahead of Sosa, but we all knew that he would throw a tantrum if anyone even suggested moving out of his 3-spot. Eventually Sammy had a heart-to-heart conversation with Dusty and agreed to move down. More on that later...

Then comes the end of the 2004 season. Sammy takes off during the first inning, probably sealing his offseason fate. He then lied about leaving during the 7th inning, when security cameras show he left during the 1st. According to the Chicago Sun Times, Sammy says Baker gave him the OK to get the day off. There are a few inconsistencies here. Sammy was supposedly openly upset about being left off the starting lineup on that final game. Why would he be upset if he requested the day off? Why would he lie about the time he left when he believed he wasn't doing anything wrong?

How many mistakes is that so far? Sammy claimed in an interview in Baltimore that he made two mistakes in 13 years with the Cubs. I see it differently. Here is the list.

1. Refusing to take a minor league rehab in 2003 after his toe injury.
2. Using the corked bat.
3. Not wanting to move down in the batting order. This may have turned the Cubs fortunes around early in the season, but Sosa did not want to be a team player.
4. Refusing to modify his swing and stop trying to hit unnecessary home runs with runners in scoring position.
5. Walking out of game 162 early.
6. Lying about walking out of game 162 early.

In his interview, Sosa likened his relationship with the Cubs to a poverty striken Dominican Republic. He called Kerry Wood and Mark Prior liars for suggesting that the Cubs are better off without him. He claims Lee Mazzilli is the best manager he's ever had because Mazzilli always tells the truth and is confident in him.

Sorry, but in Chicago when someone was honest with Sosa he would act hurt and pretend he doesn't understand. What phoniness would make him any different in Baltimore. I guess nobody would care if Baltimore has a winning record this season, and Sammy would have everyone in Maryland and DC mezmirized like he had us on the Northside.

Replies: 17 Comments

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