Jimmy Edmonds...released??
by jodicards on May 8, 2008 12:39 PM EDT
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Off of the "view from the cheapseats" website...Jimmy Baseball may be released by the Padres as early as this weekend...
link: http://bellevillenewsdemocrat.typepad.com/viewfromthecheapseats/2008/05/padres-may-rele.html
I loved Edmonds when he was in STL and hate to hear anything bad about him...he really was an amazing center fielder and I think deserves consideration to be in the Hall of Fame...
Just wanted to see what others thought about this...Good Luck Jimmy! I hope you can raise that BA and retire on your own terms...
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From SI's John Donovan...
in this article:
Jim Edmonds, acquired in an offseason trade with the Cardinals, is hitting just .180 with three extra-base hits. The four-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove winner has taken the brunt of fan discontent. He could be on the verge of being waived.
Later, Donovan writes:
The first move may be getting rid of Edmonds. The 37-year-old has been ripped mercilessly in several circles as injury-prone and past his prime. Several observers say that he looks slow and lost at times in the outfield. His numbers at the plate have dropped so precipitously that Wednesday night, trailing by three runs in the ninth, Black pinch hit for him with rookie Callix Crabbe.
Even GM Towers now has his doubts as to whether Edmonds, who has a history of concussions and missed several weeks in spring training with a pulled calf muscle, can be anything close to what the team envisioned when they traded for him last December.
It’s a cruel game at times; I’d much rather remember Jimmy Baseball as a Cardinal Gold Glover.
"In this game, don't nobody know nuthin' about nuthin'." -- attributed to Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra
by The Ol Goaler on May 8, 2008 12:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think deserves consideration to be in the Hall of Fame
I think he deserves more than consideration. He’s one of the best 15-20 CFers to play the game.
by JI on May 8, 2008 1:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
So was Curt Flood
but he’ll never get in.
by Hardcore Legend on May 8, 2008 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
eeh, Flood isn't in the same league
hall of pretty good
by JI on May 8, 2008 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He had one of the best
5-year peaks of any CF, but he won’t get in. His pre- and post-peak seasons didn’t offer enough production.
I’d love to see it, but he’s probably got at most a 5% chance.
"The only thing you know about pitching is that you can't hit it." Bob Gibson to Tim McCarver
by player2bnamedl8r on May 8, 2008 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're talking 5 awesome years in St. Louis
plus one more year where he was the second best CF in baseball (2005)
4 pretty good years in Anaheim
1 more year that wasn’t terrible, in which he was given credit more being the leader on a WS team
then some filler
The problem with his candidacy is that
1a) most of his value is in his on-base and slugging numbers
1b) many the people who vote for the hall of fame only care about 3000 hits / 500 homers
2) He was always overshadowed by Albert Pujols (although Edmonds was the superior player in 2001, 02, and 04)
3) His championship came on the last legs of his career when he no longer was a difference maker.
He’s basically a slightly worse version of Duke Snider.
by JI on May 8, 2008 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or he's Duke Snider
with a better glove…not that I ever saw Duke Snider play…
"The only thing you know about pitching is that you can't hit it." Bob Gibson to Tim McCarver
by player2bnamedl8r on May 8, 2008 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So is Andruw Jones
and he’s going to have to get to 500+ HR’s to merit consideration. With the way he’s hitting, that’s not a gonna happen…
I think Jimmy falls just short of the Hall, considering that there’s some other good CF’s with similar career numbers that aren’t in (Freddy Lynn anyone?) I think it’s going to be an uphill climb for him.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
by fourstick on May 9, 2008 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, but that's mostly because the voters are stupid
and not because Edmonds (or Lynn) isn’t worthy
by JI on May 9, 2008 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well...
there’s two ways of looking at that. I agree that not all the writers who have a vote always make the best decisions or look at all the facts before voting, but I think it’s interesting that very few people ever have problems with who gets in, but only with who gets left out.
The only guy I can ever remember getting in that I didn’t agree with was Ryne Sandberg. I think his exposure via WGN and the fact that he played for the Cubs got him in the HOF; had he played the majority of his career for an also-ran that doesn’t get national TV exposure (say Montreal) I don’t think he gets in.
That being said - while we remember Edmonds as a great Cardinal, I don’t think that 5 great years gets you in the HOF. He never won an MVP and never finished in the top 5 in the voting. As good as he was in CF, I disagree with the assertion that he was one of the best ever, I can think of three players in his era who were much better in CF than he was (T. Hunter, A. Jones, and Griffey Jr.). Those three made catches standing up that Jimmy was diving for and getting on web gems because of it. I love the guy and he was a great Cardinal in the early part of this decade, but I’m also a realist, not a blantant homer. I think he’s the poster-child for fan-favorite, above league average player who doesn’t quite merit induction to the Hall - very similar to someone like Fred Lynn.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
by fourstick on May 12, 2008 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The only way Jimmy would have been a
Hall of Famer is if he would have played with the Yankees or maybe the Red Sox during his prime. He would have been in the media spotlight every night and would be considered one of the greatest CFs of all time by the East Coast media, especially if he was with the Yankees when they were in the World Series every year.
Example would be Paul O’Neil, I’m not sure if he will be in the HOF, but I bet he will get more consideration than Edmonds because of what team he played for during his prime.
by KYCards on May 12, 2008 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So sad...
This is just way too saddening. Edmonds is a hall of famer.
Redbirds Fun
2006 WS for JB and DK57RIP: Josh Hancock
by cardsfan84 on May 8, 2008 1:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Sad, but not really a suprise
with the way Jimmy is hitting this year. I thought for sure he would be with them until at least the All-Star break. Sadly it looks like Jim won’t be with the Padres when they come to Busch in July. I was really hoping Jimmy would get that last standing ovation from the fans in St. louis. This might be the end of the road for him.
My hopes are that the Cardinals will do something special for him later this season if he does retire.
by KYCards on May 8, 2008 1:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If Edmonds retires following this release
the Cardinals should offer him the ‘Larry Walker role’ and allow him to travel with the team.
by Hardcore Legend on May 8, 2008 1:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
+1
Love to see it. He seems to enjoy passing on his knowlege.
"The only thing you know about pitching is that you can't hit it." Bob Gibson to Tim McCarver
by player2bnamedl8r on May 8, 2008 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wouldn't rule it out, but...
I’d be really, really surprised. My read on Edmonds was always that once he’s done, he’ll walk away. Go into business or something.
-M.
Any comments, opinions, or observations I post here are mine and mine alone. They should not be taken as any sort of statement on behalf of my employer.
by MatthewHLeach on May 8, 2008 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
With his restaurant in St. Louis
I’d have to imagine he’ll be ‘around’, so to speak.
by Hardcore Legend on May 8, 2008 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
I just always got the impression that Edmonds was the kind of player that once his days were done, he would go back to CA and only pop up every so often for ‘04 and ‘06 WS reunions. I’d love to see him come back and mentor Ankiel/Rasmus, but I just don’t see him as the Larry Walker-type.
by joecardsfan on May 9, 2008 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
can you imagine
his fielding techniques being adopted by Ankiel (considering his arm already). We could be on to something . . .
On with the (good) youth movement!
by aet15 on May 8, 2008 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think I want to see...
Ankiel play that shallow. Very few can go back on the ball well enough to make it pay. Much easier to play deep like Flood & come in on everything.
by random on May 8, 2008 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
agreed
jimmy was great at tracking balls down on the track in addition to taking away potential base hits. but how many hits did he really take away in 7+ years? maybe 30?
if ankiel would play that shallow many balls (like they already do) would get over his head and would go for at least a double. ankiel’s arm is good enough that he can play deep and still gun people down trying to take the extra base.
the one thing i think jimmy could teach rick is how to track balls down better. he should have ankiel thinking that anything that’s over his head is a home run.
by stlcardinalsfang on May 8, 2008 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Saw Edmonds
bat in SD’s game against Braves the other nite, struck out, looked bad. It was strange seeing him in those ugly Padre road uniforms. What color are those things anyway, they ain’t grey, ain’t tan, just some turkey puke inbetween…ugly.
by ridgesee on May 8, 2008 2:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Sand
I’m fairly certain they call it sand. It’s the whole San Diego sand-and-sea motif. Seriously.
-M.
Any comments, opinions, or observations I post here are mine and mine alone. They should not be taken as any sort of statement on behalf of my employer.
by MatthewHLeach on May 8, 2008 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This game is tough...
Larry Walker goes down looking against Dan Wheeler
McGwire gets lifted for Kerry Robinson
Matt Morris gives up five runs in less than two innings
Now Edmonds sits in favor of Callix Crabbe. Let’s hope Black sends him back out there at least once more.
by guayzimi on May 8, 2008 4:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Any chance
we can sign him to retire a Cardinal? On the condition that he retires the next day?
On with the (good) youth movement!
by aet15 on May 8, 2008 6:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That would be great
but union might have something to say about it.
by random on May 8, 2008 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That happens pretty regularly, doesn't it?
Is it because Edmonds is still on a big $$ contract that the union might have a problem?
by BTown Birds fan on May 8, 2008 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Since the Cards
are already paying for part of his contract this season it shouldn’t be a big deal.
by KYCards on May 8, 2008 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
my thoughts exactly
On with the (good) youth movement!
by aet15 on May 8, 2008 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Absolutely
I paid the most I have ever paid in my life for baseball tickets to sit close to San Diego’s dugout so I could (1) participate in the standing ovation for Jimmy upon his return; and (2) actually yell “thank you” to him. When you think of all the good memories he has given us, it is truly saddening to see his career come down to this. He deserves much better and I hope the Cardinals give it to him by signing him so that he can retire a Cardinal, which is where he belongs and how he deserves to be remembered.
by bgh on May 9, 2008 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
+10000000000000000000000000
I will always remember Jimmy as a Cardinal. To me, his career didnt begin until he donned the BOB. Forever he will be #15, and I would rather not see anyone else have that number on their back. I hope the Cards give him a 1 day contract so that, like you and so many others, including myselft, have said, he should be able to RETIRE a Cardinal.
C'mon you Redbirds, lets prove em' wrong, again!
by yer dog first on May 9, 2008 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why just 1 day,
give him a week. He could try closing!
by chicagocardfan on May 10, 2008 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am gonna be at that series too
I think this moves justifies my new-found hatred of the Padres
"He was trying to hit a three run homer with the bases empty. To my knowledge, no one in the history of the game has ever done that. But it could happen someday. You never know in this world of baseball." The Moonman
by mattyfrommo on May 10, 2008 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry to see Jimmy go this way but...
one point that hasn’t been made and probably should is the fact that Mo’ is looking pretty good on this one. He knew Jim wasn’t going to make it much further and got something (who knows how much yet) in return. Probably more importantly he lowered the payroll a bit.
So often I read everyone’s negative take on things. I just think Mo should get some kudos for his foresight on this. It wasn’t the popular or east decision to make, but it was the smart one.
We’ll miss you Jimmy!
P.S. I agree that having him back to coach the young guys on fielding would be quite beneficial.
by husker4cards on May 8, 2008 11:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
was thinking the same thing
i honestly didn’t like the trade at first but now have grown to love it (even if the player we got in return doesn’t do shit). he took money off the board and got rid of a (potentially) sticky situation.
by stlcardinalsfang on May 8, 2008 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Especially...
...since the guy we got back (David Freese) skipped AA and is having a solid season at Memphis this year (.283/.330/.482).
by roarke on May 9, 2008 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not only Edmonds...
but Rolen and Eckstein. Rolen started the season on the DL and Eckstein is there now. This season would look much different if those three were still here…
On this basis alone, Mo has done well.
Personally, I think we got hosed on that call.
by TurdFerguson on May 9, 2008 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Coulnd't agree more
I, like most of us, was nervous about what MO would do and how he would come into the job. He made some hard decisions, made some keen signings, and overall has done a very nice job. I’d like to see a thread started on this to see what everyone else thinks of his work thus far. I’d rate him a solid 7, close to an 8 up to this point.
by joecardsfan on May 9, 2008 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Always going to love Jimmy Baseball,
but I’m glad we aren’t the ones who have to watch his further decline. Last year was hard enough to watch. But it would be great to see Jimmy come back and pass on his knowledge to the young’uns.
You are a Hall of Famer to me, Jim. Too bad I don’t have a vote.
by cardsgirl95 on May 9, 2008 10:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Edmonds released
I’m not sure whether it’s been official or not but I just got an ESPN text alert that the Padres have released Jim Edmonds. Sad to see him end like this, if this is the end. Thanks for the memories Jimmy!
....my quick smells like french toast...
by mstreeter06 on May 9, 2008 4:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
bring him back on ml deal?
or do a sign and retire deal thatd be nice
I can't believe i gave up a homerun to that punch and judy hitter-major league 2
by punchinjudy on May 9, 2008 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for the highlight reel career in STL.
"If I ain't startin' I ain't departin'"
by templetown on May 10, 2008 1:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Love for Jimmy Baseball!!
I, like everyone else, was upset about Jimmy going. Yes, buisness wise and game wise it was the right move. BUT I will always wish Jimmy could’ve gone out with the BOB and on top of the world, not RELEASED (isn’t that a fancy word for FIRED?) by a team in the basement. I have a renewed distain for the Padres!! Iwill be in San Diego for that series also. Thinking of making a sign…..so look for me.
Jimmy, thanks for all the memories, WE STILL LUV U IN ST LOU!!!!
by Redbird Emt on May 10, 2008 3:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
what a shame
great career and memories JED
If you are in St. Louis check out my band, Griffin and the Gargoyles
(formerly Gargoyle Reign, Gargoyle Lounge)
www.GriffinandtheGargoyles.com
www.myspace.com/GriffinandtheGargoyles
:-D
by jealousblues on May 10, 2008 7:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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