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Boonerang

PatchyFogg Mar 01 2006 12:16 PM

Oh, how he longs for the days of better living through chemistry.... http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060301&content_id=1329064&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym ]Bret Boone calls it a career Four-time Gold Glover felt he was missing 'passion' By Bryan Hoch / Special to MLB.com PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Tears welled in Bret Boone's eyes, his lower lip quivering ever so slightly. Something inside had told him to go home. Boone's 14-year Major League career came to an end Wednesday in the dugout at Tradition Field. The three-time All-Star pointed to his chest, said his inner fire was missing and announced his retirement. "Something I've loved my whole life has become a major, major job for me," Boone said. "I don't think it would be fair for me -- or fair to the Mets -- to continue something I've loved my whole life and had so much passion for, and all of a sudden that passion isn't there anymore." Boone, 37, was in camp with the Mets on a Minor League contract, accepting a non-roster invitation to Spring Training. After batting .221 in 88 games for the Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins last season, Boone said he wanted to leave the game on his terms. "At the end of the day, physically I think I could still do it," Boone said. "It wasn't as easy as three or four years ago to get out there every day, but to me, I just lost it. I lost the edge." Mets GM Omar Minaya said that he supported the decision. Boone was absent from camp on Tuesday, when the Mets went through their first intra-squad game, and decided to retire now rather than go through the team's exhibition schedule. "He did not disappoint us," Minaya said. "It takes a man to make a decision. One of the reasons we brought Bret on board this spring was because of the way he plays the game -- the way he gave in the clubhouse, the passion he brought to the game. That passion was something that was contagious. I fully support his decision." Boone said a pivotal moment came when he watched 22-year-old shortstop Jose Reyes last week, gleefully coasting through drills even after four hours in the Florida sun. "He just kind of stared at me with that smile on his face," Boone said. "I said, 'That's what I remember.' Being a kid. He's got so much love right now for this game, and it's right on his sleeve. I know what he's feeling. "He can't wait to get to the ballpark and go to work, and that's awesome. That's what you need to be successful in this game, and if you don't have that, you're wasting everybody's time." Boone finishes his career as a lifetime .266 hitter with the Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres and Twins. A four-time Gold Glove award winner and a two-time Silver Slugger recipient, Boone compiled 1,775 hits, 252 home runs and 1,021 RBI in 1,780 career games. Boone's retirement leaves three candidates -- Kaz Matsui, Anderson Hernandez and Jeff Keppinger -- in the race to be the Mets' Opening Day second baseman. Minaya said he is confident the team will fill the position. "We'll find ways," Minaya said. "We'll find guys to be able to get the job done."

sharpie Mar 01 2006 12:19 PM

Well that takes care of that. Have to say, classy way for Boone to go out.

Centerfield Mar 01 2006 12:32 PM

He cried again? He might lead the league in crying over the past season plus.

metirish Mar 01 2006 12:36 PM

Nice of him not to dick the Mets and himself around.

Johnny Dickshot Mar 01 2006 12:38 PM

First time I've ever stood and applauded a Boone, I think.

Elster88 Mar 01 2006 12:43 PM

Centerfield wrote: He cried again? He might lead the league in crying over the past season plus. Somewhere, Joe Torre is pissed.

Yancy Street Gang Mar 01 2006 12:52 PM

While I never thought he'd make the team, I'm glad to have him out of the mix. The second base situation is now a little bit more clear than it was.

metirish Mar 01 2006 01:01 PM

Can Omar add another vet to take his place?

Frayed Knot Mar 01 2006 01:03 PM

I didn't see him as making the squad anyway as I thought that Matsui had better odds of finding his lost skills than Boone did at turning back the clock. Now I wonder if this makes the team go looking for another candidate to challenge Matsui? Not sure that they're ready to turn things over to Andy Handy if they do find a taker for the Kaz-man.

Yancy Street Gang Mar 01 2006 01:03 PM

Is Felix Millan available?

Rotblatt Mar 01 2006 01:03 PM

Well, that can't have been easy for him. Like Sharpie said, a classy way for Boone to go out. I guess we have to hope for one of Keppinger, Lambin or Hernandez to light a fire under Matsui's ass now.

vtmet Mar 01 2006 01:07 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 01 2006 01:09 PM

metirish wrote: Can Omar add another vet to take his place? How many more veteran infielders do we need as reserves besides Woody, Julio Franco & Jose Valentin (I don't really understand why Valentin is on the 40 man roster, I can understand ST invite, but not 40 man roster)...

metirish Mar 01 2006 01:09 PM

Well I wouldn't be surprised to see a new ' invite' show up.

duan Mar 01 2006 01:32 PM

my big fear is Alfonso Soriano. and that we give up Diaz, Someone & Someone. (Bannister & prob not milledge)

MFS62 Mar 01 2006 01:37 PM

duan wrote: my big fear is Alfonso Soriano. and that we give up Diaz, Someone & Someone. (Bannister & prob not milledge) Mine, too. Later

Rotblatt Mar 01 2006 01:49 PM

Well, Soriano's cost is dropping every day. He's refusing to play in the outfield and that Nat's are sticking with Vidro at 2nd. Meanwhile, Robinson's clearly pissed off about Soriano's primadonna-ness, and the front office is talking about suspending him if he refuses to play left field. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/28/AR2006022801342.html Frankly, Soriano's a disaster for the Nats, and the longer it goes on, the cheaper he's going to be. I think Soriano's overrated, but if we could swing a Diaz for Soriano swap (or something comparable), I'd pull the trigger. It's a pity we sold off all our excess pitchers--they might go for a Benson for Soriano trade. They might decide to trade Vidro instead, which would be a damn shame, given that he's been extremely loyal to that franchise. Anyway, Vidro's got another 3 years on his contact, and given his troubles staying healthy, I'd be leery of trading for him. Plus, I don't know that we have a match for the Nats, who should probably be looking for pitchers . . .

metirish Mar 01 2006 01:51 PM

WOW, Soriano is some prick.

sharpie Mar 01 2006 01:53 PM

If it were, say, Diaz and Matsui (with us paying some of Kaz's freight) for Soriano, why not do it?

Frayed Knot Mar 01 2006 01:58 PM

Keep in mind that a trade for Soriano is a trade to take on $10mil - plus it's a one-and-out situation. I think that alone makes it less likely than many here fear (and many elsewhere hope). So unless Washington is going to take back KazMat's money and stick him as SS while sitting Guzman and all his millions ...

ABG Mar 01 2006 02:02 PM

Screw Soriano. Give me Vidro.

Rotblatt Mar 01 2006 02:05 PM

sharpie wrote: If it were, say, Diaz and Matsui (with us paying some of Kaz's freight) for Soriano, why not do it? Yeah, I'd do that, although I think we'd have to pay close to all of Matsu's salary. He'd be nice insurance against a Vidro breakdown and could join the SS competition. I still can't believe Bowden gave up Wilkerson (.817 OPS over 5 years) & Sledge (.792 OPS in 460 AB) so that Soriano (.820 OPS over 7 years) could play in the outfield. Compared to the pool of 2B, Soriano was among the most offensive players in the league, but as a left fielder, he's strictly average. Wilkerson had a poor year, but he's got a pretty good track record, and the dude's an on-base machine. Man, I wish we'd found a way to trade for him . . . He'd look pretty sweet batting second for us out of left field.

sharpie Mar 01 2006 02:10 PM

O'course a downside to Soriano would be his lack of fielding prowess combined with Delgado's similar troubles would give us a porous right side of the infield.

TheOldMole Mar 01 2006 03:55 PM

I'd do Vidro in a second. He's a real pro, like Edgardo.

Elster88 Mar 01 2006 04:06 PM

Rotblatt wrote: It's a pity we sold off all our excess pitchers--they might go for a Benson for Soriano trade. Chant it with me O-MAR (clap, clap) O-MAR (clap, clap)

Zvon Mar 02 2006 12:51 AM

And Kepp's injured. That leaves Matsui and Hernandez up for 2nd base. VeRyInTeReStInG

abogdan Mar 02 2006 08:24 AM

Eddie C was on the FAN yesterday saying that Willie is going to give Woodward some extended time at 2B this spring.