PBMarlin Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 Easley gets another opportunity By Tom D'Angelo, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Wednesday, March 17, 2004 JUPITER -- Damion Easley wasn't quite sure what to do with himself. It was early June 2003 and the one-time All-Star second baseman was just released by the Devil Rays. After 15 seasons in professional baseball, Easley had no uniform to wear and no team to call his own. So Easley did something familiar -- he drove to a ball park, making the trip from Tampa to Pro Player Stadium to see the Marlins play the Mets. "I was just fresh off being released so it was a little tough being in a ball park,'' Easley said. "I batted with it for all of June. ... What happened? Why had things turned so quick?'' Just 3 1/2 years earlier Easley was being introduced as one of the greatest players in Detroit Tigers history during a ceremony following the final game at Tiger Stadium. Now, he had been released twice in nine weeks. Instead of impulsively signing with another team, Easley had two offers, he decided to rest his injured knee and hope there'd be interest in a 34-year-old second baseman with.253 career average during the off-season. Five teams called, but only the Marlins made an offer. Now, Easley is making an impression and in line for a spot on Jack McKeon's bench. "I didn't have a winning atmosphere for 11 years,'' Easley said about his stints with the Angels, Tigers and last year in Tampa. "This is refreshing to me, watching these guys work. These guys are so hungry, they enjoyed what they had and you can tell they want more of it.'' Last March, Easley became the most expensive player released in baseball history when the Tigers let him go with $14.3 million still owed on his contract. He earned $6.5 million last season, will make $6.5 million this season and $1.8 million in 2005. "The money's great, let's be honest,'' he said. "But I spent 11 years on teams that didn't win. I watched these guys this past post season. I was a roommate with (California's) Tim Salmon, watching him run around that field with that trophy (in 2002), it felt awesome.'' Easley's huge contract ($26.5 million) came after he hit.271 with 27 home runs and 100 RBI in 1998, a year in which he was an All-Star. He also excelled defensively, something the Marlins saw Tuesday during their 10-2 victory over Baltimore when he made an outstanding play in the top of the sixth on a hard hit one-hopper by Javy Lopez. The Tigers thought so highly of Easley's 6 1/2 seasons that he was introduced on that final day in 1999. "They turned out all the lights and all these great players ran through the center field gates and took their positions,'' said Marlins infield coach Perry Hill, who held the same position with the Tigers. "(Al) Kaline, (Kirk) Gibson, (Mark) Fidrych, (Bill) Freehan, (Norm) Cash, and Easley. He's coupled with those guys, that's how good he is.'' That, though, was the beginning of the end for Easley in Detroit. The closing of Tiger Stadium and its cozy dimensions meant the unveiling of Comerica Park. Easley is a gap hitter and never got comfortable in cavernous Comerica. He hit.241 the next two seasons, with 19 home runs. "I was putting too much pressure on myself to get it right,'' Easley said. "The contract was in the back of my head, I'm making all this money, I got to do better than this. It was a nightmare.'' McKeon is preparing Easley for many roles, using him in the outfield -- where he's played two games in 12 seasons -- as well as a fill in at third base while Mike Lowell rests his sore elbow. "He's a versatile guy,'' McKeon said. "He's had some good years and he's had some not so good years. We're trying to move him around. In the event that he makes the club we'll have some versatility.'' [email protected] Article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBMarlin Posted March 18, 2004 Author Share Posted March 18, 2004 The way Easley is playing this spring...I'll bet he makes the team. :thumbup He'll be the highest paid bench player ever.....considering the $6.5M the Tigers are paying him....lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Fillet Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 The Tigers thought so highly of Easley's 6 1/2 seasons that he was introduced on that final day in 1999. "They turned out all the lights and all these great players ran through the center field gates and took their positions,'' said Marlins infield coach Perry Hill, who held the same position with the Tigers. "(Al) Kaline, (Kirk) Gibson, (Mark) Fidrych, (Bill) Freehan, (Norm) Cash, and Easley. He's coupled with those guys, that's how good he is.'' Sorry Perry, but he isn't (and never was) that good. I was at that game in 99 at The Corner (sat on the short porch, of course) and remember him being intro'd like it was yesterday. I also remember the local media laying into the Tigers for introducing him with the rest of the greats. He was a slightly better than average player who had a year or two feasting on the garbage that was mid 1990's AL pitching, a'la Brady Anderson. If he makes the squad, it should be only because he'll take the minimum (where else would he go for more?) and b/c there isn't anyone down on the farm ready to get some time on the bench in the show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuickGold Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 I think he'll be good insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CapeFish Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 He put his homer into the lake in right field at Hammond Stadium pretty easily, the thing just sailed over the fence and into the pond. He did commit an error though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catchoftheday Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 Easley will hit 20 homeruns this year ... MARK MY WORDS riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight i want him to make the team though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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