October 31, 200422 yr Credit: ESPN Saturday, October 30, 2004 Sosa tells of dismay over batting sixth Associated Press SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- Sammy Sosa was humiliated by being dropped to sixth in the Chicago Cubs lineup, and claims he was mistreated by the club. When he struggled down the stretch of the season, Cubs manager Dusty Baker lowered the slugger in the batting order -- much to Sosa's dismay. "I'm not a sixth batter," Sosa told Hoy newspaper in Santo Domingo on Saturday upon returning to his native Dominican Republic. "I'm a cleanup hitter or third because I've earned that right with almost 600 career home runs." Sosa, 35, batted .253 this season - his lowest average since 1997. In 126 games, he had 35 homers and 80 RBIs, ending his run of nine straight 100-RBI seasons. The season ended on a sour note for Sosa and the Cubs. Chicago squandered its wild-card lead with a severe slide in the final week, and the Cubs were eliminated on the second-to-last day. Sosa arrived late to the finale at Wrigley Field and then left the game early without playing. The Cubs fined him $87,500 - one day's salary -- because of his actions. "I know I screwed up and I can assure you that I've asked for forgiveness," Sosa told the newspaper. "But I also need to say that I felt poorly treated. "So many things happened that I was in shock. I needed to rest that day because I wasn't going to be able to give it my best." Sosa has a year left on his contract that will pay him $17 million, and the club has an option for 2006. Trade rumors have already started, and the New York Mets are reportedly interested. The former All-Star has hit 574 home runs during 16 major league seasons, and Sosa says he plans to play into his 40s. "I'm going to play at least another five or six seasons, hitting 35 home runs a year," he said. "That would allow me to finish my career with 700 home runs."
October 31, 200422 yr Didn't Dusty say that Sosa volunteered to hit 6th when he made the move? 605047[/snapback] :lol :lol :lol That's how the local media spinned it, yes. They made Sammy look like such a hero and team player in that regard too. Good to see the whining, steroid abusing, bat corking, wife beating crybaby exposing himself as the fool he is with these stupid comments.
October 31, 200422 yr LMAO, Scammy really needs to grow up and know his role. Mabye if you were producing you would not have been in the 6 hold, ever think of that one Scammy?
October 31, 200422 yr Man, the Cubs are coming apart at the seams ... can't say that I'm unhappy about that.
November 1, 200422 yr sammy still the man ... regardless of what you all say didnt most of you say he would look great in teal? ... hmmmm
November 1, 200422 yr sammy still the man ... regardless of what you all say didnt most of you say he would look great in teal? ... hmmmm 605275[/snapback] no. :plain he's at the end of his career.
November 1, 200422 yr end of his career? ... why because he had ONE bad year (to his standards) ... but could still put up better numbers than all of the marlins outfielders combined
November 1, 200422 yr sammy still the man ... regardless of what you all say didnt most of you say he would look great in teal? ... hmmmm 605275[/snapback] Cancer, corker, steroids .... waaaaahhhh Put him in a Marlin uniform anyday
November 1, 200422 yr In a Marlins uniform? Only if he got like a cheap incentive based contract. IMO he's on the way down. Sure he'll hit 30+ HR's a year for a few more, but his K #'s are going up too much to compensate for the occasional blast. Baker did him a favor by only hitting him 6th.
November 1, 200422 yr The guy is a baby, pure and simple. The only uniform I want to see him in is a Cubs one, because he is just such a cancer and the Cubs and their curse-escuse ridden fans and losers. The only curse is the Irish curse...and you can print that!
November 1, 200422 yr If he wasnt so expensive hed be great in a marlins uniform, hes an aging slugger, probably a future hall of famer, AND he will bring people to the stadium. I'll take sammy any day of the week. And no one that says we should bring back alou can say that we shouldnt bring sosa b/c he is a clubhouse cancer. Our atmosphere down her eis great for fresh starts and sosa would not be cancerous down here, he would probably fit in fine and have a good year just like he has had every other year except this last one. Sammy still has a lot of good years left
November 1, 200422 yr end of his career? ... why because he had ONE bad year (to his standards) ... but could still put up better numbers than all of the marlins outfielders combined 605299[/snapback] he is a strike out king and he hasn't been the same since he got hit on the head. so he could put up bigger numbers than cabs? :plain
November 1, 200422 yr sammy still the man ... regardless of what you all say didnt most of you say he would look great in teal? ... hmmmm 605275[/snapback] I'll take him
November 1, 200422 yr end of his career? ... why because he had ONE bad year (to his standards) ... but could still put up better numbers than all of the marlins outfielders combined 605299[/snapback] he is a strike out king and he hasn't been the same since he got hit on the head. so he could put up bigger numbers than cabs? :plain 605673[/snapback] He could if they let him use one of his special bats :shifty
November 2, 200422 yr If he wasnt so expensive hed be great in a marlins uniform, hes an aging slugger, probably a future hall of famer, AND he will bring people to the stadium. I'll take sammy any day of the week. And no one that says we should bring back alou can say that we shouldnt bring sosa b/c he is a clubhouse cancer. Our atmosphere down her eis great for fresh starts and sosa would not be cancerous down here, he would probably fit in fine and have a good year just like he has had every other year except this last one. Sammy still has a lot of good years left 605535[/snapback] Exactly. If the Cubs wanted to eat his contract to move him, Beinfest should try. Sammy is better than Encarnacion in every facet of the game. The corked bats and the sneezing/back problems are just coverups for his real problem, 'roids. Without the juice his numbers have gone down. Then again, McGuire would have been in the same boat if hormones were as big an issue before. Still, I'd take Sammy. He is one of the few superstars left in baseball.
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.