So just weeks after leaving the Pirates for personal reasons, and just a few days after they grant him a relase, Raul is going to play for the first place Angels?
I really hope that he had some personal problems, and that they cleared up quickly, because, if this is just a greedy player not wanting to play on a losing team, it stinks. He left the Pirates in a lurch when he left, and they had to scramble to find a power hitting outfielder.
I know he says that he's more comfortable on the Angels, but why not request a trade, rather than sitting out? The Pirates treated him with good faith, and I'm not sure that he returned the favor.
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Pirates are better off without Mondesi. He's been a proven malcontent, why put a team struggling to play around .500 with that sort of problem. As for Mondesi with the Angels: If he plays center while Anderson is out, no one is going to run on any of the outfielders. However, how much does Mondesi sulk once the Angels get healthy and he's riding the bench 6 days a week?
(edited by redsoxnation on 28.5.04 2315) RSN: 1-0 1 KO vs. current members of the United States Secret Service.
Very true. Despite the injury problems, I don't know if I'm in a big hurry to bring in El Canon. Things are going well so far this year, and Mondesi's a risk to mess up the chemistry even when he doesn't have legal problems and bills to pay. Perhaps if they're prepared to cut him loose once the regulars are healthy...
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Originally posted by BigVitoMarkVery true. Despite the injury problems, I don't know if I'm in a big hurry to bring in El Canon. Things are going well so far this year, and Mondesi's a risk to mess up the chemistry even when he doesn't have legal problems and bills to pay. Perhaps if they're prepared to cut him loose once the regulars are healthy...
I'm worried as well. If he is content to pick up a ring while being a benchwarmer, then I have no problem. As a huge Angels fan, I don't even like how this looks. As a blinded backer though, I won't complain when and if Mondesi helps the team win.
I'll just hope that, like Roy said, this is really a case of his personal problems being put behind him. Because if he brings down my AL team like he underperformed for the Dodgers (my NL team), I'll be more than willing to give him back to Pittsburgh.
Joe Wilson (looking at Interocitor manual)- Hey, here's something my wife could use in the house... Crow T. Robot- A man? Joe Wilson- An interocitor incorporating an electron sorter. Cal Meechum- Oh, she'd probably gain 20 pounds while it did all the work for her. Tom Servo- Cal, you bitch!
His "personal problems" revolved around a lawsuit filed in the Dominican by former major-leaguer Mario Guerrero. He demanded compensation for helping Mondesi reach the big leagues, or improving his game, something of that nature. He won the lawsuit, the DR froze Mondesi's accounts... and now Mondesi is back.
Don't see as the Angels really need him, though. Their backup OFs are fine till Anderson comes back, IMO.
with the angels injuries starting to catch up(losing 4 in a row) any kind of boost is nice. the article in on espn said he was personal friends with Jose Guillen and the team has a large group of latin players not to mention the owner. i think it could turn out nice for both sides.
Originally posted by avonhunthe article in on espn said he was personal friends with Jose Guillen and the team has a large group of latin players not to mention the owner. i think it could turn out nice for both sides.
He also gets along well with Mike Scioscia, from what I've read. And I agree, it could be a nice move. For $1.75 million, which is really nothing, you know exactly what you're getting from Mondesi and can rely on him to deliver just that. And really, who knows how screwed up Garret Anderson thanks to his mattress.
Originally posted by TorchslasherBecause if he brings down my AL team like he underperformed for the Dodgers (my NL team), I'll be more than willing to give him back to Pittsburgh.
The overstated "underperformance" in Los Angeles always ignores that those were the very best years of his career, and by a fair amount. In an extreme pitchers' park, no less. Mondesi did not underperform for the Dodgers, Dodger fans just expected him to be better than he is. And so has everyone else since. Mondesi has gotten kind of a bum rap over the years for being an underachiever when I think it's fair to say after all this time that this is really the best he can be.
Pirates really didn't have to scramble to find a power hitting replacement. Daryle Ward signed with the team before Mondesi did, and was down in Triple A. As soon as Ward came up (May 18), the Pirates became a different team. Plus, Jason Bay was due to come off the DL to play the outfield. It's not like Mondesi was providing "power" anyways. He hadn't homered in several weeks.
But the whole thing smells fishy. The problems with Guerrero were the main reasons for Mondesi leaving. After arriving home, he said that he wanted to take the year off and stated how nice it was to take his kids to school. So nice that he was sick of it within two weeks. In short, I'm glad he's someone else's problem, now. Add him to the list of worthless Pirates signings-- up there with Derek Bell, Pat Meares, Terry Mulholland and Reggie Jefferson.
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"But if he plays a character where I will eventually be given the option to murder in some macabre fashion then I am all for it." (SeVen ™)
Yeah, but at least he didn't curse the team by sticking around. And they had to know Mondesi's rep as a turd... probably didn't think it'd be THAT bad.
Only reason I don't flay him alive? He's on my fantasy team. Benched, of course, in favor of Ryan Freel.
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I don't have a problem with Michael Young getting a first place vote. He was the tied leader in hits, finished third in batting average, and was in the top 10 in a couple of other batting categories.