What's scary is he's probably in the top half of leadoff hitters right now, even at 44. He might even out-homer some of the guys they've had the entire year (Adrian Beltre, I'm looking right at you).
Perhaps Burnitz will produce enough to shame Shawn Green into caring about Baseball again. Green is well on his way to becoming perhaps the single biggest flop I've seen since George Foster signed with the Mets.
And Rickey ... hey, it never hurts to have a little veteran influence and comic relief coming off the bench.
"Aww, geez, but I don't WANNA root for the Dodgers."
... Come on, it'll be good for you. You won't have to give up on the Padres, either -- it's not like the Dodgers ever beat them anymore.
"He might even out-homer some of the guys they've had the entire year (Adrian Beltre, I'm looking right at you)."
... Say what you want about Beltre, but he's hit in the worst luck of any Dodger this season and at least he's battling. I can't say the same for some others who haven't battled (Green) or those who have lost their drive and can't even be bothered to suit up and play if they're the least bit uncomfortable (McGriff).
"Or F*ckin' Bevacqua, who couldn't hit water if he fell out of a F*ckin' boat." -- Tommy Lasorda (for Guru Zim!)
Aww, geez, but I don't WANNA root for the Dodgers.
I just hope we get more of Rickey talking about himself in the third person again!
You can keep rooting for the Expos, CRZ. Rickey won't get to play all that much anyway what with the acquisition of Burnitz, so all he'll be able to do is talk, which is his strong suit.
Originally posted by J.T. DutchGreen is well on his way to becoming perhaps the single biggest flop I've seen since George Foster signed with the Mets.
How about(besides Hampton/Kile): Albert Belle(Orioles), Mark Davis(Royals, 1990), Orlando Hernandez(Yankees), Nick Esasky(Braves, 1990: I mean he played 9 GAMES in a three year contract then got vertigo), Darryl Strawberry(Dodgers), Denny Neagle(Rockies), Jeffrey Hammonds(Brewers), Andy Messersmith(Braves), Frank Viola(Red Sox), David Segui(Orioles). You can do alot worse than a guy who hit 40+ HR each of the last two years.
(Plus, how can Green be a free agent flop? He was acquired via trade)
""I haven't seen a starting nine like that since the '62 Mets" - Dennis Miller on the Democratic Presidential Candidates
Don't forget the travesty that was David Wells in Chicago. Not only was he injury-prone, but he antagonized everyone in the club house and generally got everyone pissy for the whole year.
How can anyone forget the current travesty that is Chan Ho Park (and his cool $65 million over 5 years)? Not content with being hated by the vast majority of Ranger fans and players, he pissed off the players on the minor league team as well. During a rehab assignment, when the team went out to dinner, he didn't pick up the tab (a very big breach of etiquette, especially when you consider the salary of AA players). And, three long years remain on that albatross of a contract.
Burnitz might not have season stats that are impressive but since he came back from injury and change his batting stance he has been tearing it up. Too bad Piazza is injured or the Mets would've atleast had a decent middle of the order with Piazza/Burnitz/Floyd. You also have to realize Burnitz plays for the Mets. He has no protection and no runners to knock in.
And in 1991 Darryl Strawberry had the most homeruns a Dodger has had since Pedro Guerrero in 1985 and the most RBI since Guerrero in 1983. So it's only one good year but still not biggest bust in history or anything. (edited by Quezzy on 15.7.03 1634)
(edited by Quezzy on 15.7.03 1732) Lance's Response:
The Mets are the black hole of baseball. Burnitz will wind up winning the triple crown after a record breaking second half. No one thought he could hit for average, but he will also break that record, batting a healthy .410. Rickey will train him in the methods of stealing bases, and Burnitz will snag 70 in the second half of the season, making him a lock for the crown considering he will also blast 80 home runs. Of course, this is all coming from a Met fan who has seen this type of thing happen far too often. Burnitz was a solid prospect in the Mets organization, then got traded to the BrewCrew where he became a very real power threat. The Mets wanted a return from their original investment and signed him. He shit the bed. Now he's gone, and he'll play better than ever. Alomar had two incredible seasons before joining the Mets. What happened? Black hole. Glavine? Same thing. Vaughn? He was going to lose weight. He was going to concentrate on baseball again. He was going to prove to everyone that his glory in Boston was no fluke. He's injured. Piazza? Booed at first. Now loved by Met fans everywhere. He was to be the savior. He was going to attract the big name free agents. He is going to break Johnny Bench's record. He's going into the Hall as a Met. Baseball won't rob him like they robbed Carter. But now his groin is no longer attatched to his leg. Great. I fucking hate the orange and blue.
Vive Les Expos!
"Behind that twinkle in your eye, I can see the bitch in you." - 50
Originally posted by drjayphdTechnically, Burnitz went Mets -> Indians -> Brewers.
I totally forgot about that... thanks. I try to forget a lot of things that deal with the Mets. Looks like I was successful with that one.
Dodgers in the NL Central? I don't think they'd stand a chance. Between Houston and St. Louis, they'd get killed. Add in a hot Reds team and that spells a fourth place finish. They're better off where they are.
"Behind that twinkle in your eye, I can see the bitch in you." - 50
rickey will be good for the team; quality bench help, and the man can still play, and he either has enough heart/ego (you all can pick the side on that one) to want to play the game, which should make him a good elder statesman for the young guys.
drastic times call for drastic measures, says I, and the recent losing streak of the dodgers is drastic times.