How will you remember Alomar??

[shack]

I am still pissed that he gets regularly honoured by the Jays, when he walked out on them and when character players like Hentgen, who gave it all up for the team are ignored.

I seems to me that if the organization that he supposedly insulted and abandoned (and they would know a hell of a lot more than any of us as to what actually transpired) is willing to welcome him back who are we to carry on lingering grudges.

He gave us his best years, played his heart out and would be honoured to wear a Blue Jays cap as our first HOF inductee. Sounds damn fine to me.

 

[Rockslinger]

He gave us his best years, played his heart out and would be honoured to wear a Blue Jays cap as our first HOF inductee. Sounds damn fine to me.

The Montreal Expos already have one HOFamer. Andre Dawson was "ordered" to enter the Hall as an Expo and not a Cub.

 

[ms9795]

one of the best 2bs in history - probably top 6 or 7 2bs. solid in almost every aspect - great range in the field, reliable at the plate, and good speed too. who cares if one time he got angry and spit in an ump's face? you guys rather he swallow? lol

 

[Rockslinger]

one of the best 2bs in history - probably top 6 or 7 2bs. solid in almost every aspect -

If memory serves me right, Pete Rose entered the majors as a second baseman.

 

[shack]

The Montreal Expos already have one HOFamer. Andre Dawson was "ordered" to enter the Hall as an Expo and not a Cub.

I believe Alomar has stated that his preference would be as a Blue Jay. No ordering necessary.

 

[Ironhead]

Alomar was simply the best second baseman ever and certainly the best player ever on the Jays. Not including pitchers, because they are such a different animal.

 

[mandrill]

Example of him and other players quitting on the team in the mid-90s?

Late 95, he refused to go on a road trip, IIRC. Or something along those lines. Then he, Leiter and a couple of the other main players refused to re sign with the club for the 96 season.

 

[needinit]

Who??

 

[nosidam]

" Alomar comes up and takes Eckersley". That is correct. Eckersley if I remember was an amazing closer, and Alomar launched it deep off him. It's almost like hitting a homer off Rivera. I believe Rivera is better than Eckersley but you know what I mean.

 

[K Douglas]

1992

October 11 ... a Sunday

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

The ALCS ... Jays lead 2 games to 1, but Oakland leads game four 6-4 and are on the verge of tying the series. Dennis 'The Eck' Eckersley was on the mound, the best closer in the game at the time.
In the previous inning he had given a little fist pump when striking out a Jays batter.
Devon White led off the ninth with a single. Alomar comes up and takes Eckersley deep to right.

TIE GAME !

Jays win it in the 11th to take a 3-1 lead in the series.




It was possibly the most important point in franchise history. In my opinion, just ahead of the Joe Carter walk off World Series winning home run in game six of the '93 Series.

That is how I see Alomar every time I think of or hear his name. Oct 11, game four, arms raised. As Shack already said.

I agree with every aspect of this post. It was the single most important hit in Blue Jays history and charted the course for back to back world series championships. That's how I will ALWAYS remember Alomar. It is absolutely criminal that he wasn't a first ballot HOF'er.

 

[Hurricane Hank]

Refusing to resign with a club is hardly "quitting on a team". In that case, pretty much every MLB player quits on his team, at some point. Every decent one, anyway. Considering they were 56-88 that year, I'd guess a lot of guys wanted out.
As for refusing to go on a road trip - I think you're mistaking his sitting out a game. The day after the Jays traded Cone to their divisional rivals, the Yankees, who went on to win a World Series with him the next year. The players the Jays got back never developed into anything. Again, yeah, I might be upset, too.
Remember when George Bell told people to kiss his purple butt? You know - I kinda like players like that. Players hot-headed enough to care about the team. For me, Alomar and Bell were typical hot-heads who let their emotions affect their judgment. I don't think any less of them for it.

With that record (56-88) there must have been 18 rainouts that were never made up. Interesting.

 

[mandrill]

With that record (56-88) there must have been 18 rainouts that were never made up. Interesting.

The season was strike-shortened. The next year, a much depleted team with several fill-ins and rookies lost the same # of games and won 72(?), IIRC. Which demonstrates just how awful the 95 season was. Given that the Jays had much the same roster as in their 93 WS championship season, the wheels really fell off in 95 and have never totally gotten back on.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

The season was strike-shortened. The next year, a much depleted team with several fill-ins and rookies lost the same # of games and won 72(?), IIRC. Which demonstrates just how awful the 95 season was. Given that the Jays had much the same roster as in their 93 WS championship season, the wheels really fell off in 95 and have never totally gotten back on.

The biggest reason for the Jays sudden demise: the pitching staff was injured or allowed to leave via free agency. They had no closer (Henke long gone, Ward injured) which screwed up the entire bullpen and no top of the rotation workhorse, a la Stewart (he was done), Morris (long gone), Cone (half a season), plus Guzman, Leiter, etc., having off seasons. Hentgen had his worst season in 1995.

The strike shortened the 1994 season to about 115(ish) games; the '95 season was shortened to 144 games as well.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

Late 95, he refused to go on a road trip, IIRC. Or something along those lines. Then he, Leiter and a couple of the other main players refused to re sign with the club for the 96 season.

After the Jays traded Cone and gave up on the season - no bullpen help, no catchers, young guys not ready for prime time, older guys on their downside - I believe Alomar sat out a couple of games with an undefined "injury." Hardly the end of the world. The team lost its commitment to winning and a couple of players lost their motivation for a few games. Alomar still put up a .300/.354/.449/.803 with 13 HRs and 30 SB. Hardly tanking it.

As for refusing to re-sign - who cares? The Jays were in a total rebuilding mode - and never got it right, so history vindicates Alomar. Baltimore went nuts to build a winner around Cal Ripken's streak and stacked their team (2 playoff appearances in a row in the tough AL East.) Plus later he got to play with his brother as the #3 hitter on the up and coming Cleveland team in their brand new ballpark. I don't blame him.

 

[big.guy_13]

I'm too young to remember his glory days with the Blue Jays.

 

[DavidSam]

What's the name of the chick in your sig pic?

 

[Don]

Canseco is not even on the ballot anymore (less then 5%), and McGwire hardly increased to 23% last year. This year`s vote for McGwire will be interesting as he finally apologized prior to this year.

Hope it stays around 23% He is not a HOF'er because of the roids. He was a one dimensional player who needed to the roids to put up the crazy powers numbers. Barry Bonds he is not (who was already great before roiding up).