Boone Let Go!
Two of the saddest images I have seen in recent sports history come to us via the announcement that Seattle Mariners’ All-star second baseman, Bret Boone, has been released on assignment: the politically correct way of saying “you’re fired”.
I have mixed feelings about this turn of events (that could be seen coming miles away). I think that Boone needs a change of scenery. While the players seemed to love the veteran and his advice and many fans loved to “swoon for Boone”, while at bat, he always seemed to be hitting for himself by way of the Boone bat-flip (or most recently the third strike). Hopefully moving on to another locale will help Boone find his swing, he certainly had no idea where it was here. I will miss Boone, really I will. He was an amazing defensive player and when he wasn’t swinging for the cheap-seats, he did pretty well. I think the Mariners staff had problems benching their veteran who never seemed to change his swing no matter how much it stunk. Maybe a new hitting coach can bring him down to earth and get things worked out.
He loved it here, the emotional pictures can attest to that. We loved him here. But it was just time for the break (it may have been time for a while now). The pictures as well as Boone’s farewell press conference showed Seattle a new Boone - one who could be hurt and has feelings. Sorry it had to be this way Bret, but maybe you can flourish elsewhere (as long as it isn’t New York - they don’t deserve you). Good look, you will be welcomed back at Safeco any time (you ain’t no A-Rod).
Shalom
Photos: Otto Greule Jr. (Getty Images) and Rod Mar (Seattle Times)
Stories:
Seattle Times: Hard to say goodbye: Mariners and Boone part ways
Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Era comes to close as M’s give up on former star second baseman
The Tacoma News Tribune: ‘Time for me to go’: Boone’s second tour of duty with M’s comes to an end
ESPN (from the AP): Boone, a three-time All-Star, was batting .231
Poor guy looks devastated, I hope someone pulled him up from those filthy steps and didn’t just leave
him lying there.
Yeah, pretty sad sight to see especially from someone who is usually quite arrogant.
I really didn’t like the guy , but after seeing him cry I felt really bad for him. He is very passionate about the game.
Indeed, that he is.
It is extremely sad to have seen Bret go from one of the leagues best to one of the leagues worst. I strongly believe he still had a couple more years left in him. Plus he’s one of my all time favorite players,and just to see him be released is heartbreaking and emotional. i have thought of many different senarios bieng a big fan of MLB. I would loved to see Bret and The oakland A’s reach an agreement for him to play ever day second base..but Oakland has a couple of major leaugers allready there in Marco Scutaro and Mark Ellis….but im Sure Billy Bean (with his money ball mind and ideas) would give Bret a chance to get back the 30+ Homeruns 100+ RBI machine he once was.Beaing an Fan i hate to see any Player be released but business is business unfortunatly Bret’s time ran out.