Nanner
12-09-2003, 11:40 AM
Can't help it. Have to post it.
From this article that was on the Jays' website:
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/tor/news/tor_news.jsp?ymd=20031208&content_id=613726&vkey=news_tor&fext=.jsp
..... we find this blurb:
Beyond those two players, the Jays had one other intriguing development. Toronto didn't offer arbitration to Mike Bordick, who seemed sure of retirement at season's end. Last week, a published report in the Globe and Mail said the Jays would offer arbitration anyway, in the hopes that Bordick would change his mind about calling it quits.
The veteran played at a high level in Toronto and might be difficult to replace. He began the season as a utility infielder and ended it as the everyday starter at shortstop, where he excelled for a dozen Major League seasons. If in fact he decides to retire, he'll do so with the second-highest fielding percentage of any shortstop that played the game. Amazingly, he accomplished that despite never winning a Gold Glove. :Pissed:
Of course, Bordick may yet decide to play one more year. If he does, Baltimore would probably be his only destination. :eek: That's where he spent six years of his career, but more importantly, it's where he settled his family. During his lone season in Toronto, the 38-year-old often talked about how difficult it was to be away from his wife and five children.
When he talked about retirement, that was the reason. On the last day of the season, when he said he was "99.9 percent sure" that he'd retire, he talked about life after his playing career.
"I'm definitely going to stay in the game. If I retire -- which I probably will -- I'll certainly take some time to be with my family and do some things in the summer that I've never been able to do," he said. "But, you know, baseball's been a part of my life. I love it and I'll always have a passion for it."
Carlos Tosca, Toronto's manager, recognized and respected that passion for the game. He felt that Bordick left a mark on this team, that he impacted it for the better.
"I would love to have Mike Bordick come back next year. He knows what he meant to this ballclub and he knows how much we'd like to have him back," Tosca said in September. "That's one of the best compliments you can pay to any baseball player -- not only did he contribute physically, his spirit will stay here. Hopefully he will come back, but his spirit will stay here for many years to come."
From this article that was on the Jays' website:
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/tor/news/tor_news.jsp?ymd=20031208&content_id=613726&vkey=news_tor&fext=.jsp
..... we find this blurb:
Beyond those two players, the Jays had one other intriguing development. Toronto didn't offer arbitration to Mike Bordick, who seemed sure of retirement at season's end. Last week, a published report in the Globe and Mail said the Jays would offer arbitration anyway, in the hopes that Bordick would change his mind about calling it quits.
The veteran played at a high level in Toronto and might be difficult to replace. He began the season as a utility infielder and ended it as the everyday starter at shortstop, where he excelled for a dozen Major League seasons. If in fact he decides to retire, he'll do so with the second-highest fielding percentage of any shortstop that played the game. Amazingly, he accomplished that despite never winning a Gold Glove. :Pissed:
Of course, Bordick may yet decide to play one more year. If he does, Baltimore would probably be his only destination. :eek: That's where he spent six years of his career, but more importantly, it's where he settled his family. During his lone season in Toronto, the 38-year-old often talked about how difficult it was to be away from his wife and five children.
When he talked about retirement, that was the reason. On the last day of the season, when he said he was "99.9 percent sure" that he'd retire, he talked about life after his playing career.
"I'm definitely going to stay in the game. If I retire -- which I probably will -- I'll certainly take some time to be with my family and do some things in the summer that I've never been able to do," he said. "But, you know, baseball's been a part of my life. I love it and I'll always have a passion for it."
Carlos Tosca, Toronto's manager, recognized and respected that passion for the game. He felt that Bordick left a mark on this team, that he impacted it for the better.
"I would love to have Mike Bordick come back next year. He knows what he meant to this ballclub and he knows how much we'd like to have him back," Tosca said in September. "That's one of the best compliments you can pay to any baseball player -- not only did he contribute physically, his spirit will stay here. Hopefully he will come back, but his spirit will stay here for many years to come."