Comments on: UPDATE: David Eckstein, 37, considering retirement

By: yahmule

yahmule — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:05:26 +0000

The day scrappiness died. David Eckstein retires @ 37. A rather unassuming chap, he was one of the more polarizing athletes ever. Possessed with legendary amounts of grit, determination, baseball smarts, leadership, hustle, heart, scrappiness and all the other code words that are bestowed upon white athletes of modest talent, Eckstein wasn’t (nearly) as good as approximately 100% of broadcasters would have you believe. Possessed also with a rather decent career line of .280/.345/.355, the willingness to lean into a close pitch for the team, the ability to steal a base and play serviceable defense, Eckstein was also better than his critics contended. It must be said most of the ribbing Eckstein took was tongue in cheek and only in exasperated response to the elaborate gushing from the likes of fellow little person Bob Costas.

By: jag8r904

jag8r904 — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:01:08 +0000

Go Gators!

By: mrfloydpink

mrfloydpink — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:50:06 +0000

You’re right, a sad day for crappiness…

By: butchhuskey

butchhuskey — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:34:37 +0000

If Bill Mueller can get a Hall of Fame vote, you just know someone is going to give one to Eck as some sort of anti-steroid argument. That’s okay, he ca still be part of my Hall of Favorite Players on the first ballot.

By: b7p19

b7p19 — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:30:01 +0000

(drops to knees, starts shaking fists toward the Baseball Gods)

By: b7p19

b7p19 — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:29:00 +0000

NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

By: hcf95688

hcf95688 — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:24:57 +0000

Gotta hand it to him. He had a hell of a run in MLB, certainly a better career than most.

By: bigharold

bigharold — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:08:47 +0000

Guys like Eckstein is the reason baseball is so popular. You don’t have to be exceptionally big, strong, or fast. That despite your size, .. or lack of it, .. hard work, dedication and desire can make you successful.

Hail and fair well you vertically challenged Tough SOB.

By: pisano

pisano — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:59:25 +0000

He was a tough, hard nosed player, got more out of himself than most people ever thought he would. All players (especially of smaller stature) should look to him as a role model. My hats off to him.

By: maco88

maco88 — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:45:08 +0000

One of the key members of the Angels World Series run in 2002. The ‘X’-Factor will always be a fan-favorite in Anaheim.

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:14:33 +0000

Of course. "Retiring from baseball" is like trying to retire from the mob. This is going to be the couch potato's answer to The Brothers Rico (which was an ironic arcane allusion to a great old Ben Gazzara made-for-TV performance, in honor of Ben's lights-out portrayal of Yogi Berra in Nobody Don't Like Yogi). He will wind up coaching if he knows what's good for him.

By: kiwicricket

kiwicricket — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:06:52 +0000

More time for Star Trek conventions with the Mrs.
All the best, enjoyed watching him play.

By: shaunri

shaunri — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:00:05 +0000

I managed to catch a number of Pawtucket Red Sox games in 2000 and Eckstein was a fan favorite even then. According to Baseball Reference, he made nearly $20 million during his career so being “just good enough” had a pretty good payoff.

Wonder if he’ll reconsider with the Red Sox trading Scutaro (joking), although Aviles, Punto or Iglesias at shortstop does not inspire confidence.

By: wildinkc

wildinkc — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:45:32 +0000

I always enjoyed watching him play. I think this guy will make a good coach one day.

By: hotkarlsandwich

hotkarlsandwich — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:21:25 +0000

Eck of a Career

By: hotkarlsandwich

hotkarlsandwich — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:21:11 +0000

New Cardinals Scrappyness Coach?

By: cur68

cur68 — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:17:52 +0000

So long, Eck. A whole lotta grit just hit that happy trail to retirement, I guess.

By: butchhuskey

butchhuskey — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:01:42 +0000

Well yes, it was mostly the articles that exaggerated his contributions and slobbered over his intangibles that were mocked, but in doing so they made sure to highlight Eckstein’s shortcomings like throwing the ball across the infield like a Little Leaguer. Not saying they were wrong to do that though; I loved reading firejoemorgan.

By: oasiserfede

oasiserfede — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:55:26 +0000

Eckstein wasn’t the one being mocked

By: butchhuskey

butchhuskey — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:33:52 +0000

He will always be the poster boy for the “scrappy, gutty, gritty” player who had little talent but lots of heart. I know Eck was mocked by sites like firejoemorgan and I was aware of his limitations but I did enjoy watching him play. He always seemed to be having a good time and was a genuinely good guy. Enjoy retirement, oh scrappy one.