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Thursday, February 23, 2012

Historic journeyman Octavio Dotel hopes Detroit is his last stop

Dotel hell: Moving in is easy ... Moving out is hell.

Octavio Dotel is the vagabond of Major League Baseball, a relief pitcher who lives out of a suitcase, never putting down roots, drifting across the country, from city to city, team to team.

When he suits up for the Tigers on Opening Day, Dotel will become the only player in major league history to have played for 13 teams.

Assuming, of course, he doesn’t get traded before then.

Dotel will break the record that he shares with three players: Mike Morgan (1978-2002), Matt Stairs (1992-2011) and Ron Villone (1995-2009). But now, Dotel wants his moving days to end. He wants to retire a Tiger.

“I hope so,” Dotel said, making the sign of the cross and looking for some wood to knock. “I have the record now, so I don’t need any more teams.”

...When he switches to a new city, he never buys a house or condo—he always rents. And he never buys furniture, either—he tries to find a place that is fully furnished. He never changes his driver’s license. He never changes his license plates or car registration.

Repoz Posted: February 23, 2012 at 05:56 AM | 9 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: tigers

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1. JJ1986 Posted: February 23, 2012 at 12:24 PM (#4066981)

I do not remember Dotel on the Yankees at all.

2. RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) Posted: February 23, 2012 at 12:45 PM (#4067008)

I do not remember Dotel on the Yankees at all.

I had big hopes for him, but he was coming off an injury and never really contributed. In fact, that's basically a lost period for Dotel, 2005-07: 4 teams (OAK, NYY, KC, ATL), 56 total innings, 5.14 ERA. It's pretty impressive he's returned to be an effective reliever since then.

For my part, I never would have guessed Dotel pitched his second most innings for the White Sox, I apparently have his Oakland tenure as much longer in my head than it was in reality.

3. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: February 23, 2012 at 12:54 PM (#4067014)

I apparently have his Oakland tenure as much longer in my head than it was in reality.

So do A's fans.

4. Walt Davis Posted: February 23, 2012 at 02:40 PM (#4067145)

He never changes his license plates or car registration.

Well he can kiss the HoF goodbye thanks to the character clause.

5. flournoy Posted: February 23, 2012 at 02:52 PM (#4067160)

Dotel needs to pitch one more AL West team to have pitched for at least two teams in every division. If you pretend that his stint with the Astros counts as AL West instead of NL Central, then he already has it.

6. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: February 23, 2012 at 02:58 PM (#4067168)

Matt Stairs played for 13 teams, but his MON years are now unfairly subsumed by the WSN year he had 18 years later.

7. RJ in TO Posted: February 23, 2012 at 03:09 PM (#4067180)

Overall, it appears he didn't actually suck as a Jay, but he was still unpleasant as hell to watch.

8. Fernigal McGunnigle has become a merry hat Posted: February 23, 2012 at 03:28 PM (#4067194)

Ron Villone is only 42, and he's a lefty. Surely he could hook on with the Mets or someone.

9. Petunia inquires about ponies Posted: February 23, 2012 at 03:38 PM (#4067205)

Who else?

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Thursday, February 23, 2012

Historic journeyman Octavio Dotel hopes Detroit is his last stop

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