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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Blalock: No plans to go to minors

None of that Durham Bullshiit!

If the Rays want to keep Hank Blalock, they’re going to have to act soon.

Blalock said this morning he wants very much to stay with the Rays, but also said he has no plans to go first to Triple-A Durham if the Rays don’t put him on their 25-man roster to start the season.

“I don’t have any plans on playing minor-league baseball this year,’’ Blalock said. “At this time in my life, if there’s no major-league opportunities for me then I’ll find something else to do.’’

Blalock, 29, signed a minor-league contract with the Rays with an out clause that goes into effect starting Thursday, with the Rays having until after Friday’s exhibition to put him on the roster. If they decline, he could become a free agent and sign elsewhere.

He made it sound this morning like he plans to exercise that clause, saying he considered the matter to be in the Rays’ hands. “I feel like the team has to make a decision with me,’’ he said.

...“I love it here,’’ Blalock said. “I like the way I’ve been treated, I like my teammates, I like the staff. I’d like to be part of helping the Rays win the World Series. I hope they keep me. … This is where I want to stay.’’

Repoz Posted: March 31, 2010 at 02:39 PM | 16 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: minor leagues, rays

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1. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: March 31, 2010 at 03:58 PM (#3489484)

.206/.300/.382 so far this spring - he isn't exactly forcing his way onto the roster.

2. Tim Stauffer, Trot Nixon's Coming (Dan Lee) Posted: March 31, 2010 at 04:09 PM (#3489495)

"I don’t have any plans on playing minor-league baseball this year," Blalock said. "At this time in my life, if there’s no major-league opportunities for me then I’ll find something else to do."

Maybe I'm misinterpreting him, but Blalock doesn't really sound like a guy who's excited to be a professional baseball player. If he really feels that way and isn't just speaking out of frustration, his career is probably over.

But I've never met Hank Blalock, I don't personally know anyone who knows Hank Blalock, and I'm gleaning that from two sentences. So take my opinion for what it's worth.

Perhaps he can open up a business with Brad Wilkerson.

3. Walt Davis Posted: March 31, 2010 at 05:33 PM (#3489602)

I don't think I've ever met anyone named Hank (at least at that point in their life). Don't recall meeting a Henry since I was a kid.

But, anyway, there's "excited to be a major-leaguer" and "excited to be a pro ballplayer". While there are a few who are genuinely both (e.g. Rickey Henderson), I don't think it means much that an established major-leaguer isn't excited enough to go back to AAA.

4. Tricky Dick Posted: March 31, 2010 at 05:57 PM (#3489633)

5. Famous Original Joe C Posted: March 31, 2010 at 06:22 PM (#3489656)

I don't know that I would question a major league player who would rather retire than go to the minors. I don't think it's a matter of enthusiasm for being a professional baseball player, as much as the feeling that they don't want to continue playing if they aren't good enough to play at a major league level.

He's also earned $22 million pre tax in his career. That's not a fortune, but he could retire tomorrow and never work again if he saved well.

I think the exception to the rule is someone like Rickey, who just wants to play no matter what, rather than the other way around.

6. Frisco Cali Posted: March 31, 2010 at 07:32 PM (#3489761)

I went to high school with a Hank. His sister was hot in a slutty kind of way.

7. Pat Rapper's Delight Posted: March 31, 2010 at 07:56 PM (#3489825)

How many at bats did he think he was going to get playing behind Pena and Longoria? Maybe his plan all along was to draw major league money and service time playing one game a week.

8. fhomess Posted: March 31, 2010 at 08:51 PM (#3489906)

He's also earned $22 million pre tax in his career. That's not a fortune

Sign me up for not a fortune.

How many at bats did he think he was going to get playing behind Pena and Longoria? Maybe his plan all along was to draw major league money and service time playing one game a week.

Cue article about the great life of back-up catchers.

9. JMPH Posted: March 31, 2010 at 08:53 PM (#3489912)

I went to high school with a Hank. His sister was hot in a slutty kind of way.

This is probably my favorite post of the day.

10. JMPH Posted: March 31, 2010 at 08:59 PM (#3489921)

He's also earned $22 million pre tax in his career. That's not a fortune, but he could retire tomorrow and never work again if he saved well.

I love that that money, invested in a savings account at 1% interest, would yield him a nice salary of $220K a year. (Obviously he doesn't have all of it still, but my point stands.)

I'm pretty sure that if I won the Powerball (like a giant $100M+ drawing), I would take about that much money and just stash it, living off the interest, and spread the rest around.

11. Charlie O Posted: March 31, 2010 at 09:04 PM (#3489927)

Hank, you're no Adam Kennedy.

12. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: March 31, 2010 at 09:10 PM (#3489934)

That's not a fortune, but he could retire tomorrow and never work again if he saved well.

There are people who never work on much, much less. These are rich people. $22 million is a fortune -- just not a huge one.

13. Famous Original Joe C Posted: March 31, 2010 at 09:12 PM (#3489938)

There are people who never work on much, much less. These are rich people. $22 million is a fortune -- just not a huge one.

I understand - I guess what I'm saying is it's not so much money that he couldn't have squandered it away somehow, Antoine Walker style. Not that I have any reason to believe Hank has or would have...

14. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: March 31, 2010 at 09:15 PM (#3489944)

Oh yeah. I could think of a lot of ways to crap away $22 million if I had it. A lot of very fun ways.

15. John DiFool2 Posted: March 31, 2010 at 09:18 PM (#3489950)

One day I am going to do that study I've talked about before, where I go and see if there's anything, before the fact, that can distinguish a true breakout season representing a new higher level of ability from a fluke season, with the player dropping right back down to his former level the year after. There must be some sort of smoking gun there...

16. YR Denies Jesus Montero Posted: March 31, 2010 at 09:20 PM (#3489954)

I'm pretty sure that if I won the Powerball (like a giant $100M+ drawing), I would take about that much money and just stash it, living off the interest, and spread the rest around.

Oh, Yankee Belle and I already have our lottery largess mapped out. I'm going to get a wing at St Jude Children's Research Hospital named after my dad, fund a scholarship for horn players at my grandfather's Alma Mater, and finally visit another country. Now all I have to do is actually buy a lottery ticket, which I just can't bring myself to do after spending most of my life mocking the concept as a tax on the willfully innumerate.

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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Blalock: No plans to go to minors

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