Giambi released by A's...

[2000mvpfan]

....so unless he catches on somewhere (although I really don't know who would want a 38-year old .193 hitter who's still injured..) I'd say he'll be calling it a career real soon.That sucks...

....ah well,I guess pretty soon my answer to "what player do you collect" will be Chase Utley...

Farewell,Giambino!


Joe

[ironmanfan]

Re: Giambi released by A's...

While Giambi was having a miserable season, I think a team in contention could actually use a left handed power hitter for pinch hitting duties (somewhat akind to how the Philles picked up and used Matt Stairs last year). I wouldn't be shocked if he got picked up.

[2000mvpfan]

Re: Giambi released by A's...

I actually hope that he does get picked up,if just for one last hoorah and chance at a Championship down the stretch..he deserves it-except for the 'roids,he was one of the game's good guys..

[whatupyos]

Re: Giambi released by A's...

A team would be stupid not to pick him up thats in contention, in my opinion. Yeah, might not be the player he used to be, but he still has the pop in his bat. I've seen about 4 or 5 of his bombs at the A's games this year and he's still got it when he gets around on it. He can definately come off the bench for say, the Red Sox, Cardinals or someone and be a big threat. I'm a huge G fan and wish him well.

Aaron

[2000mvpfan]

Re: Giambi released by A's...

Plus I'm pretty sure I read whoever signs him is only responsible for paying him the league minimum of $400,000-so how could you go wrong?

[whatupyos]

Re: Giambi released by A's...

Exactly, but not to be too nit picky, its actually cheaper. Its the pro rated amount of $400,000 which is the current league minimum, so its a bargain. The A's had to eat the $4mil plus the $1.25 mil buyout for his option year of next year. My old roommates girlfriend works at a Chili's in the area and said he's always in there. I got pissed at her for not telling me this sooner. Guess he won't be in anymore. She said he'd always tip 100$ of his bill. He'd come in with his wife, sit in the bar, no one would bother him. She said he loved it there. I agree with you, he's a class act. Always has been always will be. I was bitter as hell when he left. Even boo'd him when he made it back to Oakland as a Yank for a series because I hated to see him go but it was me voicing my frustration. He's a great guy all the way. I was lucky enough to meet him once at a promotional event and shook his hand. He's a stellar dude.

Aaron

[jobathenut]

Re: Giambi released by A's...

My brother just emailed me and thinks that the yankees will pick him up to give godzilla a break at dh.I think they might do it so that he can retire as a yankee.Being a huge giambi fan i just would like to see him go out on a high note and not just fade away.I am really surprised that a's did this to him.I guess there is no reward for loyality.He comes back to the team to have them cut him.I understand it's about the team,but they could have handled it better.I sure hope he does sign with the yankees.

[jobathenut]

Re: Giambi released by A's...

I am truely jealous of you and your roommates girlfriend.If i worked there and he came in.I would get fired real fast as i would have a stack of things for him to sign with his meal.Yeah i am not surprised that he is a big tipper.He seems like a very nice gut.And i am really jealous that you got to shake his hand and meet him.Man,that would great to meet him.I would give just about anything to be able to meet him.The closet thing i got was last season at the inflatable toliet they call a stadium here in minnesota.Me and my brother were sitting vip first row by the yankees on-deck.And giambi was standing by me and some twinkies fan was giving him trash about his thong.And i just said,"he is just jealous cause he is not you" and giambi starting laughing and nodded at me.That was worth the price of the tickets.

Exactly, but not to be too nit picky, its actually cheaper. Its the pro rated amount of $400,000 which is the current league minimum, so its a bargain. The A's had to eat the $4mil plus the $1.25 mil buyout for his option year of next year. My old roommates girlfriend works at a Chili's in the area and said he's always in there. I got pissed at her for not telling me this sooner. Guess he won't be in anymore. She said he'd always tip 100$ of his bill. He'd come in with his wife, sit in the bar, no one would bother him. She said he loved it there. I agree with you, he's a class act. Always has been always will be. I was bitter as hell when he left. Even boo'd him when he made it back to Oakland as a Yank for a series because I hated to see him go but it was me voicing my frustration. He's a great guy all the way. I was lucky enough to meet him once at a promotional event and shook his hand. He's a stellar dude.

Aaron

[sox83cubs84]

Re: Giambi released by A's...

Well...I guess I'll never collect on the GU cap he promised me during his first stint with the A's and ducked out on giving to me (I traded him a matted Mickey Mantle advertisement from the 1950s).

Dave M.
Chicago area

[LastingsMilledge85]

Re: Giambi released by A's...

I'm not sure if Giambi was one of the "good guys" of the game. I'll never forget when he got the chance to be in last years HR derby despite not making the All Star team, and rejected the opportunity because he wouldn't be on the team, and left all Yankee fans with their fake mustaches disappointed.

[jobathenut]

Re: Giambi released by A's...

So because he did'nt want to take part in a stubid home run derby.That makes him not a "good guy".Maybe because he was'nt playing in the game,he thought it would be a waste of his time.Maybe he did'nt want to take part in the stubid contest so he could spend the break time with family and friends.And he felt that was more worth his time than to take part in the stubid contest.That he realized how stubid and pointless the home run derby is.And felt that spending time with his family during the break is better than giving up his break to take part in batting practice.As that's all the stubid thing is.I mean why don't they just have the guys measure themselves.I have no idea what the home run derby proves.WOW,you can hit a home run having a pitcher pitch it right where you want it.Takes no skill at all.Anyway,that's another topic.I think it's silly to say he is not a good guy because of this.I realize it was at yankee stadium and it was the last all season of the stadium and blah,blah,blah.But those fans can see him play in a game.Why would they need to see him in a completely nonsense contest.Just a very silly arguement.

I'm not sure if Giambi was one of the "good guys" of the game. I'll never forget when he got the chance to be in last years HR derby despite not making the All Star team, and rejected the opportunity because he wouldn't be on the team, and left all Yankee fans with their fake mustaches disappointed.

[David]

Re: Giambi released by A's...

If a team thinks he's going to continue to play poorly, they'd rather give the time to an up and coming minor leaguer. Each team has a AA or AAA who can do better than bat .193 and can use the experience.

[jobathenut]

Re: Giambi released by A's...

I agree with that.But was'nt there a time when everyones favorite cal ripkin was batting really bad and his team still played him.Now before all you ripkin lovers get on me.I'm not comparing them,i am comparing the situations.Where ripkin's team,put the needs of the team behind a individual record and player.And the a's could have done the same thing for giambi.They could have played him and see if he could hit his way out of it.And made a decision at the end of the season.I mean he derserved a less embarrassing way to end his career.But i agree with you,you have to hit better than that if you want to play in the majors.And he has proven he is better than that.I just they could have given him the respect to see if he could be that player again for them.

If a team thinks he's going to continue to play poorly, they'd rather give the time to an up and coming minor leaguer. Each team has a AA or AAA who can do better than bat .193 and can use the experience.

[reed1216]

Re: Giambi released by A's...

I think the A's were generous in offering Giambi a contract in the first place. Given his sharp decline in New York (which just so happened to coincide with his being caught in this steroid scandal), I think he was lucky to have been offered a chance to start for any team. His production this year, or lack thereof, was more than enough reason to cut him.

Baseball's a business and I can probably name a half dozen others, who haven't been implicated for cheating, who have been treated worse by their teams. Giambi might be a nice guy, but he cheated and it's hard to imagine him having the career he enjoyed, without the illegal substances he used during his prime.

I wish Giambi all the best and if he happens to catch on with a contender down the stretch and can contribute, more power to him. But nobody in Major League Baseball owes him a thing. He's made many millions of dollars playing a sport he enjoyed. While he might have been polite to fans, I wouldn't want a sub .200 hitter on my roster, let alone starting at first base. When you consider the harm he (and many others) have done to the game, I find it difficult to join the Giambi pitty-party bandwagon.

[ironmanfan]

Re: Giambi released by A's...

I agree with that.But was'nt there a time when everyones favorite cal ripkin was batting really bad and his team still played him.Now before all you ripkin lovers get on me.I'm not comparing them,i am comparing the situations.Where ripkin's team,put the needs of the team behind a individual record and player.And the a's could have done the same thing for giambi.

Hey Joba, I hate to break it to you, but Cal "Ripken" never was hitting under the Mendoza line after 83 games...Giambi had 73 strike outs this year and Cal's highest strike total in a season was only 78 ....Oh, and don't forget that Cal could also help the team win with his defense as well (there wasn't one pitcher on the Orioles staff that didn't want the ball hit to Cal in a big situation).....Not the same situation at all...No matter how you sliced it, the Orioles were always a better team with Ripken in the lineup (can't say that for the A's)