The Return of Igor?

by Adam J. Morris on Jan 17, 2008 9:47 AM CST in News

Are the Cards bringing Juan Gonzalez out of retirement?

Two-time MVP Juan Gonzalez is seeking another swing at a comeback after nearly three years since his last at-bat, and the Cardinals have discussed extending him an invitation to spring training.

Gonzalez, 38, has been working out at Eduardo Perez's Winter Training Program in Puerto Rico. The Cardinals, intrigued by descriptions of Gonzalez's workouts, are exploring the possibility of signing the former All-Star outfielder, but a source cautioned that no deal is completed.

This sounds like the Sammy Sosa stuff all over again.

Although the fact that it is happening with another team, rather than the Rangers, makes it far more amusing.

And Juan Gone, of course, has his own unique entertainment value, as well.

I certainly hope he gets signed, and I'm looking forward to watching (from a distance) as this story progresses...

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Juan not so gone

I was a big Juan fan back in the day but come on, what in the hell are they thinking. If it was an AL team where he could DH I might give this a half a second of thought but he can't play the field every day.

"Let's raise ticket prices and lower payroll, yea let's screw the fans and pad my pockets." - secret thoughts of Tom Hicks

by cgolden on Jan 17, 2008 9:50 AM CST reply actions

Ah

Wish there was a photo...

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Jan 17, 2008 9:51 AM CST reply actions

Any N.L. team willing to bring Igor back is

stupid. It just doesn't even sound right. Maybe he could establish himself as a bench player, but he would need to be DHing for the most part.

He was my favorite player when I was a kid and now that he was directly linked to steriods I just don't know what to think. I used to feel that he was a lock to be a hall of famer because of his stats from his first stint with Texas. Now he will be lucky if he gets into the hall of shame.

""I love GOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLD" blueglovelefty

by NYTXFAN on Jan 17, 2008 9:52 AM CST reply actions

My favorite as a kid as well.

In hindsight I'd love to tell you it was Pudge, but I was a Juan fan all the way.

The way Newberg describes his son feeling about Franchise Face, I felt about Juan.

Except I wasn't a little kid, I was more like 10 when Juan broke in, so it wasn't cute.

"God plays by his own rules, folks. And HGH is f***ing legal as hell up in heaven." -Andy Pettitte

by thedirkatron on Jan 17, 2008 1:33 PM CST up reply actions

Could be worse...

your idol could have been Canseco growing up!

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Jan 17, 2008 9:13 PM CST up reply actions

Over-under on big league ABs before...

...a pulled hammy?

I'll set it at 6.5

Any takers?

Obama - ??? 2008 : Real change we can all believe in.

by RangerMoto on Jan 17, 2008 10:02 AM CST reply actions

is that with or without

steriods?

""I love GOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLD" blueglovelefty

by NYTXFAN on Jan 17, 2008 10:03 AM CST up reply actions

with, of course

Obama - ??? 2008 : Real change we can all believe in.

by RangerMoto on Jan 17, 2008 10:13 AM CST up reply actions

gimme the under

I fully expect nothing to come of this, it will be like years past when he had a minor league contract with Boston and no showed.

If he does make it to the season, he'll take one PA, grab his hammy, and nurse it back to health on the beaches of Puerto Rico, like in Cleveland.

"We should have bombed it (Auschwitz)"-President Bush

by DJCahill on Jan 17, 2008 10:09 AM CST up reply actions

Do you still take the under...

...if I set the # of divorces and/or annulments he gets between now and opening day at 2.5?

Obama - ??? 2008 : Real change we can all believe in.

by RangerMoto on Jan 17, 2008 10:14 AM CST up reply actions

That's a much tougher

one.

"We should have bombed it (Auschwitz)"-President Bush

by DJCahill on Jan 17, 2008 10:16 AM CST up reply actions

Gonzo

Man i remember how much of a bright future that guy had. I remember talk that if anyone was ever going to hit .400 again it would be him, and how he was a lock to get at least 500hrs and be in the hall.

then it all went horribly wrong

"When we're mad we'll use our words. Then the rest of the world will play nice with us. And the only boom-booms will be in our pants." - Ralph Wiggum

by rentz on Jan 17, 2008 10:03 AM CST reply actions

What!?

Who the hell thought Juando was ever going to hit .400?

500 home runs, that was well within his reach at one point, but I can't remember anyone ever believing he was a threat to break .400.

"God plays by his own rules, folks. And HGH is f***ing legal as hell up in heaven." -Andy Pettitte

by thedirkatron on Jan 17, 2008 1:30 PM CST up reply actions

.400

i remember watching a game on tv in the early-mid 90s and he had a mid .300 avg at the time and the announcers were touting how if anyone would ever hit .400 again it was him.

everyone was quick to place him in the hall before he was even done playing

"When we're mad we'll use our words. Then the rest of the world will play nice with us. And the only boom-booms will be in our pants." - Ralph Wiggum

by rentz on Jan 17, 2008 2:34 PM CST up reply actions

Must've been local announcers

paid for by the team.

He never really threatened .400 seriously.

Now, he definitely would have made the Hall if he didn't fall apart physically.

"We should have bombed it (Auschwitz)"-President Bush

by DJCahill on Jan 17, 2008 2:40 PM CST up reply actions

WHAT INCREDIBLE INSIGHT!

by oc on Jan 17, 2008 6:02 PM CST up reply actions

Juan not Gone?

A word of advice, Juan. Should you make the Cards roster, no Jheri Curl your carry-on bag, okay? Homeland Security have asked that you store it with the rest of your luggage.

by biff pocoroba on Jan 17, 2008 10:14 AM CST reply actions

Greatest Ranger ever.

i'll never forget his dominant performance by him in the '96 playoffs...

"Lois, undecided voters are the biggest idiots on the planet, try giving short, simple answers."

by Longhorn on Jan 17, 2008 10:24 AM CST reply actions

I remember that

I have the whole series on tape(DVD now). Juando was a monster for those 4 games.

Piss off nut chucker... Boomer Sooner!

by boomer1 on Jan 17, 2008 10:42 AM CST up reply actions

¡Señor Octubre!

Obama - ??? 2008 : Real change we can all believe in.

by RangerMoto on Jan 17, 2008 11:04 AM CST up reply actions

+1

When Juan was locked in, he was absolutely scary.

With a decent 'pen, we win the series that year.

Sigh...

"God plays by his own rules, folks. And HGH is f***ing legal as hell up in heaven." -Andy Pettitte

by thedirkatron on Jan 17, 2008 1:34 PM CST up reply actions

I agree

I can remember Oates sending Oliver back out there with no gas left in the tank.

Piss off nut chucker... Boomer Sooner!

by boomer1 on Jan 17, 2008 1:40 PM CST up reply actions

Oates

I remember an Oates interview the year Juan had 100 RBIs at the ASB, when he said he expected Gonzalez to drive in a run every time he stepped to the plate, whether or not anyone was on base.

hurlerhurley has to drink a 6 pack just to have one for each of his usernames.

by t ball on Jan 17, 2008 1:41 PM CST up reply actions

I forgot about the whole KC stint

""I love GOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLD" blueglovelefty

by NYTXFAN on Jan 17, 2008 10:33 AM CST reply actions

KC

Remember when he did Javy Lopez's sister wrong and her Dad and brothers showed up in KC to kick his ass. He sleep all night in the visitors clubhouse. What a man.

The three true outcomes - Does it make me money, does it get me fed, or does it get me laid?

by JTodd on Jan 17, 2008 10:52 AM CST up reply actions

lol

I don't remember that story. I remember him marring Javy's sister though.

Piss off nut chucker... Boomer Sooner!

by boomer1 on Jan 17, 2008 10:53 AM CST up reply actions

I believe it was all weekend

Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.

by Brian Thomas on Jan 17, 2008 11:30 AM CST up reply actions

I'd have done the same

"God plays by his own rules, folks. And HGH is f***ing legal as hell up in heaven." -Andy Pettitte

by thedirkatron on Jan 17, 2008 1:35 PM CST up reply actions

I hear he is requesting a waiver

The mandatory ball cap rule...

Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.

by Brian Thomas on Jan 17, 2008 10:49 AM CST reply actions

Juan Gone

I say no way he makes the team. The guy has 1 AB in the last 3 years! haha

Also, he is a member of the All-Time Juice Team... seet DH. Check it out:

http://mlbfleecefactor.com/2008/01/16/all-time-teams-the-all-juiced-team/

by ET90210 on Jan 17, 2008 11:12 AM CST reply actions

I can't wait

until he hits 22 HR w/ 50-60 rbi's and a BA of around .240....

Then we can hear about the great comeback and what a good clubhouse influence he is as he has matured...

Yup, can hear it right now...

"I don't need to go to the minor leagues to learn plate discipline" - Pete Incaviglia

by USNA93 on Jan 17, 2008 11:22 AM CST reply actions

Early projection

450/1000/1000 80 homers to become the true King of Swing.

*numbers above are based on the additions of Winstrol, anabolic steroids, and HgH

""I love GOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLD" blueglovelefty

by NYTXFAN on Jan 17, 2008 11:29 AM CST reply actions

Huh?

I thought there was a story in a Spanish-language paper that he was signing with the Yankees. Now you're telling me that was a load of crap? Say it ain't so!

by Inkara1 on Jan 17, 2008 11:50 AM CST reply actions

I'm hoping for a bidding war

It'll be the drama that ARod was supposed to provide this offseason.

by JBImaknee on Jan 17, 2008 12:52 PM CST up reply actions

MLBTRADERUMORS.COM

Shot that down about as soon as it was reported. It was like an early April fools joke.

""I love GOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLD" blueglovelefty

by NYTXFAN on Jan 17, 2008 1:01 PM CST up reply actions

Gonzalez

Well, I have lots of great memories of him and hope like hell he somehow comes back and has a truly great season. Mainly out of spite for his detractors. He was a damn good hitter for a lot of years when he was with your favorite team. How in the hell do you people forget that so easily?

Ctrl - V

by Dustin on Jan 17, 2008 1:13 PM CST reply actions

+1

I've never gotten the Juan hate. He provided some of my greatest Ranger memories. Yeah, we never should have brought him back. Yeah, his career ended sadly (and yeah, I can't imagine this comeback will help). But why pull against him? Why enjoy his humiliation? A-Rod, I can understand. Even Raffy because of things he said when the Rangers signed Will Clark. But how can any Rangers fan who followed the team in the late '90s not have fond memories of Juan.

by rodinuk on Jan 17, 2008 1:44 PM CST up reply actions

Not to mention

He did not want to leave the Rangers the first time he wanted to retire a Ranger.

Piss off nut chucker... Boomer Sooner!

by boomer1 on Jan 17, 2008 1:47 PM CST up reply actions

OT: Could this be LBrooks?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QiyTY9kgpiQ

Piss off nut chucker... Boomer Sooner!

by boomer1 on Jan 17, 2008 1:30 PM CST reply actions

Nah,

A Brooks video would decry the cheap porn put forth by "kids" today and wonder what happened to Betty Page.

hurlerhurley has to drink a 6 pack just to have one for each of his usernames.

by t ball on Jan 17, 2008 1:40 PM CST up reply actions

Dumpmaster D unhappy?

http://www.cobrabrigade.com/2008/01/derosa_isnt_happy.php

"When I was a pup, we got spanked by presidents 'til the cows came home! Grover Cleveland spanked me on two non-consecutive occasions!" LBrooks

by WyoRanger on Jan 17, 2008 1:45 PM CST reply actions

Think the Cubbies would trade

Dumpmaster for Vazquez straight up? Sure he would still be a UT player but he would be our UT player where else is he going to find love like that?

Piss off nut chucker... Boomer Sooner!

by boomer1 on Jan 17, 2008 1:50 PM CST up reply actions

Juan

Greatest player to ever put on a Rangers uniform.

I wish him well.

by LBrooks on Jan 17, 2008 2:00 PM CST reply actions

wrong again

that would be Cordell "Cord" Walker. 1993-2001

by mrpman on Jan 17, 2008 6:22 PM CST up reply actions

It sounds like to me

all the recently retired juicers that haven't played in a few years saw how well the little "comeback-and-whack-a-few-homers" deal worked for Sammy Sosa, so now they're gonna try it too. Just wait - first Juan, then it'll be Jose Canseco (actually, the last I heard, he's already trying to make a comeback with some A-ball team out here on the west coast - so he's got a head start), then Raffy, and eventually, Mark McGwire. And once Barry Bonds and Miguel Tejada get out of prison, we can await their comebacks as well. Before you know it, we'll have enough of 'em to start a 31st team: the Washington Juicers!

"The most important things in life are the things that are the least important" - Yogi Berra

by LSJ on Jan 17, 2008 6:17 PM CST reply actions