Former Ranger DFA'd for former Ranger
by Adam J. Morris on Aug 26, 2008 4:45 PM CDT
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PrintAs everyone knows by now, Eddie Guardado is now a Twin.
However, what you may not know is that former Ranger Mike Lamb was designated for assignment to make room for Guardado.
A weird comment from manager Ron Gardenhire:
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said that in the end, the two sides just weren't quite the match that he had hoped.
"The energy level wasn't what we expected," Gardenhire said of Lamb. "He's a veteran, a laid-back guy and we play at a different level. We like to run and do all those kinds of things. ... We were just looking for a little different thing. That's probably why it didn't work out here."
As for the notion that it was his laid-back attitude that prevented him from sticking with the Twins, Lamb said he was never aware it was an issue.
"I mean, if it was a problem, I wish someone would have told me," Lamb said. "I would have thrown stuff if I needed to."
Mike Lamb is a veteran. He's been around for almost a decade now. I have to figure someone within the Twins' organization could have gotten a handle on what sort of energy level Lamb is...and realistically, if you are looking for a third baseman who can run, Lamb is probably the last guy you'd want.
Assuming no one claims Lamb on waivers, the Twins will be on the hook for $3.8 million for the rest of this year and what they owe him for next year.
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Lamb
Wasn’t there an article recently where he basically said he hated the ML lifestyle (travel, away from home all the time, etc)? Wonder if he is thinking about hanging them up after this.
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
Yeah
ESPN had something up on him on Page 2. It was kinda depressing. I think we over-romanticize the sports player lifestyle, at least where real people come into play. It’s hard to think of some sports stars (A-Rod comes to mind, given his recent divorce from his wife) as human beings.
I’m sure that’s unfair of me, but there are plenty of times when it’s difficult for me to rationalize the absurd amounts of money we throw at entertainers.
i think this is the literal meaning of "energy level"...
…not Adam’s assesment that he couldn’t run fast.
of course, when you’re heart’s not in it…
by oc on Aug 26, 2008 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Link to the article
JBImaknee posted it as a Fanshot about a month ago.
It's baseball. You don't always get what you want, and you don't always want what you get. --Ed Coffin
Wow
He was so good he played for AAA Tulsa. That’s tough. Even Zombie Jesus would have trouble doing something magical like that.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Aug 27, 2008 4:07 AM CDT up reply actions
Loved that article
Makes me feel bad for Lamb just getting thrown out there like that. If the Twins were going to cut him for under-performing, so be it. But DFA’ing him and then saying that his energy level wasn’t right is BS and he deserves better.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
I agree
That seems really unprofessional of Ron Gardenhire. I doubt many athletes over-think these situations, but I would certainly wonder, “what will he say about me when I leave?”
Yeah
That’s pretty bush league to release a player and talk shit about him.
by Black Francis on Aug 26, 2008 8:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Lamb
I’ve always liked the guy. One of the few ballplayers with a seemingly pretty good self-deprecating sense of humor.
"You’re the only here who contributes schtick only." - brettgardner
He's a good dude.
I’ve had the chance to meet him on several occasions, the first of which was 3 months after he was drafted by Texas. We were in a mutual friend’s wedding. I followed his career closely from then.
On the occasions I’ve spoken with him, he’s always been a very down-to-earth guy. Anytime Texas came through Oakland, he’d always get me and my buddy (and some of my other friends at times) tickets in the players’ section. He also got me, and my wife and son (as well as my buddy’s family) down into the players’ tunnel after a game so the kids could see the players. When Houston made the World Series in ‘05, the first person he called was my buddy, and e flew him and his wife into town for the 2 games played in Houston. My friend didn’t pay a penny out of pocket for anything (and he also got to see Berkman with no shirt…says he may have the best snoobs in the majors).
He just seems like a regular dude who had solid baseball talent and made it big, but never got the big head even the most marginal of major leaguers can get. And, he seems to have his priorities in line and probably won’t have any problem walking away from the game to have a family. Good for him.
Is it just me
or does it seem like sometimes GMs throw Darts at the wall when filling out the bottom of their 25 mans?
What's the secret to a long life? "I masturbate a lot"-Ernest Borgnine. http://www.bestweekever.tv/2008/08/14/icymi-ernest-borgnine-reveals-his-secret-for-everlasting-youth/#onepage
what makes you say that?
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
Lamb
He went into the year their starting thirdbaseman this year, if I’m not mistaken.
"You’re the only here who contributes schtick only." - brettgardner
some around here were advocating
bringing him in as our starting first baseman.
Warner Madrigal makes Ezequiel Astacio look downright handsome.
kevin elster?
Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark
by knockoutking on Aug 27, 2008 7:52 AM CDT up reply actions
every time I hear the name Mike Lamb
I think back to one of the Ranger pregame shows where they were showing some highlight from the Ranger wives vs Astros wives softball game. Every woman on the field was fit and easy on the eyes, about like you’d expect ballplayer wives to look, with the exception of a brunette that had to be pushing 260 and didn’t exactly make up for it with a cute face. They showed a brief clip of her flabbing her way down the first base line and indicated that she was Lamb’s wife. Looked kinda like a whiter, female version of Carlos Lee.
Warner Madrigal makes Ezequiel Astacio look downright handsome.
Lamb
When he was in HOU I saw him play some. Not much, so my impressions could be wrong. Still had gap power. Tamed his throwing arm. No range, decent glove. Every time I watched a game he hit and didn’t seem like a bad ballplayer. Slow, though. Maybe one of the slowest ballplayers I’ve ever seen. He was slow even when he came up as a rookie, though.
Probably not a bad guy to have on your bench.
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