Sammy Sosa Should Stay Home

After months of talking about making a comeback to the Major Leagues former slugger Sammy Sosa began training yesterday in his home town of San Pedro de Macrois, Dominican Republic. He worked out at a training complex owned and operated by the Hiroshima Carp of the Japanese Central League. Sosa looked physically fit as he took batting practice sending 15 balls out of the park. He also showed good speed running down fly balls in the outfield. Sosa has 588 career home runs but has not played in the Major Leagues since 2005. After playing poorly with the Baltimore Orioles and being apart of the steroid scandal, the Washington Nationals were the only team that offered him a contract for the 2006 season. The contract however was not guaranteed and stated providing he made the team he would earn only $500,000, a far cry from the 17,000,000 he earned the previous season in Baltimore. Sosa considered this pay cut an insulting slap in the face and although he also received an offer from a team in the Japanese League, he decided to retire from baseball.

Sosa spent 2006 living the high life. He took his family on two European vacations. He threw enormous party's at his beach front mansion in the Dominican Republic for every holiday occasion. His 38th birthday party however was the biggest, the guest list of over 1000 people (not all invited showed) included several star athletes, Hollywood stars, Donald Trump, former president Bill Clinton and Dominican government leaders. However Sammy Sosa has baseball in his blood and no matter how many party's he throws or have many vacations he takes, he still as a burning desire to play baseball and become the 5th player in history to hit 600 home runs. Every star athlete like Michael Jordan and Evander Holyfield think they have one more moment of glory coming to them. Sosa however like Jordan and Holyfield does not. Sosa should stay home, because he will only embarrass himself if he returns in the Major Leagues.

I feel pretty sure that some small market with cashflow and attendance problems will take a gamble and give Sosa a chance this spring He will probally wind up in Washington or Kansas City to help sell tickets. Even though he may not hit .220 he if returns he is sure to reach 600 home runs. And the 600 home run chase alone will fill up the stadium, and ticket sales mean money. This will be a sad end to Sosa. He is all washed up like Babe Ruth late in his career with the Braves. Even if Sosa gets to 600 he will still embarrass himself. The fact is Sosa was just plain terrible in 2005, hitting just .221 with only 14 home runs and 45 RBIs. These numbers were not just a fluke either, Sosa's numbers have been in serious decline since the 2001 season. His batting average, home runs, RBIs and games played totals fell each of his last four seasons. More alarming however is the fact that his strikeout totals soared during this time. Sosa's career has been on a decline since he turned 33, slowly at first, however it was obvious by 2005 at age 36 Sosa had lost a few steps. What makes him think at 38, and not having played for a year that he will be able to do any better. I just hope he doesnt get to 600 with a .189 batting average.

Sosa also doubts himself. He would not be working out at the Hiroshima Carp's facility if he were sure he could make it back to the big leagues. He is using Japan as his backup plan and contract leverage. If he doesn't make it back to the show he will almost certainly be headed for Japan. With the small ballparks and AAA pitching Slammin Sammy will really put on a show over there. I am not saying Sosa is a bad guy or a bad ballplayer. I actually admire him and think he was one of greatest home run hitters of all time. I am just saying his numbers don't lie and they have been on serious decline since 2001 and Sosa isn't getting any younger. If he still wants to play baseball he should go to Japan and be a star or even play in the Dominican Winter League in front of his countrymen.