Not too kind a story on Crazy Carl

[Steve9347]

This guy has something against Carl Everett, to say the least. I guess he ignored him the past two years when he was a great teammate on a championship ballclub.

 

Dinosaurs a myth? Let’s hope Everett deal is, too

 

JOHN MCGRATH; THE NEWS TRIBUNE

Published: December 9th, 2005 02:30 AM

 

Give Bill Bavasi this much: He’s trying.

 

The Seattle Mariners general manager could’ve returned from the winter meetings without acquiring, as he likes to put it, some “left-handed sock.” He could’ve stressed the need to exercise patience during an offseason distinguished by a free-agent pool more shallow than a “Biography” profile of Heather Locklear.

 

Instead, Bavasi appears close to signing Carl Everett, a well-traveled veteran – not to be confused with a veteran who has traveled well – known for going on the periodic hot streak that turns heads, wreaking havoc, engaging fans in spirited debates and making national headlines.

 

Oh, and every once in a while Everett actually hits a baseball, too.

 

Everett is famous for denying the existence of dinosaurs – Those bones archaeologists are always digging up? All fake! – and his belief that homosexuals will have some “splainin’ ” to do on judgment day. (As if judgment were a notion foreign to them.)

 

Personally? I don’t care that Everett believes dinosaurs are a myth, and I am no more inclined to consider his thoughts on gays than I am interested in hearing Harvey Fierstein opine on the drawbacks of the first-inning sacrifice bunt.

 

As for Everett’s reputation for causing trouble – and he’s got more baggage than the Rockettes on a road trip – well, let’s take ’em one at a time.

 

• That incident of turbulence he caused during a 1994 plane trip with his teammates at Class AAA Edmonton, after he learned a passenger had placed a briefcase on top of his jacket in the overhead compartment? Nothing more than a simple case of air rage. Edmonton, after all, ain’t exactly next door.

 

• That judge in New York ordering him to undergo counseling after allegations of child abuse? Not having studied the court documents, I can’t comment.

 

• That nutty game in Venezuela, where he went into the stands to chase down rowdy fans and was banished from the league? He’s not the first guy to regret spending the winter in Venezuela.

 

• Those two seasons of turmoil with the Boston Red Sox, where he had profane confrontations with teammates, club officials and sports writers? Where he was fined $97,000 for missing a bus trip and a practice in spring training? Where he carried on a feud with one manager and referred to his replacement as a drunk? He’s not the first guy to regret spending a summer or two in Boston.

 

• That 10-day suspension he served for head-butting home-plate umpire Ron Kulpa? Everett blamed it on the media, and who am I to doubt him?

 

• That incident when he grabbed himself, shall we say, in an inappropriate manner, and then spit in the direction of Mariners pitcher Jamie Moyer? Let’s face it, somebody needed to stand up to one of baseball’s most ruthless headhunters.

 

It’s time to turn the page on the history of “C. Everett Kook.” It’s time, in fact, for a whole new book – a book whose first chapter was completed last summer, when Everett replaced the ailing Frank Thomas as designated hitter and hit .251 with 23 homers and 87 RBI for the world champion Chicago White Sox. He appeared in 135 games, the most the injury-prone journeyman produced for a team in five years.

 

Which brings me to my misgivings about acquiring a free agent who’ll turn 35 midway through the 2006 season. Signing Everett is a bad idea not because his viewpoints make Jeff Nelson sound like Fred Rogers – “It’s proven that 99 percent of baseball fans don’t know what they’re watching,” Everett said last summer – but because his presence in the lineup figures to stifle the Mariners’ rebuilding process.

 

Bavasi has overseen the Mariners for two seasons, yet he still can’t fathom the fact they play in a ballpark built for defense and speed. Fly balls hit to right field don’t die as suddenly as fly balls hit to left and center, hence the urgency for “left-handed sock.” But boppers never will be as valuable in Seattle as fielders who can chase down outs, and hitters fast enough to turn singles into doubles and triples.

 

A lineup card featuring Everett as designated hitter means incumbent DH Raul Ibañez would move to left field. Not a good idea. Ibañez is a thorough pro who never has embarrassed himself, but on a team that ought to be predicated on speed and defense, he’s got no business wearing a glove.

 

Rather than signing a soon-to-be-35-year-old DH who forces Ibañez to play the outfield, why not consider the upside of somebody like T.J. Bohn? All he’s done since the Mariners made him the 1,200th selection of the 2002 draft is excel at every stage of the farm system. After Bohn was promoted from San Antonio to Tacoma last August, he hit .321 in 22 games, with four stolen bases. Center fielders don’t often get a chance to showcase their arms, but Bohn did. It’s a cannon.

 

Sure, the bigs would represent a drastic step up for a career minor leaguer who has played only 22 games in the Pacific Coast League. But he’s about to turn 26. He might be ready.

 

With Bohn in center, Jeremy Reed could move to left field, a better fit for his adequate-at-best arm. Granted, an outfield of Reed, Bohn and Ichiro Suzuki won’t pack any power, but the Mariners aren’t going to outslug anybody anyway. Why not embrace what you are instead of dwelling on all that you aren’t – and never will be?

 

Bavasi presumes he has to turn things around in a hurry; he can’t be blamed for trying to make a splash. But bringing in a DH in his mid-30s isn’t a splash. It’s a diversion with the potential to become a distraction.

 

Everett hasn’t even signed yet, but already I can cite one source of disagreement between the free-agent outfielder and the general manager.

 

Bavasi believes in dinosaurs.

 

John McGrath: 253-597-8742, ext. 6154

[White Sox Josh]

Um he never actually head-butted that Umpire. I think he has probably grown up and I doubt he would do that kind of thing now. He was probably the leader in the clubhouse this year.

Edited December 10, 2005 by White Sox Josh

[Punch and Judy Garland]

This guy has something against Carl Everett, to say the least.  I guess he ignored him the past two years when he was a great teammate on a championship ballclub.

 

Good riddance to Carl Everett. They can have the jerk

[WilliamTell]

Good riddance to Carl Everett. They can have the jerk

 

That jerk helped us win a World Series. I think he's really matured since and is a team player. I'd want him back if we still had an open DH spot.

[Punch and Judy Garland]

That jerk helped us win a World Series. I think he's really matured since and is a team player. I'd want him back if we still had an open DH spot.

 

He didnt do much to help us win the Series. Nothing more than a replacement player at DH would have done

[KevHead0881]

That jerk helped us win a World Series. I think he's really matured since and is a team player. I'd want him back if we still had an open DH spot.

 

I thought he did well here, and seemed to be a lot better than advertised (as far as attitude goes). But he'd still show his old colors from time to time...like when he complained about being moved down in the batting order or when he did that unnecessary Trib interview when he went on his dino rant once again (some other goofy things were said too). During that same interview he also made that dumbass "99 percent of baseball fans don’t know what they’re watching" comment that was brought up in the article. Not sure what the point in saying that was.

 

But overall, he could have been a lot worse though.

Edited December 11, 2005 by KevHead0881

[nitetrain8601]

He didnt do much to help us win the Series. Nothing more than a replacement player at DH would have done

 

Everett was one of our more consistant players in the playoffs.

[witesoxfan]

Um he never actually head-butted that Umpire.  I think he has probably grown up and I doubt he would do that kind of thing now.  He was probably the leader in the clubhouse this year.

 

Paul and Ozzie say "HI!!!!!!!!!!!"

[DBAHO]

Everett was one of our more consistant players in the playoffs.

Yeah, but he also hit 0HR's in 40AB's (just being picky here). Then there were the .228/.305/.386 splits post ASB.

 

I don't agree with what the Seattle writer is saying about Carl's character, but I do agree that Seattle isn't a good fit for him.

[DBAHO]

Paul and Ozzie say "HI!!!!!!!!!!!"

And Mark Buerhle too.

[SSH2005]

He didnt do much to help us win the Series. Nothing more than a replacement player at DH would have done

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I hated Everett's awful lack of production after the All Star break but he did help us in the postseason:

 

Carl Everett's postseason stats:

40 AB's, .300 AVG, .333 OBP, 3 RBI's

 

I also agree that Everett is a terrible fit for the Mariners. He swings for the fences too much so Safeco is a horrible place for him.

[Punch and Judy Garland]

I hated Everett's awful lack of production after the All Star break but he did help us in the postseason:

 

Carl Everett's postseason stats:

40 AB's,  .300 AVG,  .333 OBP,  3 RBI's

 

I also agree that Everett is a terrible fit for the Mariners.  He swings for the fences too much so Safeco is a horrible place for him.

 

I said he did bad in the playoffs because at DH when you are slow on the bases, you really need to be a run producer. He seemed to have compltely lost his power as of late and I bet he doesn't crack 15 homers in Seattle

[soxhawks]

i liked carl while he was here, and based on our history someone will get hurt and we'll end up trading for him so dont throw him under the bus

[jphat007]

I said he did bad in the playoffs because at DH when you are slow on the bases, you really need to be a run producer. He seemed to have compltely lost his power as of late and I bet he doesn't crack 15 homers in Seattle

 

He only led our team in BA with runners in scoring position for the season. He carried us on offense for the first couple of months when we built our lead and Paul and the crew were struggling on offense.

 

And he was never a "jerk" with the Sox.

[SoxFan1]

Wow, the Carl Everett haters need to shut up. Man, watch the World Series DVD or the Sox Pride DVD and see how much of a cancer he was to the team. Carl produced on the down-low. He didn't have monster numbers but he was there when we needed him. He helped us win the world series and was DEFINITELY a one of the clubhouse leaders. I, for one, will miss Carl and wish him the best of luck.

[TLAK]

Wow, the Carl Everett haters need to shut up. Man, watch the World Series DVD or the Sox Pride DVD and see how much of a cancer he was to the team. Carl produced on the down-low. He didn't have monster numbers but he was there when we needed him. He helped us win the world series and was DEFINITELY a one of the clubhouse leaders. I, for one, will miss Carl and wish him the best of luck.

I recall he whined pretty loud when he was moved out of the 3 spot in September. I'll buy that, overall, he helped the team and pretty much stayed out of trouble but I wouldn't call him a leader on last year's team.

[Rowand44]

He only led our team in BA with runners in scoring position for the season. He carried us on offense for the first couple of months when we built our lead and Paul and the crew were struggling on offense.

 

And he was never a "jerk" with the Sox.

^^^

[Punch and Judy Garland]

^^^

 

You guys say these hyperbolic (is that a word?) statements liek "carried the offense" but thats bulls***. He didn't hit for power, he didn't knock in runs, he didn't walk, he can't play defense and at best he's lockerroom neutral. Just because he was on a championship team doesn't mean that he helped. Another DH around league average would have done more than Jurassic did.

[Rowand44]

You guys say these hyperbolic (is that a word?) statements liek "carried the offense" but thats bulls***. He didn't hit for power, he didn't knock in runs, he didn't walk, he can't play defense and at best he's lockerroom neutral. Just because he was on a championship team doesn't mean that he helped. Another DH around league average would have done more than Jurassic did.

He knocked in 87 runs, that's not bad at all. He was the only hitter in the middle of the lineup that could hit the ball at the beginning of the year when Paul and Dye were hitting below the mendoza line. Also, he wasn't neutral in the clubhouse, he was one of the leaders in there along with Mark, Paul and AJP. Carl was actually very well liked on this team.

[SoxFan1]

Once again, for anyone who has anything negative to say about Carl, I invite you to watch the World Series DVD and the Sox Pride DVD. Thats as simple as it gets...

Edited December 13, 2005 by SoxFan1