You: the kind of article that was written a thousand times after David Eckstein won the World Series MVP Award, which contained lots of references to how scrappy and gritty he is, ignoring fully his not-very-good-at-baseball-ness.
Where have you been, baby? I've missed you. But all is forgiven, now that Eck is a free agent, and these articles are beginning to reëmerge. Come back to me. I promise, I'll be gentle. I'll only reprint the key words, just like I used to. What do you say?
Thinking -- and acting -- outside the box
provide some of the fire the team lacked last season
shortstop for two World Series champion teams in the last six seasons
Willie Randolph, an admirer of Eckstein's spunk,
MVP of the Cardinals' 2006 World Series champion team
overcome a modest arm to play regularly or almost regularly
Because of injuries
Despite the games missed
Eckstein is widely recognized as one of baseball's foremost gamers.
source of the grit and resolve their team lacked last season
Eckstein would provide some of the fire Paul Lo Duca provided in his two seasons
Eckstein is thought to be seeking a four-year contract worth $36 million
his defense deteriorated last season
Eckstein played fewer innings, 943 2/3, in 2007 than in any other season and committed a career-high 20 errors
a master of the contentious at-bat
For the record, in re: being a "master of the contentious at bat," Eckstein's 3.64 pitches per plate appearance would have ranked him #123 among MLB players in that category last year. I say "would have," because he was injured so much he didn't have enough AB to qualify. In 2006, his 3.75 was good for 95th.
Also, for the record, if I were Willie Randolph, I would not like to be referred to, in print, as an "admirer of Eckstein's spunk."
The article also has this:
Playing for an offensively-challenged team -- the Cardinals scored 725 runs, the sixth fewest in the National League -- Eckstein scored 51 runs and drove in 38.
Which is delightful, in that it does not allow for the fact that the Cards were offensively challenged in part because of Eckstein's presence.
Labels: david eckstein, fremulon insurance
