Hang Up the Cleats

Ten Players that Need to Call it Quits

There's always a few of them. Players that don't know when their time is up and hang on too long. These players sometimes need the media to help them, so here's a wake up call to ten players who need to hit the showers and call it a career.

Roger Clemens - SP - Boston Red Sox
Age: 37
Contract: 2,180,000 through 2003
Talents: A/F/A/A/A
Only a year removed from a 19 win season, Roger Clemens lost all velocity in his pitches and his stamina died during the 1999 season. About a week before this sudden unexplained loss of all his best tools, he signed a 4 year extension. The first year of his extension is halfway over, and he's shown no recollection that he ever was the best pitcher of all time. Still, he should be proud of his career 264 wins, which are the most in BBSBL history.

Bobby Bonilla - RF - Baltimore Orioles
Age: 37
Contract: 970,000 through 2000
Talents: P/F/A/G/A/F
Bobby Bonilla is probably going to get another contract based on his current performance, but he shouldn't. He's lost all ability to hit for average and is riding on hitting fastballs to keep it looking pretty. His power is gone and he's more focused on hitting for average to get a job somewhere as a full-time player rather than get paid to be a power hitting pinch-hitter. If he finishes the year above .240/.300 it would be a miracle because pitchers will find his weakness soon if he doesn't find his swing again.

Kevin Mitchell - 3B - Toronto Blue Jays
Age: 38
Contract: 4,000,000 through 2001
Talents: F/A/P/F/G/F
A good backup on a decent team still, there is no excuse as to why he is still starting anywhere on the diamond. He's going to struggle to hit .230, and his power is completely null and void. The only saving grace is that his eye is as sharp as ever, so look for him to be on the market at 40 years old as a utility backup if he doesn't lose more ability than he has now. If he wants to keep a possible Hall of Fame bid, he should quit before he hurts his average more than he already has in the last 4 years.

Roberto Kelly - LF - Seattle Mariners
Age: 35
Contract: 1,500,000 through 2000
Talents: P/A/F/F/F/F
Once one of the best leadoff hitters in the league, he's taken a severe downturn this year, and looks to have fallen off the cliff in terms of ability. At best a lefty platoon player on any team that want's to avoid losing 100 games, he's starting for Seattle, and showing why he shouldn't be doing so with his .209/.251/.354 slashline that makes Craig Griffey wonder why he doesn't have a job in Seattle yet.

Steve Finley - CF - Atlanta Braves
Age: 35
Contract: 5.100,000 through 2001
Talents: A/A/G/F/F/G
One of the most consistent hitters of the last decade, he's fallen and he can't get up. Looks like the end of a good career out of this guy, unless he wants to hang around as an overpaid backup and tarnish his numbers. He's got just enough in the tank to not hit under .200 this year, but he's never going to hit over that mark again if he stays around.

Sid Fernandez - SP - Philadelphia Phillies
Age: 37
Contract: 8,890,000 through 2000
Talents: G/F/A/P/A
An integral part of the 1986 champion Mets, he's won his ring and needs to step down because he's only hurting his team at this point. He's been optioned to AAA and I'd be surprised to see him get picked up by a team this offseason. He may be forced to give it up by being unplayable.


Kevin Elster - SS - St. Louis Cardinals
Age: 35
Contract: 2,570,000 through 2001
Talents: A/A/A/A/A/G
How Elster has a job is beyond me, let alone having started the last 3 years now. He's got no ability to hit for average, and can't walk much anymore, leaving him as a power bat off the bench at best, and a mediocre one at that. He's lucky he's on a floundering team or he would have been booted to the curb a long time ago.

Luis Gonzalez - LF - San Francisco Giants
Age: 32
Contract: 6,000,000 through 2000
Talents: A/G/A/A/A/G
Talk about someone who never lived up to their potential. 32 years old and already sliding down a hard slope. For someone who looked so promising 5 years ago he's a complete waste of space and money, and the money he's being payed is a king's ransom for his talents. If he gets picked up this offseason that team better cross it's preverbial fingers for a fantasy level comeback.

Paul O'Neill - RF - Colorado Rockies
Age: 37
Contract: 5,500,000 through 2000
Talents: P/G/F/A/G/F
It's over Paul, and you know it. He's probably one of the fastest declining players in the history of baseball. A year removed from 30/106 and he's hitting under .200 with none of his power remaining. Even the magical Colorado air can't do anything for him. Sad to see a legend go but he's going to be remembered.

Tony Gwynn - CF - San Diego Padres
Age: 40
Contract: 4,400,000 through 2000
Talents: P/F/P/P/F/F
Tony Gwynn has tarnished his numbers significantly, and is only hurting himself. He should have retired after 1998 and let a youngster take his spot, but his greed got the better of him. He's a classic case of a guy hanging on to get his 3000 hits, and even then he stayed an extra year. We love you Tony but get off the field!