From the Associated Press:
John Rocker, attempting a comeback with the minor league Long Island Ducks, had a testy exchange with a fan Tuesday as he walked off the field after another disappointing performance.
The 30-year-old lefty gave up two runs, two hits and two walks in one-third of an inning on the mound in Long Island’s 2-1 loss to the Atlantic City Surf in the second game of a doubleheader.
As Rocker left the field, Dave Macken of Atlantic City, a Surf fan sitting near the visitors dugout, yelled, “It’s a long way from Atlanta.”Rocker replied, “I’m still a millionaire” and followed with profanity, Macken told The Press of Atlantic City. Macken said the two then exchanged profanities.
Rocker recalled the exchange differently. “Call me what you want, but don’t start cussing at me like that,” he was quoted as telling the paper. “That’s just wrong.”
Rocker, who dropped to 0-2, entered with a 1-0 lead in the fifth and loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. He walked a batter with the bases loaded, forcing in the tying run, and gave up a go-ahead sacrifice fly.
All things considered, “I’m still a millionaire” isn’t the worst comeback, though “I’m still a millionaire and you paid good money to watch me suck” is even better. I hope David Weathers is taking notes.
Rocker was quoted as saying if he isn’t in the big leagues by July 15th, he’ll quit. Meanwhile, he’s 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA, pitching against Atlantic League players not considered good enough to be on anyone’s Double-A or Triple-A roster, and reportedly is only hitting 85 on the radar gun. My guess is, his only chance of appearing in a Major League uniform again is if he wins someone’s “Honorary Bat Boy/Bat Girl of the Game” contest.
I don’t usually guess at authorship on anonymous blogs like the brilliant (and newly CSTB-blogrolled) Yard Work, but if I had to hazard a guess at who wrote this I’d be inclined towards our host here at CSTB. It’s good work.
Also, I honestly can’t imagine Rocker being back in the bigs, ever, regardless of how well he throws: no team wants to deal with his baggage, even if he’s hitting 90+. Steve Howe got his five or six strikes, and plenty of players have gotten plenty of chances, but I think it’s a lot easier to kick an addiction to drugs than it is to bust out of a lifelong being-an-asshole habit. Rocker’s got a long road ahead of him. The first step: own your problem. Then go away.
Dear David,
I’m flattered that you think I’m capable of such greatness, but let me assure you, I have nothing to do with any of the Yard Work entries. If their first week is anything to go by, the last thing they need is any assistance from me. And as Dave Martin has already said, I’m all about leveraging the CSTB brand name — I can’t get distracted.
And I’ve gotta disagree with you about Rocker. There’s plenty of room in the big leagues for pitchers who can get guys out. Fuck, there’s plenty of room for pitchers WHO CAN’T get anyone out. You might be right about it being easier to cure drug addiction than being an asshole, but the Hall Of Fame is filled with assholes. But sucking up a storm at the indie league level doesn’t bode well for his future, nor do continued episodes with loudmouth fans.
I think we actually agree on Rocker at one critical point: it’s hard to imagine him getting a major league gig, in part since he hasn’t gotten anyone out since, oh, the middle of 2001. I’m sure if he could get guys out, someone would look hard at his personality and see just another bugged out guy with a huge head and crazy-guy eyes. But to a certain degree this is all moot, mostly because he can’t get anyone out. And let the record show that, in this case, “anyone” includes five guys on a team whose most recognizable player is Tom “Not Curtis” Goodwin.