Bear
06-26-2008, 05:25 PM
June 26, 2008
Richard Justice
Sporting News
HOUSTON -- It was both frightening and surreal to those who saw it. Houston Astros pitcher Shawn Chacon rose from his chair, wrapped his hands around general manager Ed Wade's throat and threw him to the floor.
After all the tantrums and all the dumb stuff and all the people who have forgiven Chacon through the years, he finally crossed the line Wednesday. He might long regret the day he likely ended his own big league career.
Chacon did it himself. He'll look for scapegoats. He'll blame others. He'll look everywhere except the mirror. That's what people like Chacon always do.
In the end, though, everything that has happened to Shawn Chacon has been because of Shawn Chacon. This incident can't be forgiven or forgotten. Not by the Astros. Not by any other club.
Wade had approached Chacon and requested a meeting after the pitcher lashed out at Astros manager Cecil Cooper for demoting him to the bullpen.
Chacon refused. He challenged Wade to say what he had to say. Wade did. Loudly.
This wasn't Wade's finest hour, either. To ask for a meeting is one thing. To resort to yelling and cursing reflects a lack of maturity on Wade's part as well. Some who have known Wade through the years have thought he had a large streak of insecurity and a little man's complex.
Maybe this moment is a reflection of how far a once successful franchise has fallen.
Once upon a time, the Astros were Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio. They played the game a certain way. They represented professionalism and winning. Now with a farm system in disarray and a major league roster that's a patchwork of pieces from other organizations, the Astros are an absolute mess.
The Astros were perfectly justified in suspending Chacon, and then later releasing him, but owner Drayton McLane would be equally justified in asking some hard questions about Wade's behavior. Wade's yelling doesn't give Chacon an excuse to resort to violence, but it's no way a general manager should behave.
If Chacon had only argued or yelled or used words things would be different.
Regardless, the Astros signed Chacon knowing there was the potential for trouble. He'd worn out his welcome at a few stops along the way but apparently never had done anything like this. He's one of those guys with all kinds of talent, but a guy who always seems to disappoint.
He got off to a nice start for the Astros but had a 6.66 ERA in his past 10 starts and a 9.35 ERA in his past four. He simply didn't deserve to keep his spot in the rotation.
Wade took a $2 million gamble on Chacon because he was desperate. He hoped Chacon would be productive on the field and behave off the field. He was productive for a while, but things began to come apart when he threw a tantrum on the mound in Milwaukee a couple of weeks ago.
Chacon hadn't pitched well, and when he was sent to the bullpen he made every effort to get himself suspended. Wade obliged him Wednesday.
If you're McLane, you're also perfectly within your rights to ask, "Say, Ed, what made you think we were going to get through an entire season without a problem from Shawn?"
After all, Wade passed on Livan Hernandez, Kyle Lohse and one or two other pitchers. He went for the guy with the baggage. I'm hoping it wasn't just about money. Minnesota gave Hernandez $5 million. St. Louis gave Lohse $4.25 million.
Maybe Wade was gambling Chacon would do whatever he could to do everything right and maybe land a big money deal after the season. Now, it seems unlikely he'll ever pitch again in the big leagues.
What a strange career Chacon has had. He made the National League All-Star team in 2003 and was huge in helping the New York Yankees get to the playoffs in 2005.
He also has frustrated teammates and managers with his meltdowns, attitude and behavior. He twice tested positive for marijuana in the minor leagues and almost was released by the Rockies before he got close to the big leagues.
Once he arrived in 2001, he seemed on the fast track to stardom. By August 2002, Colorado manager Clint Hurdle banished him to the minor leagues and doubted he'd ever be back. Yet Chacon showed up for spring training the following year and won Hurdle back with his attitude and performance.
Chacon impressed the Yankees for a while, too, and the Pirates last year with his setup work in the bullpen. The Astros left spring training this spring saying great things about him.
Then he fell apart on the mound. And now this.
Who does this guy think he is? The second coming of Latrell Sprewell! :eek:
Richard Justice
Sporting News
HOUSTON -- It was both frightening and surreal to those who saw it. Houston Astros pitcher Shawn Chacon rose from his chair, wrapped his hands around general manager Ed Wade's throat and threw him to the floor.
After all the tantrums and all the dumb stuff and all the people who have forgiven Chacon through the years, he finally crossed the line Wednesday. He might long regret the day he likely ended his own big league career.
Chacon did it himself. He'll look for scapegoats. He'll blame others. He'll look everywhere except the mirror. That's what people like Chacon always do.
In the end, though, everything that has happened to Shawn Chacon has been because of Shawn Chacon. This incident can't be forgiven or forgotten. Not by the Astros. Not by any other club.
Wade had approached Chacon and requested a meeting after the pitcher lashed out at Astros manager Cecil Cooper for demoting him to the bullpen.
Chacon refused. He challenged Wade to say what he had to say. Wade did. Loudly.
This wasn't Wade's finest hour, either. To ask for a meeting is one thing. To resort to yelling and cursing reflects a lack of maturity on Wade's part as well. Some who have known Wade through the years have thought he had a large streak of insecurity and a little man's complex.
Maybe this moment is a reflection of how far a once successful franchise has fallen.
Once upon a time, the Astros were Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio. They played the game a certain way. They represented professionalism and winning. Now with a farm system in disarray and a major league roster that's a patchwork of pieces from other organizations, the Astros are an absolute mess.
The Astros were perfectly justified in suspending Chacon, and then later releasing him, but owner Drayton McLane would be equally justified in asking some hard questions about Wade's behavior. Wade's yelling doesn't give Chacon an excuse to resort to violence, but it's no way a general manager should behave.
If Chacon had only argued or yelled or used words things would be different.
Regardless, the Astros signed Chacon knowing there was the potential for trouble. He'd worn out his welcome at a few stops along the way but apparently never had done anything like this. He's one of those guys with all kinds of talent, but a guy who always seems to disappoint.
He got off to a nice start for the Astros but had a 6.66 ERA in his past 10 starts and a 9.35 ERA in his past four. He simply didn't deserve to keep his spot in the rotation.
Wade took a $2 million gamble on Chacon because he was desperate. He hoped Chacon would be productive on the field and behave off the field. He was productive for a while, but things began to come apart when he threw a tantrum on the mound in Milwaukee a couple of weeks ago.
Chacon hadn't pitched well, and when he was sent to the bullpen he made every effort to get himself suspended. Wade obliged him Wednesday.
If you're McLane, you're also perfectly within your rights to ask, "Say, Ed, what made you think we were going to get through an entire season without a problem from Shawn?"
After all, Wade passed on Livan Hernandez, Kyle Lohse and one or two other pitchers. He went for the guy with the baggage. I'm hoping it wasn't just about money. Minnesota gave Hernandez $5 million. St. Louis gave Lohse $4.25 million.
Maybe Wade was gambling Chacon would do whatever he could to do everything right and maybe land a big money deal after the season. Now, it seems unlikely he'll ever pitch again in the big leagues.
What a strange career Chacon has had. He made the National League All-Star team in 2003 and was huge in helping the New York Yankees get to the playoffs in 2005.
He also has frustrated teammates and managers with his meltdowns, attitude and behavior. He twice tested positive for marijuana in the minor leagues and almost was released by the Rockies before he got close to the big leagues.
Once he arrived in 2001, he seemed on the fast track to stardom. By August 2002, Colorado manager Clint Hurdle banished him to the minor leagues and doubted he'd ever be back. Yet Chacon showed up for spring training the following year and won Hurdle back with his attitude and performance.
Chacon impressed the Yankees for a while, too, and the Pirates last year with his setup work in the bullpen. The Astros left spring training this spring saying great things about him.
Then he fell apart on the mound. And now this.
Who does this guy think he is? The second coming of Latrell Sprewell! :eek: