Zimmer recovering after slight stroke

[Bear]

By Bill Chastain
MLB.com

Rays senior advisor hopes to be ready for Spring Training

ST. PETERSBURG -- Rays senior baseball advisor Don Zimmer suffered a stroke in December, but he doesn't plan to let it keep him from his duties with the club.

"I'm doing better now," said Zimmer by telephone Saturday. "It happened on the 23rd of December; it was my wife's birthday, and all the kids were over at the house, this and that, I wasn't being myself, and I guess it was recognizable. Somebody said, 'Gramps ain't doing too good, what's the problem?' Before you know it, I just knew I wasn't right and had to go to the doctor."

Zimmer, 78, said doctors diagnosed his problem as a slight stroke.

"And it hurt my speech more than anything," Zimmer said. "I couldn't hardly talk. I knew what I wanted to say, but it wouldn't come out. It's gotten a lot better since then. I feel all right, I'm a little slow. Of course, I haven't been too fast the last five or six years anyhow. So the slowness won't hurt me."

Zimmer reigns as one of baseball's most colorful and beloved figures after playing for parts of 12 seasons in the Major Leagues before spending another 40 years as a manager, coach or advisor.

Zimmer began his current position with the Rays in January 2004. When asked if he thought he'd be ready by Spring Training, Zimmer replied: "I hope so, I hope so."

I really hope this guy is OK. He has done so much for the game over the years it would be a shame to loose him. The fight with Pedro M. a few years back was such a black mark on Martinez that I hope it delays his getting in the Hall for a few years. By the way is Zimmer in the Hall?

[#25]

I have never liked Pedro and because of his action in the fight with Zimmer I hope he never gets into the Hall. I know he will but not because I want him.

[TkleMstr52]

That was no fight, dude came at him and was thrown to the ground, the rest of it was a fight. He shouldnt have gone out there, I am all for protecting your teammates and players but dont whine about the results. I think he even said I shouldnt have gone out to the mound. Seems as everyone does his whining for him.

[#25]

Pedro is a punk! I have never seen him in a fight where the other guy had a chance.

[TkleMstr52]

Well, he isnt a fighter, this is baseball, you want to see bad asses, order hbo and watch boxing.

[McCovey]

I hope The Zim recovers fully. He's a baseball lifer. Baseball would be less without him. Saying that, Zim is the one who attacked Pedro Martinez. What was Pedro supposed to do? Just let Zim attack him?

[McCovey]

As for Zimmer in the Hall of Fame he is not in.

[TkleMstr52]

Its a matter of time before he is in

[McCovey]

Its a matter of time before he is in
He will? On what basis? :shrug:

[Bear]

Its a matter of time before he is in

My guess is if he is not in by now it will never happen!

[McCovey]

I don't understand why Don Zimmer should be in the Hall of Fame? :shrug: Neither his playing carer nor his managing career are remotely close to being Hall of Fame caliber. Am I missing something?

[Bear]

I don't understand why Don Zimmer should be in the Hall of Fame? :shrug: Neither his playing carer nor his managing career are remotely close to being Hall of Fame caliber. Am I missing something?

No, he is a solid baseball man who has been part of the game for over 50 years. I was just asking but not saying he should be in. It make no never mind to me. ;)

[McCovey]

I always remember Don Zimmer for two things.

1) Being the manager of the 1978 Red Sox as they blow a 13.5 game lead over the Yankees.

2) Game 1 of the 1989 NLCS (Cubs vs Giants). Will clark comes up with the bases loaded with Greg Maddux on the mound. Zimmer comes out to talk to Maddux and his catcher. They have this really long chat. Zimmer goes back to the dugout. The very next pitch Clark hits a grand slam hitting the ball completely out of Wrigley Field! Whatever Zimmer instructed Maddux it was obviously the wrong answer. :pound:

[Bear]

I always remember Don Zimmer for two things.

1) Being the manager of the 1978 Red Sox as they blow a 13.5 game lead over the Yankees.

2) Game 1 of the 1989 NLCS (Cubs vs Giants). Will clark comes up with the bases loaded with Greg Maddux on the mound. Zimmer comes out to talk to Maddux and his catcher. They have this really long chat. Zimmer goes back to the dugout. The very next pitch Clark hits a grand slam hitting the ball completely out of Wrigley Field! Whatever Zimmer instructed Maddux it was obviously the wrong answer. :pound:

Did it ever cross your mind that Maddux just did not throw the pitch Zimmer wanted?:eek:

[TkleMstr52]

All I can remember is the Yankees gig, I figure if your in and around the game as long as him then you get in the hall.

[McCovey]

All I can remember is the Yankees gig, I figure if your in and around the game as long as him then you get in the hall.
That's not how the HoF works. The HoF is about inducting the greatest players and managers. At least in theory it is. Zim was nether a great player nor a great manager. Zim hasn't managed in over 15 years I believe.

[TkleMstr52]

Are there no questionable gents in the hall?

[Bear]

Plenty. Some who should not be in and many who should.;)

[TkleMstr52]

Then I think he gets in for being around as long as he has. Must have done something right??

[McCovey]

Then I think he gets in for being around as long as he has. Must have done something right??
Does it make sense to allow Zimmer into the HoF simply because the HoF has screwed up in the past? :shrug:

[McCovey]

Plenty. Some who should not be in and many who should.;)
Yes, and almost all of those were by the Veteran's Committee. For many years they just seem to have voted in their buddies and former teammates. Yes, I'm talking about you, Frankie Frisch. :rolleyes: The baseball writers have been much more stingy in the voting. And that is a good thing IMO.

[TkleMstr52]

Well why not, maybe this wrong makes it right. Haha, do you have a reason he doesnt deserve to be in?

[McCovey]

Well why not, maybe this wrong makes it right. Haha, do you have a reason he doesnt deserve to be in?
Other than neither his playing career nor managing career is Hall of Fame worthy? :p

Zim the player
1095 games, .235/.290/.372, 91 HRs, 352 RBI, 353 runs

Zim the manager
885 wins, 858 losses (.508), 1 Division title, 0 Pennants, 0 World Series titles

Zim last managed a major league team in 1991 where he was fired just 37 games into the season.

[TkleMstr52]

:cool: Works for me. Its a no.

[Bear]

Does it make sense to allow Zimmer into the HoF simply because the HoF has screwed up in the past? :shrug:

Who says what is screwed up? Are you such an ego centric that you should decide who gets in and who does not? Give your ego a rest!:buttkick:

[McCovey]

Who says what is screwed up? Are you such an ego centric that you should decide who gets in and who does not? Give your ego a rest!:buttkick:
I can't believe I missed this post. What are you talking about, Bear? Why is that when someone says something you don't agree with, you have to say they are "ego-centric"? :shrug:

[Bear]

I can't believe I missed this post. What are you talking about, Bear? Why is that when someone says something you don't agree with, you have to say they are "ego-centric"? :shrug:

Because in this case your statement was "ego-centric"!:rolleyes:

[McCovey]

Because in this case your statement was "ego-centric"!:rolleyes:
So my statement is egocentric because it's egocentric? :p However, you haven't explained why my statement was ego-centric? :nono: I simply said that players who clearly lack Hall of Fame credentials shouldn't be inducted simply because the Hall of Fame has made mistakes in the past by inducting players who clearly are not Hall of Fame players. The Hall of fame has been inducting players since 1936. Over the years the vote has transfered to many many sportswriters and the Veteran's Comittee. In 72 years of inducting players the voters are bound to make mistakes from time to time. However, the bulk of those mistakes fall on the old Veteran's committee. And that makes sense. The BBWAA voters are a much larger and diverse group of voters. The old Veteran's Committee was a much smaller group of former players and writers. It's much easier for a group of 10-12 voters to make poor choices. And the old Veteran's Committee has always had problems with politics, personal agendas, and favoritism. You get a bunch of old men into a room and they get to talking and drinking and start to wax poetic about how great the "old days" were and you get selections like that of the early 1970s. The leader of that old gang, Frankie Frish, basically wanted to induct all of his old cronies and buddies from the 1920s-30s into the Hall of Fame. His selections were widely criticized by many others and for good reason. They inducted guys who were no better or worse than players like Ron Gant, Steve Stone, Carl Furillo, Jim Perry, Vida Blue, and Jack Clark.

If you are inclined you should check out Bill James book called Whatever Happened to the Hall of Fame. He chronicles the history of the Baseball Hall of Fame, why and how it got started, the voting system and voting patterns over they years, the various Hall of Fame arguments, etc. It's a wonderful chocked full of information, history, and insight.

http://www.amazon.com/Whatever-Happened-Hall-Fame-James/dp/0684800888/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233709408&sr=8-1

[Bear]

Look my friend you are a Stat guy, and although I do look a stats, I tend not to be. It is that simple. No big deal. I can live with it, but it seems to be a much bigger deal for you.

[McCovey]

Look my friend you are a Stat guy, and although I do look a stats, I tend not to be. It is that simple. No big deal. I can live with it, but it seems to be a much bigger deal for you.
Fair enough. But, I'm not a "stat guy" per se. I use stats as a starting point in all of my baseball research.

[Bear]

Fair enough. But, I'm not a "stat guy" per se. I use stats as a starting point in all of my baseball research.

And I don't. You are a stat guy and just do not see it.:bugeye:

[McCovey]

And I don't. You are a stat guy and just do not see it.:bugeye:
Funny how you like to tell others (whom you have never met in person) on this board how they are like but they "just don't see it". :p

What is it about baseball statistical analysis that bothers you? :shrug:

[Bear]

Funny how you like to tell others (whom you have never met in person) on this board how they are like but they "just don't see it". :p

What is it about baseball statistical analysis that bothers you? :shrug:

I don't tell others just you! They say I needle people I like but I am not sure.

Statistical analysis has no soul. It does not take into account the passion a player has for the game.
:D

[McCovey]

I don't tell others just you! They say I needle people I like but I am not sure.
No, you tell jandajuice a well. :)


Statistical analysis has no soul. It does not take into account the passion a player has for the game.
:D
Of course it does. Here is the formula. :)

player passion = 0.358 X (amount of dirt on the uniform) X .0368 X (amount of chaw a player chews) X 3.14159 X (how much below .300 a players BA is) X 6.356 X (# times a player is referred as having "grit") X (# walls a player has run into) X .5698 X (# running dives at 1st base)

[Bear]

No, you tell jandajuice a well. :)

I tell who?:eek:

[#25]

Who is jandajuice and what is that anyway?