Sunday, February 25, 2018

When You Know You've Been Around These Bases Before - MLB Free Agency 2018 (cont.) Pt 1 of 2




Exits and goodbyes in professional sports normally process fairly quickly, right?  A trade happens and the player leaves the dugout or clubhouse with a few goodbyes and well wishing hugs.  Free agency happens and a player moves to another team perhaps with a public word of thanks to the fans and former teammates, but this is then followed by a festive press conference, lots of smiles, showcasing of the new uniform jersey and overall excitement of the change, right?  The player has made the move he/she believes is in their best interests and they are invigorated by the change.  Cigars for everyone!!

And then there's the recent case of Eric Hosmer.  In Narnia's post And Where the Other Half Will Land, Remains a Mystery - MLB Free Agency 2018, we took a look at his changing of teams from the OTP point of view because the switch signaled the end of he and Mike "Moose" Moustakas as longtime teammates, infield corner-stones and close friends.  Narnia recognized and "saw" something very special between them.  

In the case of "Hos", his long awaited free agency decision came after the off-season had concluded, and almost through the end of February. It even came AFTER the beginning of spring training, following several press mentions of behind-the-scenes negotiations & talks between the Kansas City Royals' front office and San Diego Padres.  Royals GM Dayton Moore had unloaded several players and their large salaries and the longer the negotiations lasted, the more it seemed probable that Hosmer would return to the Royals.  

Not to be.

When word broke on Twitter late Saturday evening (Feb 11) that an agreement between Hos and the Padres had been reached, the heartbreak for Kansas City fans was deeply felt.  Everyone waited for the official announcement, through Sunday Feb 18. On Monday the 19th, Hos took his physical and word came that the press conference would be Tuesday the 20th.  Some of the pictures which came from the conference were rather somber looking, to be frank.




Let's try a different angle.  Indeed, it was a sobering moment at the press conference for Hos as he explained his reasoning for choosing the number 30, which had been Yordano Ventura's jersey number before he was killed in January 2017, in a vehicular accident.



This is Eric's new Twitter avatar:


And to add to the festive atmosphere, there was an added "guest":


On-again, off-again professional "girlfriend"-to-the-athletes, Kacie McDonnell, who came back on to the scene in the spring of 2017 and pops up for public events and now apparently, free agent signings.  

 At Eric's side at the table during his press conference?  Well known sports agent, Scott Boras.


Another fan shared the same question on twitter that I had in my head when I first saw Boras at Hos' side:


 

Changes in social media were next.  It took a little while for Hosmer's twitter and Instagram to change from 1B: Kansas City Royals to First Baseman: San Diego Padres.  His twitter header changed as well with a more, er....hirsute filter.


Pretty darn serious looking, isn't it?  And there must be a new app for adding body hair.  Either that or Hos abandoned his manscaping habits, just like a particular California boy we know.  Shout out to Jake. Quite amazing.  Hmmmm...

Next, there was "text-gate".  On the day of the Padres' "unveiling" press announcement, Royals' manager Ned Yost was asked if he had talked to Hos lately.


 

And it was true that Ned Yost nearly died this past winter after a bad fall from a hunting tree stand on his property, which he was repairing.  Later as 'textgate' unfolded, we found out that Eric Hosmer had changed his cell phone number over the off season.

 Interesting, isn't it?  Changing one's cell phone number but not giving it to the manager of your long-time team, even though it was not certain if you would return to that team.  Sounds like the move of someone who knew they would not be back. Or is that the impression that was intended to be given?

 There was also the jersey number change.  Eric Hosmer had been number 35 with the Royals.  At the press conference, he announced he would be number 30. Randy Jones of the Padres retired as #35 and he was quoted already as not giving it up.  Imagine, as a ballplayer not being aware of or having given any thought to your jersey number until two (2) minutes after he signed the new contract, that the Padres' number 35 had been retired?



via GIPHY
But the explanation given for choosing #30 was understandable and the sentiment and enduring tie to Kansas City seemed to hit directly at the hearts of crestfallen Royals fans.  For many, all was forgiven.




On Wednesday the 21st, while KC fans were still tweeting every crying gif they could get their hands on, this story headline appeared from the Royals' MLB beat writer (via a Padres Twitter Q&A): "Duffy Proud to Be Hosmer's 'Best Teammate' "
Hosmer, a free-agent first baseman who signed with the Padres, participated in an #AskThePadres Twitter Q&A on Tuesday night and was asked about his best teammate ever.
Hosmer responded, "I'm gonna say Duffy. He was always bringing in stuff for the whole team. He's the pitcher always on the top step when he's not pitching."  

To try and figure out who was closest-to-whom regarding the core group of Royals who had played together for so long, (i.e. Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Jarrod Dyson, Salvador Perez, Lorenzo Cain and Danny Duffy) would be a challenging task under any circumstances because they all did appear to get along so well.  However, to go one step further and actually ask Hos who had been his "favorite" teammate  "Ever?" seems a bit on the childish side, don't you think? Then again, upon reflection, maybe not. At least, not if the real purpose of the headline story was more of an opportunity to reassure everyone that Hos' very visible BFF, Mike Moustakas, really was not that important to him at all. Hmm. Now I wonder why that would be?


to be continued in Part 2 
pic sources: Associated Press, Giphy, Bleacher Report, San Diego
                     Tribune
our playlist:  listed at the end of Part 2 of 2
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