Immediate retirement. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1855838 Monday, August 9, 2004 ESPN.com news services Mariners designated hitter Edgar Martinez, who's spent all of his 18 major league seasons in Seattle, will announce his immediate retirement at a 5:30 p.m. ET news conference, ESPN has learned. Martinez had previously said he wouldn't make a decision about his playing future until the end of the season, but the franchise's last-place standing in the AL West and a midseason dismantling of the roster clearly pushed him into making the decision sooner. The Mariners originally scheduled a special benefit Edgar Bear Night at Tuesday night's game against Minnesota at Safeco Field, but there was no word on whether it will be held as planned. The first 15,000 fans 14 and younger will receive the bear; Martinez will have his face and image on a stuffed bear with a Mariners jersey. It's part of a promotion for Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center in Seattle. The 41-year-old Martinez was particularly upset when the Mariners released slumping first baseman John Olerud last month. Olerud rejected a lucrative offer from the Mets, instead signing on with the Mariners in what was a homecoming to his native Washington in 2000. "Seeing this happen to a player like Olie is hard to take," Martinez said last month. "A player who has played so much consistent ball. His whole career. A great player. It's hard to see that." Olerud signed with the Yankees last week. Shortstop Rich Aurilia also was released by Seattle last month, two weeks after the Mariners traded pitcher Freddy Garcia and catcher Ben Davis to the White Sox. Martinez is batting .258 and has seen his playing time reduced with the arrival of 28-year-old Bucky Jacobsen. Jacobsen, a career minor leaguer, hit .318 with 26 homers and 86 RBI for Triple-A Tacoma prior to his call-up. Martinez is leaving the game with a .312 career batting average, 305 home runs, 1244 RBI and a .420 on-base percentage. The Mariners are 41-70 and 22 games behind the West-leading Athletics.
18 years. wonder how long ago he would have retired if he would have had to field a position like real baseball players are supposed to.
I kind of have to agree with Max. The Designated Hitter is one of the worst things ever to come to Major League Baseball. IMHO, they cannot get rid of the DH fast enough.
