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Catch Ya Futher Down the Trail, Cordero
By Chris Mottram | October 31, 2008
The Brim Reaper. The Chief. Or, more recently, worthless. You may call Chad Cordero by many different names, but you can no longer call him a National. The team essentially cut him yesterday.
I can’t say I’m overcome with sadness — it’s hard to form a strong affinity for a guy who had one good season. But man, that season was good. Both for Cordero and the Nats. It was 2005, the team’s first year in D.C. We were just happy to have baseball in our backyard; an excuse to go back to RFK again, drink some beer, have an Italian sausage and take in a ballgame. But that team gave us much more. It gave us a contender. Those were great, yet distant, memories for a team that’s now in the business of losing 100+ games.
The team ultimately finished exactly .500, 81-81, but was actually in the Wild Card/NL East race up to the final weeks. And a huge part of that season, the franchise’s best year since coming to D.C., was Cordero. He lead the majors in saves in ‘05 with 47. He represented the team in the All-Star game, and not because baseball was required to allow a National in the clubhouse (I’m looking in your direction Cristian Guzman), but because he deserved it. He went on to finish the season with a 1.82 ERA and a sub-1.00 WHIP.
But thanks to injuries and a flat fastball topping out at 86 MPH, Cordero’s effectiveness went down the tubes. And now, he is no more. Good luck to you, sir. For old times sake, here’s “King Nothing” one last time, Chief:
PS. Don’t cry for Cordero; he’s doing just fine. From Nats 320’s interview with him yesterday: Q: How are you doing after all this? A: I am not doing too bad. I’m OK. I am just getting something to eat right now.
Topics: Nationals |
3 Responses to “Catch Ya Futher Down the Trail, Cordero”
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October 31st, 2008 at 12:51 pm
That boy sure could eat, and spot an 88-mph fastball.
November 1st, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Roll call on the remaining “faces” of the franchise circa 2005:
Zimmerman- still on original 6-figure contract? Check
Nick Johnson- Vag still hurting? Check
Chad Cordero- done standing in MLB’s “Joe the Plumber”? Check
Luis Ayala’s abilities- back to form since being the only player with a major injury in the inaugural World Baseball Classic? Absent
But fear not, Stan has a Plan! We could always do like the Rays and go from being the worst team in baseball to winning the ALCS in one season, right?
November 1st, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Nice summation…..RIP to the Chief.