Grady Sizemore s star shone bright but not long Bill Livingston
Post on: 2011-11-02 By: admin
PD fileGrady Sizemore's hard-charging style endeared him to fans, but took a toll on his body.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The thing that made Grady Sizemore nearly great also made the greatness short-lived. Sizemore played all-out, as hard as he could, day-in, day-out, until the walls he ran into and the doubles he legged out in a cloud of dust and the players he crashed into all took a toll on his body.
A particularly fond memory is of Sizemore scoring in a clatter of spikes and a swirl of dust on a wild pitch in the "Bug Game" in the playoffs against the Yankees in 2007, when he upended pitcher Joba Chamberlain, who was covering the plate. It was a symbol of the way the Indians upset the best-laid plans of baseball’s highest-paid team in a divisional series upset.
Sizemore endured five operations on everything from his knees to his groin to his elbow, with the accompanying drop-off in performance. The small-market Tribe had little choice but not to renew his contract Monday when Sizemore was resistant to re-doing it.
But at his best, Sizemore was a 30-30 man in home runs and stolen bases and, for a brief time, he was the Central Division’s best player. It didn’t last, like the unseasonable weather at the midge game, but it was something to see while it did.
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October 31, 2011 at1:16PM
Grady sincerely gave his best every AB, every fly ball.
His intensity was the type that inspires others.
Quiet leadership, great talent and skill, loyalty, made Grady a great team member and fan favorite.
People desperate for attention of any type will applaud this move and denigrate the man.
True Indians' fans will accept this move as in the best interests of the Indians, but a sad one.
Those who greatly admired and appreciated this great young man will be drowned out on the Internet, but Grady has the perspective to realize that the true fans of the Cleveland Indians are sad to see his Indians career end ifit does, hopeful that another contract can be worked out, and certain that Grady will have a successful, full life in or outside of baseball.
Good luck, Grady Sizemore.
You were my favorite Indian since Rocky played right field.
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October 31, 2011 at1:53PM
I second this post....."it ain't over till the fat lady sings".
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October 31, 2011 at2:08PM
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October 31, 2011 at7:30PM
Agree with some of your points, Bally, but you certainly go over the top.
Example A: Grady's "quiet leadership"
I don't think Grady was any kind of leader on Indians teams. For better or worse, that's just not in his personality.
And I'm sure you're not one of Grady's Fave 5's, so your opinion on Grady's perception is pure conjecture.
Like you, however, I wouldn't have a problem with him coming back at a more realistic price tag, and if he goes elsewhere and returns to All-Star form, that would be fine, too.
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October 31, 2011 at8:09PM
I'm looking forward to the day when Grady comes back torches the Tribe. I hope he goes to a division rival and the Indians have to see him 18 times a season. Last season it was Victor and Peralta, previous to that it was Thome and Manny, all owned the Indians.
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October 31, 2011 at1:20PM
Those great tea cup photos seemed to be the beginning of the end for Mr. Sizemore.
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October 31, 2011 at1:46PM
Yes, we'll always have the coffee cup shots.Not long, either.
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October 31, 2011 at2:01PM
It sure would have been nice to see him rework his contract. It is going to be a big drop wherever he ends up going, why not stay and prove yourself here instead of elsewhere? You were great theater for a while Grady, thanks!
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October 31, 2011 at2:35PM
Thank you Grady for your hard work and dedication to the game. Our family will always remember you and wish you well in what ever endeavor you choose to pursue. In our hearts you will remain a Cleveland Indian forever.
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October 31, 2011 at2:49PM
It's not a lock he won't be back, let's see how it plays out. if he never gets it all back he will be this generations Pete Reiser.
I do think we still have an interest in Upton so this can break in more ways than one.
Jones is no huge loss, we are loaded with good looking bullpen prospects, so thanks to him and may he find success elsewhere.
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October 31, 2011 at3:22PM
Grady WAS a great player but his body has given out on him. He never should have been used as a leadoff hitter, he strikes out way too much. With his power he should have been batting 3rd. I've given up being a real fan of players as the game has become a business and 99% of players are just names in a lineup to management. I agree with the Indian's management that his time in the sun is over and even if he makes a comeback he was tooexpensive to risk the chance of him being on the DL AGAIN for a long period of time in 2012. Bye Grady thanks for the effort put forth... onward.
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October 31, 2011 at3:24PM
When I had the joy of living in the Cleveland area and having Tribe season tickets, I sat half-way up the lower section behind third base.I can still see Grady flying around second toward third following a liner to the gap in right center.Stunning!And I can remember a half-dozen highlight reel catches that enabled a poor-armed outfielder to earn his gold gloves.He never appeared to quit, seemed amiable, and worked hard.I will be sad to see him go if it comes to that, and always wish him well.
Thanks, Grady, for what you have already given Cleveland!Go Tribe!
PS.The Lowe deal will be a good one only if it works out--I am a genius. I would rather hope it will and be wrong than hope it doesn't and be right.Look for me in Goodyear wearing my Kool-Aid shirt.(It is cooler and more comfortable than sack cloth and ashes...).
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October 31, 2011 at4:06PM
Grady was everything you could ask for in an athlete. He led by example. The players around him had to elevate themselves to play at his level.
I never saw him jog out a groundball or give up on a fly.
He was also a very complete player for his age. I mean, realistically, he should be entering his prime in 2012.
If he remained healthy, he would have owned this city. His style of play is exactly what this city craved.
It's a very sad day for Tribe fans.
Guys like Victor and Grady had class that rivaled any player of their era.
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October 31, 2011 at4:20PM
End of an era. Good luck, Grady. You were a ton of fun to watch and even more fun to root for. Hope you can find some health and reboot your career somewhere else.
Oh, and thanks for stuffing the stat sheet for my fantasy teams over the years!
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November 01, 2011 at7:42AM
I love how my comments never get approved.All I do is tell it like it is, yet they are never approved by the author.Oh well.
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