Former Oriole Gibbons takes another step toward the majors
Jay Gibbons’ quest for redemption took another step with the former Orioles outfielder signing a minor-league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. Gibbons is expected to be with the Brewers Double-A team in Huntsville for a couple of weeks and then move to Triple-A Nashville.
Gibbons’ story is well-known in these parts. A popular player who was in Baltimore for seven seasons and had his best year in 2005 when he hit .277 with 26 home runs, Gibbons slipped badly statistically in 2007 and then was named in the Mitchell Report for receiving a shipment of human growth hormone after it was banned by baseball.
He dodged a 15-day suspension by Major League Baseball but he performed so poorly in spring training, the Orioles cut him even though he was owed nearly $12 million for the last two years of his contract. Possibly because of his PED involvement, Gibbons hadn’t been able to find another job. He wrote an emotional letter to all 30 MLB teams asking for a second chance but the only team that would give him a uniform was the independent Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League. He hit .280 with five HRs and 19 RBIs in 27 games with the Ducks. This deal with the Brewers gives Gibbons a legitimate shot at making it back to the majors.
Comments
Best of luck to Jay Gibbons. He messed up and paid the price. He's getting another chance, which seems fair, and it's up to him to make the most of it.
Posted by: TFB | July 23, 2008 2:31 PM
Glad to see him back; however, he's been dealt a pretty bad hand. I don't know if you agree with me, but let's say if he was a .300 hitter with 25 homers annually, he would get a pass on his drug use.
Honestly, his tenure with the Orioles came to an end simply because it was a referendum on his lack of performance, inability to field his position and injury concerns -- not because of the Mitchell Report.
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Anthony,
You're right ... his exile was the result of a combination of things.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Anthony | July 23, 2008 2:43 PM
I wish him the very best. Its sad to see a fan favorite fall in disgrace. People are human and should be allowed to redeem themselves.
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Capt.,
Hopefully, he makes the most of it.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Captain Jack | July 23, 2008 3:12 PM
Looking forward to seeing him here in Nashville
Posted by: Nashville Os Fan | July 23, 2008 10:46 PM
I remember when Gibbons got ticked when reporters kept dogging him about his suspected doping. He reminded everyone he had never had a positive drug test, and he was tired of being asked about the subject. Then he turns up in the Mitchell report and wants everyone to forgive him! He'll play for free in the minor leagues. That was awfully big of him, since he had the O's on the hook for $12 million! Like Andy Pettitte, I guess it's lie until you get caught.
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Brady,
The money can't be ignored, that's why I bring it up every time I write about him.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: brady | July 23, 2008 10:51 PM
Gibbons was cut because he isn't nearly as useful to the team as Luke Scott, Aubrey Huff, Jay Payton, or Kevin Millar. The Mitchell Report wasn't a chip in his favor but it was far from the deciding factor. I always thought that if he came back to the Bigs it would be with an AL team, as his fielding is very erratic and if he gets his bat going the AL team could slot him in as the DH.
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Beerman,
Absolutely ... if he had a better year last season and was tearing it up in Ft. Lauderdale, he'd still be with the O's. But I think that the HGH problem had a substantial role in other teams not signing him until now, even to a minor league contract. Who needed to take on the extra headache of that for a DH of average or below-average power. For the most part, though, Gibbons was a fans' player and if he can hit his way back to the majors, good for him.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Beerman Cold Beer | July 24, 2008 7:55 AM