Cardinals sign Juan Crybaby

Juan Gonzalez is a Cardinal, signed to a minor-league contract which would be worth close to $1 million dollars if he makes the big club out of spring training.

Story reported in the Post-Dispatch today.

Juan Gone. Great.

Last good season: 2003 - 24 HR in 82 games with the Rangers. Last good full season: 2001 with Cleveland. He hasn't been good since the last time the Rams won more than 10 games.

This is the same guy who, after playing one year in Detroit, whined the park was too big (his excuse for the power drop-off in 2000). Can you see Ruth whining about the dimensions of any ballpark? Didn't think so. If memory serves, Detroit moved the fences in expressly for him; he bolted for Cleveland that off-season as a free agent. I have had no respect for him since that story broke.

Just what the Cardinals need - another head case.

Nope, not too happy about this.

In other news, apparently there's a large tiff out there because Bill Belichick left the playing field with one second left yesterday. Let's re-cap the situation:

Brady's fourth down desperation heave has fallen incomplete; there :01 on the clock; New England trails by 3; a snap/kneeldown typically takes 2 seconds; a timeout doesn't prevent the game from ending; New England will not get the ball back this day.

SO, Belichick jogs onto the field, SHAKES COACH COUGHLIN'S HAND congratulating him on his victory, and heads for the locker room, with the time still on the clock.

Why is this an issue?

From where I stand, that's good sportsmanship. The game was over, people! Why prolong the agony to run a meaningless play? Let the Giants celebrate their victory; they totally deserved it. You want to make fun of Belichick? Question his play calling; question why his vaunted offensive line got shredded; question the hoodie; question why he didn't attempt a 49-yd field goal midway through the third quarter. But don't question his conduct at the end. I thought it was the height of class in what had to be an extremely difficult, emotional moment.