The two biggest head cases in baseball, John Rocker and Carl Everett on the same team.

What a combo!


Indians trade John Rocker to Texas

CLEVELAND (AP) -- John Rocker, who never fit in after being traded to Cleveland last season, was dealt by the Indians to Texas on Tuesday for a minor league pitcher, baseball sources familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.

Rocker, whose remarks on racial, ethnic and sexual minorities in a magazine article led to his suspension for two weeks in 2000, will be reunited in Texas with new Rangers general manager John Hart.

The sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the deal could be announced Tuesday afternoon.

Rocker will also now be a teammate with volatile outfielder Carl Everett, who went to Texas in a trade earlier this month from Boston.

As Cleveland's GM, Hart acquired Rocker from the Atlanta Braves last June for pitchers Steve Karsay and Steve Reed.

But the deal backfired on Hart, who thought adding the left-handed Rocker might finally get the Indians their first World Series title since 1948.

Rocker pitched poorly in Cleveland, going just 3-7 with four saves and a 5.45 ERA in 38 games. He was handed the closer's job upon arrival, but ended up giving it back to Bob Wickman.

Rocker, 27, was never really accepted by his Indians teammates, either. And after saying he was thankful for a fresh start with the Cleveland media, he rarely granted interviews.

Rocker became a distraction in the clubhouse during the AL playoffs. First, he threw water on fans taunting him during Game 1 in Seattle and compounded problems by clashing with Wickman over some remarks he made.

When the Indians signed Wickman to a three-year contract last month, it became clear that Rocker was no longer part of their future.

Indians GM Mark Shapiro tried to work out a deal last week at the winter meetings in Boston and reportedly talked with Texas, Los Angeles and the Chicago Cubs about Rocker.

But in the end, he had to turn to Hart, his former boss, to get rid of Rocker.

If the Indians hadn't been able to trade Rocker, they would have had to offer him a new contract by Thursday or he would have become a free agent.

There were no immediate details on the player the Indians were getting in the deal.

Rocker was fined and suspended for two weeks at the start of the 2000 season after making disparaging remarks about gays, minorities and others in a Sports Illustrated interview.

Rocker, who was leading the NL in saves when he was traded by Atlanta on June 22, is in Puerto Rico pitching winter ball with the Bayamon Cowboys. He's working on a new pitch but last week said he wouldn't be surprised if he never gets to use it for the Indians.

[ December 18, 2001: Message edited by: tzeile29 ]

John Rocker will find a lot of people in Dallas that share his views on minorities. Trust me, I used to live there, he'll fit right in. I think he's found a true home.

What fun when the Rangers come to town. Arod, Rocker and Everett all favorates in Seattle. We must save Catalanotto from the evil Rangers, they can keep Gabey Baby.

[ December 18, 2001: Message edited by: gp43 ]

AWWWWWW Geeeezzzzzz , just what Texas needed...another loud mouth, loose cannon, with more testosterone than brains. I can see Everett and Rocker going at it now with Chad Curtis trying to get them both to Wednesday night Bible meeting. What a dugout.

The Ranger's have enough Hispanics on the team to start a mini revolution of their own, maybe they can keep ole jockitch mouth in check. If not, maybe Gabe, the Babe can show what real muscles are used for, instead of packing suitcases....

Granted the Rangers are in desperate need of pitching but Rocker.....GEEEZZZZ

Oh well.....we'll see what will unfold.

As gp said, Catalanotto has got to be saved and traded to a "normal" team before Everett and Rocker corrupt this pure cutie with their foul-mouth, trash-talkin, melee-instigating crap....I think the number of suspensions and ejections has just tripled in Arlington for 2002 (assuming there is a 2002 season, of course)....how about sending Frankie C. to the O's? -- we need all the help we can get.

Anyone want to offer odds on how long it'll be before all hell breaks loose between Rockr and Everett? Maybe Chad Curtis will lead the team in a "Kumbaya" chorus before the first home game?

~Adam

[quote]Originally posted by Adam:
Anyone want to offer odds on how long it'll be before all hell breaks loose between Rockr and Everett?

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I said it here or elsewhere, I forget: they'll either kill each other or become red-hot lovers!

[quote]Originally posted by Joe in Philly:
they'll either kill each other or become red-hot lovers!

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Or maybe they'll kill each other AS A RESULT OF especially hot lovemaking (shades of Nelson Rockefeller and Meagan Marshack)!!

Luisitania
Heindenberg
Titanic
Reform Party
Texas Rangers

Or maybe both Rocker and Everett will see this as a chance for redemption and use the fresh start to turn over a new (Ryan) Leaf.

When pigs fly most likely. The M's are still the team to beat in the West of course, but if the Rangers can get even half-way decent pitching they could be a factor.

Count me in on the Let's Save Frank C. thing; I'll don a black ski mask and gloves if it means that he's rescued.

What a clubhouse that could be this year.

Could be the most loathsome squad since the 1984 John Birch Society Padres!

Now add Chan Ho Park to the list. I predict an awfull year for Park, and for Rocker to go off on Koreans.

With A-Rod last season and Chan Ho Park this year, will Scott Boras get his own luxury box at the stadium to watch the Rangers implode--yet again?

~Adam

I certainly know about John Rocker's ignorant remarks when he was still in Atlanta, but I guess I haven't followed baseball closely enough to be familiar with Carl Everett. What's the story on him that makes him so controversial? Can someone fill me in?

Carl Everett likes to spit at the pitcher and grab his crotch as he runs around the bases after hitting a home run.

[quote]Originally posted by gp43:
Carl Everett likes to spit at the pitcher and grab his crotch as he runs around the bases after hitting a home run.

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A Hummmmm ... Very Interesting...
Very Freudian...

I recommend, one should apply spit to the crotch and grab the pitcher for a run around the bases.
Ok... I'd grab Javy first....

Just a thought, Merry Christmas

[quote]Originally posted by gp43:
Carl Everett likes to spit at the pitcher and grab his crotch as he runs around the bases after hitting a home run.

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Ok, I had another thought (I could be dangerous)


If Mr.Eeverett does that to good ole boy Rocker,
Mr. Testosterone might take it as a good sign....
"He likes me, he really likes me..."

This could be the start of a beautiful friendship.


See, I told ya I could be dangerous....

In all seriousness, Carl Everett simply has a bad attitude and is frequently involved in some sort of controversy... he has head-butted umpires, he had a well-publicized fued with Red Sox manager Jimy Williams, (Duquette took Everett's side, and it may have had something to do with Williams' untimely firing smack in the middle of a pennant race, which just magnifies Duquette's incompetence, but that's a different story)... Everett was also involved in a domestic scandal while with the Mets, his kids were removed from his custody for a time due to reports of child abuse.

Basically Carl Everett is a very bad man.

Thanks guys, for filling me in on this Everett fellow. He sounds like an a..hole, so him and Rocker deserve each other. My sympathies to Texas Rangers fans! Some sports 'highlights'of the year were being reviewed on Jim Rome's radio show today, and Rome properly slammed Rocker not only for his infamous remarks about minorities but also for what he more recently said about his former Braves' teammates, particularly Chipper Jones, who he referred to as 'white trash'.

[quote]Originally posted by Marc:
... what he more recently said about his former Braves' teammates, particularly Chipper Jones, who he referred to as 'white trash'.

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You know, I told John that buying that rose color tint for his windows on his trailer wouldn't do it.

But you know how some are:

They graduate from doing the laundry at the trailer park faucet to the Econo Wash n Lube (tire rotation and battery charges, too.) and
whola.... they're a society matron. oh boy...

Dallas is full of big wallets, big hair and big attitudes, Rocker's antics will be just another amusement to Dallasites. A sure distraction from the fact....The Rangers need a real pitcher. or two....three couldn't hurt.

Merry Christmas...