Bye-Bye, Boone!

The M's just lit a M 1,000,000. Actually, an M 4,500,000, give or take a few. Bret Boone has acheived the same status John Olerud did last season, and the future re-starts today. Jose Lopez got the nod to head back up north, instead of south to Portland. A bit odd, though, since he was just sent down to Tacoma, and normally you can't bring a guy back up until 10 days after he was sent down. We learn from George Sherrill's brother, in the comments over at Lookout Landing that:

...since the MLB offices were closed when the Lopez move was made, they were able to void that move. In turn the DFA of Boone now only has 8 days instead of the normal 10, as that move took the place of moving Spiezio up.

So we only have 8 more days to thank Bret Boone for his services. Maybe something with the Padres will be consummated after all. This move forces everyones' hands, and we should see something happen within the week. Or perhaps he'll just fade into the sunset, along with the remainder of his $9 million salary.

I probably should be a little bit sadder than I am over this move. Maybe it's the whole ideology thing that's not affecting me as much any more, but it was just way too hard to watch this team with Boone sucking air, both with the bat and the glove. I'm also one who has yet to really see why people are so high on Lopez. In all the games I've seen with him, both in Seattle and in Tacoma, I haven't been convinced that he's all the prospect he's touted to be. Maybe because he's still quite young. I'm just not sure. Still, if we're going to have a losing ball club, I'd rather have it be full of young up-and-comers than with overpriced-over-the-hill veterans.

So, I say, drink one for Boone. If you got some Boone's, then all the better. Thanks for the memories, dude!

Now, let's hope that Bavasi gets a clue with Thornton, when Sherrill is back pitching again. Get well soon, George!

Note added -- anyone notice that the July 26th bat night no longer has any reference to Bret Boone. It originally was scheduled to be Bret Boone bat night. I wonder if they're going to be Jose Lopez bats. Or Adrian Beltre bats (since Beltre is closest to the alphabet to Boone). Hmm. Could this be a reason why they made this move today? Last day for changes before the bat-engraving sweatshops in China start crankin' 'em out? Hmmmmm.