It was reported in the Globe and Mail today that Pete Walker's contract has been sold to the Yokohama BayStars of Japan's Central League.
Well, I will miss Pete Walker, who was another journeyman who made good, an example of J.P. Ricciardi's great eye for underappreaciated minor league talent. When the inexperienced pitching staff was getting shelled in 2002, J.P. picked Pete Walker up off waivers. Pete came in and held down a consistent place on the starting staff... he fought in very start, won 10 games after May, and played a huge role in turning that season around, from first-half disaster to second-half triumph.
Last year he just didn't get time to get untracked, as first a shoulder problem, then a knee problem, conspired to keep him from getting in the consistent groove he occupied in 2002.
I hope he'll get a chance to start every fifth day in Japan, stay healthy, and show how valuable a pitcher he can be.
Please share your memories of Pete Walker with us in this thread.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20040226122616999