Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Gone But Not Forgotten : Pete Walker

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.

Posted by Craig B on Thursday, February 26 2004 @ 12:26 PM EST.

Gone But Not Forgotten : Pete Walker | 24 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

_Matthew E - Thursday, February 26 2004 @ 12:35 PM EST (#61220) #

What do I remember . . . not much, really. I remember how for a while in '02 he was the only starting pitcher beyond Halladay who was doing anything right.

I wonder how much the Jays got for him, and what they're going to do with the money.

Joe - Thursday, February 26 2004 @ 01:00 PM EST (#61221) #

http://me.woot.net
The article on Pete Walker from the Official Site makes it seem very much like the selling of Walker's contract is more a formality than anything else. In particular:

"They made it very clear they wanted me to stay," said Walker, "but J.P. gave me his word he wouldn't stand in my way for this opporunity [sic]."

Sounds like the opportunity came up and J.P., recognizing that he wasn't gaining a lot by holding on to Walker's contract (but by doing so he would be hindering Walker), let him go by selling the contract.

_Ryan - Thursday, February 26 2004 @ 01:00 PM EST (#61222) #

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/tor/news/tor_news.jsp?ymd=20040226&content_id=641598&vkey=news_tor&fext=.jsp
I wonder how much the Jays got for him, and what they're going to do with the money.

Ted Rogers will probably buy a large double-double at the local Tim Hortons. If there's any money left over, he might spring for an apple fritter.

Spencer Fordin has posted an article on Walker heading to Japan (COMN). It sounds like this was all his doing and the Jays didn't want to block him. He'll apparently be making close to a million dollars over there so I don't blame him for jumping at the opportunity. He was one guy I always rooted for while he was here and I wish him well.

_Jordan - Thursday, February 26 2004 @ 01:09 PM EST (#61223) #

This opens up a spot for Talley Haines in spring training, if he can grab it. If not, possibly someone like Vinny Chulk could go north as the last man out of the pen. Personally, I'd prefer to see the Jays take the opportunity to replace Walker's spot with an extra bat. We shall see.

_Dr. Zarco - Thursday, February 26 2004 @ 01:21 PM EST (#61224) #

Interesting. While Pete was always far more effective than a few guys with better stuff on the team (no names mentioned...ahem Tam), every time I watched him pitch I couldn't help but wondering how he got anyone out. Although I also wonder how the heck Jamie Moyer gets 20ish outs most starts... This extra position battle gives us all something else to talk about in the coming weeks. Best of luck over there Pete!

_Doug - Thursday, February 26 2004 @ 01:25 PM EST (#61225) #

I imagine this opens up an opportunity not just for Haines, but also, Jayson Durocher, Bruce Chen and Bob File (who is finally healthy) to fight it out. Either way, the Jays will probably go with the extra bat until they need a 5th starter at the end of April. Unless they plan on stashing Towers in AAA for the month.

_Wildrose - Thursday, February 26 2004 @ 01:49 PM EST (#61226) #

Good for Walker. I remember reading an article awhile back describing how he almost gave up baseball as it appeared he'd be nothing more than a career minor leaguer, only to be talked back into giving it one more shot by his wife,a chartered accountant whose success in her own career allowed him the financial security to pursue his dream.

Hopefully this deal goes through for his families sake.Is there any chance that Walker has to clear waivers first(I remember Epstein blocking Kevin Millar in a similar Japanese deal last year)before this deal is finalized?

_Ryan Day - Thursday, February 26 2004 @ 01:53 PM EST (#61227) #

IIRC, Walker wasn't on the 40-man roster anyway, so wouldn't have to clear waivers. Even if he did, though, he passed through waivers earlier in the offseason and no one claimed him, so I'm not sure why they would now.

_Ryan - Thursday, February 26 2004 @ 02:26 PM EST (#61228) #

Spencer Fordin has posted an article on Walker heading to Japan (COMN). It sounds like this was all his doing and the Jays didn't want to block him.

Good Lord, I'm an awful writer. That sounds like Spencer Fordin was the one responsible for Walker heading to Japan. He may have been and the article he wrote was all an elaborate cover-up for that fact, but somehow I doubt it. I don't think Spencer has that much influence.

I also forgot the smiley at the end of my Tim Hortons line. It was intended to be a joke, rather than a smartassed reply (if it came across that way).

It's a good thing we're still several weeks away from opening day. If this post was any indication, I've got a lot of work ahead of me this spring...

robertdudek - Thursday, February 26 2004 @ 02:35 PM EST (#61229) #

Oh those dangling pronouns ....

_Steve Z - Thursday, February 26 2004 @ 02:39 PM EST (#61230) #

"We ended up being able to sell him and make some money on the deal. Maybe we'll be able to put that money into signing some of our draft picks, or maybe even get involved with another guy in the Asian market. ... We've got a kid we like over there who we've gone over and scouted. We may try to use [the money] for that."

Sounds like a win-win to me!

We'll miss you Pete! Good luck in Japan!

_SF - Thursday, February 26 2004 @ 03:08 PM EST (#61231) #

While it's true that my megalomania knows no bounds, I feel compelled to quote the esteemed Bart Simpson: "I didn't do it."

_eljah - Thursday, February 26 2004 @ 03:27 PM EST (#61232) #

From a pitching standpoint, meh.
Pete seems like a good guy though, and if this is what he wants, then good for him.

_Dr. Zarco - Thursday, February 26 2004 @ 03:50 PM EST (#61233) #

Haha, thanks Spencer, we're all glad you're off the hook for this one ;=)

Gitz - Thursday, February 26 2004 @ 07:00 PM EST (#61234) #

While I appreciate Spencer's candor here, to be fair to The Simpsons' writers, I'm quite sure that Krusty should get credit for the "I didn't do it" line -- though it was, of course, Bart who made it famous.

About the only things I enjoyed in high school English classes were the lessons about misplaced modifiers.

To wit: "The man went out to retrieve his dog, clad only in his robe and slippers."

Some goofy things you never forget.

_Matt - Friday, February 27 2004 @ 03:28 AM EST (#61235) #

they did a nice piece on TheScore about him tonight... The entire training camp segment was dedicated to him, I'm glad they gave him a degment instead of a blip in the news... he was a solid fifth starter in the majors and I'm sure he'll do well along sasaki. Ya always knew he was going to lay it all on the line every time he came out... I did get the impression that doc was a pretty big fan of pete... too bad... really is... he might've really have come in handy for us again this year had he stayed...

_coliver - Friday, February 27 2004 @ 07:35 AM EST (#61236) #

No, it was Bart who came up with "I didn't do it", but Krusty exploited it on his esteemed "Krusty The Clown Show".

Entertainment...thy name is Krusty!

_Greg - Friday, March 19 2004 @ 06:16 PM EST (#61237) #

So Pete's going to Japan - I was wondering why he wasn't getting any innings in spring training. I did a quick Google search and ended up with the info here. I'm not a Jays fan - just like to keep track of the East Lyme (CT) H.S. grads who are playing ball. Sounds lke the Jays did OK by Pete - he paid a lot of dues to get to the show. Good to see his career is still going.

_Mike - Saturday, May 01 2004 @ 10:53 PM EDT (#61238) #

Pete Walker is an over-rated pitcher and always has been, spanning back to the days of his East Lyme High School (which would be in Connecticut) career. His pitches are relatively weak by comparison to superior talent and the fact that the Blue Jays completely suck made him look good. See, the thing is, Pete looked at his career, and how it was going nowhere in MLB so he flew the coup and took the money offered from Japan. To say mediocre in terms of quality coming from Pete Walker's arm is an overstatement; more like poor at best. Good luck in Japan Pete, hope you don't injure a knee sitting crosslegged at the dinner table.

Craig B - Saturday, May 01 2004 @ 11:29 PM EDT (#61239) #

Geez, Mike, what did Pete Walker do? Give you a noogie? Steal your girlfriend? Run over your dog? That was pathetic.

_Rob - Saturday, May 01 2004 @ 11:38 PM EDT (#61240) #

Pete looked at his career, and how it was going nowhere in MLB so he flew the coup

I can't blame him for wanting to leave before "a sudden and decisive change of government illegally or by force."

_Walter - Sunday, May 30 2004 @ 11:18 PM EDT (#61241) #

I wish the best for Pete in Japan. I also did a Google search and ended up here. I went to college with Pete and nobody is more deserving of the succes he had at every level. Mike's comments are ignorant and unnecessary, whoever he is.

_Walter - Sunday, May 30 2004 @ 11:19 PM EDT (#61242) #

Craig B - Sunday, March 13 2005 @ 08:08 PM EST (#106019) #

I always wondered who would be the first "Gone But Not Forgotten" player to return to the Blue Jays, and to be honest, I always sort of expected it to be Pete Walker. I wonder if he'll make the club out of spring training...

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