Dodgers release Fernando Tatis

Budman · Post by **Budman** » March 14 07, 9:45 pm

IIRC, Tatis was traded the year after signing a big multi-year contract. While most will remember his two grand slams in a single game, didn't Tony question his "hunger" after the big contract - perhaps Jerry (Jmodene) recalls. Anyway, here's the latest on Tatis....

VERO BEACH, Fla. - The
Los Angeles Dodgers released third baseman Fernando Tatis on Wednesday — three days after he failed to report to their minor league camp.

The Dodgers reassigned Tatis on Sunday in the club's first round of roster cuts. General manager Ned Colletti was low-key regarding the announcement of Tatis's absence from camp.

"We released Tatis because we released him. That's all I want to say about that right now," Colletti said Wednesday.

The 32-year-old Tatis, a non-roster invitee to camp, hit just .158 this spring training, going 3-for-19 in 10 games. He played in 28 games for the
Baltimore Orioles last season, hitting .250 with two homers and eight RBIs.

Tatis is the only player in big league history to hit two grand slams in the same inning, accomplishing the feat while playing for the
St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium on April 23, 1999 when he homered twice with the bases loaded against Chan Ho Park.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070314/ap_ ... l5_H4_z7QF

Leroy · Post by **Leroy** » March 14 07, 9:48 pm

I was in my office studying for the CPA exam the night of the grand slams. I remember thinking as he came around in the order, 'wouldn't it be great if he at least had a shot to hit two?'. Then he did, and he did. I couldn't believe it.

It will never be broken considering he did it off of the same pitcher in the same inning. Tied, maybe, but not likely either.

Post by **Radbird** » March 14 07, 9:57 pm

Hard to believe he's only 32.

JohnnyJay · Post by **JohnnyJay** » March 14 07, 10:35 pm

Leroy wrote:I was in my office studying for the CPA exam the night of the grand slams. I remember thinking as he came around in the order, 'wouldn't it be great if he at least had a shot to hit two?'. Then he did, and he did. I couldn't believe it.

It will never be broken considering he did it off of the same pitcher in the same inning. Tied, maybe, but not likely either.

Yeah, I was at my buddys house and we all said the same thing, "He couldn't do it again could he?". The real strange thing in all of that, is the fact that Chan Ho Park was STILL in the game at that point! I bet Ho Park is real proud to admit he gave up two Grand Slams in the same inning, much less the same player. That's ownage! If I did that, I'd retire anyway!

Jmodene · Post by **Jmodene** » March 14 07, 11:34 pm

I was listening to the game the night Tatis hit the two grand slams off Park in the same inning; in fact, my son and I called the second shot. (Actually, what I said to him was "Wouldn't it be something if he hit another grand slam here?")

I don't recall the TLR quote. I do recall, though, that after he got hurt in early 2000 (and Polanco took over at 3B) Tatis seemed to lose interest, didn't keep up with his exercises and stuff, and basically got fat and out of shape by the time he was healed. You could see, when he came back, that he wasn't the same player - and so could TLR, as Polanco wound up playing most of the postseason games.

Remarkably, there are still two playes still active from that July 1998 trade - Stottlemyre, Little, and now Tatis are out of the game, but Royce Clayton and (I think) Darren Oliver are still out there.

vinsanity · Post by **vinsanity** » March 15 07, 1:32 am

Jmodene wrote:I was listening to the game the night Tatis hit the two grand slams off Park in the same inning; in fact, my son and I called the second shot. (Actually, what I said to him was "Wouldn't it be something if he hit another grand slam here?")

Dad? Seriously...I was watchin the game with my old man, and we both kinda looked at each other when he came up again and were like...no way, he couldn't. NO WAY!!

stlmark · Post by **stlmark** » March 15 07, 6:54 am

I will always remember Tatis' big flappy ears.

It crazy how far he has fallen since his years with the Cards.

Hungary Jack · Post by **Hungary Jack** » March 15 07, 7:46 am

Tatis is a Cardinal poster-child for "Buy Low, Sell High".

We obtained him and Darren Oliver for Tood Stottlemyre and Royce Clayton, and then parlayed him and Britt Rheames into Dustin Hermanson and Steve Kline after he hit 60HR in 300 games for us. Not bad.

Post by **TheoSqua** » March 15 07, 12:15 pm

i didn't watch that game