Jeff Nelson; Major League A**hole

[#1Coneyfan]

Nelson finds Mariners changed from '95

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) -- Jeff Nelson finds himself in a Seattle Mariner bullpen very different from the one he left in 1995.

This Mariners team figures to have a strong relief staff, maybe one of the better bullpens in the American League. The '95 team often struggled to hold leads.

"Playing here in the early '90s, we had one or two guys in the bullpen'' to count on,'' Nelson said. "Last year, they had a great bullpen and I'm just adding to it.''

Nelson, who left the New York Yankees in December to sign a three-year deal with Seattle, is again feeling the need to prove his worth. It's the same feeling he had when Seattle dealt him to New York five years ago.

"It's like once you leave is when you get appreciated,'' Nelson said.

That doesn't mean that he didn't enjoy his five years in New York where he won four World Series rings.

"But in a way ... in a very small way, I wanted to leave and have them really know what they're going to miss,'' said Nelson, who was 8-4 with a 2.45 ERA in 73 appearances last season.

When the Yankees failed to move on an initial three-year, $9 million offer, Nelson signed for $10.65 million with Seattle, with performance incentives that could add $1 million each year.

"Not to say, 'Hey, I'm leaving because you never really appreciated me.' I just wanted to come here and win, help this team win a ring. But at the same time I wanted to say, 'Hey, what do you have now?'''

He said Seattle missed him after he got traded to New York.

"And I think it's going to be the same thing in New York. They're going to realize that they miss me, and how important I was down there.''

Nelson lives just southeast of Seattle, so signing with the Marinbers was a double-barreled homecoming.

"I love being here, this is my first choice,'' he said. "I wanted to come and play for the Mariners and the whole winter I was hoping they wanted me as bad.''

[seahorse]

When you see me coming baby
Raise your window high
When you see me coming baby
Raise your window high
When you see me leaving baby
Hang your big head up and cry.

[CalifYanksFan]

The boy is just so modest it makes me sick! I think it's going to be the other way around Jeffy. You're going to miss the Yanks when you're sitting home on your fat butt in October watching them going for a 4-peat! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Jim F.]

But he's right, we DO miss him, and who do we have NOW???

NOBODY

That doesn't mean I don't think he's a Major League Asshole though...

-jim

[jg2]

It's going to be weird not having him as a Yankee but having him on my other team, the Mariners. I don't think he's an asshole. It's part of the game guys. I think he has every right to go play for Seattle. Hopefully they will be able to get some where this season.

-jg2

[Bluesexy's daddy]

The YANKEES may in fact miss his ERA but he was at times inconsistent.

The YANKEES will NOT miss his personality. I apreciate his intensity but he could be just as intense about his work witout being such a fragile child.

Jeff, thank you for your years of service with the YANKEES. You got the higher paycheck that you wanted. Now SHUT UP and pitch for the Mariners. Your "I'll teach THEM a lesson for not inviting me to the prom" attitude is way out of line. The YANKEES were good to you and took you to the world series. Please stop behaving like a spoiled child. If you surprise us all with rally stoping consitency in Seattle then more power to you. I'm not holding my breath and you shouldn't either Nellie.

Jeff, I have to wonder...if you thaught that working for Joe T. and Mel S. was drudgery how are you ever going to get along in Seattle?????

[patrick.o]

I agree with Nellie that we will miss him in the seventh and eighth innings of games. However, he will miss riding on a parade float at the end of the season, and watching his team unfurl the championship banner on opening day.

[CJM]

I think he's a major league a-hole.

The Yankees will miss him,but not nearly as much as he thinks they will.

His "I am indespensible" attitude will not be missed.

Neither will his never owning up to when he stunk and his cursing at Torre under his breath when Joe went to yank him after stinking up the joint.

[seahorse]

Speaking of double agents - I'm watching a tape of the ALCS game 5 in Seattle where Nelson gets us in a hole giving up 2 rbi to ARod, then a 2 run dinger to Edgar. He had a few good outings in the middle of the season but I ain't gonna miss him.

[#1Coneyfan]

I heard (I think it was Michael Kay who said it) that the Yanks are concerned with bone chips in his elbow. That's supposed to be one of the reasons they didn't want to re-sign him.

[WindRavenX]

I wonder how he's going to act when the Yankees are in October and the Mariner's are skiing ?
What a boob. :rolleyes:

[flyankgrrrl]

It's one thing to think those things, but to actually say them is very inappropriate, I think. He had a wonderful stint in NY and he's acting as if he were treated like dirt.
Well, Mr. Nelson, we will miss you, but you will miss us more next October.

[gsars5]

OMG, I think I'm gonna PUKE....this has -been thinks he's going to give us a run...HA HA charade you are...but when your hand is on your heart....your merely a laugh...your merely a cry...HA Ha charade you are...


I can not wait to beat the piss out of this trash-talking, no-good, worthless excuse for a arm.....

[Luvtino]

Poor, poor Jeffie. He has been so used and abused by the Yankees. How did he ever make it through the last 5 years??

I mean parades, rings...the torture he has put up with is just beyond me. I mean he was so mistreated and we all didn't even know. The Yankees sure covered up that secret prrety good didn't they??

This is the EXACT reason he is gone...it's all about Jeffie and his horrible attitude. Hope Seattle likes whiners cause they just got one back.

[Pinstriped Princess]

Modest fellow, huh?

When he was on, he was on. But when he wasn't, HE STUNK.

Take your whiney, arrogent attitude to Seattle, Nelson, 3,000 miles away from the Yankees.

[Chris]

The truth is that he's absolutely right, he wasn't appreciated in Seattle and he wasn't appreciated here, and like Seattle, we probably won't even realize how much of a hole this leaves until the season starts.
Torre goes to the bullpen quicker than most managers and not having Nelso limits his options in these situations.
Hopefully we can stil get a man to eat up some middle innings or we can fil the hole from within, which is what I prefer to see. Hopefully, whatever our answer to the question is will be a succesful one.
BUT
The role of middle reliever is the least glamorous and apprecated pithing job and I think it's more the nature of the role than the team or City that is what bother Jeff Nelson, and it obvioulsy bothers him because he can't keep his mouth shut about it.
The deal is that if he eats up middle innings the chances of him getting the win or save is slim, and the newspaper coverage is limited to a line "Nelson threw 1 1/3 of shutout ball, striking out two, including a two out strike out to of Manny Rmairez with an inherited runner on third."
We don't remember these as well as we remember Mariano striking out one and forcing a fly out in the same game.
So, I think he's right about being underappreciated, but it's his job and he's paid well for it and he should shut up.
He is good at his job and he'll help Seattle the way he did before and the way he helped us, and we'll miss him once in a while, but we have options and come October, he'll miss us more than we miss him.

[#1Coneyfan]

Originally posted by chriscary
Torre goes to the bullpen quicker than most managers and not having Nelso limits his options in these situations.
Hopefully we can stil get a man to eat up some middle innings or we can fil the hole from within, which is what I prefer to see.

We've added Moose to our starting rotation, and Moose is known to pitch deep into games. We also have a (hopefully) healthy Doza back, and Doc is also able to fill the role of a middle reliever.

Jeffie better watch himself with Sweet Lou, who's not as laid back as Joe (I know, that's an understatement!).

[silverdsl]

The Yankees will miss the Nelson they had last season but who knows how he'll pitch in the years to come? He's in his 30's and he's battled back problems and has those bone chip problems too. Had the Yankees resigned him to a multi-year big bucks deal they might have lived to regret it, regardless of how important he's been to the Yankees success the past few years. Good luck to him in Seattle but I hope he learns to keep his mouth shut, he'll be a lot better liked.

-Deborah

[penguin4]

I'll admit it; I never wanted Nellie to leave. But he left, and it's pretty obvious why, and I'll say it again.

See, until last year, he was just another guy. He was good, granted, but that's about it. He was "that right-hander we go to before Mariano Rivera who keeps us in the game." But other than that, could anybody tell you anything else about Nellie other than that he came over in the Tino trade and what I've mentioned above? My senses are for the average fan, no.

Then all of a sudden he goes 6-0 last year, and people start to notice him. Probably his best season to the all-star break, and he knew it. So when he doesn't get selected and lashes out at Torre for it about how middle relievers are underappreciated and stuff, fans picked up on that and started villifying him, because it was their first real piece of information to judge his personality by. Tactless comments, for sure (no one ever said Nelson was a real brain), and the media jumped all over it, and he's public enemy no. 1. The second-half slump, which could have been completely coincidental, Steiny, Cash and the fans looked at as further proof this guy was a no-good punk. It was all bad timing, is how I see it; everything kind of snowballed at once.

Anyway, as with anything, we recall the "what-have-you-done-for-me-latelys" most vividly, so Nellie looked at the $9M the Yankees put on the table; then he looked at the $10.35M his hometown Seattle put on the table, took the money, and ran. And I don't blame him for it; had he not gained such a "reputation" last season, perhaps the Yankees would've fought harder to keep him, but they were trying to cut back on payroll, and were courting Mussina, so it kind of all got pushed aside. And on Nelson's side, he looked at the fans, he looked at the management who'd gone over that way, and perhaps Torre's neglect in the all-star selection was even in the back of his mind, that a manager who'd stuck by him through everything else could simply pass over him like that. And he probably said to himself, "What do I need to deal with all this for? They don't want or respect me here; screw them I'm gone." He's from Seattle and he probably had some good experiences over there before he was traded, so, welcome home.

So, now that he's there, yeah, he should certainly keep his mouth shut, but I guess it's his way of telling New York, "see, look what you made me do? It's all your fault; look what you're missing out on. I'm just as good here as I was there; and everyone respects me here." Now is there a more professional way to handle it? Of course. But people deal with it in different ways, and Nelson obviously needs a lesson in how to handle negative press. He just hasn't thought ahead to the implications of his words--what if they backfire, after all??

Nevertheless, I have to say that he's unfortunatley 100% on target with what he says, and I have a feeling it will show... Wouldn't call him an asshole -- that's reserved for Albert Belle, et al -- just not too bright.

(PS, Now after reading all this, how do you guys manage to bash Cone, when never did he make a derogatory comment about theYankees through it all?? -- :fuel to the fire...::bad-ass: )

[Nome]

Hey don't forget Nellie is a lefty and we all know lefties can be , and frequently are off the wall. He cannot help being lefty so forgive his crazyness. Hey it even affects Boomer

[Butnud]

He is too high on himself. Wait til we show him that he really stinks and he meant nothing!

[Chris]

Originally posted by Nome
He cannot help being lefty so forgive his crazyness.

If I ever end up on trial, I'm pleading Lefty.

[Winger03]

Originally posted by chriscary


If I ever end up on trial, I'm pleading Lefty.

If lefthanded is it, you must acquit......

[#1Coneyfan]

Originally posted by Nome
Hey don't forget Nellie is a lefty

Umm, better come up with a different excuse. Nellie is a righty - Stanton is a lefty.

[Butnud]

uhhhhhhhhh I am so lost!

This was about Nelson not lefties or was her a lefty!
I am so confused!

[bombergirl]

Hey pen, remember that some of these people are probably the same ones who bashed Boomer earlier this season when he said he wanted to be traded to the Mets...this, after we traded him away! If anyone had an ounce of empathy (that means the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes), if you landed your dream job, thought you had it made, did great things for your company, then got fired (I remember Boomer saying he felt fired), how would YOU feel? Wouldn't you be mad as h**l and want to show up those who let you go? But when Wells expressed a desire to do so, he got pilloried.

Anyway, as for Nelson, I'm not that angry at his recent words in the press, he mentions Seattle as well as the Yankees not appreciating him when letting him walk. I do think it shows some ego, but I think you have to have some kind of ego to make it in the big leagues.

However, one thing I am still annoyed about is that I remember some games where Nelson was walking the park or giving up moonshots, and Torre came to take him out of the game, he seemed very reluctant to leave, and sometimes was muttering under his breath and glaring at Torre. I think that was rather unprofessional behavior, it seemed he was showing up his own manager in the middle of the game. Also he seemed never to take responsibility for when he made mistakes, he always had an excuse when interviewed. I also remember one comment late in the season like "I only have to put up with this for 5 more weeks." I do think that while you are a member of a ballclub, you have some responsibility to conduct yourself with decorum and not air dirty laundry in public. After a player has left the team, however, I cut them some slack.

B "and yes, we probably will miss him occasionally" G

[JeanC]

Watching Nellie, Always made me nervous! You never knew if he was going to throw wild pitches or straight in! The previous seasons before last year I would sweat when Joe would put him in cause he turned a game that was promising into something Bad!!!!

Then last season lo and behold he improved somewhat!

But I, like Butnud, think the Improvement WENT TO NELSONS HEAD!!!!

So much so he cried about not being in the Allstar Game!
I thought that Was WAY FAR OUT TOO MUCH!

You Could tell from then On HIS HEAD was to BIG for his shoulders and for the Yankees to depend on him!

Im sorry for the team that they are lacking a 7th & 8th reliever!
But Im sure they will find someone for those two innings just as great if not BETTER! There is always the option of 'doza getting better even if its two weeks late and overtaking Nelsons role like Nelson was never there!

Is it wrong for me to say Im not sorry to see Nelson leave?!

In fact in some ways Im sadder about the way Coney Left then Nelson!

Bye Nellie, dont let the door hit you in the ........

[XZavirer]

I don't have the same animosity towards Nelson as I do towards Cone, although both have betrayed the Pinstripes. The difference is that Nelson never said things about retiring as a Yankee. He pretty much showed his true colors throughout the season last year. Cone was just a complete hypocrite about the whole thing.

[LuckyStarlette]

Sorry but I won't miss him. We don't need to put up with his attitude. Mike Stanton is doing very well and I'm sure the other relievers are too.

[CaptainCargo]

chriscary: Good post. The guy gave us some good years and he'll be missed as good lefties are tough to find.(especially righties that look like lefties)

Funny thing though is that with all of the "I can't wait to cream Coney" talk thats been going on in the offseason. It works for for me. "Except" that I want to insert Nelson's name for Coney. I don't really have alot of animosity for Coney. But Nellie's mouth was out of line more than once last year. I really hope we tag him big in a tight one this year. Guaranteed he gets boo'd big if/when he comes in to relieve at The Stadium this year.

Nome: I used to pitch. I'm a lefty. We are not psychos.

Uhh..where do you live.

Casey

[JeanC]

Originally posted by Nome
Hey don't forget Nellie is a lefty and we all know lefties can be , and frequently are off the wall. He cannot help being lefty so forgive his crazyness.

Uhm Nome! And here I thought I was your friend!

In My Right Mind with Two feet Firmly on the Floor!!!!

Lefthanded Yankee All My Life!
(just dont ask me to bat! )



Jeanne

[JeanC]

Hi XZavier!! I love your posts and would almost agree with you! Yes Nellie did show his true colors last season!

But after (or before) the Allstar Game Nellie threatened Torre that because he "wasnt included as an Alstar choice by Torre"
that he wouldnt give it his all the rest of the season and would possibly look elsewhere or something to that effect! And thats when I started saying to Nellie "BuhBye!!!!! Dont let the door hit you in the ..... on your way out!!!!"

Torre being the nice guy that he is just shrugged this off in public to the reporters!

[Monet]

I'll miss his pitching but not the attitude however there is an old saying "what goes around comes around" I think
Jeff Nelson will eventually be eating his words and his bad attitude.

[Yanks 21 Fan]

The your gonna miss me when I'm gone, just doesn't fly, beside we picked up a guy named Moose!

[Chris]

Originally posted by Yanks 21 Fan
The your gonna miss me when I'm gone, just doesn't fly, beside we picked up a guy named Moose!

Mussina isn't a middle reliever, and while I understand people being upset with Nelson, I sympathize with him and agree that we will miss him during the course of the season and particularly in the postseason

[madforyanks]

Jeff Nelson is a RIGHTY, and I have a lot less sympathy for him than for Cone. Coney properly assessed that the Yankees didn't really want him. Besides I've always liked the guy (even playing for the Mutts) while there is something about Nelson that always put me off.

And, although Nelson was terrific at times last year, in '98 and '99, he mostly wasn't. In fact, he mostly wasn't there. His post-season pitching for the last three years has been mostly terrible. He was the guy who lost Game 2 of the '98 ALCS to the Indians (forget about Knoblauch). In the '99 ALCS he set up my man's 8th inning heroics by twice getting himself--and the Yankees--in serious trouble. Etc. The Yankees also did fine in the '98 and '99 regular seasons without him.

So bye-bye, Jeffie. I hope you enjoy the rain in Puget Sound. And I hope you'll enjoy yourself next October puttering around the house.

The one thing I do appreciate, by the way, was the way he spoke up for middle relievers--truly the pariahs of baseball.

[mr.roy]

Does Nelson or anyone else really believe that Seattle is going to be better without A-Rod? I sure don't.