Alex Gonzalez Retires

WHERE WAS I WHEN THIS HAPPENED? TOTALLY MISSED IT!
Alex Gonzalez was my favorite BLUE JAYS player. He was a great defensive player and a hottie.
Do you agree????

Philadelphia Phillies infielder Alex Gonzalez, the longtime Toronto Blue Jays shortstop, retired abruptly Sunday after 13 seasons in the majors.

The 33-year-old was batting just .111 (4-for-36) in his first year with the Phillies.

"He's been a regular and it has been a difficult transition for him," Phillies general manager Pat Gillick said of Gonzalez. "It's important to be happy and I don't think for the last couple months he's been a happy camper."

Gonzalez was driving to Florida and unavailable for comment.

The Phillies called up 33-year-old utilityman Chris Coste from triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre to replace him.

Gonzalez signed a $750,000 US, one-year contract with the Phillies in February. He hit .269 with nine homers and 38 RBIs in 109 games for Tampa Bay last season. Gonzalez was the Devils Rays' starting third baseman on opening day and made 91 of his 97 starts at that spot.

A right-handed hitter, Gonzalez had a .243 batting average with 137 homers and 536 RBIs in 1,396 games for Toronto (1994-2001), the Chicago Cubs (2002-2004), Montreal (2004), San Diego (2004), Tampa Bay (2005) and the Phillies. He singled in his final at-bat in Saturday's 8-4 loss to the Red Sox.

Gonzalez hit a career-high 20 homers with the Cubs in 2003, but batted only .228 that year. His best all-around season came with Toronto in 2001 when he hit .253 with 17 homers, 76 RBIs and stole 18 bases.

A superb defensive player, Gonzalez entered this season ranked seventh among active shortstops with a .975 career fielding percentage. He twice led the league in fielding percentage at that position (1997 and 2003).
(Source:CalgarySUN)