Jeff Biggs got a chance to interview Angels legend Darin Erstad on his THE DRIVE show on AM 830 Tuesday Afternoon. Erstad was promoting The Cannery Restaurant's Hot Stove Charity Event. He lives in SoCal in the offseason and trains with Kennedy and Lackey pre-Spring training at UC Irvine.
The Angel great had some thoughts on steroid users and the stringent testing that major league baseball undertakes on players. He goes into a long soliloquy on being angry at himself most for not living up to his own expectations and much more in Part One...
In Part Two he discussed the frustration of not stepping on the filed for two separate six-week stretches in Houston last season. His career may be over and he sounds at peace with it. He also has some fond words for Rory Markus, with whom he is eternally entwined as the greatest call in team history came from Markus about Erstad.
Lots more... Darin Erstad Interview Part 2 (listen for the dig at Arizona - and Arte - from the Nebraska alum)
0 recs | 64 comments
As much as I admire his grit and desire...
…his numbers last year were Steve Finley-esque. .194 BA, 2 HR’s and 11 RBI’s in 134 AB’s, .268 OBP, .328 slugging, .597 OPS. And that’s in the NL. And he’s a year older.
No.
sothball - January 12, 2010
Sure why not?
Lets have fun with this 2010 season.
clover_black - January 12, 2010
Erstad> Quinlan, Willits, GMJ,
seems like an easy choice to me.
ryanfea - January 12, 2010
You, my friend, are delusional.
Erstad is done.
jimmuscomp - January 12, 2010
I had a side bet you would post on this thread, JIm
and a double that you would not affirm Erstad’s abilities. WOOT!!!
Rev Halofan - January 12, 2010
That is one safe-ass bet, Rev.
jimmuscomp - January 12, 2010
Yeah, who would have bet against that???
;)
Downing Rules - January 13, 2010
johnsamo?
red floyd - January 13, 2010
Jim, seriously, do you have anything nice to say about Ersty? Anything?
halofan4life - January 12, 2010
2000
jimmuscomp - January 12, 2010
I dont get it.
Did he not sign your ball during ST one year?
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - January 12, 2010
Fair enough.
halofan4life - January 13, 2010
'97 & '98 weren't chopped liver, either
mattwelch - January 13, 2010
Right, Matt.
1997 and 1998 made me think that 2000 was a peak where he would gradually slide down to 1998 levels of awesomeness. Of course, he jumped off a cliff offensively, thus my frustration.
I was as much annoyed with the FO and management about how they used him. First base? What a waste of a great glove.
Anyway, letting it go. Breathing deep.
jimmuscomp - January 13, 2010 via mobile
Right, Matt.
1997 and 1998 made me think that 2000 was a peak where he would gradually slide down to 1998 levels of awesomeness. Of course, he jumped off a cliff offensively, thus my frustration.
I was as much annoyed with the FO and management about how they used him. First base? What a waste of a great glove.
Anyway, letting it go. Breathing deep.
jimmuscomp - January 13, 2010 via mobile
i don't care if he rides the pine the whole year
if hes ok with it bring him back and let him retire as an Angel… he always was my favorite player
mikvitu - January 12, 2010
His jersey is one of the few that will always hold a place in my closet...
But no…do not bring him back. Besides, Arte don’t give 2 shits about sentiments.
Funke5ive - January 12, 2010
Oh, hell yes, he was the best!
TSamn15 - January 13, 2010
I'd love to see Erstad teaching some of the younger guys
His work ethic is second to none. If he can’t still play, it would be great to have him as a coach. If a few more Angels can take on his hard-nosed attitude that would be awesome.
10 27 02 - January 12, 2010
That too! Just his presence there alone would be a major impact!
TSamn15 - January 13, 2010
Who was that catcher he took out?
You know, the play where he dives headlong into the catcher at home. The one that gets replayed a lot.
I wanna say it was like Pudge or Posada, but I can’t remember now. One of the sickest plays I can remember.
Commander_Nate - January 12, 2010
That was against Atlanta
probably was McCann, might have been Johnny Estrada
swiss mcgee - January 12, 2010
it was Estrada
Rex Fregosi - January 12, 2010
Here is the video of the play
Erstad
vs. “Ponch”
XYZ123 - January 13, 2010
My thoughts about Erstad are best summed up with an image file...
Darin Erstad, circa 2010.
jimmuscomp - January 12, 2010
I hate how you hate Ersty.
But that made me laugh.
halofan4life - January 12, 2010
exactly!
Rev Halofan - January 12, 2010
I don't hate Erstad.
I am, I think, disappointed in how his career turned out and his seeming unwillingness or inability to adjust after the league figured him out in 2001.
I thought, as many did, that he would be a very good – moderate power, decent walk rate, excellent defense – leadoff hitter. Once the injuries started and he started to spiral down I was just dumbfounded at his inability to change the outcomes.
He continually rolled over on pitches and hit weak grounders to the 2nd baseman. Incidentally, Casey Kotchman is doing a very good Erstad impression. No power, great glove, shit-load of weak grounders and a stunning lack of power – even gap power.
I just find it interesting that both of those guys have become so similar.
I shouldn’t hate Ersty so much, I totally agree. His place in 2002 is important and he was an historically excellent defensive CF’er if you believe defensive metrics. My eyes agreed with those assessments, too.
I don’t think I really hate him, I am sad that his career turned out as it has – especially because he was kept at the expense of Jim Edmonds. I though Edmonds was the better player, but I really wanted to see GA shipped off in 2000 if the Halos were going to trade an OF’er. Actually, I wanted them to keep all four, but that wasn’t to be and Edmonds is an ass by all accounts. But the way Ersty fell off the cliff really ticked me off and his inability to turn it around – and get a HUGE contract extension to boot – soured me on him.
jimmuscomp - January 12, 2010
I've always understood your position.
But I am one of the many fans who love that whole “hard-nosed, gritty, I-will-run-you-over-in-my-loafers-if-I-have-too-players.” Thus, I love Ersty.
It has brought me to a conclusion though; Erstad to you, is like Disarcina to Rev. Sound about right?
halofan4life - January 13, 2010
Totally agree halofan.
BTW: I couldn’t stand DiSar either.
jimmuscomp - January 13, 2010 via mobile
DiSar and Edmonds
I think I like Jeter and Youkilis better
Rev Halofan - January 13, 2010
Kinda like
your music Carrer, Jim.
Funke5ive - January 12, 2010
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
low blow … how have the graffiti painting sales been going funkster?
Rev Halofan - January 12, 2010
Not as good as my War 42 videos, but that’s another topic.
Funke5ive - January 12, 2010
Is that Powdered Toast Man from Ren & Stimpy?
“Quick man, cling tenaciously to my buttocks!”
Downing Rules - January 13, 2010
The REAL question is when is Tim Salmon going to be our hitting instructor???
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - January 12, 2010
I can't see Tim being our hitting instructor.
First of all, he had a very funky hitting stance. It would be akin to Dock Ellis being our pitching coach, saying “You need to drop x amount of acid to pitch a no hitter”. I could never figure out for the life of me, how Salmon was so successful with such a weird batting stance.
halofolife - January 12, 2010
That wierd stance was later in his career.
Earlier on he stood up much straighter
halofan4life - January 12, 2010
Exactly.
His best years followed his change in batting stance. Don’t get me wrong, I love Tim, but that had to be one of the funkiest batting stances I ever saw.
halofolife - January 12, 2010
funkiest?
Please click the links to see much more funkier stances….
Craig Counsell
Mickey Tettleton
Phil Plantier
to name a few…
Julio Franco
Tony Batista
Asshole Red Headed step child from BAH-STUN
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - January 13, 2010
Julio Franco's is classic.
IIRS Ruben Sierra’s was wierd too, or maybe it was just this part of it.
halofan4life - January 13, 2010
Lol at the Step-Child from Bah-stun…always laugh when he comes up to bat.
TSamn15 - January 13, 2010
Tim?
I’m waiting for Rod.
Funke5ive - January 12, 2010
so's the pronstarlet
Rev Halofan - January 12, 2010
I don't know about the "pronstarlet"...
But the “Porn starlet” is definitely awaiting Rod. ;)
halofolife - January 12, 2010
i was saying it without saying it
Rev Halofan - January 12, 2010
Damn Rev,
If nothing else, you are on top of things. I posted that only two minutes ago or so, glad to see you your handling HH business!
halofolife - January 12, 2010
Cue Beavis and Butthead...
You said Rod.
halofolife - January 12, 2010
No.
Signing Erstad for 1 million is essentially adding an extra million to HGH Jr.’s contract total because he is our “pinch hitting, pinch running supersub.”.
Yeah, he sucks but let’s face it. Erstad isn’t any better at this point in time.
Chzburger Jones - January 13, 2010
With Vladdy gone
I say yes just for the sake of sentimental memories.
Teixeira Who? - January 13, 2010
Great interview
Good to hear ersty again
angelsown3417 - January 13, 2010 via mobile
Running on Empty
Jackson Brown could have been writing this song about Darin Erstad. Loved him as a Halo, but he’s done. Put a fork in him and put him in the Angel Broadcast booth.
Give him a day when he retires and hand out Erstad bobbleheads. I’d go for that one.
righteous halo - January 13, 2010
I'd love to have him on the bench...
Extra OF and 1B. Like having a coach on the field. A character guy in the clubhouse.
waters96 - January 13, 2010
Trade GMJ for Ersty right now Arty
mikvitu - January 13, 2010
For those of us coaching kids (or who have coached)
Ersty is the perfect model for how to play sports: you go for it all the time.
Combine that with the humor of a OC or Torii Hunter, the pleasant demeanor of a Tim Salmon, and the eating habits of Sosh, and you’ve got it…ok, maybe not the last one…
Raaddad - January 13, 2010
I always used Erstad as the role model for how to play the game of life.
Every game I took my two boys to, I would constantly divert their attention to observe how Ersty was committing 100% of his ability, 100% of the time, even when it mattered not. I made it perfectly obvious to them that I was making a life point. Out loud, admittedly, and nothing subtle about it. And Erstad always rewarded my efforts. Always.
Not saying Erstad is THE reason, but he is ONE reason. Those two boys are just a couple of years away from their PhD’s.
Erstad may not have lived up to Jim’s expectations, but he lived up to mine.
Stirrups - January 13, 2010
Nice..and great point.
And you can talk to your kids, students, nieces and nephews ‘til you’re blue-in-the-face about working hard as the only (or major) strategy for success, but it may not get through, and you just end up sounding like the parents in Peanuts—you know, “blah, blah, blah”. ..
But when you can point to a guy like Ersty—a larger-than-life role model—and help them to perceive his character and his actions, that seems to resonate better with them, then their geeky parents (and I’m thinking more of you, Stirrups, than me…lol), rattling off about themselves, etc.
The problem is, kids and people in general don’t want to work so hard; they’d rather be like Rev and sit around all day goofing on the internet and living off the girlfriend. Most kids have to be dragged from one event or another, even if they are really talented. If it’s too much work, than f..k it.
A guy like Jamarcus Russell (or JaFatass Fumble, as Raida fans call him) makes all that jack but is failing miserably partially due to a very poor work ethic. There’s a mixed message there, because on the other side of the coin—in his case—you don’t have to do much to acquire your bling etc. But is that enough? He made it, but he’s gonna lose it all if he doesn’t get hip to what a hardworking mofo like his teammate Bruce G. is accomplishing, as he (and all pro football teams) leave[s] Russell behind…
I also like your sports-guy-as-motivational-tool-for-acquiring-a-ph.d model because students don’t see scholastic endeavor as cool and to visualizer someone in a more sort of ’romatic field ’as a role model can create new visionary possibilities, or models—it makes success at college or at any level seem more accessible.
Raaddad - January 13, 2010
i can't wait to show the girlfriend this post
When does the getting to live off of her start?
Rev Halofan - January 13, 2010
Raaddad appears to know more about you than you knew yourself.
Where do I find a GF to live off of…and play on these internetz?
sothball - January 13, 2010
The first thing you've got to do, Soth
is move out of the basement.
Raaddad - January 13, 2010
Your brain flowers with awesome powers...
…but your mind’s vision needs a corrective incision…or 2.
sothball - January 14, 2010
Seriously...
you have no idea about the work ethic of Russell – or any athlete for that matter. You are simply, and profoundly making shit up to fit your pre-conceived notion of what a “gamer” looks like and acts like.
I don’t know about those things either – but I don’t think I ever rolled into any conversation and said that “so-and-so is a lazy mofo” or some such thing.
We can’t know those things – unless we are connected in some way to the guy – if that is the case, then sorry for the rant.
jimmuscomp - January 14, 2010
wait a minute
hyou actually read that dude’s whole thing?
Rev Halofan - January 14, 2010
hahahahaha
hahaha
SCORE!!!!!!
Raaddad - January 14, 2010
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Halos Heaven to post a comment.