Goodbye Mike Cameron

by Jordan M on Dec 14, 2009 8:58 PM CST Comment 41 comments

Maybe most wouldn't find Cameron to be worthy of a goodbye post, but let's take a moment to recognize the value that this remarkable player brought to the Brewers over the past two years.

He accumulated WARs of 4.1 and 4.3 in his two seasons with Milwaukee. 8.4 over the past two years puts him just behind Ryan Braun (8.8) and Prince Fielder (9.5) for the team lead over that span of time. Cameron was the Brewers' third most productive player over the past two years, and now he's gone, with little fanfare.

That's a common trend for him in his career. The Red Sox will be his seventh team. As an elite center fielder with a .347 career wOBA, he's been underrated for far too long and it's good for him that he will play some of the final years of his career on a big stage in Boston.

Congratulations to Mike for securing a 2-year deal. Hopefully Red Sox fans will learn to appreciate his skillset as we did. The 1 year, $6 million deal with a $10 million option that Cameron signed in 2008 will go down as one of Doug Melvin's finest acquisitions.

The price and situation were not right for Cameron's return, based on the way Melvin decided to build the team for this year. But Cameron will go down as a big part of Brewer history as one of the most important parts of the playoff team of 2008, and a key player of the most awesome baseball game most of us have ever seen. And how awesome is the untucking tradition that he brought to Milwaukee?

It's a shame that the Brewers won't be picking up any draft picks out of the signing, but at some point complaining is futile. Good luck, Mike Cameron. You are truly one of the smoothest center fielders I have ever had the pleasure of watching.

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We still untuck, right?

That doesn’t go to Boston, right?

RIGHT?

Be cool, and relax. Take a breath, take ten paces back.

The coolest motherfunker on the planet.

by Dikembe Meiztombo on Dec 14, 2009 9:04 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

They respect the game too much there

by Cervercero on Dec 14, 2009 9:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

plus

it doesn’t look right untucking a pink Pedro jersey you bought in October 2004.

2009 Brewers: Pass the liquor.

by molitorfan on Dec 14, 2009 9:46 PM CST up reply actions 4 recs

That's a rec.

by Cheeseandcorn on Dec 14, 2009 10:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

booya

by warwick5s on Dec 14, 2009 10:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Nice post, Jordan

I knew he was gone but, even though he was only around for two years, I’m really sad to see him go. You could tell he was just a great guy and he deserves the extra spotlight he’ll get in Boston.

Good luck Cam. I always loved watching you run down fly balls in shallow center with gazelle-like grace.

"A D+ Grade? That must have been a Wittardo grade"- @73_MC

by BrewHaHeather on Dec 14, 2009 9:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I have to say I did like Cam.

I’m just happy the Cubs didn’t pick him up.

Good stuff as always Jordan.

"This one means 'Kill Kirk!!!!'... And also, 'hallelujah'... Depending on the context."

by trippingandy on Dec 14, 2009 9:11 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Cam

I will miss typing “Hammerin’” after one of your bombs.

2009 Brewers: Pass the liquor.

by molitorfan on Dec 14, 2009 9:47 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

sad

If ever there was a guy whom I could definitively say brought positive intangibles to a team, it was Cam. He was the type of veteran I wanted in our clubhouse showing all the young guys how to be classy and how to handle themselves. At last year’s Winter Warm-Up event, he was hanging out in the lobby before hand, drinking a beer and talking to folks. Just a great, great guy.

by tristarscoop on Dec 14, 2009 10:33 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I couldn't

have said it any better myself. Cam deserved a proper fairwell. Best of luck to him in Beantown. I’m not gonna miss his strikeouts, but I am gonna miss watching him cover centerfield.

"I held it like and egg...? I know he scrambled the son of a bitch!"

by BRWRSFAN39 on Dec 14, 2009 11:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Booo...

Mike Cameron was great. Back in 2001, I happened to be in Japan on vacation, and during some down time, I was watching some prime-time TV. They had this strange athletic competition on, kind of like the Ninja Warrior show. It was mostly Japanese Olympic athletes in the competition, with a few action movie actors and other Japanese celebrities mixed in. Out of nowhere the next person they introduce (imagine a Japanese accent) “My-ku Ka-mu-ro-n”. Yes folks, Mike Cameron. Mine and my sister’s theory is that they wanted Ichiro to do it, but he was too big of a celebrity and wouldn’t do a goofy New Year’s TV special, so they got a different Seattle player to be on the show and Cameron just happened to do it. I don’t remember exactly how he did and I couldn’t understand the announcers anyway, but I know he didn’t win.

What’s the point? I was in Houston 2 summers ago on vacation seeing the Brewers play the Astros. Who else was signing autographs by the visitors’ dugout? Mike Cameron. There was a big crowd around getting things signed, so I didn’t try to get anything signed, but I wandered nearby and yelled, “MIKE CAMERON! I SAW YOU ON JAPANESE TV!” He kind of looked up and near where I was standing, but I like to believe he heard me.

Now he plays for the worst team in baseball. Such a terrible turn of events.

by MrPilkington on Dec 14, 2009 11:16 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

"Now he plays for the worst team in baseball. Such a terrible turn of events."

Wow, Yankee fan much?

by Mykenk on Dec 15, 2009 8:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You know, it is possible

To hate both the Red Sox and Yankees. I’d guess that most of us fit into that category.

by Cheeseandcorn on Dec 15, 2009 12:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, but even if we dislike them, I don't think ANYONE would think of either of them as "the worst team in baseball"

by Mykenk on Dec 15, 2009 1:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think by worst he means "most evil"

And of course, most evil is the title belonging to the Yankees. Therefore, anyone who does not call the Yankees the most evil team, must be a Yankees fan. QED.

Applying Simpsons and Star Wars quotes to Brewers discussions since 2009.

by Yar Nivek on Dec 15, 2009 3:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Evil?

by Mykenk on Dec 15, 2009 10:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

evil is strong, but certainly some word like that

the yankees fans i know agree that they spend lots of money and try to buy a championship. the sox fans actually call themselves a small market team, despite them having the second highest revenues, signing lackey, etc… oh, they also don’t think cameron is good. sigh.

anyway, best of luck to cameron. here’s hoping they shift ellsbury over for you.

by Capt Science on Dec 15, 2009 10:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Huh. I like the Yankees.

by Mykenk on Dec 16, 2009 6:21 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I hate the Red Sox

I don’t know what it is. I hate them more than any other team in professional sports with the exception of the New England Patriots. I’d rather see Cameron playing for the Cubs than the Red Sox.

I really don’t care at all about the Yankees. They bought that last World Series fair and square.

by MrPilkington on Dec 16, 2009 12:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

A real class act and real joy to watch

Sad to see him go but I’m so happy he’s not going to the Cubs. Thanks Mike!

battlekow: Bill is having an oppo-gasm

by Michael M on Dec 14, 2009 11:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

"Hopefully Red Sox fans will learn to appreciate his skillset as we did."

Unfortunately, if there’s one fanbase in baseball that won’t appreciate Cameron, it’s probably Boston.

I’m surprised he signed for so cheap (and to play LF, no less). Best of luck to him, though. He certainly had an excellent/memorable couple of years here in Milwaukee.

Ryan Braun: He loves it.

by SRB on Dec 15, 2009 1:52 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Maybe it was the extra year?

I could see Cameron being attracted to the idea of being on a team that’s all but postseason bound and having the security in knowing he’ll be there 2 years.

by ecocd on Dec 15, 2009 7:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

LF

With Cam’s speed and the short porch in Boston, he will also be able to cover half of CF. There will be a lot fewer balls dropping in the OF in Boston this year.

by Saberilliterate on Dec 15, 2009 7:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

They've actually got a really good defense, potentially.

by Mykenk on Dec 15, 2009 8:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i'm gonna miss him.

classy dude, and solid fielder. watching him work and play hard, even when out of contention shows that he takes the game seriously. also, how can you hate the man when you see him smile?

"I'll be glad to have Ryan help if he wants to. I'll give him a badge and he can be my deputy."
-Sheriff Melvin

by sowingwildoats on Dec 15, 2009 2:03 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Best smile in baseball

"A D+ Grade? That must have been a Wittardo grade"- @73_MC

by BrewHaHeather on Dec 15, 2009 10:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

2yrs/15.5

Seriously – we couldn’t have signed him to play RF??

How disappointing to see him go

by Saberilliterate on Dec 15, 2009 7:30 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

My thoughts exactly

"A D+ Grade? That must have been a Wittardo grade"- @73_MC

by BrewHaHeather on Dec 15, 2009 10:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Probably... but that would put the payroll to about $90M.

Plus what do they do with Hart?

by sjlee on Dec 15, 2009 1:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Depends on how back loaded it is….

As to Hart – trade him for a couple of A ball pitchers – save his salary to offset Cameron’s cost

by Saberilliterate on Dec 15, 2009 1:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

How backloaded could a 2 year contract be?

by Mykenk on Dec 15, 2009 2:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Year 1: $0
Year 2: $15,500,000

by SgtClueLs on Dec 15, 2009 4:10 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs

i just LOL'd

Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, "That’s all they need is another home run hitter".

by tcyoung on Dec 15, 2009 4:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He wants a

World Series, and I don’t blame him…

Goooooo-mez!

by Drew C on Dec 15, 2009 8:00 AM CST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Fun fact about Cam

If you like TotalZone and Sean Smith’s WAR calculations, consider:

Through 2009, Cameron is ranked in the top 200 position players (by WAR) of all time.

Tied with Orlando Cepeda, ahead of lots and lots of Hall of Famers.

If you figure Cam racks up ~3.5 WAR next year and 2.5 WAR the year after, that will move him up to the top 150, about even with the great Minnie Minoso and ahead of way more HOFers.

Unless you have a beef with most defensive metrics or think that strikeouts should come with some sort of moral penalty, you’ve gotta admit: He’s one of the underrated stars of our era.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Dec 15, 2009 8:54 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Am I missing something?

Isn’t a great deal of Cam’s value being wasted by putting him in LF? Unless they are planning on playing him as a deep SS most of the time and counting on his speed to cover the 100 feet to the wall.

When there is a scuffle in Ireland, there’s no need to specifically mention in the news story that alcohol was involved

by Getting Yosted on Dec 15, 2009 9:32 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Good point...

It’s one I thought of as well. It may be the OF spot with the least amount of territory in all baseball. A good spot to stick ManRam or Jason Bay, not Mike Cameron.

But in one sense it’s typical Theo Epstein; acquire quality pieces to the point of redundancy, let the coaches sort out the rest. Did they really need Boof Bonser? They’ve got 7 SPs who would be no less than #2 on our squad. Does that speak well of Theo, or an indictment of what promises to be another miserable year for our staff next year?

by balldeagle on Dec 15, 2009 10:25 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Does that speak well of Theo, or an indictment of what promises to be another miserable year for our staff next year?

Yes

by Saberilliterate on Dec 15, 2009 1:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Does that speak well of Theo, or an indictment of what promises to be another miserable year for our staff next year?

Yes

by Saberilliterate on Dec 15, 2009 1:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

maybe, but...

… JD Drew is about as fragile as it gets, so I’d imagine Cam is officially JD’s backup. That’s probably 20 starts a year, maybe a lot more if disaster strikes. Also possible, I guess, that they ask Drew to play LF, but I’d guess that doesn’t happen.

But as balldeagle says, the Sox do acquire redundant parts. Better to spend money on that, perhaps, than one stud who might lay an egg or break a knee. Now, the Sox have an above-average LF (both offensively and defensively), a great backup CF, for relatively cheap on a short-ish deal.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Dec 15, 2009 12:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs