Andres Torres: The 32-Year-Old Rookie
I’ll admit when I’m wrong. Andres Torres, I was wrong.
I was part of the clan calling for your head in the beginning of the season, but I know I wasn’t alone. The numbers seemed to agree, too.
Of course last year Torres showed signs of life, but who would have thought he would have turned into one of the best lead-off hitters in the National League? Not Aaron Rowand.
I will also admit I was part of the clan that didn’t read the story about how he changed his swing. And then the story about him having ADHD surfaced and how he had never taken medication for it.
According to my semi-bff F.P. Santangelo, Torres would get a sign from the third-base coach and when he stepped into the box he would forget what the sign was.
Add in an a new swing, medication and a lot of foot-speed and PRESTO! You have a touching comeback story. The sad part is, if he ended up not “getting it” this year, his entire career and story would have been lost in translation. No matter how hard he worked.
But that’s not the case. Not even close. He’s shattering numbers from his entire career combined (409 ABs in four years vs. 315 
this season), he’s got a shot at breaking Jeff Kent’s doubles record of 49 — set in 2001 (Torres has 32), and he’s the nicest guy on the team.
What is there not to like about the guy?
Flashback to 2005, the man got 19 professional at-bats. NINETEEN — and then he was cut. For four lonely years no one wanted him. Stick with me for this next sentence… Credit Brian Sabean and friends for sticking with the guy and doing what needed to be done to get him focused.
OK, am I still alive?
Flashback even further to community college. That’s where a Yankee scout handed him his card in Florida. In his early 20′s, Torres then learned how to play the game. And now a decade later he has learned how to play the game right.
Everyone has been holding their breath for the eventual let-down, but we can all breathe a lot easier now knowing there won’t be one. On a side-note, the way he swings his over-sized bat is almost as fun to watch as Buster Posey in the box.
And it wasn’t his walk-off today against the Marlins that solidified his legacy in the 2010 season. Nope, it wasn’t the splash hit, either. It was Aubrey Huff’s blog post where he said, “Torres says ‘Hi’ to me at least nine times a day…”
You see, any professional baseball player can swing the bat, make a catch and go home. But it takes a real man to act like a true gentleman.
Torres, you are in a league of your own — even if you go 0-180 from here on out.
ANDRES THE GIANT !!!
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FIRE BOCHY – http://fire-sabean.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/andresthegiant1.jpg
YOU GOT IT!
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Why didnt torres get a walk off double? It bounced into the seats…
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Zack, why is FS a little poop pansy crapping his pants when we blow a lead, only for Torres to take his snively ass and put him on his back to victory? I don’t think we’ll ever know.
Wait who signed Torres, and made it possible that he won’t be a FA until 16′?
That’s right.
Who traded LOLFred and kept Torres?
That’s right.
TEAM SABEAN FTW!
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I did appreciate this story, thanks!
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Giants survive! I think i would be ok with the Giants walking Uggla 4 times tommarow. Also Enut21, I didnt mind conversing with you earlier because i dont mind speaking with someone who has an opposing view point, but now im just bored. I dont mind throwing snarky barbs at one another during an arguement, because well, i love me some snark, but now you are being dissapointing. Your grade school name calling is making your arguement suffer. Yaaaaay, I win this arguement based on the fact that I know how to call someone a douche! BURN!!!!!! If you ever want to have an intelligent conversation about Sabean, or any other topic, I would be more than happy to tell you why you are wrong.(see snark is fun) But as for this other nonsense, I am bored with it.
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I just heard that Oswalt is going to the Phillies if he decides to wave his no trade cluase. If this deal goes through that is going to make them really tough down the stretch. Damn you Philles!
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Yeah, the Phillies of course some how manage to get tougher. We need to make a move to keep up, don’t you think?
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Hey FS where’s the congratulatory “Thank you Sabean for trading K-fred and keeping Torres” post? I think it’s in order.
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“Yeah, the Phillies of course some how manage to get tougher. We need to make a move to keep up, don’t you think?”
Yeah I think so. Oh wait, 2 of our pitchers are already better than oswalt.
Who’s got a better record than the Phillies? Who took 2 outta 3 earlier this year?
All valid questions.
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I like our team the way it is, but this move by the Phillies, makes me a little nervous. Oswalt and Halliday in the front of that rotation is not only going to be tough in the wild card race, but if they make the playoffs as well. We barely have a better record than the phillies as it is, they just picked up a front of the rotation pitcher that is not used to getting the amount of run support that he will get in philidelphia, and the phillies are notorious for getting hot towards the playoffs.
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Enut we got $75,000 for Fred Lewis… He was already out the door because management hated him anyway… But 75 thousand dollars. And it’s right next to the Kevin Frandsen shouldn’t have been traded thread.
As for the we beat them earlier, you of all people should know that that was months ago and our teams def. aren’t the same now. Worthless point.
THAT’S IT. You got your post and I made mine. Feel free to talk Giants, trades and whatever you feel, but anything you have already beat to the ground or mindless trolling will get deleted immediately. Thanks for growing up,
Management.
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Finally he came around, hope he’s not linked to any supplements.
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Y’know, you do good work…but hanging links to your blog on someone else’s has been a faux pas since before the McCoven started politely putting it in your ear.
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Hey Victor thanks,
I actually talked to Grant via e-mail and he said it’s fine that I do that… I’ve slowed down a lot on doing it all the time, too.
Usually I get some good some bad in the reactions but I understand where your coming from and will try to only do it on must-do basis
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Damn.
I thought “I can put up a damned picture. I’ll just click on that…”
“Firefox can’t find the server at iamexiled..”
LAWLin’ at your “MUST – do basis.”
Screw it, I’m out of there on a permanent basis. And not with love. I know how they get their panties in a bunch when it suits them, and you’re probably going to have to flash the Brisbee High hall pass more than once.
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