He’s done.

I’ve been there. My body failed me in my 1st year of college and I could no longer play soccer at a competitive level.

I’ve been a huge defender and supporter of Chavez, but it’s time to be realistic. It was an absolute privilege to watch him play the game, but it’s time to let go.

When it’s all said and done, we’re talking about a guy in his early 30s who is perilously close to wrecking himself for life.

It’s time for him to think of his future. Back pain is a bitch and if he doesn’t take care of himself he may end up regretting it for the rest of his life. I hope he makes the right decision for his future happiness in life.

I don’t know why it feels like a punch to the gut when it’s something we’ve all expected for some time now, but I guess I always held out a little glimmer of hope that he would somehow miraculously recover and be the Chavvy we all remember. You’ve gotta wonder if things would have been different had he not played through all that pain and gotten surgery at the first time of trouble, but I certainly can’t blame him for wanting to wait as long as he did. I’d probably put it off too if this was the worst case scenario.

Sigh.

playing badly for 3 or 4 months is not worth it. Keep the remnants of your health and don’t embarrass yourself on the field with a life changing, or maybe worse, life threatening injury to put the final punctuation on your career. Better to be Semi-Healthy and call it quits early than to stay too long in a lost season and end up seriously injured for the rest of your life.

i don’t care how little he has contributed the last few years .. he will always be one of my favorite players!

i hope for some miracle that chavvy will still be able to play for a few more years!

I suppose it makes some sort of ironic sense that I saw this bit of news just after re-watching Game 3 of the 2006 ALDS in which Chavvy belted a homer to give the A’s the advantage over the Twins on the way to an eventual sweep. The idea that he’ll probably never play again… just terrible. I didn’t think he had much of a future with the A’s past 2010, but I held out hope that he might make a comeback eventually with some other team. Damn.

In my mind, this is, as far as the sporting world goes, a fair tragedy. We are talking about somebody who had the talent to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but was so limited by injuries that his legacy will be essentially that of a footnote— perhaps as being known as one of the most talented players to never be on an All-Star team.

I’m glad SuSlu added in that timeline at the end of the article, because if you really look at it, you realize what Eric Chavez accomplished. And of what we’ve been deprived since 2006. Thanks for everything, Chavvy.

And if he does, I hope that there’s enough good will left between the parties that Chavez is willing to help out the organization. Oh, don’t get me wrong, Eric should get all the money that’s coming to him but if Beane should have to spend money right now, I hope that Eric would be willing to restructure his contract and defer some money (with interest and inflation protection) owed to him in future years.

The A’s owe Chavez owe $22.25 million over the next 3 years, with about $7.25 of that being paid this season. The A’s should place Chavez on the 60 day DL, pay him his 2009 wages and then buy out the remainder of his contract. Chavez retires and the A’s can spend the savings (let’s call it two $3 million payments, one in 2010 and the other in 2011… total savings = $9 million) on other players.

but Chavez really doesn’t deserve it — he seems like a genuinely good person, a conscientious teammate, a very hard worker, a guy who’s fully willing to play hurt without complaining, and, obviously, a tremendous ballplayer. I feel really bad for him.

1) I’ve always loved Chavez’ defense.

2) I’ve never been a fan of his hitting… or rather, his lack of timely hitting.

3) I am not happy to see him go out like this, though given the last year-plus it is not surprising.

4) I still feel that, given the circumstances of the moment, signing Chavez long-term over Tejada was a good move. If they had to choose only one, I mean.

5) Now for the question, would his contract be guaranteed if he retires due to legitimate baseball injury? Or, for it to be guaranteed would he technically have to “play the rehab game” and go through the motions?

it is time for the a’s to move past the chavez era. chavez seems to be the last pinning to the rpevious era, and the a’s have needed to move past it for a while. i wish the guy all the best, and would love to see him as a coach. his demeanor and knowledge would be perfect for coaching.

He was always my Favorite. I have his jersey on my wall. If he retires I will be missed.

Chavez has been a favorite of mine since 1999. I love that he plays 3rd base like a vacuum, That he could hit for power to anywhere on the field, that he isn’t afraid to tell it like it is… just bummer.

In hindsight, the “2006 go for it ALCS” team seems like there was a lot of risks taken that have had longer term repercussions… Most notably letting Chavez play the whole year with his body completely screwed up for an entire season.

My personal favorite memory will always be in game 3 of the 2006 ALDS. In between the first and second innings I turned to my brother and said, “Chavez is going to hit one off the 72, 73, 74, 89 sign on the front of the second deck.” Literally a few pitches later he missed that sign by a few feet, but put the A’s on the board and they rolled from to a 4 ruin lead over the next two innings… It was the first time I had been that excited since I was 14 years old and watching the 1989 World Series.

With this news, Oakland is certain to look for young, top-tier third basemen in any potential trades, because the A’s have no surefire prospects at the position in the minors, or the club might have to investigate free-agent third basemen this winter. Adrian Beltre, Chone Figgins and Pedro Feliz are the most high-profile names among the potential free agents.

Of those three free agents -
Beltre: Oh yes, OH yes, OH GOD YES PLEASE NOW NOW NOW NOW
Chone: No thanks, he’s too slegnA-like (although it would be fun to see the HH crowd suddenly turn on him)
Happy Peter: DO NOT WANT

Has Eric ever explored the possibility of chiropractic therapy as well? Having back surgery is always a last resort and can also end up doing more harm than good. Obviously his health for the long term is more important because no one would want Chavvy to end up a cripple for life. I just wonder if he has ever thought about the alternatives….hell I have a couple of great doctors I could refer him to here in my neck of the woods. Spinal fusion just sounds like the end…. ;(

Although I don’t think any of us are surprised.
I will miss his plays at third and that potential when he was at bat.
I agree with OaklandSi that it is not worth his longterm health to come back and continue playing ball.

All due respect Chavvy, I love your contribution over the years but dude, you are toast.

A true warrior would fall on his sword and clear the way for someone else who can play everyday, someone not named Hannahan.

Thanks for playing. Retire. Now. Please.

I feel like one of my good friends is dying or something. I know there are bigger problems in life but I am kind of depressed now.

My wife will be really upset, she always has loved Chavy. He even hit a HR when we went to a game on her Birthday.

He’s hitting .357/.449/.476 at AAA.

And as much as I would love to see him play again, it certainly seems like it’s just not worth it. I really don’t want to see him ruin his back in the middle of a game, going up the dugout steps or picking up his bat or just walking out onto the field. I think he just needs to take care of himself now, and maybe come back to coach or something. It’s sad that Casey Chavez has been so much more visible than Eric over the past few years… especially because I can’t see Casey without thinking of Eric.

Oh, Chavy. I’ll miss you. Actually, I already do.

Maybe not immediately into a manager, like AJ Hinch, but I could definitely see him as a coach.

Here’s our discussion at LSB. He’s been a favorite to watch around the division.

http://www.lonestarball.com/2009/5/19/880070/eric-chavezs-career-in-jeopardy#comments

So, when does Geren get the axe?

Was going to put this in the game thread (and still might) but since it’s only thirty minutes away…

Oakland A’s third baseman Eric Chavez spoke with Mindi Bach by phone from his home in Phoenix regarding his back injury and what it means for his career.

Chavez’s conversation will be on A’s Pregame Live at 3:30 p.m. and posted on www.csncalifornia.com.

are no secret on this site. He has frustrated me for years with his horrible approach at the plate and miniscule offensive numbers. They have declined year after year after year. Injuries? Ok, because the guy looks like he’s finished, I’ll accept that injuries played a large factor. It’s too bad.
I would also like to say that I’ve never seen a 3B play his position better — he always was a class act, and probably an incredible person (since I’ve never met him personally, I say “probably”) But he seemed to be a genuinely nice guy.
When he first came up, I saw him hit a ball in old Detroit Stadium that might have been the hardest hit ball I’ve ever seen. He had incredible talent …. but this leads me to my point. What’s “sad” to me isn’t today’s news, so much. It’s watching a guy who obviously can’t do it anymore try and try and try to “come back” only to become a shell of his former self. That’s what’s sad. Watching him flail at pitch after pitch the last few years defined sad. He should’ve retired two years ago. He was a great A, but I’m glad the team can finally move on. It’s way overdue.

I am 15 years old. I moved (back) to the U.S. in 2001. Due to the A’s style, there wasn’t really a team I grew up with. The only exception was Chavez. I sure you can all remember the first team that you grew up with, when all the players were your heroes. In 5th grade I was a baseball player in general for halloween, but I was really Eric Chavez, my favorite player. I even bought an authentic jersey for the costume.

Chavvy is the last link to my childhood basically. I remember my first A’s gear was one of those jersey-shirts of Chavez. It was an adult small and I was 7, so it was pretty much a dress on me. I didn’t care. I still wore it. I always loved Chavez. I didn’t know a lot about baseball and hitting approaches and all that, but as a kid dazzling defensive plays and home runs are the 2 best things. And for a few great years he supplied both. Sadly, injuries have limited him.

Losing Chavvy in a way means something more to me. It is losing one of the last pieces remaining from my childhood. And I really don’t think I am ready to let that go. Losing Swisher and Scutaro (I ripped up the newspaper in both cases) and the other fan favorites really sucked. But losing Chavez will be devastating. I am not entirely sure how I am going to handle it. The end of Chavez’ days will also be the end of my days as a kid. Which is a terrible reality to face.

There are so many great things I remember about Eric Chavez….

—Six Gold Gloves
—One of the longest home runs I have ever seen (it cleared the right field stands at new Comiskey). He had freakish natural power. I loved watching him poke outside pitches over the left field wall at the Coliseum.
—Any number of ridiculous defensive plays, including one of the best double plays I have ever seen. You know, the one where he made a backhanded diving stop, and ran through the bag at third while simulataneouly firing a bullet across the infield to nail the runner at first (was that Toronto?)
—Clubbing a huge homer to help the A’s finally get over the hump in Game 3 of the 2006 ALDS
—He is the best third baseman I have ever seen charge and barehand a bunt or dribbler by a very wide margin
—His endearing (if sometimes frustrating) total lack of filter in public commentary. He was so honest, it never occurred to him whether or not something he said might look bad.

It’s really sad that the one guy the A’s decided to keep in the Beane era never could stay healthy. I will pour a little Goldschlager into my glove for you, good sir.