Big Contracts, Bad Habits

 Aaron Rowand stopped playing baseball at age 34, which may be why he had time on his hands to attend SoxFest over the weekend.  Rowand took a break from appearances and autographs to tell the Sun-Times “I have faith in” beleaguered Bears’ quarterback Jay Cutler.  Rowand said he knows what it’s like to deal with the expectations of a big contract.  I’m not sure he does, entirely.

Rowand was, without a doubt, the best Sox centerfielder in since Ken Berry in 1970 or thereabouts.  If only he hit like he fielded.  Alas, Rowand never saw a pitch too far outside to try and pull down the leftfield line.  How do you say, “6-4-3, over and out” again and again?  There had to be a whole bunch of hitting coaches who begged Rowand to change his approach, but why should he if the Giants are going to sign him to a $60 million contract, which they did much to their regret?

Joining Rowand at SoxFest was former teammate Jon Garland, a right-handed starter with uncommon control.  Garland won 136 games while losing 125 with a 4.37 ERA before retiring at age 33.  Garland made $52 million, enough to muffle the message of pitching coaches trying to get through to him.  So much talent, so little seeming interest in developing it.

Jack McDowell retired Garland’s rookie season.  If Garland was laidback to a fault, “Black Jack” was all fire all the time.  He feuded with White Sox management and got shipped to New York, where he gained notoriety as the “Yankee Flipper” for a certain hand gesture to the fans at Yankee Stadium.  McDowell retired at age 33 with 127 wins.  The $28 million he earned made it possible for McDowell to play in a rock-and-roll band without starving.

In the time before free agency, lowball contracts probably would have made Rowand, Garland and McDowell a whole lot hungrier.  It’s awfully hard to “chuck it” when you’re not rich.  Garland and Rowand are still in their 30s, so it will be interesting to see where their wealth leads them.  McDowell is 49 and managing a rookie league team for the Dodgers.  Here’s hoping Black Jack can teach his players good habits strong enough to withstand big contracts.