Home » Spring Training 08 » Where Is Jeff Conine?
2
March 12, 2008 Spring Training 08 Joe Janish

Where Is Jeff Conine?

Jeff Conine playing table tennis - ping pong
Photo by Larry Hodges

With Moises Alou out, Carlos Delgado ailing, Ryan Church struggling against lefties, and Olmedo Saenz resembling Horatio Sanz, the Mets are in obvious need of a veteran righthanded hitter with some pop who can a) play first base and the outfield; b) be effective as a pinch-hitter; c) perform decently as a platoon guy in LF / RF; and d) be OK with things if he’s not playing every day.

Sounds like a perfect role for Jeff Conine, who quietly retired at the end of the 2007 season.

Too bad, huh? He may not have been a world-beater, but he’d certainly be a welcome stopgap right now.

BTW, I have no idea if he’s officially moved on to the professional ping-pong circuit, but if anyone has the scoop, please comment below.

Joe Janish began MetsToday in 2005 to provide the unique perspective of a high-level player and coach -- he earned NCAA D-1 All-American honors as a catcher and coached several players who went on to play pro ball. As a result his posts often include mechanical evaluations, scout-like analysis, and opinions that go beyond the numbers. Follow Joe's baseball tips on Twitter at @onbaseball and at the On Baseball Google Plus page.
Related Articles
  1. Walnutz15 March 12, 2008 at 9:35 am
    • Retired Jeff Conine, not at spring training for the first time in 21 years, said he has been inspired to participate in October’s Ironman World Triathlon because Marlins president David Samson did it last year. But while training last month, Conine, 41, hit his bicycle brakes quickly to avoid a moving vehicle, flew over the handlebars and sustained a broken collarbone and broken ribs. He already is back training again.

    So much for him being out a long time…..he’s back and training again for the triathlon.

    Sick dude, that Conine.

    http://www.miamiherald.com/591/story/422119.html

  2. joe March 12, 2008 at 10:21 am
    AWESOME!

    I know fans were a little down on him last year, but I’ve been a big fan of Conine for a long time … maybe because he’s a nutcase like me.