The Fire Is Gone

Something inside of him told him to go home, to hang up his cleats and to hit the showers for the last time. According to MLB.com, at approximately 10:30 AM Brett Boone announced his retirement. "Something I've loved my whole life has become a major, major job for me," Boone said. "I don't think it would be fair for me -- or fair to the Mets -- to continue something I've loved my whole life and had so much passion for, and all of a sudden that passion isn't there anymore." "At the end of the day, physically I think I could still do it," Boone said. "It wasn't as easy as three or four years ago to get out there every day, but to me, I just lost it. I lost the edge." General Manager Omar Minaya supports Boone's decision to walk away now. "He did not disappoint us," Minaya said. "It takes a man to make a decision. One of the reasons we brought Brett on board this spring was because of the way he plays the game -- the way he gave in the clubhouse, the passion he brought to the game. That passion was something that was contagious. I fully support his decision." Boone is a career .266 hitter. Boone compiled 1,775 hits, 252 home runs and 1,021 RBI in 1,780 career games, while playing for Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres and Minnesota Twins. During this time Boone won 4 Golden Gloves and 2 Silver Slugger Awards. This leaves Kazuo Matsui, Andy Hernandez, and Jeff Keppenger as candidates for the starting 2B job. Minaya says he feels confident that the team will fill the position. "We'll find ways," Minaya said. "We'll find guys to be able to get the job done."