Loss Of A Lesser Hero

The Oakland Athletics today sold the contract of outfielder Matt Watson to the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Pacific League. This is a transaction that probably passed unnoticed in 99% of the country, involving a guy with a .183 batting average in 34 major league games. Another journeyman.

In Sacramento, we noticed. Watson, who joined the Sacramento Rivercats in 2004, was one of the best players in team history. In 2004 Watson batted .305, slugged .515 (59 extra base hits), scored 79 runs, and drove in 96, all in 125 games. Last year, he was even better, batting .315, drawing 67 walks for a .404 on-base average, and slugging .516. He drove in 81 runs and scored 82, in only 113 games. He also connected for a homer in front of the Sacramento fans during the 2005 Minor League All-Star Game at Raley Field.

Watson was batting .317 for the Rivercats in 2006, with five homers and 28 RBI in 32 games. Despite his terrific minor league record, Watson was never going to be more than a fourth or fifth outfielder at the major league level. But in Sacramento he was a star, and we are going to miss him.