We started this blog back in June and had to pick a name that was stupid, funny, and somewhat relevant to sports. I don't know how we came up with Randall Simon's Sausages, but that moment fit what we wanted the blog to be about - sports and having fun. Well, I always wondered, just where was Randall Simon exactly? Last I remember, he was playing for the Netherlands in the WBC. Well, we found him, or he found us. Believe it or not, we received an e-mail last night from the Rockford RiverHawks that Randall Simon had signed a contract with the independent minor-league team. The RiverHawks press team contacted us with the news that Randall Simon will be joining the RiverHawks for the upcoming season (its almost like we're a legit sports site, scary, very scary). Here are some excerpts from the press release we were sent, which can also be seen on the RiverHawks website.
The team announced Wednesday that it has signed eight-year major-league veteran Randall Simon to a contract. Simon, a first baseman, has played in the majors for six different teams, including the Chicago Cubs. Simon represented the Netherlands in both World Baseball Classics, 2006 and 2009.
“The first reason I signed him was identity, because he gives instant identity to our franchise,” RiverHawks co-owner and director of baseball operations Dave Ciarrachi said. “There are a lot of people in Rockford, even though we’ve been here for eight years, who had no idea who we were. They know now that we are a Double-A, Triple-A level professional baseball team, with high-level ballplayers playing at a high-level stadium.
“No. 2, he will give us the ability to have recognition in the baseball community outside Rockford.
“Third, I have checked with a lot of my sources on this. … Everybody I have talked to has told me quality things about him, as a clubhouse guy and as a guy who likes to mentor young players. Along with (player-coach) Richie Austin and another guy we plan on obtaining, we are going to have three guys in our clubhouse with a combined 40 years in professional.”
2010 will be the 19th season of professional baseball for the 34-year-old Simon.
Simon signed out of Curacao, in the Netherlands Antilles, with the Atlanta Braves in 1992. Cubs fans probably best remember Simon as a mid-August acquisition in 2003, when Chicago reached the National League Championship Series. Simon hit .282 with six home runs and 21 RBI in 33 games after Pittsburgh traded him to the Cubs for outfielder Ray Sadler. He hit .333 in the postseason.
"I am excited about making my return to the to Chicago area with the RiverHawks,” Simon said. “I have fond memories of the Cubs fans and how much they embraced me and look forward to a great year in Rockford."
Simon has also played in the majors for Detroit, Tampa Bay and Philadelphia. Simon hit .283 with 49 home runs and 237 RBIs in 537 big-league games.
“Randall’s a contact hitter, give us a little different look,” Ciarrachi said. “He hits lefties and righties. He can be a force in the middle of your batting order. He’s not a power guy, per se, but in our ballpark he can be a power hitter, particularly with our short right field.”
The RiverHawks are members of the Northern League, an eight-team independent professional baseball league that will play its 18th season in 2010. The RiverHawks’ ninth season begins at 7:05 p.m. May 20 against the Schaumburg Flyers at Road Ranger Stadium.
This wouldn't be complete without the incident that inspired us, right?
But, it still looks like Randall can get it done. Check out this play from last year's WBC!
By all accounts Randall is doing fairly well for himself in baseball, and it looks like he'll be a great addition to the team. The loyal Cubbie fans will make him feel at home in Rockford. The whole Sausagegate thing was overblown by the media at the time (Randall Simon took a swing at the Italian Sausage, oh the humanity!), but I think now we all have the proper perspective - a harmless, hilarious moment. Heck, we named our blog after it! When Randall reports to Rockford in May, we might even get him on RSS for an interview. We're conquering new frontiers every day - look out world!
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