Guest bob_barron Report post Posted February 13, 2003 From ESPN- NEW YORK -- David Cone will attempt a comeback with the New York Mets after signing a minor league contract Thursday. The 40-year-old right-hander, who won the 1994 Cy Young Award and threw a perfect game in 1999 for the Yankees, was out of baseball last season. He will compete for the fifth spot in the Mets' rotation. Cone pitched for the Mets from 1987-92, going 80-48. His career mark is 193-123 with a 3.44 ERA with the Mets, Yankees, Royals, Blue Jays and Red Sox. A five-time All-Star, Cone ranks 17th in major league history with 2,655 strikeouts. Cone last pitched in 2001, going 9-7 with a 4.31 ERA in 25 starts for Boston. He was an analyst for the Yankees' YES network last season and had been expected to do so again. His perfect game came with the Yankees, and he won four World Series titles with them. Cone also won a championship with the Blue Jays in 1992. Cone was a part of four Yankees World Series championship teams. To soften the blow for them, according to The New York Times, Cone phoned principal owner George Steinbrenner, general manager Brian Cashman and manager Joe Torre on Wednesday to alert them to his decision to rejoin the Mets. Cone's deal reportedly will pay him a base salary of less than $1 million if he makes the Mets with the chance to earn more in incentives based on starts and innings pitched, a baseball official told The Times. Less than three weeks ago, Cone visited the Yankees' complex in Tampa, Fla., and said that he was close to formalizing his retirement. But at John Franco's charity bowling tournament two weeks ago, The Times said, Mets owner Fred Wilpon, his son Jeff, and Al Leiter spoke to Cone about pitching for the Mets. Cone, who was days away from saying he was retired, was intrigued. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest starvenger Report post Posted February 13, 2003 Well, he's got a better chance of sticking with the Mets, I guess. I've liked Cone since his days with the Blue Jays, and I hope he does well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest alkeiper Report post Posted February 14, 2003 Same here. A 12-15 win season would greatly help his HOF chances. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest kkktookmybabyaway Report post Posted February 14, 2003 Hated Cone (not personally) as a Met, loved him as a Jay. Good luck... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Human Fly Report post Posted February 14, 2003 Didn't he have some kind of streak the last year he played where he didn't win a game for 2 months or something like that? He should've quit while he was ahead and stayed in the booth (it was questionable that he was ahead when he retired the first time). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest alkeiper Report post Posted February 14, 2003 That was 2000, when he went 4-14 with a 6.91 ERA for the Yanks. In 2001 he went 9-7 for the Sox. 2000 was the only year besides '89 that his ERA was below average. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Kahran Ramsus Report post Posted February 14, 2003 Looks like we have a new #1 contender for the that should be retired thread. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest alkeiper Report post Posted February 14, 2003 Can't blame him for trying. If he's no good, he won't make the team. Hell, you should see some of the other guys floating around spring training. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DrTom Report post Posted February 14, 2003 Mistake. He's done, and should realize it. I think his shoulder is still held together with duct tape, bubble gum, and twine, so I fail to see why he's jeopardizing his health for the chance to play one more year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
