Per a twitter update from Ken Rosenthal:
Nats sign former Braves lefty Chuck James to minor-league contract. Missed all of last season recovering from extensive shoulder surgery.
You knew it was either going to be the Royals or the Nationals. Good job by Chuck getting himself on a team that's bound to use him at some point. I know I wish him the best in his comeback.
0 recs | 34 comments
Good luck Chuck! He put up ridiculous numbers in the minor leagues, though no one could seem to figure out how. Then, by his own admission, he completely forgot how to pitch. I remember one time when he struck out Todd Helton twice in one game and one of his fellow Braves congratulated him, to which he responded, “why, is he good?” He had never heard of him. Interesting guy.
paulyicecubes - January 25, 2010
lol
Chief Noc-A-Homa - January 25, 2010
He’s not the biggest genius of all time.
TradeAndruw - January 25, 2010
I read somewhere that his mental scouting report of each opposing hitter was either “Left-handed,” or “right-handed.”
FineHamAbounds - January 26, 2010
uh oh
the Royals are gonna be kicking themselves for not picking up Chuck. They should hurry up and pick up Danny Kolb or Kevin Gryboski
Erihury - January 25, 2010
Or Chris Reitsma.
The Keith Lockhart Era - January 25, 2010
or Horacio Ramirez
uhhh nvm the Nats got him already
Erihury - January 25, 2010
Bet Kerry Ligtenberg is free this spring.
The Keith Lockhart Era - January 25, 2010
Nice, I should get to see him in Spring Training. Chuck’s a good dude. One of my favorite thing ever related to him was when he was playing with Myrtle Beach; I went to a game in Winston-Salem and Jamie Hemmingway left me tickets. The game was at 11 am and I woke up late so I got there right before game time. I went down to the dugout to make sure to thank Jamie and to say hey to a few other guys. While I’m there talking Chuck, who had been down in the bullpen warming up for his start, comes walking by, sees me, and hollers out, “Hey man, how’s it going? Glad you came out today.” I laugh and say hi and he says “Alright man, I gotta go, I gotta pitch,” and rolls on into the dugout. What a good guy.
That whole game was pretty crazy. Like I said, it was at 11 am, on a Tuesday, in April. There were literally 6 people at the game including me. Myrtle Beach’s backup catcher Alonzo Ruelas (who was an awesome dude himself, and amazingly knew every word to the extended Fresh Prince of Bell Air song) let me warm up the left fielder Josh Burrus (former first round pick, total bust) between innings. I love the minor leagues.
cbwilk - January 25, 2010
Niiiice.
Lizziebeth - January 26, 2010
I’m happy to he’s still in the league; I loved watching him pitch for us in ’06. He also has the greatest, thickest southern accent I have ever heard.
alligatorimpersonator - January 25, 2010
Good luck Chuck. I’ll miss saying “I’m Chuck James, Bitch!” everytime he struck someone out.
ChrisK562 - January 25, 2010
That I won’t miss.
TradeAndruw - January 25, 2010
Well, that was only about once per start. If he lasted long enough.
The Keith Lockhart Era - January 25, 2010
dude
come on
Erihury - January 25, 2010
I'm not saying I hate the guy. I wish him the best on the Natinals and hope he can resurrect some sort of career
…But 2/3 of a good season for us and then “forgetting how to pitch” doesn’t exactly put him on my all time heroes list.
The Keith Lockhart Era - January 25, 2010
I just can’t believe Chuck’s gone, Campillo’s gone, Buddy’s gone……and Acosta is still here.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - January 25, 2010
That is one of the great mysteries of the universe. Who built the pyramids, how did Barry Bonds head get so big(oh wait, nvm, we figured that out), and how in the hell is Manny Acosta still a major league pitcher.
Rhyno18 - January 26, 2010
Sigh. +1
Lizziebeth - January 26, 2010
well his
off season shenanigans is what im gonna miss
Erihury - January 25, 2010
funny chuck james story...
chuck james is a self-admitted “country boy” who lacks the gift of a superb intelligence (from his mouth). one road trip in the minors, chuck was already sitting on the bus and francoeur walks on. someone shouts a wise crack out to francouer about being stupid. jeff, in some way, deflects the “stupid” crack on to chuck. chuck, whom already thinks jeff is a douchebag, goes after him. while it was short, they did brawl on the bus.
ryan c - January 26, 2010
God I hope thats true, cause its funny as hell. I hope Chuck punched him in the giblets.
Rhyno18 - January 26, 2010
It’s true.
cbwilk - January 26, 2010
Didnt Chuck also have a job at Home Depot during the offseason as well?
bravesguy311 - January 26, 2010
I know he did construction and home improvement in the offseason, so him working at Home Depot isn’t that far-fetched. Maybe not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but seemed to be a nice and humble guy. I’m hoping for the best for him.
John Holton - January 26, 2010
He did window installation for either Lowe’s or Home Depot in the offseason.
Rhyno18 - January 26, 2010
See I like that. Prob a real grounded dude
bravesguy311 - January 26, 2010
This whole business about him not being that smart is kind of funny to me, cause he always seemed about as smart as about 95% of the players I’ve ever met, he just happened to have a country accent so he got the “dummy” tag attached to him.
cbwilk - January 26, 2010
cb...
i’m not revealing my source, but chuck is not a smart man, academically.
ryan c - January 26, 2010
I don’t doubt that at all. I’m just saying, there are plenty of ballplayers out there I wouldn’t cheat off of.
cbwilk - January 26, 2010
Let's play "name-that-TC-Poster"
Right, because you have seen the SAT scores of ALL the players?
Please base your opinions on fact in the future.
justincredubil02 - January 26, 2010
You missed the part where it shows up three days later. Because, you know, it’s easier to declare yourself right in an argument if everyone else has already forgotten about it.
cbwilk - January 26, 2010
Dang…I suck at life…
justincredubil02 - January 26, 2010
I wish him the best.
I always rooted for him, but he always seemed like he could benefit from a sit-down with Tom Glavine.
FineHamAbounds - January 26, 2010
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