Hammonds calls it quits

A day after being activated from the disabled list and being optioned back to Triple-A New Orleans, outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds decided to retire. He will return to Stanford University and get his degree in Spanish.
The Nationals wanted to show Hammonds respect by holding a press conference for him, but he declined. The Nationals also have told Hammonds there would be a position for him in the organization if he wanted to remain in baseball.

"Jeffrey did not want to go back to Triple-A," interim GM Jim Bowden said. "I explained to him that the players on our team, we felt, were better. We have Marlon Byrd and Tony Blanco ahead of him, and he was after that.

"We wanted him to go to Triple-A. We hoped he could help us as a pinch-hitter down the road this year. He's walking away at a time where he could still play, but it's as a 25th player."

Manager Frank Robinson, who signed Hammonds to his first professional contract when both were with the Orioles, expressed disappointment that Hammonds called it a career.

"I feel kind of sad," Robinson said. "I think he is shortchanging himself a little bit as far as his career is concerned. I think Jeffrey has something to offer a team, but it's not on a regular basis. I was hoping it would be here. He would be a very valuable reserve. One day down the road, I think he's going to regret it."

Hammonds was a non-roster invitee and was sent to New Orleans to start the season. But Hammonds returned to the big leagues on May 3 after outfielder Terrmel Sledge went on the disabled list.

Hammonds found himself on the disabled list for the 11th time in his career with a right hamstring pull. He suffered the injury on May 22 against the Blue Jays.

Hammonds went on to hit .219 with an RBI, which came May 18. Hammonds' bases-loaded RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Nationals a 1-0 victory over Milwaukee.

Hammonds, 34, hit .272 with 110 home runs and 423 RBIs in 957 Major League games spanning 13 seasons with the Orioles, Reds, Rockies, Brewers, Giants and Nationals.

"People ask me, am I disappointed about the injuries that I've sustained during my career, that prevented me from fulfilling my potential," Hammonds said in a statement. "My answer is, 'Are you kidding?' I have played with the best ballplayers in the world, at all levels, from high school, to college, to the Olympics, to the major leagues. That is a dream in itself.

"The only thing that I was not able to achieve in this game was playing in the World Series. And this Washington Nationals team has a realistic shot of doing that. I will miss this game, I will miss the people in this game, but those who I have watched walk away from before me showed me that the game will go on."

Reunited: Catcher Gary Bennett played with infielder Junior Spivey in Milwaukee last year, and Bennett called him a great teammate who works hard. Bennett also said that the Brewers were never the same after Spivey missed most of the second half of the season because of a rotator cuff injury.

"He's a top-notch player. One of my favorite teammates ever. He leaves it all out there between the lines," Bennett said. "He's a very good player and his presence in the clubhouse is going to add to what we already have.

Stat of the day: Entering Friday's action, Chad Cordero has recorded 14 consecutive saves in as many chances.

Did you know: Brad Wilkerson's double totals have increased in each of the last four years. He had seven doubles in 2001, 27 in 2002, 34 in 2003 and 39 last year.

In 2005, Wilkerson is on pace to collect 59 doubles. He has 22 doubles entering Friday's action.

On deck: The Nationals play the second game of a three-game series against Mariners on Saturday night at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium.

Right-hander John Patterson will make the start against the Nationals. Patterson will face the Mariners for the first time in his career.

In his last outing, Patterson pitched six innings and allowed just one run on seven hits against the Marlins. Robinson said he expects Patterson to go deep in the ballgame in his next outing, which will be his third since missing two weeks with back spasms.

Source: http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/