One of the most unique careers in Jacksonville sports history came to an end this week with the production of Bishop Kenny High. Darren O’Day He decided to retire after 15 seasons for six different Major League Baseball teams.
His story is better than any domestic MLB. It was the biggest rags-to-riches story among players. O’Day went from being a baseball prospect, initially rejected as a walk-on at Florida, to a ragtag, submarine-style pitcher who lasted longer than most other Jacksonville natives into a big-league career.
“It’s absolutely great,” O’Day said in a phone interview from his Atlanta home. “Nobody, including me, ever thought I would make it to the big leagues. I was a better MLB pitcher than I had been in college or high school. It was a pretty wild ride.
“Part of me wanted to keep going, but I don’t like to scream as much as I used to because I’m not good anymore.
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O’Day, 40, He was pitching in the Jacksonville Men’s Baseball League in the summer of 2002, having been cut by Florida the previous fall. Then he tried again after fumbling a three-quarter sidearm delivery, made the team, and ended up with 23 wins and 20 saves in his Gators career.
After college, he had a three-year window to get accepted to UF’s medical school and begin the process of becoming a doctor. Instead, Pro Baseball decided to give it a shot.
No one but Los Angeles Angels scouts drafted. Tom Cottman He convinced the team to sign him in 2006 and it took just two years for him to reach the big leagues.
O’Day parlayed that one chance into an MLB career, a situational reliever with a 42-21 record, 2.59 ERA, 637 strikeouts in 609 innings and was named a 2015 All-Star for the Baltimore Orioles.
The course of O’Day’s life changes when he casually throws a ball with his brother and changes his lifestyle. KyleIn the year 2002 at a family summer rental on Kingsley Lake. He moved to a three-quarter sidearm delivery, eventually turning into a submarine-like pitcher.
Once O’Day reached the big leagues with the Angels, he found a role as a setup man. He made it to the big leagues until he threw the final pitch for the Atlanta Braves on July 11, 2022, before going on the disabled list with a calf strain.
From MLB The first As of March 31, 2008, through his final season, O’Day had appeared in 644 games – the only Jacksonville pitcher with more BK production and the longest tenured MLB closer. Jonathan Papelbon (689) – and had a combined 30 postseason games with the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles and Braves.
During his MLB career, he sustained a torn labrum in his shoulder and hip, a hamstring strain that required surgery, and elbow inflammation.
Announcing his retirement on social media, O’Day said he was unable to cope with the mental and physical demands of continuing to scream while missing time with his wife, a television news anchor. Elizabeth Pran.and their three children (ages 8, 5 and 2).
“The decision [to retire] It wasn’t easy,” O’Day said. “It’s great to be in the clubhouse and competing to win a championship is the best thing ever.”
However, O’Day was unlucky in one respect. In the year He did not get a World Series ring in 2010, losing to the San Francisco Giants with the Texas Rangers.
In the year After turning down a low offer from the Atlanta Braves to sign with the New York Yankees in 2021, his only goal was to improve his chances of winning the World Series. Instead, the Braves won it all before returning to Atlanta last season.
“They won the World Series without me, those b——,” O’Day joked.
It’s the only thing that hasn’t gone right for O’Day in an amazing baseball journey. He never became a doctor, but he made nearly $50 million performing specialized surgery on several MLB pitchers.
Capital tip for Darren O’Day. He overcame incredibly long odds to create an MLB career that serves as an inspiration to athletes across the sports spectrum.
The Jaguars got the last laugh on Brady
No quarterback quite like the Jaguars’ number. Tom BradyHe won eight of the nine head-to-head meetings during his time with the New England Patriots. He completed 221 of 310 passes for 2,399 yards, 21 touchdowns and two interceptions. His 113.63 quarterback rating against the Jaguars (minimum 5 meetings) followed his 113.71 QBR against the Atlanta Falcons when he went 10-1.
Of Brady’s 48 career playoff games, his best completion percentage (92.9 percent) and highest QB rating (141.4) came in a 31-20 win over the Jaguars in 2007 after the Patriots’ perfect regular season. Even more surprising: He won Super Bowls at the ages of 24, 26, 27, 37, 39, 41 and 43.
A small consolation for the Jaguars is that they got the last laugh on Brady, who retired at age 45 on Wednesday. They won 31-20 in their last meeting at Tia Bank Field in Week 2 of the 2018 season.
Jaguars/Brady trivia
Who are the only Jaguars to intercept Brady’s pass? Hint: It happened in the same game. Answer below.
Saban: Don’t give up
Say or think what you want about the Alabama football coach Nick SabanBut when the person is against the claim of rights, it is in place.
It was reported that he spoke to Baker’s senior coach at the Alabama Football Coaches Association event last week Steve Norman Exactly what he thought about recruits, focusing on fees.
“One of the best [high school] Corners around the country came to me and asked if we would pay them $800,000 for the player to sign here. I told him he would find another place to play.” Saban said, according to Norman. “I’m not paying NIL money before having a child.”
Saban’s critics roll their eyes at this comment, believing it to be false. But the truth is that the Gator Collective and many other school collectives are advised to follow that advice.
Players looking for quick riches should prioritize upping their game for the NFL or NBA, where the real money is to be found. No matter how well college athletes are compensated, making millionaires out of 18-year-olds is not good for any sport.
Directing has made a huge impact.
The second half officiating greatly reduced the entertainment value of the AFC Championship Game. Yellow flags, and sometimes the lack of them, have been the cause of so many. A late penalty on the Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Joseph OsaiIt was the right call that ended up winning the game.
However, the battered men also missed a clear call by Casey Linesman Trey Smith with the Bengals BJ Hill On the same game. It’s intentional not to hint at anything, but the game had the unpleasant feeling of leaning too many calls to bosses. KC’s 23-20 win was a last-second field goal by Harrison Booker It should have been a game determined in overtime.
A quick-hitting nugget
Sometimes you have to pay a high price to get the right head coach, like the Denver Broncos giving up a first-round pick and a second-round pick (they get a third-rounder in return). Sean Payton. The Broncos are stuck with a big contract Russell WilsonBut it’s hard to imagine a better choice out there to bring back the slumping Super Bowl-winning quarterback than Payton.
Sad for the Jaguars backup quarterback CJ Beathard On his grandfather’s Wednesday, Bobby BeathardIn the year A legendary NFL executive who had a great run as Washington’s commanding GM in the 1980s when they won two of three Super Bowls. He also served as a forward for the Miami Dolphins during the 1972 season.
In the college basketball rankings, six of the 10 teams in the loaded Big 12 are in the top 20. Kansas State (18-4), led by former Florida big man transfer Keyyontae Johnson (18.1 ppg), marked an impressive turnaround from his 14-17 record last season. The Big East made its historic breakthrough when it advanced three teams to the 1985 Final Four – Georgetown, Villanova and St. John’s. It wouldn’t be surprising if the battle-tested Big 12 saw that feat.
The Chiefs couldn’t be happier with the NFL’s dominant pursuit, led by the Super Bowl’s dominant team. Carl Cheffers. Kansas City led Super Bowl LV in their loss to Tampa Bay, with eleven of the 15 penalties falling against the Chiefs. The eight first-half penalties against KC is a Super Bowl record.
Simple answer
The only Jaguars safety to intercept a Brady pass. Chris Prosinski and corner back Derek Cox. Both scored in the first half of the Jaguars’ 23-16 loss to New England on December 23, 2012 at TEA Bank Field.
Pigskin projection
Kansas City Chiefs at Philadelphia Eagles by 1 (Advance Master). Last week: 1 right, 1 Cincinnati mayor’s proclamation.
Gfrenette@jacksonville.com: (904) 359-4540
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