(9/24/99) Jeff Montgomery has made it official and retired at the end of the season. Jeff retired with 304 saves 9th best in major league history and most for the Royals. He is the only pitcher to
do it all with one team. However, this season has been a huge disappointment
for Jeff. The league hit .342 against him and he had only 12 saves. In the last game ever at Tiger Stadium he gave up a grand slam.He finished the season with a 1-4 record and 6.84 ERA. Not a way to end an otherwise successfull career.
A hip injury put him on the DL for awhile. If Jeff had
pitched well I think this team would have been much better. With an
established closer the rest of the bullpen would of fell into place. But it
was not to be. With Jeff and Scott Service failing almost every time out there
and an injury to Jose Santiago the bullpen collapsed into maybe the worst in
baseball history, at least since saves have recorded as stats. The Royals have
over 30 blown saves, a baseball record. They also have more blown saves than
saves another record. Jeff has said that he really did not fit in with this
team any more. His old buddies are gone and the Royals are on a youth
movement, that they need to groom a young guy for the closer job. Looking
back, Jeff played one year to long. It was a surprise the Royals signed him
this year, since they were on a youth movent and saving money. Why spend
$2million on a closer? Don't get me wrong, I like Jeff Montgomery. He has a done a lot of charity work in KC and plans to make Kansas City his home after retirement. I wish him
well, he had a good long career. But it is time to move on. For more info on Jeff Montgomery go to the Royals Home Page .
