Ducks Lose Miceli

By Brian Bohl on May 31, 2009

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY- Entering the season, Dan Miceli and Preston Wilson were the only Ducks who claimed World Series experience.

The Ducks still are fielding a veteran club, though the pitching staff took a hit when Miceli and starter Randy Leek (strained oblique) were placed on the Atlantic League’s inactive list before a 4-0 win over the York Revolution Saturday night at Citibank Park.

Right-handed Robert Paulk, a former Mets farmhand, was signed to take one of the roster spots while the club also activated infielder Ron Davenport.

“Miceli at this time has decided he needs to go home and resolve some personal issues,” Carter said. “There is a possibility that we could bring him back.”

After making his last major league appearance for Tampa Bay in 2006, Miceli spent the last two seasons at home. But instead of picking up a hobby, the 38-year-old decided to make a comeback attempt. Thanks to an endorsement from a former Ducks closer, Miceli ventured from his Florida home to Long Island for a career comeback.

“Danny Graves came over and said it was a good league so I decided to follow in his footsteps and see what happens,” Miceli said earlier in the week. “I felt like I have something left in the arm, so I gave it one more shot.

“I have one goal. The reason why I’m here is to try and make it back it the big leagues.”

Miceli’s absence removed an effective set-up man from the bullpen’s stockpile. The right-hander was 1-0 with a 2.81 ERA. Despite his age, Miceli still demonstrated a power game, striking out 18 in 16 innings while walking just seven. As a sixth-through-eighth inning option, Miceli logged 16 appearances, teaming with Joe Valentine and Ron Flores to protect leads for surging closer Bill Simas.

In 14 big league seasons, Miceli pitched for 10 teams. The Newark native also came close to home in 2003, pitching briefly for the Yankees. The 6-0, 200-pound reliever appeared in 631 games and helped the Padres make it to the Fall Classic in 1998.

Miceli also made more than $9 million his two-decade career. Yet for the first month of the season, he was back to riding buses and playing for the league’s average salary of nearly $3,000 a month. For the chance to make it back to the big time, Miceli said the minor league lifestyle was suitable.

“I enjoy it still. I enjoy the guys,” Miceli said. “Bus rides are just buses. I don’t mind.”

John Pachot caught the majority of Miceli’s Ducks appearances and said the former undrafted free agent for the Kansas City Royals still had good command and suitable velocity despite the two-year respite.

“He didn’t have a lot of velocity, but his splitter, cutter and slider were pretty good,” Pachot said. “He had good pitches.”

Carter never returned to the game after ending a Hall of Fame career for Montreal in 1992. But the Cooperstown enshrined former catcher said the game’s allure can be tempting when taking the children to school and home improvement projects replace batting practice and adrenaline-filled late-game pressure situations.

“Maybe he retired a little too early,” Carter said. “Maybe he also found that home-life isn’t as easy as it goes because when you still feel like you have a little something left in the tank, you might as well give it your best effort.”

Readers Comments