John Rocker, the flamboyant and controversial lefthanded reliever who made disparaging remarks about New York and its baseball fans in 1999 when he pitched for the Atlanta Braves, will be returning to the New York area in May.
Rocker, 30, has signed a contract to pitch for the Long Island Ducks, the reigning champions of the independent Atlantic League. Rocker told team officials he wants to return to the major leagues and believed the Ducks gave him the best chance. He cited the recent example of Bill Pulsipher, who was the Ducks' opening day starter in 2004 and pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.
Rocker, an elite closer for two seasons with the Braves (1999-2000), wound up being suspended for 14 games by MLB commissioner Bud Selig for derogatory remarks he made in a 1999 article in Sports Illustrated. He last appeared in the big leagues for the Devil Rays in 2003, pitching in just two games. He took all of 2004 off the recover from shoulder surgery and most recently, pitched winter ball in Venezuela.
The Ducks open the 2005 season at Bridgeport on April 28. Their first home game, at Citibank Park in Central Islip, is May 4 against Atlantic City.
Rocker, 30, has signed a contract to pitch for the Long Island Ducks, the reigning champions of the independent Atlantic League. Rocker told team officials he wants to return to the major leagues and believed the Ducks gave him the best chance. He cited the recent example of Bill Pulsipher, who was the Ducks' opening day starter in 2004 and pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.
Rocker, an elite closer for two seasons with the Braves (1999-2000), wound up being suspended for 14 games by MLB commissioner Bud Selig for derogatory remarks he made in a 1999 article in Sports Illustrated. He last appeared in the big leagues for the Devil Rays in 2003, pitching in just two games. He took all of 2004 off the recover from shoulder surgery and most recently, pitched winter ball in Venezuela.
The Ducks open the 2005 season at Bridgeport on April 28. Their first home game, at Citibank Park in Central Islip, is May 4 against Atlantic City.
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