west coast orange and black
04-30-2006, 08:35 AM
Beyond the numbers, what Giants fans remember most about Robb Nen was his no-nonsense approach to getting his job done. When he entered a game between 1998 and 2002, it usually meant game over, Giants win.
Fans now have some place tangible to visit to express their appreciation for a job well done. The Giants honored Nen before Saturday's game by commemorating his 300th career save on Aug. 6, 2002, with a plaque on the portwalk behind the right-field wall.
Nen became the youngest pitcher to reach that milestone when he retired Chicago Cubs catcher Joe Girardi, currently the Florida Marlins manager, for the final out.
Nen's milestone becomes the 10th event since the Giants moved to their current location to be honored.
"It's definitely an honor," Nen said before the noon ceremony. "It's something I appreciate and something I will remember forever."
Nen is a family man these days and he's enjoying his time with his wife (Jendy) and daughters (Taylor Nicole and Rylee). The Nens were together to share in the ceremony and Rylee, celebrating her fourth birthday, was named Fan of the Game.
At age 36, Nen looks like he could still throw a mean fastball, though shoulder problems forced him into a premature retirement. He's never expressed regret, instead choosing to appreciate the time he spent in the big leagues.
"When I start to look back on it, it's kind of a blur," he said. "It went by so quickly. I'm happy I did it. Every time I come back here, to this place, I think, 'How do you not want to be part of this?' Baseball is still very much in my blood."
Nen's 300th save was part of a magical season for the Giants, one in which they reached the World Series for the first time in 13 years and just the third time since they moved to San Francisco in 1958.
Nen, who said his golf game has actually gotten worse lately, would relish a return to baseball in some capacity.
"Maybe not this year, or right now, but it would be nice to get back in the game and see old friends," he said. "I still have a passion for it."
-rick eymer, special to mlb.com, saturday, 29 april 2006
Fans now have some place tangible to visit to express their appreciation for a job well done. The Giants honored Nen before Saturday's game by commemorating his 300th career save on Aug. 6, 2002, with a plaque on the portwalk behind the right-field wall.
Nen became the youngest pitcher to reach that milestone when he retired Chicago Cubs catcher Joe Girardi, currently the Florida Marlins manager, for the final out.
Nen's milestone becomes the 10th event since the Giants moved to their current location to be honored.
"It's definitely an honor," Nen said before the noon ceremony. "It's something I appreciate and something I will remember forever."
Nen is a family man these days and he's enjoying his time with his wife (Jendy) and daughters (Taylor Nicole and Rylee). The Nens were together to share in the ceremony and Rylee, celebrating her fourth birthday, was named Fan of the Game.
At age 36, Nen looks like he could still throw a mean fastball, though shoulder problems forced him into a premature retirement. He's never expressed regret, instead choosing to appreciate the time he spent in the big leagues.
"When I start to look back on it, it's kind of a blur," he said. "It went by so quickly. I'm happy I did it. Every time I come back here, to this place, I think, 'How do you not want to be part of this?' Baseball is still very much in my blood."
Nen's 300th save was part of a magical season for the Giants, one in which they reached the World Series for the first time in 13 years and just the third time since they moved to San Francisco in 1958.
Nen, who said his golf game has actually gotten worse lately, would relish a return to baseball in some capacity.
"Maybe not this year, or right now, but it would be nice to get back in the game and see old friends," he said. "I still have a passion for it."
-rick eymer, special to mlb.com, saturday, 29 april 2006