MILWAUKEE (AP) -Toronto’s Lyle Overbay answered as many questions as he could before he got a slow round of applause from his Blue Jays teammates, encouraging him in a less-than-subtle way that he needed to be stretching instead.
As the clapping reached a crescendo, the first baseman was right in the middle of the Blue Jays, where he’s stayed since a two-year stint in Milwaukee ended after the 2005 season to make way for Prince Fielder.
“I just wanted to make sure I didn’t go into the wrong clubhouse,” Overbay said Tuesday before the Blue Jays first game in Milwaukee since 1997. “It’s different, but it’s been a while since I’ve been back.”
Overbay established himself as an every day player with the Brewers when he arrived in a December 2003 trade from Arizona along with five other players for Richie Sexson.
“He was a very even-keeled, easygoing guy that had a real nice solid, smooth swing,” Brewers manager Ned Yost said. “We’ve got reminders of Lyle, we’ve got the base in the locker room – his 50th double, when he broke the franchise record for doubles – the base still sits in our locker room right now. We see that every day. Just a great teammate, a great guy to have on your team and a really good middle of the order hitter.”
Overbay flourished with the Brewers, appearing in 317 games and hitting .289 with 35 homers and 189 RBIs. He also hit 87 doubles, including a franchise-record 53 in 2004.
“We knew all along that once you saw him play a little bit, you knew he was going to be fine,” Yost said. “We’ve provided a lot of opportunities throughout the years for guys to take advantage of, and he definitely did.”
But the Brewers had another player needing an opportunity in Fielder, who went on to become the youngest player ever to hit 50 homers. To make room, Overbay was dealt after the 2005 season to the Blue Jays for three players, including Brewers starter Dave Bush.
“We wouldn’t have even considered the trade if everyone in that room wasn’t convinced that Prince was ready to play every day,” Yost said.
Since coming to Toronto, Overbay has hit .277 with 37 homers and 162 RBIs in 347 games. He has 88 doubles in that span.
“He does some really good things for us, a first-class guy all the way,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “It’s a neat homecoming for him.”
Overbay was a fan favorite when he was in Milwaukee, so much so that his bobblehead came in a box of cereal dubbed “Lyle O’s.” He also said he was proud of being part of a team to help change the culture of losing in Milwaukee.
The 2005 team finished 81-81 to snap a streak of 12 straight losing seasons and went 83-79 last year.
“Whatever it was, it was way too many losing seasons,” Overbay said. “I think that kind of put them where they’re at now. Being part of that, we were able to make a change for the future. They’ve taken themselves to the next level.”
Add A Comment