DS Talk » er representative, before spending his last seven seasons

SAN DIEGO -- Tony Clark said hes "blown away" that he is the first former major leaguer to become head of the baseball players union. The executive board of the Major League Baseball Players Association voted unanimously Tuesday to appoint Clark to replace Michael Weiner, who died Nov. 21 of brain cancer. The decision is pending a vote of the general membership. Clark was an All-Star in 2001 and played for 15 seasons with Detroit, Arizona, the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Boston and San Diego. The 41-year-old was appointed deputy executive director in July and had been acting executive director since Weiners death. The executive board is meeting this week at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. Clark went to high school in the San Diego area and played basketball at San Diego State. After retiring during the 2009 season, Clark had opportunities in broadcasting and coaching. Instead, he said he woke up one day and told his wife that he should work for the players union, "having no idea that we would be sitting before you, Dec. 3, 2013, in this capacity, but appreciating all the while that Michaels vision for our organization, my involvement with it, and the hope and having and making a difference for our group, active and inactive and those that are coming next, was the final decision-maker for me." Clark spoke on a conference call and then to a handful of San Diego reporters. Clark joined the MLBPA staff in March 2010 as director of player relations. He got active in union affairs after attending his first executive board meeting in 1999. From there he became a team player representative, before spending his last seven seasons as an association representative. As a player, Clark was actively involved in 2002 and 2006 collective bargaining as well as negotiations on revisions to the Joint Drug Agreement. "I expected to be tied to the hip with Michael for 20 years," Clark said. "He rides off into the sunset, I ride off into the sunset, we ride off into the sunset, having, Lord willing, affected the game positively. Blown away, yes. Humbled, yes. Excited to carry on the vision that Michael put into place, yes. ... Focused, not just now but going forward on what we stand for, who we are and how weve arrived at the place weve arrived? Blown away, yes." Jeremy Guthrie of the Kansas City Royals and free agent outfielder Curtis Granderson spoke glowingly of Clark. Guthrie pointed out that Weiner had been groomed before he took over for Donald Fehr in 2009, and Clark was groomed to replace Weiner, "although the time came way too fast, much more fast than any of us hoped or expected." Guthrie said he met with Weiner in 2012 after the cancer has been diagnosed, and the two agreed that Clark appeared to be the best candidate to eventually succeed Weiner. "Michael had the intuition, the foresight, whatever it was, to bring Tony on board when he did and to have him at his side," Guthrie said. "Tony clearly rose to the top as someone that wed never necessarily had planned to see in this position, but when we needed to find someone, his candidacy was clear, that he was someone prepared to do this. "I think this is a unique time," Guthrie said. "Baseball changes a ton and our union continues to progress and now we have a former player on board. I dont think theres a better player thats ever been a part of this game, one as prepared, one as intelligent, one as powerful, one as knowledgeable, as Tony, to step in and do that. Its funny how things happen, but preparation has been on our side." Granderson said that when the 6-foot-8 Clark walked into a meeting Monday, he didnt have to say a word and the other players stopped talking and took their seats. "That was an additional confirming moment for me as far as this person demanding attention," Granderson said. "The information hes going to provide is going to be of importance, no matter when hes speaking or what hes speaking about. "The idea of him being a player, you never forget that as part of his resume, but thats not all he is," Granderson added. "For some reason people have coupled him to that category, but he is by far more than that and will continue to be more than that. Thats just a chapter in his background. This is a new chapter and there will be many new chapters." Swell Bottle Cheap . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. Swell Traveller Bottle Australia . Mauer struck out to end the inning, with a runner on third base in the seventh on Wednesday and the Twins trailing 1-0. Everybody does this, of course, in a sport with a 30 per cent success rate at the plate long proven to be a benchmark of excellence. http://www.swellbottlesaleaustralia.com/...collection.html. Coming off a 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea on Saturday, Arsenal endured another demoralizing result after rallying for a 2-1 lead -- only to concede a fluke equalizer. Swell Blonde Wood . Mesoraco hurt his hamstring while scoring from second in Friday nights 5-4 loss at Atlanta. Chapman was hit by a line drive during an exhibition game on March 19, breaking his nose and a bone above his left eye. The left-hander looked strong while throwing 43 pitches in batting practice before Saturday nights game against the Braves. Swell Wenge Wood .Y. -- The "for sale" sign is up at the Buffalo Bills with the hiring of financial and legal advisers who may begin talking with prospective buyers within the next month.LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Scott Pinckney shot a 7-under 65 on Sunday on PGA Wests Nicklaus Tournament Course to take a one-stroke lead after the fourth round of the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament. The 24-year-old Pinckney, a former Arizona State player, had a 21-under 267 total after 72 holes in the six-day, 108-hole event that will determine player priority rankings for the Web.com Tour season. "It felt like I was going to make the putt even before I hit it," Pinckney said. "I really saw the line wwell and just trusted it.ddddddddddddYoure going to hit good putts and theyre not going to go in, but it was my turn on the back nine." Pinckney missed an 18-footer for eagle at No. 11, then one-putted the final seven holes -- five for birdies, including a 15-footer at the closing hole. "Its all about seeing the line," he said. "Every golfer has had that. You have to keep trusting what youre doing." Scotlands Jimmy Gunn was second after a 66, also on the Nicklaus course. ' ' '