Robb Nen, thanks for the memories

We won't hear "Smoke on the Water" before the ninth inning of home games anymore.

Robb Nen retired yesterday after battling unsuccessfully to recover from multiple shoulder surgeries. I'll always remember Nen not so much for his overpowering slider, nor for seemingly striking out the Dodgers' Gary Sheffield on three pitches nearly every important time he faced him, but ultimately for putting his career on the line in 2002 trying to bring San Francisco its first World Series title. Pitching the last two months on a torn rotator cuff and relying more on guts and guile than 97-mph sliders, his was one of the gutsiest performances I've seen in any sport.

Even though it crippled their payroll for the next two seasons, it was a classy move of the Giants organization to pick up the option on Nen's contract after 2002, in what was essentially a severance package for a guy who gave what was left of a potential Hall-of-Fame career to try to bring a title to San Francisco. I'd like to see Nen's number retired, a tribute to a player whose career was cut short trying to bring his city their first championship.

Nen finished second on the Giants' all-time saves list, behind Rod Beck, with 169 saves (314 overall). As a Giant, he had an ERA of just 2.06.

Thanks.